1. Who is the Present Attorney General =>> K. K. Venugopal
2. Who is the Present Solicitor General =>> Satya Pal Jain
3. Who is the Present Comptroller and Auditor General =>> Rajiv Mehrishi
4. Who is the Present Army Chief =>> Gen. Bipin Rawat
5. Who is the Present Chief of Air staff =>> Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa
6. Who is the Present Chief of Naval Staff =>> Admiral Sunil Lanba
7. Who is the Present Chief Election Commissioner =>> Om Prakash Rawat
8. Who is the Present National Human Rights Commission, Chairman =>> Justice H. L. Dattu
9. Who is the Present National Commission for Women, Chairperson =>> Rekha Sharma
10. Who is the Present Chief Information Commissioner =>> Radha Krishna Mathur
11. Who is the present Finance Commission, Chairman =>> N.K. Singh
12. Who is the Present ISRO, chairman =>> Dr. Kailasavadivoo Sivan
13. Who is the present SEBI chairman =>> Ajay Tyagi
14. Who is the present Supreme Court Chief Justice of India =>> Justice Deepak Mishra
15. Who is the chief of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)?
Answer: Anil Dhasmana
16. Who is the chief of the Intelligence Bureau (IB)?
Answer: Rajiv Jain
17. Who is the new chief of CBI?
Answer: Alok Verma
18. Who is the present TRAI ( Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) Chairman?
Answer: Ram Sewak Sharma
19. Who is the present CBFC chief?
Answer: Prasoon Joshi
20. Who is the present Cabinet Secretary of India?
Answer: Pradeep Kumar Sinha
Heads of Important Offices in India
45 Bharat Ratna Recipients – know why they are most deserving
Bharat Ratna is highest civilian award in India, which started in 1954. It is given in any field of human endeavour. Prime Minister and President of India can recommend a name for Bharat Ratna. Find out Bharat Ratna Award Winners List below and their achievements and some facts as well.
Bharat Ratna Award Winners List
1. C. Rajagopalachari in 1954
First recipient of Bharat Ratna. He was an Independence activist, also last and only Indian Governor-General of India.
2. Sir C V Raman 1954
Sir CV Raman was awarded Bharat Ratna in the same year it was started. He is Nobel laureate physicist (1930) and one of the most popular scientist in world.
3. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan 1954
Dr. Radhakrishnan also received Bharat Ratna in first year itself. He was a great Philosopher, India’s first Vice-President (1952–62), and second President (1962–67). He was awarded Bharat Ratna when while he was Vice President of India (Vice President of India have no role in Bharat Ratna decisions.)
4. Bhagwan Das 1955
Bhagwan Das was an Independence activist, theosophist, and founder of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith.
5. Visvesvaraya 1955
He was most notable Engineer of India. Visvesvaraya was a Civil engineer, Diwan of Mysore (1912–18), and Knight Commander of the Indian Empire.
6. Jawaharlal Nehru 1955
Pandit Nehru was awarded Bharat Ratna in 1955 when he was Prime Minister of India. He was an Independence activist, author, and first Prime Minister of India (1947–64). (PM of India is the one who confirms Bharat Ratna Winner)
7. Govind Ballabh Pant 1957
Govind Ballabh Pant was an Independence activist, first Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (1950–54)
8. Dr Dhondo Keshav Karve 1958
Dr. Karve was a highly regarded and one of the most notable social Reformer of India.
9. Bidhan Chandra Roy 1961
A Physician-Surgeon and second Chief Minister of West Bengal (1948–62)
10. Purushottam Das Tandon 1961
Purushottam Das Tandon was an Independence activist and educator.
11. Rajendra Prasad 1962
Dr. Rajendra Prasad received Bharat Ratna in 1962 after his tenure as President of India came to an end. He was an Independence activist, lawyer and first President of India (1950–62).
12. Zakir Hussain 1963
An Independence activist, second Vice-President of India (1962–67), and third President of India (1967–69). Received Bharat Ratna while he was Vice President of India.
13. Pandurang Vaman Kane 1963
An Indologist and notable Sanskrit scholar.
14. Lal Bahadur Shastri 1966
He was an Independence activist and third Prime Minister of India (1964–66). Received Bharat Ratna after his sudden death in 1966.
15. Indira Gandhi 1971
Indira Gandhi was Former Prime Minister of India (1966–77, 1980–84). She received Bharat Ratna when she was Prime Minister of India.
16. V. V. Giri 1975
Trade unionist, first Acting President of India, and fourth President of India (1969–74).
17. K. Kamaraj 1976
Independence activist and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (1954–57, 1957–62, 1962–63)
18. Mother Teresa 1980
Mother Teresa was Catholic nun, founder of the Missionaries of Charity and Nobel peace prize laureate (1979). She was first recipient of Bharat Ratna who was not an Indian citizen. She received Bharat Ratna right after she won Noble Peace Prize.
19. Vinoba Bhave 1983
An Independence activist, social reformer, and Ramon Magsaysay Award laureate (1958)
20. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan 1987
An Independence activist who fought for India’s freedom.
21. M. G. Ramachandran 1988
Film actor and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and founder of AIADMK political party. (1977–80, 1980–84, 1985–87)
22. B. R. Ambedkar 1990
Dr Ambedkar was Chief architect of the Indian Constitution and social reformer.
23. Nelson Mandela 1990
Leader of the Anti-Apartheid Movement in South Africa and Nobel Peace Prize laureate (1993). Another recipient who was not Indian Citizen.
24. Rajiv Gandhi 1991
Rajiv Gandhi was given Bharat Ratna after his assassination in 1991. He was Ninth Prime Minister of India (1984–89)
25. Vallabhbhai Patel 1991
An Independence activist and first Deputy Prime Minister of India(1947–50)
26. Morarji Desai 1991
Morarji Deasi was an Independence activist and sixth Prime Minister of India (1977–79). He was first Non Congress Leader to becom India’s Prime Minister.
27. Abul Kalam Azad 1992
An Independence activist who was given Bharat Ratna in 1992
28. J. R. D. Tata 1992
A notable Industrialist and philanthropist, who served as the chairman of Tata Group and also founded Air India.
29. Satyajit Ray 1992
One of the most notable Filmmaker of India and Oscar Award winner (Life Time Achievement award in 1991)
30. Gulzarilal Nanda 1997
Gulzarilal Nanda was an Independence activist and two times interim Prime Minister of India.
31. Aruna Asaf Ali 1997
Aruna Asaf was an Independence activist. She is widely remembered for hoisting the Indian National Congress flag at the Gowalia Tank maidan in Bombay during the Quit India Movement, 1942.
32. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam 1997
Dr. Kalam was an Aerospace and Defense Scientist and eleventh President of India (2002–07). He received Bharat ratna 5 year before being President.
33. M. S. Subbulakshmi 1998
M. S. Subbulakshmi was a Carnatic classical vocalist.
34. Chidambaram Subramaniam 1998
An Independence activist and former Minister of Agriculture of India durin lal Bahadur Shastri government. (1964–66)
35. Jayaprakash Narayan 1999
An Independence activist and social reformer of India who raised voice against Indira government and started Total Revolution movement.
36. Ravi Shankar 1999
A notable and most famous Hindustani classical Sitar player.
37. Amartya Sen 1999
Amartya Sen was a Nobel laureate economist (1998) who recived Bharat Ratna after winning Nobel prize.
38. Gopinath Bordoloi 1999
An Independence activist and first Chief Minister of Assam (1946–50)
39. Lata Mangeshkar 2001
Most popular female Playback singer of India
40. Bismillah Khan 2001
Bismillah Khan was a Hindustani classical Shehnai player
41. Bhimsen Joshi 2009
Pandit Bhimsen Joshi received Bharat Ratna in 2009. He was a Hindustani classical vocalist
42. Sachin Tendulkar 2013
Most celebrated Cricketer in the world and most popular sports person of India.
43. C. N. R. Rao 2013
Dr. Rao is a notable Chemist who has published more than 1400 papers.
44. Madan Mohan Malaviya 2014
An Indian educationist and politician and Independence activist. He was the founder of Banaras Hindu University.
45. Atal Bihari Vajpayee 2014
An Independence activist, Former Prime Minister of India (1996), (1998), (1999-2004) and a poet
Know About Bharat Ratna Award
Bharat Ratna Award is India’s highest civilian award given for performance in highest order in any field of human Endeavour. Bharat Ratna award was introduced in 1954 and is awarded to 45 people till date among them 12 were awarded posthumously. Any person without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex is eligible for Bharat Ratna award.
Latest recipients are Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya (posthumously) and Sh. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, bestowed in 2015. This award is not necessarily given every year in past 64 years it is given only 25 times.
The recommendations of the “2 Bharat Ratna” are made by the Prime Minister of India to the President of India and maximum three Bharat Ratna awards can be made in a year.
Before 2011 the Bharat Ratna given for Artistic, Literacy, Scientific Achievements, as well as “Recognition of public service of the highest order”. But in December 2011 Government of India has modified the criteria for Bharat Ratna Award. Now sportsperson can also win Bharat Ratna Award.
Must Read: 45 Bharat Ratna Recipients – know why they are most deserving
A press communique was released from the office of the secretary to the President of India to institute two civilian awards—Bharat Ratna and the three-tier Padma Vibhushan, classified into “Pahela Warg”, “Dusra Warg” and “Tisra Warg”.
The Padma Vibhushan classifications were altered into three different awards; the Padma Vibhushan, the highest of three awards followed by the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shri.
The recipient receives a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a peepal-leaf–shaped medallion; there is no monetary grant associated with the award. The recipients of the Bharat Ratna rank seventh in the Indian order of precedence, but are constitutionally prohibited from using the award name as a title.
The obverse side of the medal was designed to have the Sun with the rays embossed in the centre with the words “Bharat Ratna” written in Hindi language in silver-gilt on the upper edge and a wreath on the lower edge. The reverse side was designed to have the Emblem of India in the centre with national motto of India “Satyameva Jayate” (Truth alone triumphs) written in Hindi in silver-gilt on the lower edge.
Interesting Facts about Bharat Ratna Award Winners
- First Bharat Ratna was awarded to Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, Sir C.V. Raman, and Chakravarti Rajagopalachari in 1954.
- Last Bharat Ratna was awarded to Bhimsen Joshi in 2008.
- Mother Teresa was the first naturalized Indian citizen of Bharat Ratna Award Winner in 1980.
- Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan (1987) And Nelson Mandela (1990) are two non-Indians of Bharat Ratna Award Winners.
- Sachin Tendulkar is the first sportsperson and the youngest Bharat Ratna Award Winner.
Don’t Miss: Indian Defence Awards
Param Vir Chakra Winners
- IC– 521 Major Som Nath Sharma, 4 Kumaon Regiment, November 3, 1947, Badgam Kashmir (posthumous)
- IC-22356 Lance Naik Karham Singh M M, 1 Sikh Regiment, October 13, 1948, Tithwal Kashmir
- SS-14246 Second Lt Rama Raghobe Rane, Corps of Engineers, April 8, 1948, Naushera, Kashmir
- 27373 Naik Jadu Nath Singh, 1 Rajput Regiment, February 1948, Naushera, Kashmir (posthumous)
- 2831592 Company Havildar Major Piru Singh, 6 Rajputana Rifles, July 17/18, 1948, Tithwal, Kashmir (posthumous)
- IC-8497 Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria, 3/1 Gurkha Rifles, December 5, 1961, Elizabethville, Katanga, Congo (posthumous)
- IC-7990 Major Dhan Singh Thapa, 1/8 Gurkha Rifles, October 20, 1962, Ladakh, India
- JC-4547 Subedar Joginder Singh, 1 Sikh Regiment, October 23, 1962, Tongpen La, Northeast Frontier Agency, India (posthumous)
- Major Shaitan Singh, Kumaon Regiment, November 18, 1962, Rezang La (posthumous)
- 2639885 Company Havildar Major Abdul Hamid, 4 Grenadiers, September 10, 1965, Chima, Khem Karan Sector (posthumous)
- IC-5565 Lieutenant-Colonel Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore, 17 Poona Horse, October 15, 1965, Phillora, Sialkot Sector, Pakistan (posthumous)
- 4239746 Lance Naik Albert Ekka, 14 Guards, December 3, 1971, Gangasagar (posthumous)
- 10877 (P) Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, Indian Air Force, December 14, 1971, Srinagar, Kashmir (posthumous)
- IC-25067 2/Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, 17 Poona Horse, December 16, 1971, Jarpal, Shakargarh Sector, (posthumous)
- IC-14608 Major Hoshiar Singh, Grenadiers, December 17, 1971, Basantar River, Shakargarh Sector
- Naib Subedar Bana Singh, 8 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, June 23, 1987, Siachen Glacier, Jammu and Kashmir
- Major Ramaswamy Parmeshwaran, 8 Mahar Regiment, November 25, 1987, Sri Lanka (posthumous)
- IC-57556 Captain Vikram Batra, 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, July 6, 1999(posthumous)
- IC-56959 Lt Manoj Kumar Pandey, 1/11 Gorkha Rifles, July 3, 1999, Khaluber/Juber Top, Batalik sector, Kargil area, Jammu and Kashmir (posthumous)
- No 2690572 Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav, 18 Grenadiers, July 4, 1999, Tiger Hill, Kargil area
- Rifleman Sanjay Kumar, 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, July 5, 1999
Must Read:
Bird Flu – The Avian Influenza
Avian influenza or Bird Flu is a contagious disease of animals caused by viruses that normally infect only birds and, less commonly, pigs.
It is believed that the H5N1 is endemic to wild birds, occurring naturally in bodies of birds such as the swan, duck, and goose, surviving for long without causing them any disease. Acting as carriers, these birds which are migratory can infect other species.
The strain is believed to have spread from infected water fowl to common domestic chicken through nasal, oral, fecal and egg routes.
In domestic poultry, the infection causes two forms of the disease – low and high extremes of virulence. While the low pathogenic form causes only mild symptoms like ruffled feathers and a drop in egg production, the highly pathogenic form spreads very rapidly and kills the infected birds within 48 hours.
Symptoms and spread of
Symptoms of bird flu in humans range from the typical flu like symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches to eye infections, pneumonia, respiratory diseases and other life threatening complications.
The symptoms of bird flu may depend on which virus strain caused the infection. Infected Birds shed flu virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and faeces. Other Birds get infected when they come in contact with contaminated excretions.
Minimizing the risk to poultry
An easy to read brochure published by the UN body Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), ‘Prevention and control of Avian flu in a small scale poultry: A guide for veterinary paraprofessionals in Cambodia’ gives simple tips that smallholders can follow to protect their flocks.
According to this guide, there are three basic principles to protecting a farm:
- Keep birds in good condition so that they are able to resist disease better. This requires good access to clean water and adequate food, adequate housing for the birds and receiving de-worming products and vaccination.
- Keep the poultry in a protected environment. Ideally, poultry should be kept in the closed building.
- Control entry to farm. People wheeled vehicle, implements, animals bought from elsewhere, and even dogs or cats carrying dead animals can bring the virus to the farm. Visitors should be kept away from where poultry leave and eat. A bucket of water and soap kept handy help reduce the risk of infection.
Bird flu and humans
Seasonal influenza affects human without doing much harm, though a very small number of old and weak persons may die of it. The common types of influenza virus in human are the A and B type. The H5N1 is a sub-type of the A virus.
It can be passed from bird to human due to close proximity. Researchers point out that several subtypes of the A virus coexist in harmony with their natural hosts (wild fowl, for instance). The viruses in these natural hosts are in evolutionary stasis that is they show minimum evolution at the amino acid level over long periods of time.
However, when they get into a new host, the viruses evolve at a fast pace. The biggest danger of transmission comes from bird droppings as these have an encrustation that provides protection to the viruses for a longer time, and chances of infection increase as the droppings dry and become pulverized.
The infected chickens die as their immune system over-reacts. The situation continues till the host develops immunity. Viruses jumping the species barrier are rare occurrences. But when it happens, as in the case of H5N1 strain, the viruses mutate to infect humans in an aggressive manner causing rapid deterioration and high fatality.
Going by the fact that, the number of human infected is low, the mortality rate is high at 50% (it is 15% in poultry), we can conclude that pathogenicity is high in humans. So far, human to human transmission of the disease is not known, but, with virus evolution and mixing of the virus and human genes, mutation enabling such transmission cannot be ruled out.
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