Interesting Philatelic Facts

• The first postage stamp of the world: Penny Black
• Date of issue of the first stamp : May 1, 1840
• The first stamp was available for sale to the public on : May 6,1840
• The first stamp of India : Scine Dawk.
• The year India's first stamp appeared : 1852
• The year of issueof the first postcard: 1869
• The first country to Issue the postcard : Austria
• The date of issue of the first stamp of travancore : October 16,1888
• The date of issue of the first stamp of cochin : April 1, 1892
• The man who was responsable for the first stamp of the world : Sir Rowland Hill
• The personality depicted on penny Black: Queen Victoria of England
• What is the study of post cards called ?: Deltiology
• The date of issue of independent India's first stamps: November21,1947
• The price of the first stamp of india with the state emblem,the Ashokan Capital: 1.5 annas
• Whose birth centenary had a commemorative stamp on july 23,1956 ? : Bal Gangadhar Tilak
• The First Person depcted on free India's stamp : Mahatma Gandhi(1948)
• The first women to appear on an Indian stamp : MeeraBai
• The world's costliest stamp: British Guiana,1 cent,1856
• The disciple of jesus Christ on Whom a Commemorative stamp was issued : St Thomas
• The inscription on Indian stamps until 1882: East India Postage
• The country with the largest number of post offices: India
• The slogan used for stamping the mail on the first Independence Day : Jai Hind
• The oldest postal services in the world : in China, 4000 B.C.
• The oldest state post of modern times permitting the circulation of private correspondence: France, 1464
• The only countries to grant their citizens free postage: Andorra and Greenland
• The first stamp issued outside the UK: New York City, Feb 1, 1842
• The first Stamp In Asia : Scinde Dawk Of India.
• The first African stamp: Cape of Good Hope triangulars, Sept.1, 1853
• The first government issue of stamps outside the U.K.:Zurich,Switzerland (March 1, 1843)
• Beginning of Post Office savings bank in India: 1882
• The introduction of postal index number (PIN) in India: August 15, 1972
• The year India achieved the world record of one lakh post offices: 1968
• The year inland letter card was introduced : 1950
• The first international philatelic exhibition was held in : Frankfurt (1887)

The global Crisis : Recession Fears

The failures of large financial institutions in the US rapidly evolved into a global crisis in 2008,resulting in a number of Europeonbank failures and declines in various stock indexes,and significant reductions in the market- Value of equities qnd comodities worldwide.Three of the big Five of Wall Street disappeared. Lehman Brothers went broke. MerryLynch was absorbed by bank of America. Bear Stearns was taken over by J.P.Morgan.Freddie MAc and Fennie Mae, The two largest home mortgage institutions of the US were rescuedfrom bankruptcy by their effective takeover by the government.80% of the Insurance giant AIG was also similarly taken over.
Major banks and other financial institutions around the world had reported losses of $ 435 billion as of july.The crisis lead to a liquidity problem and the de-leveraging of financial Institutions espesially in the US and Europe,which further accelerated the liquidity crisis. World political leaders and national ministers of finance and central bank directors coordinated their efforts to reduce fears but the crisiswas continuing.Leaders from the EU's 27 countries in october vowed to overhaul the global financial system and protect the continent's Industry.
IndiaOn Oct.24, fIIs shed a record quantity of indian stocks sending the sensex pluging 11 p.c. The index collapsed to 2005 levels,breaching the 9000-mark.Reserve Bank of India Governor D. Subbaroa said on oct.25 that India's growth story will continue despight a slight decleration,but there would be no recessions as in some advanced countries.

World : Major Nuclear Accidents

Oct 7, 1957: A fire in the Wind Scale plutonium production reactor N of Liverpool, EnglandRealesed radioactive material;later blamed for 39 cancer deaths.

Jan 3, 1961 : Areactor at a federal instalation near Idaho Falls, Idaho,U.S.A.,Killed 3workers.Radiation Contained.

Oct 5, 1966: A sodium cooling system malfunction caused a partial core meltdown at the Enrico Fermi Demonstration breeder reactor, near detroit, Michigan,U.S.A. RaditionContained.

Jan 21, 1969: A coolant malfunction from an experimental underground reactor at Lucens Vad,Switzerland, released radiation in to a cavern, which was then sealed.

Mar 22, 1975 : Fire at the Brown's Ferry reacter in Decatur,Alhama,U.S.A.,Caused dangerously lowering of cooling water levels.

Mar 28, 1979: The worst commercial nuclear accident in the U.S. occurred as equipmentfailures and human mistakes led to a loss of coolant and a partial coremeltdown at the three MIle Island reactor in Middletown,Pennsylvania.

Feb 11, 1981: 8 worker were contaminated when 100,000 gallons of radioactive coolant fluidleaked into containment building of TVA's Sequoyah 1 plant in Tennesse,U.S.A.

Apr 25,1981: Some 100 workers were exposed to radiation during repaires of a nuclear plantat Tsuruga, Japan.

Jan 6,1986: A cylender of nuclear material burst after being improperlyheated at a Kerr-McGee Plant at Gore, Oklahoma,U.S.A. One worker died;100 were hospitalized.

Apr 26,1986 : In the worst nuclear accidents in the history of nuclear power, fires and explosions resulting from an unauthorized experiment at the Chernobylnuclear power plant near Kiev, USSR ( now in Ukraine),Left at least31 dead in the immediate aftermath and spread radioactive material over much of europe.An estimated 1,35,000 people were evacuated from the region.

Sept 30,1999: Japan's worst nuclear accidents ever occurred at a uranium-reprocessingfacility in Tokaimura, NE of Tokyo, when workers accidentlly overloaded a container withuranium,thereby exposing workers and area residents to exteremly high radiation levels.

Railway Recruitment Board Solved Paper 2008

Q.1. When a ray of light passes from an optically denser medium to a rarer medium, it
(a) Remains undeviated (b) Bends towards normal
(c) Bends away from normal (d) None of these
Q.2.Who is the author of "Anandmath" ?
(a) Rabindranath Tagore (b) Bankim chandra Chattopadhyaya
(c) Sarojini Nayadu (d) Jyotiba Phule
Q.3. Thimpu is the capital of -
(a) Nepal (b) Bhutan
(c) Thailand (d) Myanmar
Q.4. The time period of a seconds pendulum is
(a) 1 second (b) 4 seconds
(c) 3 seconds (d) 2 seconds
Q.5. The nuclear fuel in the sun is
(a) Helium (b) Uranium
(c) Hydrogen (d) Oxygen
Q.6. The second’s hand of a watch is 2 cm long. The velocity of its tip is
(a) 0.21 cm/sec. (b) 2.1 cm/sec.
(c) 21 cm/sec. (d) None of these
Q.7. In diesel engine, ignition is caused by
(a) Spark (b) Automatic starter
(c) Compression (d) Friction
Q.8. The mass-energy equivalence, relationship E = mc2 was propounded by
(a) Max Plank (b) Einstein
(c) Newton (d) Hertz
Q.9. The filament of bulb is made of
(a) Tungsten (b) Iron
(c) Nichrome (d) Carbon
Q.10. Anti-knocking can be lessened by
(a) Iso Octane (b) N Heptane
(c) TEL (d) Benzene
Q.11. In which of the following oxidation shows a positive oxidation state.
(a) CO (b) N2O
(c) NO (d) F2O
Q.12. Which of the following is used in photography?
(a) Silver Bromide (b) Sodium Bromide
(c) Potassium Chloride (d) Sodium Sulphate
Q.13. Which of the following is used in accumulator cell?
(a) Copper (b) Iron
(c) Lead (d) Zinc
Q.14. Choose the wrong statement :
(a) Single magnetic poles can exist
(b) Magnetic poles are always of equal strength
(c) Like poles repel each other
(d) None of these
Q.15. Laws of electrolysis are given by:
(a) Farady (b) Maxwell
(c) Lenz (d) Bohr
Q.16. Flemings left hand rule is used to fine out:
(a) Direction of magnetic field due to flow of current
(b) Direction of induced current due to effect of magnetic field
(c) Direction of motion of a current carrying conductor in magnetic field
(d) None of these
Q.17. The pH of a neutral solution at 250C is :
(a) 0 (b) 1.0
(c) 7.0 (d) 1.4
Q.18. The raw material used for the manufacture of Portland cement is :
(a) Limestone and clay (b) Alumina, clay and gypsum
(c) Gypsum and limestone (d) Gypsum and clay19. CaOCI2 is the chemical formula for a compound commonly known as :(a) Soda Ash (b) Lime
(c) Bleaching Powder (d) Plaster of Paris
Q.20. The glass used for making laboratory apparatus is :

(a) Pyrex glass (b) Hard glass
(c) Soft glass (d) Safety glass
Q.21. The iron produced in blast furnace is :
(a) Pig iron (b) Wrought iron
(c) Stainless steel (d) Steel
Q.22. Formation is a 40% solution of :
(a) Methanol (b) Methenal
(c) Methanoic acid (d) None of these
Q.23. Which of the following is not an ore of aluminium :
(a) Cryolite (b) Feldspar
(c) Bauxite (d) Azurite
Q.24. Rhombic monoclinic and plastic sulphur are:
(a) Isomers (b) Isotopes
(c) Allotropes (d) Hydrides of sulphur

Q.25. The alkaline hydrolysis of oils or fats gives soap and :
(a) Glycerol (b) Ethenol
(c) Glycol (d) Ethanoic acid
Q.26. The sight of a delicious food usually makes month watery. It is a :
(a) Hormonal response (b) Neural response
(c) Optic response (d) Olfactory response
Q.27. Nitrogen fixing bacteria are normally found in :
(a) Parasitic plants (b) Epiphytic plants
(c) Leguminous plants (d) Aquatic plants
Q.28. Powdery mildew of wheat is caused by:
(a) Bacteria (b) Virus
(c) Fungi (d) Protozoans
Q.29. Septic sore throat is caused by :
(a) Bacteria (b) Virus
(c) Fungi (d) Protozoans
Q.30. A person of blood group AB can give blood to :
(a) ‘A’ and ‘B’ (b) Only ‘AB’
(c) ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘O’ (d) All of these
Q.31. Cell activities are controlled by :
(a) Chloroplast (b) Nitochondria
(c) Cytoplasm (d) Nucleus
Q.32. Which of the following helps eye to adjust the focal length of the eye lens :
(a) Cornea (b) Conjunctiva
(c) Ciliary body (d) Iris
Q.33. When pollen of a flower is transferred to the stigma of the same plant, pollination type is referred to as :
(a) Autogamy (b) Allogamy
(c) Xenogamy (d) Geitonogamy
Q.34. Respiration is a :
(a) Catabolic process (b) Anabolic process
(c) Both of these (d) None of these
Q.35. The structural and functional unit of kidneys are :
(a) Neurons (b) Nephrons
(c) Medula (d) None of these
Q.36. Which of the following enzymes is generally nor present in adult human :
(a) Renin (b) Pepsin
(c) Trypsin (d) Amylopsin
Q.37. The part of the plant which is responsible for carrying water and solutes from roots to various parts of plants is :
(a) Phloem (b) Xylem
(c) Duodenum (d) Sclercids
Q.38. ‘Widal test’ is used for susceptibility of :
(a) Malaria (b) Typhoid
(c) Cholera (d) Yellow fever
Q.39. Exchange of gases in plants takes place through :
(a) Stomata (b) Lenticels
(c) Cuticle (d) All of these
Q.40. ‘Lieutenant’ in army is equivalent to following rank in navy :
(a) Lieutenant (b) Sub Lieutanant
(c) Lieutenant Commander (d) None of these
Q.41. Pankaj Advani is associated with :
(a) Snooker (b) Golf
(c) Shooting (d) Archery
Q.42. Which city in the world is known as the forbidden city :
(a) Aberdeen (b) Jerusalem
(c) Mecca (d) Lhasa
Q.43. Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna Award carries a sum of :
(a) Rs. 3 lakns (b) Rs. 5 lakhs
(c) Rs. 1 lakh (d) Rs. 7 lakhs
Q.44. Who is known as ‘Nightingale of India’ :
(a) Asha Bhonsle (b) Begum Akhtar
(c) Sarojini Naidu (d) Vijaylaxmi Pandit
Q.45. Which one of the following is not included in the UNESCO’s list of world heritage site :
(a) Kaziranga National Park (b) Qutab Minar
(c) Champaner Pavagarh (d) None of these
Q.46. Which of the following is not an electric resistant?
(a) Lead (b) Ebonite
(c) Charcoal (d) Lac
Q.47. Which of the following is a complementary colour?
(a) Blue (b) Yellow
(c) Magenta (d) Yellow and Magenta
Q.48. The velocity of sound increases in air by ……… for every degree Celsius increase of temperature.
(a) 60 m/sec. (b) 0.61 m/sec.
(c) 60 ft/sec. (d) 0.61 km/sec.
Q.49. Henry is a unit of
(a) Capacity (b) Magnetic field
(c) Inductance (d) Frequency
Q.50. The velocity of rotation of Earth is
(a) 28 km/min (b) 30 km/min
(c) 25 km/min (d) 39.5 km/min
Q.51. What is Hubble?
(a) Warship (b) Star
(c) Telescope (d) Missile
Q.52. Which acid is normally found in lemon and grape fruits?
(a) Citric acid (b) Tartaric acid
(c) Ascorbic acid (d) Lactic acid
Q.53. At which temperature Fahrenheit and Celsius show same reading?
(a) -400 (b) 00
(c) -574.250 (d) 2730
Q.54. Limestone is metamorphosed to form
(a) Graphite (b) Quartz
(c) Granite (d) Marble
Q.55. Rift valley is formed by
(a) Earthquake (b) Folding
(c) Faulting (d) All of these
Q.56. If a piece of ice at 00C is mixed with water at 00C, then
(a) Whole ice melts (b) Some ice melts
(c) No ice melts (d) Temperature decreases
Q.57. Mettur Dam is built on the river
(a) Krishna (b) Cauvery
(c) Narmada (d) Mahanadi
Q.58. Mahendra Giri peak is situated in the
(a) Eastern Ghats (b) Western Ghats
(c) Shiwaliks (d) Vindhyachal
Q.59. In what time a sum will double itself at 20% per annum rate of interest?
(a) 2 years (b) 3 years
(c) 4 years (d) 5 years
Q.60. The famous Dilwara Temple is situated in
(a) Madhya Pradesh (b) Maharashtra
(c) Gujarat (d) Rajasthan
Q.61. Pneumonia affects
(a) Lungs (b) Tongue
(c) Liver (d) Kidney
Q.62. The chemical name of Vitamin A is
(a) Retinol (b) Jhiamin
(c) Biotic (d) Riboflavin
Q.63. A 130m long train crosses a bridge in 30 seconds at 45 kmph. The length of the bridge is
(a) 200m (b) 225m
(c) 245m (d) 250m
Q.64. By selling an article at some price a person gains 10%. If the article is sold at twice of the price, the gain percent will be
(a) 20% (b) 60%
(c) 100% (d) 120%
Q.65. Atoms are electrically charged as
(a) Positive (b) Negative
(c) Bi-positive (d) Neutral
Q.66. Ionic bond exists in
(a) Kcl (b) H2O
(c) NH3 (d) Cl3
Q.67. Which force is required to increase the momentum of an object to 40 kg m/s in 5 seconds?
(a) 2N (b) 4N
(c) 8N (d) 10N
Q.68. The river that does not form delta is
(a) Mahanadi (b) Tapti
(c) Krishna (d) Cauvery
Q.69. The ratio of the redius and height of a cone is 5 : 12, respectively. Its volume is 23147cc. Find its slant height.
(a) 13cm (b) 14cm
(c) 17cm (d) 26cm
Q.70. 27 students took part in a debate of a college. What is the probability that at least 3 of them have their birth days in the same month?
(a) 3/27 (b) 3/12
(c) 12 (d) 1
Q.71. Who was the first winner of Dada Saheb Phalke Award?
(a) B.N.Sarkar (b) Prithvi Raj Kapoor
(c) Devika Rani (d) Kanan Devi
Q.72. How many members are nominated by the President in the Rajya Sabha?
(a) 12 (b) 15
(c) 10 (d) 20
Q.73. Who was the founder of Brahmo Samaj?
(a) Raja Rammohan Roy (b) Aurobindo Ghosh
(c) Vivekanand (d) Dyanand Saraswati
Q.74. The Parliamentary System in India has been taken from
(a) America (b) Britain
(c) Australia (d) Ireland
Q.75. The electric supply in India was first started in
(a) Kolkata (b) Chennai
(c) Mumbai (d) Darjeeling
Q.76. Bhatnagar Prize is given in the field of
(a) Peace (b) Music and dance
(c) Science & technology (d) Fine arts
Q.77. Who discovered the solar system?
(a) Copernicus (b) Kepler
(c) Aryabhatta (d) Newton
Q.78. The Nobel Prize in Economics was started in
(a) 1901 (b) 1936
(c) 1957 (d) 1967
Q.79. In India, the second largest in
(a) Bengali (b) Urdu
(c) Telugu (d) Marathi
Q.80. The first Asian Games were held in
(a) Manila (b) Tokyo
(c) Jakarta (d) New Delhi
Q.81. The Islam was established in
(a) 7th A.D. (b) 5th A.D.
(c) 3rd B.C. (d) 5th B.C.
Q.82. The Olympic Games 2012 will be held in
(a) Moscow (b) Paris
(c) New York (d) London
Q.83. The main factor of air pollution is
(a) Lead (b) Copper
(c) Zinc (d) Gold
Q.84. The bauxite ore is found in
(a) Musabani (b) Karnapura
(c) Koderma (d) Palamu
Q.85. The first fertilizer plant in India was established in
(a) Trombay (b) Nangal
(c) Alwaye (d) Sindri
Q.86. Which of the following had strong navy?
(a) Bahmani (b) Chalukya
(c) Chola (d) Rashtrakuta

Ans-(C)
Q.87. The last king of Maurya Dynastry was
(a) Brihdarth (b) Kunal
(c) Samprati (d) Salishuk

Ans-(A)
Q.88. How will the image formed by a convex lens be affected if the central part of the lens is covered by black paper?
(a) Remaining part of the lens will form no image
(b) The central position of the image is absent
(c) There will be no effect
(d) The full image will be formed with lessened brightness

Ans-(D)
Q.89. The force between two parallel wires conducting current is used to define
(a) Ampere (b) Coulomb
(c) Volt (d) Newton
ANS - (a)

Q.90. A body is thrown vertically upward and it reaches 10m high. Find the velocity with which the body was thrown? (g = 9.8 m/s)
(a) 10 m/sec. (b) 18 m/sec.
(c) 14 m/sec. (d) 7 m/sec.
ANS - (c)
1. (c) 2. (b) 3. (b) 4. (d) 5. (c) 6. (a) 7. (c) 8. (b) 9. (a) 10. (a) 11. (d) 12. (a)
13. (c) 14. (a) 15. (a) 16. (c) 17. (c) 18. (b) 19. (c) 20. (a) 21. (a) 22. (b) 23. (d)
24. (c) 25. (a) 26. (d) 27. (c) 28. (c) 29. (a & b) 30. (b) 31. (d) 32. (c) 33. (a) 34. (a)
35. (b) 36. (a) 37. (b) 38. (b) 39. (d) 40. (b) 41. (a) 42. (d) 43. (b) 44. (c) 45. (d) 46. (a)
47. (d) 48. (b) 49. (c) 50. (a) 51. (c) 52. (a) 53. (a) 54. (d) 55. (c) 56. (c) 57. (b) 58. (a)
59. (d) 60. (d) 61. (a) 62. (a) 63. (c) 64. (d) 65. (d) 66. (a) 67. (c) 68. (b) 69. (a) 70. (c)
71. (c) 72. (a) 73. (a) 74. (b) 75. (d) 76. (c) 77. (a) 78. (d) 79. (c) 80. (d) 81. (a) 82. (d)
83. (a) 84. (d) 85. (d) .