WBCS History Optional

Many of you have asked me to provide a complete guidance video for History Optional for WBCS Examination. Here goes the first part of the video. Here I have outlined the strategy for getting more marks in History. This video will be immensely helpful for Main 2019 as well as for the examinations to be held in the next years.
Link to the video
https://youtu.be/zQBYParStEU

To get my book 'Make It BIG', Click on the link below
https://amzn.to/2X0bRnn
List of books I recommend for History

1) Early India: A Concise History Paperback - By D.N.Jha
   https://amzn.to/2KbuRJE

2)India's Ancient Past Paperback –
by R.S. Sharma
 https://amzn.to/2Kb9N64

3) Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals-Delhi Sultanat (1206-1526) - 1 By Satish Chandra
https://www.amazon.in/Medieval-India-Sultanat-Mughals-Delhi-1206-1526/dp/8124112673/ref=sr_1_13?crid=33WEHOAPQ893O&keywords=satish+chandra+a+history+of+medieval+india&qid=1560256126&s=gateway&sprefix=SATISH+%2Caps%2C347&sr=8-13

4)Medieval India Old Ncert History Text Book 1990 By Satish Chandra
https://amzn.to/2X05Gjb

5)Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals- Mughal Empire (1526-1748) - 2
https://www.amazon.in/Medieval-India-Sultanat-Mughals-1526-1748/dp/812411269X/ref=sr_1_6?crid=33WEHOAPQ893O&keywords=satish+chandra+a+history+of+medieval+india&qid=1560256126&s=gateway&sprefix=SATISH+%2Caps%2C347&sr=8-6

6) A New Look at Modern Indian History Paperback – 2018
by B. L. Grover
https://www.amazon.in/New-Look-Modern-Indian-History/dp/9352534344/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2H3XXHJGIOOJM&keywords=grover+and+grover+modern+history&qid=1560256384&s=gateway&sprefix=grover+and+gr%2Caps%2C340&sr=8-2

7) Swadeshi Movement in Bengal 1903-1908 Paperback – 2011
by Sumit Sarkar
https://amzn.to/2KJh10f

8) India's Struggle for Independence: 1857-1947 Paperback – 9 Aug 2016
by Bipan Chandra
https://amzn.to/2F0ggfW

9)Mastering Modern World History Paperback – 2014
by Norman Lowe
https://amzn.to/2F1SSi0

TARGETED PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM(TPDS)

The Targeted Public Distribution system was launched in 1997 by the Government of India with the objective of providing minimum quantity of essential commodities, i.e, food grains to the targeted people allover the country.Accordingly to identify the targeted people issue of  BPL card was started and people were categorized into BPL and APL categories.Initially 10 kg of food grains per family per month was allotted at a rate much lower than the standard market rate.At present 35 kg of food grains are given to each family per month at a highly subsidized rate, i.e, rise @ Rs 5.65/kg and wheat @ 4.15/kg.Fair price shops have been established to distribute the ration items to the common people.

The policies:

• Maintaining a buffer stock to meet up the rising demands during scarcity.
• Arranging MSP for the farmers during scarcity
• Distribution of food grains from the surplus to deficit areas

Problems

• Identification of the genuine candidates.Very often deserving candidates do not get BPL cards whereas well off people walk away with the cards
• Political influence in the allotment of the cards
• Corruption of the government officials
• Absence of fair price shop all over the country
• Lack of supply of ration items in many fair price shops

Solutions

• Any impartial body, for example the Judiciary should be given the task of identifying the poor people
• Criteria to identify the poor people are to be codified clearly by the government
• More fair price shops are to be established 
• Well of people wth BPL cards should be given exemplary punishment
• Grievances regarding the issue of false cards, delay in distribution are to be heard by any impartial body
  

   

  

FINANCIAL INCLUSION

The term " FINANCIAL INCLUSION " was added in the budget 2008-09 on the recommendation of the central committee on financial inclusion.It refers to better access of the larger sections of the population to the vast organized and structured financial market of the country and ensuring availability of timely and adequate credit.In other words, it is extension of banking to the less privileged sections of the society.

Though regional rural banks and cooperative banks are larger in number in the rural areas, their contribution in total banking services is meager, 9% and 3% of the total as compared to the huge 78% of the commercial banks.Financial inclusion seeks to make corrections in such anomalies.

The financial inclusion policy of the government includes two fold policy- first to encourage the RRBs and cooperative banks to enroll more rural and semi urban households as their customers and to appoint retired bank officials and other ex servicemen to act as credit counselors or business facilitators.

This is a wonderful step in many ways.Firstly it will save the rural people from the clutches of the unscrupulous money lenders and intermediaries and help them to take benefits of the financial progress of the country.Secondly, this will boost up the overall financial health of the country as most of the population the country stll live in villages.

Suggested strategies:

• Setting up a financial inclusion task force.
• Setting up a Financial Inclusion fund like that of UK.
• Better monitoring system to keep a vigil on the banking activities in the rural areas.
• Creation of better business opportunities in the rural areas to help the rural people to utilize the credit available in better ways.
• India must learn from the mistake of the US financial system that financial inclusion policy if not guided by a pragmatic approach may cause irreversible damage to the economic structure of the nation.
  

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Artificial Intelligence is the intelligence of machines and it also refers to the section of science which seeks to create it.It is also known as synthetic intelligence or computational intelligence.The term was first coined by John McCarthy in 1956.He described it as " the science and engineering of creating intelligent machines". But AI does not have to confine itself to methods that are biologically observable.

The basic objective of this section of science is to create machines capable of thinking. Such machines will posses qualities like knowledge,planning, communication,reasoning,perception apart from the general ability to move and manipulate objects.Thus it will create a bridge between computer science and Linguistics,Psychology,logic,cognitive science and economics.In terms of moving and manipulating objects this field is very closely related to robotics.

It is widely being used in software development, game development especially chess,information analysis,speech recognition etc.However as there is no concrete definition of intelligence till now, the grading of AI or the success of it, is difficult to judge.

The following site may be useful for knowing more on the topic
http://library.thinkquest.org/2705/

SCO AND INDIA

Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a mutual inter governmental security organization founded in 2001 by six nations-Russia,China,Tajikistan,Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.The organization is a successor of Shanghai Five formed in 1996 with five nations.Uzbekistan is the latest entrant.India, Pakistan,Iran and Mongolia have been granted Observer status .The Council of the Head of the States is the top decision making body which meets every year during the SCO Summit.
Central Asian security related issues are the major concerns of the organization.However SCO has shown keen interest for better economic and cultural cooperation among the member countries.According to many observers, it was formed to counterpoise the military activities of NATO in the region.This assumption was bolstered by caustic remarks made by some of the top officials of the organization against USA's failure in maintaining peace and prosperity in the region especially countries like Afghanistan.USA even applied for Observer status in 2005 but was denied.However,recent develolpments tell a different story.
The latest summit was held in Yakaterinburg,Russia in June 2009.The main agenda of discussion was the global financial crisis and it was agreed that the situation could be exploited by the organization for promoting better economic growth in the region.The leaders also expressed their concern over rising terrorism in the region and showed determination to wage an effective war on drugs in Afghanistan.Sustainable development was also one of the highlights of the summit.Prior to the conference a Special Conference on Afghanistan was held in Moscow to discuss issues like drug trafficking,taliban resurgence,restructuring the war torn nation etc.
In 2005 India, along with Pakistan and Iran, was granted the status of observer in the regional organization. SCO members have encouraged India to join as a full time member as they see a crucial strategic partner in India.Moreover, India's continuing success as world's largest democracy and her huge domestic market can be instrumental in projecting the role of SCO in the global stage.Moreover India's growing presence in the oil fields of the region is another issue behind her growing importance.India has maintained excellent relation with each of the member nations and a strong and influential foreign policy in the region and worlwide. Not only that, like SCO,India, too has shown great interest in rebuilding Afghanistan and bringing peace back.
However, few issues are stll needed to be sorted out before India can join the regional organization.Her military rivalry with Pakistan,her recent strategic tilt towards USA and growing cooperation between China and Pakistan are some of the thorns in the otherwise rosy picture.If amicable sulutions to such problems can be found,India can play a crucial role in the future developments of the organization.

ECO TOURISM IN INDIA

Eco tourism is the concept of promoting tourism with due consideration of the environment. It is a conceptual experience, enriching those who delve into researching and understanding the environment around them. It gives us insight into our impacts, as human beings and also a greater appreciation of our own natural habitats.Eco-tourism is consecrated for preserving and sustaining the diversity of the world's natural and cultural environments.The International Eco-tourism Society defines Eco-tourism as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people."
Responsible Eco tourism includes programs that minimize the negative aspects of conventional tourism on the environment, and enhance the cultural integrity of local people. Therefore, in addition to evaluating environmental and cultural factors, an integral part of Eco tourism is in the promotion of recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation, and creation of economic opportunities for the local communities.
Eco-tourism is considered the fastest growing market in the tourism industry, according to the World Tourism Organization with an annual growth rate of 5% worldwide and representing 6% of the world gross domestic product, 11.4% of all consumer spending - not a market to be taken lightly.
India is one the most famous tourism hubs of the world.The government in the recent past has taken many commendable steps to promote Eco tourism in India."Atithi Deva Bhavah", "Incredible India" are such campaigns to promote tourism in conformity with the laws of environment.
However,following practices will add value to India's quest for promoting ecological tourism

• Combating environmental problems in the tourist places
• Launching awareness campaigns to make the people aware of their role in Eco tourism.Celebrities may be asked to campaign for the same as we have recently seen Mr Aamir Khan doing such campaign
  
• Sanctity of culturally and historically important places must be maintained
• Encouraging more private sector participation in tourism
• Setting up more biosphere reserves, national parks, animal sanctuaries and zoos and strict implementation of various laws in the concerned field

With sincere effort of the government backed by popular support, India soon can become the most attractive tourist destination in the world.

LAST MINUTE SUGGESTION-ANCIENT INDIA-50 SELECTED QUESTIONS

1. Lingusur was the first neolithic site in India
2. Pallavaram was the first neolithic site in India
3. Man started the use of fire in mesolithic age
4. Shishunaga transferred the capital of Magadh to Vaishali but Kalashoka transferred it permanently to Patliputra
5. The doctrine of Trimurti can be found in Maitreyani upanishad
6. Sautramani was a soma drinking festival
7. "No one is above the Kshatriyas"- Vrihadryanka upanishad
8. Malavas started Vikram era in 57 AD
9. Pravarsena Vakataka wrote Setubandha and Vatsbhatti wrote the Mandasore inscription
10. Cylindrical granary was found in Kalibangan
11. Auranasthanikas were the officers in cahrge of the wool market during Gupta age
12. Alexander was injured by the Malavas in the battle of Aspasoi
13. In Ramayana Magadha was known as Vasumati
14. Earliest capital of Magadha was Kusugpura.Bimbisar made Rajgir the capital
15. Agnimitra a Shunga king was the hero of Malavikagnimitram
16. Ratnavamsin ceremony was a part of Rajasuya yajna
17. Nagarjuna was a contemporary of Gautamiputra satakarni
18. Ropar was the first fortified town in Ancient India
19. In Kalibangan and Rangpur Mother Goddess was not worshipped
20. Kartipura was the earlier name of Kashmir
21. Panini hailed from Gandhara,Parsvanath from Benaras,Aryabhatta from Ujjain and Asnaga from Peshwar
22. Sites of ash mound-Kupgal,Kodekal,Utnur,Pallavoy.Ash mounds refer to the remnants of the settlements of neolithic cattle keepers
23. Only Harappan site in Afghanistan-Shortugai
24. Smritis in chronological order Manu-Yajnavalkya-Brihaspati-Narada-Katyana-Vayu-Debala
25. Nanaghat inscription recorded by Gautamiputra satakarni's mother is the earliest evidence of land grant in India
26. The Indian deities referred to by Megasthenes as Dionysus and Heracles are Shiva and Krishna
27. Anticlidas sent Helodorous to King Bhagvata
28. Kharvela was the ruler of Cheta dynastri founded by Mahameghavahana
29. Mitakshara commentary on Yajnavalkya sutra was written by Vijnanesvara
30. Buddha delivered maximum number of sermons at Sravasti
31. Gatha Sattasai a collection of love lores by Hala of Satvahana dynasty
32. Upasampada in Buddhism refers to initial conversion
33. Anguttaranikaya talks about 16 mahajanapadas
34. The Kushanas assumed divine kingship and started installing the statues of the kings in temples.This is known as Devakula.In the coins of Kushana the word Boddo is found
    
35. Bahrut inscription talks about Buddha's meeting with Ajatshatru.In ancient arts Buddha is shown as empty throne
    
36. Tundiya and Akasiya in ancient age were two tax collecting officials
37. Senguttuvan was the real hero of Silpapadikaram
38. Ulakku or alakkus meant revenue measurement during Chola period
39. Kalanju was a type of gold coin
40. Perundevanar translated Mahabharata in Tamil
41. Mahabalipuram was known as Melange during the sangam age
42. In Periplus "Damrike" referred to Tamil land
43. There was no guild for the carpenters during post mauryan era
44. Coffin burial in Harappa and double burial in Lothal
45. Dani,Mahadevan,Guntur and Fairservice worked on Harappan script
46. Alumbi Vel was revenue accountant during Sangam age
47. Manimekhalai by Sittalai Sattanar deals with Buddhism whereas Jeevakachintamani by Thiruttkkadevar deals with Jainism
48. Bhagvata Purana is the first literary evidence of Vishti
49. Ramgrah inscription belonging to the Gupta age is the first litrary evidence of prostitution
50. The Sarnath image inscription of Kanishka talks about two military generals Vanshpara and Kharapallana.Rabataka iscription also belongs to Kanishka
    

LAST MINUTE SUGGESTIONS-OPTIONALA HISTORY-Religious Renaissance In Ancient India

• Posadha-fast in jainism at a place paryusana.It is recommended for 8 days for the Swetambaras and 15 days for digambaras
• Bhagvati sutra is a jain canonical work
• Chakravartin,Sushama-dushama all are Jain concepts
• Syadvad amd nyayavad together are known as anekatavad
• Parsvanath hailed from Benaras
• Uposotha-fast in Buddhism and upasampada-initial conversion to buddhism
  
• Pancha sila is a buddhist concept
• Ajita founded ucchetabada and charbak founded lokayatabada
• According to jainism there are 63 salaka purusha and 12 chakrabortins
• The hymn of vajrayana sect was "Om mani padme hum".Tantricism is its part
• Followers of mahasanghika-andhraka
• asanga hailed from peshawar
• Nagarjuna was a friend of Gautamiputra satakarni
• Manjusri mulakalpya and guhyasamaja belong to tantricism
• Kalamukha sect flourished in Karnataka
• Mogapalli Tissa wrote kathavattu a work on Dipavamsa
• Mahayana sect flourished in Central Asia,China and Japan, Sarvastivadin in Mathura and Kashmir whereas Hinayana in SE Asia
• Vaja chaitya was circular
• Vasa-retreat of buddhist monks in rain

Tithankaras Cognizance Sasandevata
Adinath Bull Chankreswari
Aristanemi Conchshell Ambika
Neminath Blue Lotus Gandhari
Parsvanath Snake Padmavati
Mahavira Lion Siddhyaika

• Samvutavijaya was the first great pontiff after Mahavira
• Nagarjuna founded Madhyamik karika or Sunyavada
• Bhadrabahu wrote kalpasutra
• Chedasutra and mulasutra parts of jainism
• Mahakashyapa founded mahasanhika
• Tirthankaras were known as ford makers
• Asanga founded Yogachara school and wrote sutralankar and yogachatabhumishastra
• Utsarpini or period of improvement and avsarpini or period of decline are parts of Jainism
• Mahakacchayan of Avanti founded Theravada.Its text in sanskrit
• Names of 22nd and 23rd Tirthankara Arishtanemi and Parsvanath can be found in Vishnu Purana and Bhagavat Purana
• Rahulvadra founded sarvastivada
• Buddha intended to visit Asita, and meet his former teachers, Alara Kalama and Uddaka Ramaputta to explain his findings, but they had already died.
• Buddha's first sermon at sarnath
• Located on the fringes of Sravasti is the Jetavana Vihara, the monastery where the Buddha delivered the maximum number of sermons. Here the Anandabodhi tree stands as an eternal witness to the vicissitudes of history. This sacred tree was brought as a cutting from the Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka, which itself grew from a sapling of the original Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya.
• Shramana- ascetics of unorthodox sects
• Khuddaka Nikaya of Sutta pitaka contains Therigatha,jataka,Theragatha,Dhammapada and suttanipatta
• Vaipulya sutra,prajna paramita,sadharma pudharika,gnadha vyuha and avatamsaka belong to Buddhism
• Abhinava gupta founded Trika a form of saivism in Kashmir
• Syadvada or mayness is a reality has close affinity to Samkhya system
• Devadhi kshamasharana presided over the 2nd jain council held at vallabhi
• Maitryeanath wrote Vigyanavada
• Protima or Gnanasthana-11 stages to attain Kaivalya
  

GEOGRAPHY-GS-INDUSTRY

• Meerat Seth committee on handloom
• Tronica City( Ghaziabad)- Apparel park
• Coimbatore has the largest number of small scale textile mills and is known as Manchester of South India
• Subsidies on PDS kerosene and domestic LPG are borne by Consolidated Fund of India
• India's only mini refinery at Tatipaka,Andhra Pradesh
• India is the largest producer and consumer of sugar
• Indian Institute of Sugar Technology-Kanpur
• Newsprint mills-Nepanagar(MP),Shimoga(KNTK),Pugalore(TN)
• Abid Hussain committee-Small scale Industry
• Pearl fishing-Tuticorin
• Carpet-Mirzapur
• Peddapalli,satna,Dalmiapuram,Chennai, Porbandar and Katni-Cement
• Firozabad-glass
• Sindri-Fertilizer,cement
• Pimpri-Antibiotics
• BHEL Units- Bhopal,Tiruchirapalli,Haridwar,Hyderabad
• Hindustan Shipyard ,Vizag is the largest in India
• HMT Units are in Kamlesswary,Pinjore,Hyderabad,Ajmer,Srinagar
  

GK & CA-SELECTED QUESTIONS -PART II

• Teem Berners Lee invented WWW
• Paul Allens is the co founder of Microsoft
• The first Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs conference was held in July 1957 in Pugwash, Nova Scotia, hence the organization's name. It was organized by Joseph Rotblat.
• In Chennai India's Global Automative Research Centre is being built
• Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, Tamil Nadu is also known as Top Slip
• Raghu Rai is an eminent photo journalist
• 15th NAM Summit was held in Tehran
• Bangkok has hosted Asian Games maximum number of times
• Piers Sellers is an eminent space walker
• Foreign Intelligence Service is the Spy Agency of Russia, Ministry of State Security is of China and Secret Intelligence Service is of Britain
• Montenegro is the latest entrant to UN and Cape Verde is the latest entrant to WTO
• Shourya, a ballistic surface to surface missile, with 600 km range was launched from Balasore,Orissa
• Operation Seabird is new Indian naval base at Kharwar
• Kishan Chaupal is a Rural Development scheme in Haryana
• Cricket was a part of 1900 Olympics and UK won the gold by defeating France
• The Universal Product Code (UPC) is a barcode symbology (i.e., a specific type of barcode), that is widely used in the United States and Canada for tracking trade items in stores.
• The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to October 26, 1973 by a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria against Israel. The Camp David Accords, which came soon after, led to normalized relations between Egypt and Israel—the first time any Arab country had recognized the Israeli state. Egypt, which had already been drifting away from the Soviet Union, then left the Soviet sphere of influence entirely.
• The Banana Wars were a series of occupations, police actions, and interventions involving the United States in Central America and the Caribbean. This period started with the Spanish-American War in 1898 and the subsequent Treaty of Paris, which gave the United States control of Cuba and Puerto Rico. It ended with the withdraw of troops from Haiti and President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Good Neighbor Policy in 1934.
• Himachal Pradesh became India's first carbon free state and it was also the first state to start a government e-gazette
• Jugnu India's first nano satellite developed by students of IIT Kanpur
• India's first nano lab in JNCASR,Bangalore
• Bisophenol A is used in packaging food materials
• Tauvex is Indo- Israel mission for UV Imaging satellite
• Global Economic Prospects and Investment Climate Index are developed by World Bank
• The only Cabinet meeting to be held outside Delhi-Sariska,1986
• Only Olympic event with age limit-Boxing
• Hashim Thaci is the Kosovo Prime Minister and Pristina is the capital
• Recently Caterpillar emergency was launched in Liberia
• Byalulu is a small village in Karnataka.From here the Chandryaan mission is being monitored
• Richar S Fuld is the CEO of Lehman Bros
• Goods and Services Tax to be implemented from 1st April, 2010
• Konkan 2008- Indo-UK joint naval exercise
• Vivek Kundra is the Chief Information Officer of the Obama Government
• Blue Card is the EU version of Us Green card to attract professionals
• 2009 G-8 Summit-Italy
• Future Gen Project- World's first coal fuelled zero emission project by USA.India has a stake in it
• 28TH GCC Summit-Doha,Qatar
• Mexico to host 2009 World Environment Day Celebrations
• First overseas Indian Tourism Office was launched in China
• Income ceiling for the creamy layer has been increased to 5.5 lakh per annum from 2.5 l per annum
• Recently Himachal Pradesh started Green Tax
• X RED FLAG-International Defence Exercise
• Algal Bloom was recently found in the Gulf of Mannar
• Habitat of the Olive Ridley turtles-Gahirmatha island,Orissa
• Shenzhou-VII -China's manned moon mission
• Recently Iceland suffered from national bankruptcy
• John Key is the new PM of New Zealand
  

HISTORY-ROAD TO A RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT

Provisions of 1773 Act

• Court of Directors hitherto elected every year would be elected for 4 years
  
• Total number of Directors 24,one fourth retiring every year
• A Governor General in Bengal with four members to assist him and the quorum was 3
• The member of Governor Generals EC to hold office for 5 years
• The Governor General will have authority over Madras and Bombay
• Supreme court was created
• The court was given both original and appellate jurisdiction

Provisions of 1784 Act

• A Board of Control with 6 members
• Court of Directors retained real executive power and patronage and Board of control no power of patronage
• The members of Governor Generals EC was reduced to 3
• Only Covenanted servants will be appointed as members of the Council of Governor General
• The Presidencies of Bombay and Madras were subordinated to the Governor General
• Prohibition of aggressive wars and treaties with Indian princes

Provisions of 1813 Act

• Company was deprived of monopoly of trade except trade with China and trade in tea
• Rs 1 lakh for education in India

Provisions of 1833 Act

• Centralized government in India and the Governor General of Bengal was made the Governor General of India
• Bombay and Madras completely subordinated to the Governor General
• A new member, a Law member in the Governor General's EC
• Company lost its monopoly of tea trade and trade with China
• "No Indian or natural born subject of the Crown resident in India by reason of birth,colour,descent, be disqualified for any employment under the company
• Government of India to take serious measures to ameliorate the condition of slaves
  

Provisions of 1853 Act

• The law member was made a full member
• The number of Court of Directors reduced to 18, 6 nominated by the Crown and the quorum was fixed at 10
• The power of patronage of the Directors was curbed
• Services thrown to open competition

Provisions of 1858 Act

• A Secretary of State for India and he will be assisted by 15 members of which 8 to be nominated by the Crown whereas 7 to be nominated by the Court of Directors
• Half of the members must have worked in India for at least 10 years
• Governor General was made Viceroy
• Appointment to the Covenanted servants to be made by open competitive examination

Provisions of 1861 Act

• Introduction of Portfolio system
• A fifth member added to Viceroy's EC and he has to be a gentleman of legal profession
• For legislative purpose Viceroy's EC was expanded by the addition of not less than 6 and not more than 12 members half of which must be non officials
• Their tenure for 6 months
• Power of Bombay and Madras Presidencies restored

Provisions of 1892 Act

• Two fifth of the members of the council to be non officials
• Principle of election introduced
• Members could ask questions and general discussion on budget was allowed

Some points to remember

• PSC introduced by the act of 1919
• The preamble of the Act of 1919 was based on the August declaration of 1917
• The income qualification of Hindu candidates was much more than that of Muslim candidates by the Act of 1909
• Introduction of election by the Act of 1909
• The details of electoral qualification and seat allocation was left to local authorities by the act of 1909
• The Act of 1919 was the most short lived act
• An Indian was appointed to the Viceroy's EC for the first time by the Act of 1909
• By the Act of 1909 Executive Councils were created for Bengal,Bihar,Orissa and UP
• By the Act of 1935, Council of States to have 250 members and Federal Assembly 375 members wherein Princely states to send 104 and 125 nominated candidates respectively
• Provincial autonomy was granted by the Act of 1935.
• A Federation by the Act of 1935 could not be formed unless states sent not less than 104 members to the Council of the States
  

Population Geography and Transport

• Khasa, Tharu and Bhotia tribes in UP
• Highest % of SC in Punjab and highest % of ST in Mizoram whereas highest SC in absolute numbers is in UP and in absolute number highest ST population in MP
• Dangs tribe in Gujarat
• Major tribes in India- Gond-Bhil-Santhal-Meena
• European+Indian= Mestizo
• Sex ratio among UTs highest in Pondicherry and lowest in Daman & Diu
• Child sex ratio among UTs highest in Dadra& Nagar Haveli and lowest in Chandigarh
• Highest decadal growth rate of population in Nagaland, then Sikkim
• Lowest decadal growth rate of population in Kerala and then Tamil Nadu
• Highest literacy rate among UTs in Lakshadweep and lowest in D &NH
• Highest IMR in India in OrissaKanis and Uralis tribes in Kerala
• Sahariya and Koli tribes in Rajasthan
• Buksa tribe can be found in UP and Warli tribe in Mahrashtra.Warlis can be found in Gujarat as well
  
• Most populous cities of India Mumbai-Delhi-Bangalore-Kolkata
  
• Denotified tribes are those which were earlier criminal
• Literacy rate wise Jains-Christians-Buddhists-Sikhs-Hindus-Muslims
• Valmiki, Nayak,Lambada tribes in Andhra Pradesh
• Munda-Koli languages belong to Austro-Asiatic type
• Toda,Irula,Badaga,Paliyan and kadar tribes in Tamil Nadu
• Birhol tribe in Jharkhand
• Konyak tribe in Nagaland
• Between 15 degree North to 45 deg North 45 % of the world population lives
• NH 17 runs entirely through desert(Pathankot to Shamiakhiali)
• Ennore in Tamil Nadu is the first corporate port in India
• Chennai port is an artificial port and it is the oldest port in India
• Maharashtra has highest number of ports in India
• Indian Railways is now reorganized into 16 Zones
• The Research, Design and Standards Organization (RDSO) at Lucknow is the R&D
  wing of Indian Railways. It functions as a consultant to the Indian Railways in
  technical matters
• Since 1924-25, railway finances remain separated from general revenues
• Though
  the National Highways, which is the responsibility of the Central Government, has
  about 66,590 km (Annexure-I) length and comprises only 2 per cent of the total
  length of roads, carries over 40 per cent of the total traffic
• The NHDP is the largest highway project ever undertaken
  in the country. The NHDP is being implemented by National Highways Authority of India
• Approximately, 90 per cent of the country’s trade by volume (70 per cent in terms of
  value) is moved by sea. India has the largest merchant shipping fleet among the
  developing countries and ranks 20th amongst the countries
• Presently 13 major ports and 200 other ports in India
• Cochin Shipyard is the largest shipyard in the country
• First private airport in Cochi
• Kandala is a tidal port.So is Kolkata
• Vizag port is the deepest port in India
• Highest % of National Highways in UP and the MP
• Rural and other roads constitute the highest % of roads in India
• India has bilateral Air Services Agreements with 103 countries
• India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) came into existence in October 1966
• The Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM) located in Gwalior
• Gujarat has highest number of ports
• Dufferin, Indias first training ship.Chanakya-India's present training ship
• Length of road highest in Maharashtra
• Mundra Port, a newly developed minor port in the state of Gujarat registered a cargo traffic of around 28.8 million tonnes per annum during the financial year of 2008, which is higher than that of many major ports
• Bhopal Shatabdi is the train in India with highest speed
• Maximum airports in Gukarat
• Maximum major ports in Tamil Nadu
• 23% of the total railway route electrified
• Konkan railway passes through Maharshtra, Goa and Karnataka

Courtesy:India Year Book 2009,Wikipedia

INDIAN GEOGRAPHY PART I RIVER SYSTEM

Ganga

Left Bank Tributaries-Chambal, Sind,Betwa,Ken,Son
Right Bank Tributaries- Gomti,Sarda,Ghaghra, Gandak, Koshi

Projects:
Chambal- Rana Pratap Sagar, Jawahar Sagar,Gandhi Sagar
Betwa-Matatila
Son-Rihand Valley, Govind Vallabh Pant Sagar(India's largest man made dam),Banasagar
Bhagirathii-Bhilangana- Tehri
Ghaghra- Chibro , Sardar Sahayak

Mahanadi

Left Bank Tributaries-Tel
Right Bank Tributaries-Seonath, Brahmanai,Suvarnrekha, Vaitarani

Dams: Hirakud( Largest mainstream dam in the world), Tikapara, Naraj

Godavari

Origin:Trambak plateu near Nasik

Left Bank- Penganga,Wardha,Wainganga, Indravati,Savari
Right bank-Manjira

Projects:
Pochampad, Nizam Sagar,Dhawaleswaram

Krishna

Origin:Mahabaleswar near Pune

Left Bank- Bhima, Sina
Right Bank-Ghatprabha, Malprabha, Tungabhadra, Hagari

Projects:
Tungabhadra,Srisaila,Nagarjuna Sagar,Koyna, Alamati

Kaveri
Origin:Talakauveri, Brahmagiri hills

Projects and dams: Krishnaraja sagar, Mettur( Stanley reservoir is on this),Grand Anikut canal(India's oldest canal),Sharavati,Shivsamudram,Mahatma Gandhi Project

West Flowing Rivers

Luni

Origin: Amansagar

Sabarmati:

Origin: Mewar Hills. Dharoi project is on this river

Narmada:

Origin: Amarkantak Plateau

• Largest west flowing river
• Dhuadhar falls on this river
• Forms estuary
• Flows through rift valley
• Tawa,penk,Barmer,Hiran are tributaries
  

Projects:Sardar Sarovar,Omkareswar

Mahi: Originates in Vindhya range

Tapi: Multai Satpura range is the place of origin.Forms estuary
Projects:Ukai, Kakrapara

Brahmaputra:
Originates as Chema Young Dum.Mariam La separates it from Manas sarovar.Flows as Tsangpo in Tibet,Jiangin in China and Dihang in India
Right bank- Tista,Manas,Suvarnsiri
Left bank-Dibang,Barak,Lohit
Sarda Dhubri waterway is on it

Indus:
From Nort to south its tributaries are Jhelum(From Bheri nag),Chenab(Bara lacha la),Ravi,Beas,Sutllej
Beas is entirely on India

Projects

Jhelum-Tulbul
Chenab-Dulhasti,Salal
Ravi-Thain
Beas-Pong
Sutlej-Indira Gandhi canal project( sutlej and beas confluence.Largest canal in India),Naptha Jhakri,Bhankra Nangal(largest multipurpose project in India)

Rivers in descending order
Ganga, Godavari,Krishna,Yamuna, Narmada,Ghagghar,Sutlej,Mahanadi,Kaveri,Son,Kosi,Brahmaputra,Ravi,Tapi


Lagoons-Ashtamudi,Chilka,Vembanad

• Loktak in Manipur is the largest fresh water lake in India
• Lonar in Maharashtra is a crater lake
• Wullar in J&K is an Ox Bow lake and its the largest lake in the state
  
• Nakki lake is in Mt Abu
• Lake pichola in Udaipur
• Jaisamand is the largest freshwater lake in Rajasthan
• Sukhna in Chandigarh is an artificial lake
• Highest area underirrigation-Rice,wheat,Oilseeds
• A Treaty on Integrated Development of Mahakali River had been signed
  between the Government of India and Government of Nepal in February 1996; which
  came into force in June 1997 (Mahakali Treaty). Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project
  on river Mahakali (known as river Sarda in India), is the centerpiece of Mahakali
  Treaty.

AGRICULTURE:

• India is the largest producer in the world of milk, cashew nuts, coconuts, tea, ginger, turmeric and black pepper.^[2] It also has the world's largest cattle population (193 million).
• India has a large range of varieties of fruit in its basket and accounts for 10 per
  cent of world’s total fruit production.India is the largest producer of mango, banana.
• India is next only to China in area and production of vegetables and occupies
  prime position in the production of cauliflower, second in onion and third in cabbage
  in the world
• India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices and spice products
• The major
  plantation crops include coconut, arecanut, oil palm, cashew, tea, coffee and rubber,
  the minor plantation crops include cocoa
• India is also the largest producer and consumer of cashew nuts
• India is the third largest producer and consumer of fertilisers in the world after
  China and the USA
• Kisan Call Centres have been functioning since 21st January, 2004 and working in 14
  different locations covering almost all the States of the country
• India is endowed with the largest livestock population in the world. It accounts
  for 57 per cent of the world’s buffalo population and 14 per cent of the cattle population
• The present availability of human protein in an Indian diet is
  10gm per person per day, as against a world average of 25gm
• India continues to be the largest producer of milk in the world.
• India possesses 27 acknowledged indigenous breeds of cattle and seven breeds of
  buffaloes.
• India, with poultry population of 489 million and estimated more than 47 billion
  eggs production per year, ranks among the top three countries in egg production in
  the world
• six major fishing harbors viz., Cochin, Chennai,
  Visakhapatnam, Roychowk, Paradip and Season dock (Mumbai ) in India
• Agriculture and allied sectors
  contribute nearly 22 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP of India), while about
  65-70 per cent of the population is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood
• Chilly is the highest grown spice in India
  

Person and their field of work

• Aparajita Dutta- Botany
• Usha Chammar- Sanitation and Hygiene
  
• Craig ventor -Human Genome Project
• Darshan -Majhi Mountaineering
• Martha Nassabaum- HDI
• Raman Ray -Outsourcing
• Samuel Wood- Human Cloning
• Pramod Karan- Artificial Limb
• Richuard Stallman- Freeware
• Yuki Bhambri -Tennis
• Rakesh Khurana- Management
• Kishor Biyani -Retail
• Bernerd Feliden- Conservation of Buildings
• V Prabhakar -Photography/Journalism
• Albert Howard- Organic farming
• Indra Sinha -Novelst
• Ajit Bhattacharya- Author
• Wegener -Continental Drift Theory
• Edwin Hubble- Big Bang theory
• Manjit Bawa -Artist
• Arthur C Clarke- Science Fiction
• Vinod Mehta- Journalism
• Amy Winehouse- Singer
• O Sullivan-Snooker
• Martin Cooper-Mobile phone invention
• Chery Bart and Nikki Bart-Mountaineering
• Saurav Ghoshal-Squash
• Dola Banerjee-Archery
• Mark Zukerberg-Social Networking
• Charles Simoyi-Space Traveller
• Chandra Shekhar Ghosh-Micro credit

World Geography PART IV (CONCLUDING PART)-ASIA & Others

• In Borobudur(Java) worlds largest Buddhist monastry
• Parliament of Japan- Diet and of Israel-Knesset
• Igorot is a tribe in Philippines
  
• Honshu is the largest Japanese Island
• La Perouse strait between Hokkaido island and Sakhalin
• Caspian sea is bordered by Iran,Kazakhstan,Russia,Turkmenistan,Azerbaijan
• Jordan is the only land locked west Asian nation
• Mt Mayon is an active Volcano in Luzon,Philippines
• Tatar strait separates Russia and Sakhalin
• Sunda strait separates Java and Sumatra
• Malacca strait separates Sumatra and Malaysia
  
• Dasht e Kavir-Largest salt desert in the world(Iran)
• South China Sea is the largest sea in the world and the largest water body after 5 oceans
• Hwang Ho is also known as Yellow river
• Pynmana is the new capital of Myanmar
• Bangkok is on Chao Phraya river
• Laos is the only landlocked nation of West Asia
• Baghdad is on the bank of Tigris river
• Kirkuk in Iraq is the largest oil field in the world
• Majlis is the parliament of both Maldives and Iran
• Tatar is the narrowest strait
• Malaysia is the largest producer of palm oil
• Nigeria largest producer of Ground nut oil
• Veddas is a tribe in Sri Lanka
• Ainu is a tribe in Japan
• Maginot line separates Germany and France
• Rub Ul Khail is the largest continuous stretch of desert in Saudi Arabia
• Famous Karaganda coal mine is in Kazakhstan
• Negev desert in Israel
• Upper Volta is the earlier name of Burkino Fuso
• 38 parallel separates North and South Korea
• Yawata is the largest iron & steel plant in Japan
• Andorra has the highest life expectancy in the world, 85 years
• Area wise continents Asia-Africa,N America,S America,Europe,Australia
• Big Inch Pipeline bet'n Gulf of Mexico and NE Part of America
• Trans Arabian Pipeline-Ras Tanura to Sidon
• Torres strait separates Australia and New Guinea
• Downs-Temperate grassland in AustraliaFoveux starit separates Southern NewZealand and Steward Island
• COMECON pipeline-Volga basin to East European countries
  
• Mexico is the highest producer of Sulphur
• Ashanti is a tribe in Ghana
  
• Canary Islands belong to Spain
• Tamanithi HEP bet'n India and Myanmar, on Chindwin river
  
• El Al is the airlines of Israel
• Cathay Pacific-Airlines of HongKong
• Macao is governed by China.Earlier it was governed by Portugal

HISTORY FREEDOM STRUGGLE PART III( COMMUNISM,TRADE UNION MOVEMENTS,COMMUNALISM,PRINCELY STATES,CAPITALISM)

• Bombay Mill and Millhands Association in 1880 by Narayan Lokhande.He also published Dinabandhu
• Indian Industrial Commission was started in 1918
• AK Gopalan and Krishna Pillai started Gurvayuue Satyagraha in 1931
• In 1938 Hindustan Majdoor Sabha was founded by Rajendra Prasad,JB Kripalni and Patel
• Great Indian Peninsular Railway Strike in May 1899 was the first strike in modern India
• NG Ranga started Peasant Training Institute at Nidabrolu
  
• Darsananda and Viswananda were involved in the East India Railway Strike in 1922
• Mirajkar,Joglekar and Ghate formed Peasants and Workers Party in BombayCPI was recognised by COMMINTERN in 1930
• Michael Borodin converted MN Roy to Communism in Mexico
• SA Dange published The Socialist, first communist journal in India
• Singaravellu Chettiar presided over the first all India conference of Communists in Kanpur in 1925
• Ghulam Hussain published Inquilab from Punjab
• Girni Kamgar Union Strike in 1928-29- Ranadive, Deshpande, Alve and Kasle
• C Rajagopalachari gave the idea of Sales Tax
• Capitalist Class opposed Public Safety Bill, 1928
• "Muslims are fools to ask for constitutional safeguards and Hindus are fooler to refuse them"-Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
• In the Allahabad session of the league Iqbal first demanded a Muslim dominated NWFP
• Mohd Ali presided over Kakinada session of Congress in 1923
• In 1924 after a riot broke out in Kohat Gandhiji went for a strike to condemn it
• Jinnah joined Muslim League in 1913
• Mohd Ali edited Comrade
• Ahrar movement led by Hakim Ajmal Khan, Mohsin ul Mulk and Mohd Ali
• Malavya and MS Aney started Congress Nationalist Party
• Lal Chand wrote "Self Abnegation in Politics"
• MAKA edited Al Hilal
• Gowalkar wrote"Our Nationhood Redefined"
• Sarojini Naidu called Jinnah"Ambassador of Hindu Muslim Unity"
• In 1928 Subhash and Nehru formed Independence for India League
• In 1922 MN Roy published Vanguard of Indian Independence from Berlin
• Nehru presided over AITUC in 1929 and Subhash in 1931
• MN Roy wrote India in Transition
• Meerut Conspiracy Case was over Public Safety Bill issue
• JP wrote a book "Why Socialism"
• Nehru was the Chairman of the National Planning Committtee appointed by Subhash in 1938
• Nehru presided over Ludhiana session of All India States Peoples Conference(AISPC) in 1939
• In Haripura session, 1938 Purna Swaraj included Princely states as well
• First AISPC was held in Bombay in 1927 at the initiative of Balbantrai Mehta, CR Abhayankar and Manik Lal Kothari
• In 1927 Butler Committee was appointed to work on relation with Pricely States
• Swami Ramananda Tirtha organised protest against Princely rule in Hyderabad and UN Dhebar and Jethalal Joshi in Rajkote
• In 1920 Nagpur session Congress demanded responsible governance in Princely states as well
• Hyderabad was the biggest princely state
• Singaravellu Chettiar was the first to organise May Day in India in Madras in 1923
• Fawell Committee in 1929 on Labour Reforms
• Gandhi did not attend the first session of AITUC
• Patel formed INTUC in 1944
• BP Wadia founded Madras Labour Union in 1918 and it was the first organised Trade Union in India
• Ahmedabad Labour Union was the first to be registered under Trade Union Act 1926
• Tilak was the main ideologist behind AITUC
• First meeting of AITUC in Bombay in 1920
• Muslims are fools to ask for constitutional safeguards and the Hindus are fooler to refuse them-Comment By MAKA
• Gowalkar wrote "We"

India Year Book 2009-Selective Readings Part II

• There are 21 High Courts in the country, three having jurisdiction over more than one State
• Among the Union Territories, Delhi alone has a High Court of its own
• The 18th Law Commission was reconstituted on 1 September 2006 for a period of
  three years with Hon’ble Dr. Justice A.R. Lakshmanan as its Chairman. A.R.
  Lakshmanan has been appointed its Chairman w.e.f. 28.5.2007
• The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) was raised on 21 October 1962 after the Chinese
  aggression
• Border Security Force (BSF) raised in 1965, is entrusted with the task of maintaining
  permanent vigilance on India’s international borders.
• The Assam Rifles raised as Catchar Levy in 1835 is the oldest Police Force in the
  country
• Rapid Action Force (RAF) is an integral part of the Central Reserve Police Force. With
  10 battalions it has been conceived in 1992
• The Indian Succession Act was enacted in 1925
• The postal system, established by Lord Clive in the year 1766, was further developed by Warren Hastings by establishing the Calcutta G.P.O. under a Postmaster General in the year 1774
• The country has 1.55 lakhs post offices, of which, 1,39,074 are in rural areas and 16,259 in
  urban areas
• India is a member of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) since 1876 and of the Asian
  Pacific Postal Union (APPU) since 1964.
• Speed Post service was introduced on 1st August 1986.
• The first Telegraph line between Kolkata and Diamond Harbour was opened for traffic in 1851
• On 1 October 2000 a new public Sector Undertaking, viz. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), has been formed to take over all the service providing functions of the erstwhile Department of Telecommunication Services
• The first automatic exchange was commissioned at Shimla in 1913-14 with a capacity of 700 lines.
• In early 1997, the telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) was established
  under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 to regulate the
  telecommunications services
• The Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) came into existence on 1 April
  1986.MTNL is entrustd with the Management, Control and Operation of telecom services (excluding public telegraph service) in metropolitan limits of Mumbai & Navi Mumbai (including Kalyan, and Thane, for mobile service) and Delhi (including four towns Noida, Gurgaon, Faridabad & Ghaziabad for mobile service).
• The Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) was launched on 25 September,
  2001 by merging the on-going schemes of EAS and the JGSY
• Survey of India (SOI), the national survey and mapping organisation under the
  Ministry of Science & Technology was set up in 1767. In its assigned role as the
  National Principal Mapping Agency
• India has the largest constellation of Remote Sensing Satellites
• Antrix, the commercial front of the Department of Space, is a single window agency
  for marketing Indian space capabilities
  

Early Medieval India

• Amoghvarsha patronised Jinasena the author of Adipurana
• The gahdwalah ruler Chndradeva imposed a tax on the Muslims called Turushkadana
• Dantidurga performed Hiranyagarbhadana
• Al Masudi wrote the book "Muruj uj jahan"
• Yashovarman the Chandella ruler built the Khajuraho temple
• The chahamans of Shakambri had several other branches in places like Pratapgarh,Lata, Satvapura, Naddula,Dwalapuri and Ranthambore
• The term Afghan means "To Cry"
• Malatimadhava of Bhabavuti was an important work to know about the kapalikas
• The famous uthor Kshemendra lived in Kashmir
• Dhanyaloka was a work on poetics
• The Chandella rulers revived the gold coins during the medieval period
• The capital of the Hindushahis was Udabandha or Undh
• Harikeli nataka written by Chahamana king Vigraharaja, is inscribed on the slabs of Adhai din ka jhopda
• Pratihara kings had the finest cavalry in the contemporary time
• Nannuka was the founder of the Chandella dynasty and Dhanga was the greatest ruler
• Govindachandra's court was adorned by Lolla Lakshmidhara the author of Kritya kalpataru
• Jaydeva wrote Prasanna Raghava
• Prithviraja Vijaya was written by Jayanka whereas Prithviraja Raso by Chand Vardai
• Govardhanacharya wrote"Aryaprasasti", an erotic poem
• Bilhana wrote Karnasundari
• Krishna I, the Rashtrakuta ruler founded Kailasha temple at Ellora
• Amoghavarsha wrote "prasnottarmalika" and "Kavirajamarga", the earliest work on poetics
• Hindushahis were known as Lallyiah Shahi in Rajtarangini
• Great poet Dhananjay, the author of "Dasarup" adorned the court of Vakpai Munja
• Samantasena was known as Brahma Kshatriya
• Dhoyi wrote Pandavadutam
• Devpala transferred the capital to Monghyr
• During the Pala ruler Rampala Sandhakar Nandi wrote "Ramcharita Manasa" and it was during this time kaivarta rebelion took place
• Dharmapala built the Vikramshila university at Patharghata
• Under the ruler Harsha, Kalhana wrote Rajtarangini in the 12th century
• During the Karkota ruler Durlabh Vardhan, Hieu-en-Tsang visited Kashmir
• The Karkota ruler Lalitaditya Muktadipa built the Sun temple at Martand
• Queen Dida who ruled between 958-1003 AD was of the Utpala dynasty and the wife of Kshemagupta
• Chandellas were the first to use Hindi in Devnagari script
• Al Mashahar went to Benaras to study Sanskrit and astronomy for decade
• The famous image of Bagdevi which is the insignia of Jnanpith award is taken from the symbol prevailing during King Bhoja
• Life science was not taught at Nalanda
• Dhara was a great centre of Sanskrit learning
• Somnath temple was dedicated to Vishnu
• Medhatithi wrote commentaries on Manu
• Chandella king Dhanga sacrificed his life at Prayag at old age
• Chalukya kings were great patrons of Jainism
• Mukteshwara temple was built in the 9th century
• Bhabhavuti author of Malatimadhava and Uttaramacharita was patronised by Yahovarman of Kanauj
• The temples within Khajuraho complex-Duladeo,Kaunarya Mahadeva,Lakshmana,Viswanath,Parshanath and Devi Jagadamba
• Bana wrote Harshacharita, Kadambari and Parvatiparinaya
• In Ellora Brahmanism,Buddhism and Jainism works are found
  

Vedic Age and Brahmanical religion

• Saraswati is identified with Ghagghar Hakra and it was the most sacred river and known as Naditarna
• Valkhilya hymns can be found in RigVeda
• Divodasa was the father of Sudas
• Agastya aryanised South India
• Language of Upanishads was classical Sanskrit
• Samitis were most important during the selection of the King
• Gopatha Brahmana was attached to Atharva Veda
• Sautramani was the festival of Soma Drinking
• Aranyakas highligjhted the mysticism prevailing during the Vedic age
• Atharva veda talks about Sati
• Indra, Agni,Varuna,Mitra and Nyasa were the Indo-Iranian gods
• Orgin of universe was in the 10th mandala of Rigveda
• Sulagava meant sacrifice
• Ratnavamsi ceremony was a part of Rajasuya yajna
• In maitryeani upanishad the doctrine of Trimurti discussed
• Dialogue between Nachiketa and Yama in Katha Upanishad
• Yajurveda was the manual of Adhvaryus who prepared fire altars and the ground of sacrifice
• Valkhilya hymns are in the 8th mandala of Rigveda
• Nirukta written by Yaksha is the oldest work on Rigveda
• Chandogya upanishad discusses three ashramas
• First literary evidence of Gotra is Atharvaveda
• Gayatri mantra in the 3rd mandala of Rigveda
• Purush Sukta andNasadiya hymns are in the 10th mandala of RigVeda
• Sankhya was the oldest among the various philosophical schools
• Upanishads in prose form-shatpatha and chandogya
• Aghoris were the successor of the kapalikas.They had two branches -Shuddha and malina
• Namma and Tirumalisay wre the most popular Alvar saint
• Kulashekhara was an Alvar saint
• Pashupata cult was most popular in Kashmir, Gujarat and Nepal
• Of all the Brahmanical offshoots, Shaivism was the earliest
• Agamanta, Aghori, kapalika,Verrasaiva, Suddha, Pashupat,Lingayat were all shaivite offshoots
• Satvata vidhi and pancharatra agama were cults of Bhagvatism
• Manu talked about 6 kinds of slaves
• The Mora inscription talks about Panchaveera.They were Samkarshana, Aniruddha, Pradyumna, Samba and Vasudeva
• Earliest refrence to Vyuha doctrine was Brahma sutra
• Shandilya propounded Pancharatra cult
• The text of the nyanaras was known as Tevaram whereas the text of the Alvaras was known as Prabhandha
• Thirunabhukkarasu was also known as Appar
  
• Gautamiputra satakarni was known as Ekabrahmana
  

Bhaktism and Sufism

• Ramanuja lived in Kanchipuram and he was orthodox in thinking
• Ramanand was the first Bhakti saint of North India to incorporate Hindi in his writings
• Nimbarka believed in Vishistadvaita
• Vallabhacharya propunded Shuddhadvaita and he preached from Srirangam.His philosophy was known as Pushtimarga and his school of thought Rudrasampradaya.He wrote Sahitya Ratna,Sur Sagar, Sur Sarawali.
• Tulsidasa wrote Gitawali, Kavitawali and Vinay Patrika
• In Janam Sakhi Nanak's encounter with Sufism is given
• Ramanand wrote Dasabodha
• Ramanuja wrote Gitabhashya and Srivashya
• Centre of Bhakti in Maharashtra was Pandharpur
• Prapatti was Complete surrender to God
• Tazk-e -duniya was renunciation of the world
• Nizamuddin Ahmad preached yogic breathing exercise and known as Shudh
• Trinity of Bhakti in North India-Nanak, Kabir and Raidasa
• Lyrical poems of Eknatha"Bhanga"
• Namdev was influenced by Islam
• Jalaluddin Bukhari, who teachings inspired Feroz Shah Tughlak was also known as Makhdum-i-Jahan or Jahanghast
• Bahauddin Zakariya founded Shuhrawardi sect in India
• Miyan Mir wrote Das Makhum Rekhta
• Vallabhacharya visited the court of Krishna Deva Raya
• Shaikh Ahmad Sarhindi, a Naqshbandi sufi saint was also known as Mujaddid Alif Sani
• Abdul Haq was the only orthodox saint among all the Qadiriya saints whereas Shah Wali Ullah was the only moderate saint among the Naqshbandi saints
• Rishi movement led by Nuruddin Rishi was popular in Kashmir
• Beshahra- Not bound by Islamic laws
• Qadiriya saints wore green turban
• Khair ul majalis a ufi book written bu Hamid Qalandari was on Hamiduddin Nagauri
• Ibn Arbi first gave the concept of Wahdahat ul Wajud
• Dara and Jahanara were followers of miyan Mir
• Except Nizamuddin all leading sufi saints were married
• Quberiwa sect was popular in Kshmir
• Ramananda took the name "Adbhuta"
• Marifat or wasl was eternal bliss
• Al Hujwiri wrote Kashful i Majhb
• Nizamuddin Auliya saw the rule of seven rulers but visited the court of none
• Vrindavan in the present state was identified by valabhacharya
•