First Woman President of India : Pratibha Patil

Delhi’s First Mayor: Aruna Asaf Ali (1958)

Delhi’s First woman chief secretary: Shailja Chandra

Fastest Asian to swim across the English Channel: Anita Sood

First all-women crew to fly an air Force Chetak Helicopter: Flight Cadets Cheryl Dutta and Simran Sodhi of IAF (December, 1995).

First Asian woman magistrate appointed in United Kingdom: Kantha Talwar

First Asian woman mayor in United Kingdom: Lata Patel

First Indian woman President of Indian National Congress: Sarojini Naidu (1925)

First Indian woman producer and director: Fatima Begum, who produced and directed Bulbul-e-Parastan in 1926.

First Indian woman to become Miss Universe: Sushmita Sen (1994)

First Indian woman to become Miss World: Reita Faria (1966)

First Indian woman to climb Mt. Everest: Bachendri Pal

First Indian Woman to go in space: Kalpana Chawla

First woman to head any Wakf board in India :  Bader Sayeed (TN Wakf  Board)

First Indian woman to reach the final of an Olympic event: P.T.Usha

First Indian woman to win a medal in an Olympic event: Karnam Malleshwari (bronze medal, Sydney Olympics)

First Indian woman boxer to win an international event : M.C.Merykom

First Indian woman to swim across the English Channel: Arati Saha

First Miss Universe of the new millennium: Lara Dutta

First woman Ambassador from India: Vijay Lakshmi Pandit (to USSR from 1947-49)

First woman Central Minister: Rajkumari Amrit Kaur

First woman chief justice of a High Court: Leila Seth (CJ of Himachal Pradesh, 1991)

First woman Chief Minister of an Indian state: Sucheta Kriplani  (Uttar Pradesh from 1963-1967)

First woman film star to be a member of Rajya Sabha: Nargis Dutt

First woman Governor of an Indian state: Sarojini Naidu (Uttar Pradesh from 1947-1948)

First woman Governor of Tamil Nadu: Justice M. Fatima Beevi (1997)

First woman IPS Officer of India: Kiran Bedi

First woman Judge of the Supreme Court: Justice M. Fatima Beevi (1989)

First woman judicial officer: Anna Chandy, who was appointed munsif in the Travancore state in 1937.

First woman Minister of an Indian state: Vijay Lakshmi Pandit (Uttar Pradesh)

First woman officer of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to be promoted to the rank of air commodore: 55-year old Padma Bandhopadhyay who was commissioned to the IAF in 1968.

First woman President of Indian National Congress: Annie Besant (1917)

First woman President of UN General Assembly: Vijay Lakshmi Pandit (1953-54)

First woman Prime Minister of India: Late Indira Gandhi (1966-1977 and 1980-1984).

First woman Speaker of an Indian state: Shano Devi

First woman Speaker of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly :Kavali Prathibha Bharati

First woman winner of the Bharat Ratna: Indira Gandhi (1971)

Grandma Madonna from India: Asha Bhonsle

India’s first commercial pilot: Durba Banerjee  (1966, Indian Airlines)

India’s first Test-Tube Baby: Kruti Parekh

India’s first woman railway driver: Surekha Yadao

India’s first woman tabla maestro : Dr Aban Mistry

India’s officially recognized billionth citizen:  Astha (She was born on May 11,2000 at New Delhi).

World’s first woman Airbus pilot: Durba Banerjee

Youngest Indian to swim across the English Channel: Arati Pradhan

First American President to visit India: Dwight David Eisenhower

First Asian to be elected president of Britain’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP): Lord Navnit Dholakia

First Asian to head a British university: Lord Swaraj Paul (when he was elected Chancellor of the Wolverhampton University on May 9, 2000)

First British Prime Minister to visit India: Harold Macmillan

First Chairman of the University Grants Commission: S.S.Bhatnagar

First Chief Election Commissioner of India: Sukumar Sen (21.3.1950 to 19.12.1958)

First Chief Justice of India: Harilal J.Kania (26.1.1950-6.11.1951)

First Chief Minister of the tri-lingual Bombay Presidency: B.G.Kher

First Chief of Air Staff: Air Marshall Sir Thomas Elmherst (1947-1950)

First Chief of Army Staff: Gen. Maharaj Rajendra Sinhji  (1.4.1955 to 14.5.1955)

First Commander-in-Chief: Gen.Sir Roy Bucher (1.1.1948 – 14.1.1949)

First Dalit Lok Sabha Speaker: G M C Balayogi

First Defence Minister of Independent India: Sardar Baldev Singh

First Deputy Prime Minister of India: Sardar Vallabhai Patel

First Director General of ICAR: B.P.Pal

First Eunuch to be elected as a Mayor of an Indian city: Kamla Jaan, who elected Mayor of Katni city in Madhya Pradesh in January 2000.

First Eunuch to get elected to a state legislature: Shabnam Mausi, won the Sohagpur Assembly    constituency in Madhya Pradesh in the February 2000 elections.

First European to invade India: Alexander

First Field Marshal: Gen. S.H.F.J. Manekshaw

First fighter pilot to win the Param Vir Chakra: Flying Officer Nirmaljeet Singh Sekhon (posthumous) for IAF in 1971 Indo-Pak conflict.

First Foreign Secretary of Free India: K.P.S.Menon

First Governor-General of Independent India: Lord Mountbatten

First Indian bowler to get a hattrick in Test cricket: Harbhajan Singh

First Indian Chief of Air Staff: Air Marshal Subroto Mukherjee (April 1, 1954).

First Indian Chief of Naval Staff: Vice Admiral R.D.Katari (1958-1962).

First Indian Governor-General of India: C.Rajagopalachari

First Indian to be awarded with the ‘Victoria Cross’:  Khuda Dad Khan (for Gallantry in Belgium during the first World War)

First Indian to be elected a member of British Parliament:  Dadabhoi Naoroji

First Indian to be elected to the US House of Representatives: Dilip Singh Saund

First Indian to go in space: Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma.  He went in the Soyuz 7-II Spacecraft on April 3, 1984 and returned on April 11, 1984.

First Indian to hoist the National Flag over the North Pole: Squadron Leader Sanjay Thapar.

First Indian to record a song on a gramophone disc: Sashi Mukhi of Classic Theatres, Calcutta (1902)

First Indian to swim across the English Channel: Mihir Sen

First Indian to win an Olympic Bronze: Khashaba Jadhav (wresting; 1952, Helsinki Olympics)

First Indian to win the All England Open Badminton Tournament: Pullela Gopi Chand (March 11,2001)

First Indian to win the World Billiards Championship: Wison Jones

First Jnanpith Award Winner: G.Sankara Kurup (1965), for his work ‘Ottakkuzhal’ in Malyalam.

First Minister without Portfolio: N.Gopalswami Ayengar in Jawaharlal Nehru’s Cabinet. He, however, went on to become the Minister of Defence.

First Photographer in India: Raja Deendayal

First President of India: Dr Rajendra Prasad (1950-1962)

First President of the Indian Union of Civil Liberties: Rabindranath Tagore (1930s).

First Prime Minister of India: Jawaharlal Nehru (1947-1964)

First Prime Minister to win a popular entertainment award: Atal Behari Vajpayee (when he won the Screen-Videocon “Best Lyricist” prize in the non-film music category for his collection of poems titled “Nayi Disha” in February 2000).

First Secretary-General of South-South Commission: Dr Manmohan Singh

First Surveyor General of India: Sir George Everest

First Vice-President of India: Dr S.Radhakrishnan (1952-1962)

First Winner of Param Vir Chakra: Maj.Somnath Sharma (posthumously) in November, 1947

India’s first Test-tube baby: Harsha (born on August 6, 1986).

Indian Johann Sebastian Bach: Ustad Ali Akbar Khan

India’s longest serving Chief Minister : Jyoti Basu

Only Army Chief to be awarded with Maha Vir Chakra twice: Late Gen. A.S.Vaidya

First in the world (Male and Female)

1. India is the world’s largest, oldest, continuous civilization.
2. India never invaded any country in her last 10000 years of history.
3. India is the world’s largest democracy.
4. Varanasi, also known as Benares, was called “the ancient city” when Lord Buddha visited it in 500 B.C.E, and is the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the world today.
5. India invented the Number System. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta.
6. The World’s first university was established in Takshashila in 700BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century BC was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.
7. Sanskrit is the mother of all the European languages. Sanskrit is the most suitable language for computer software – a report in Forbes magazine, July 1987.
8. Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to humans. Charaka, the father of medicine consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago. Today Ayurveda is fast regaining its rightful place in our civilization.
9. Although modern images of India often show poverty and lack of development, India was the richest country on earth until the time of British invasion in the early 17th Century. Christopher Columbus was attracted by India’s wealth.
10. The art of Navigation was bornin the river Sindhu 6000 years ago. The very word Navigation is derived from the Sanskrit word NAVGATIH. The word navy is also derived from Sanskrit ‘Nou’.
11. Bhaskaracharya calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit the sun hundreds of years before the astronomer Smart. Time taken by earth to orbit the sun: (5th century) 365.258756484 days.
12. The value of pi was first calculated by Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the 6th century long before the European mathematicians.
13. Algebra, trigonometry and calculus came from India. Quadratic equations were by Sridharacharya in the 11th century. The largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas Hindus used numbers as big as 10″”53(10 to the power of 53) with specific names as early as 5000 BCE during the Vedic period. Even today, the largest used number is Tera 10″”12(10 to the power of 12).
14. According to Saka King Rudradaman I of 150 CE a beautiful lake called Sudarshana was constructed on the hills of Raivataka during Chandragupta Maurya’s time.
15. Chess (Shataranja or AshtaPada) was invented in India.
16. Sushruta is the father of surgery. 2600 years ago he and health scientists of his time conducted complicated surgeries like cesareans, cataract, artificial limbs, fractures, urinary stones and even plastic surgery and brain surgery. Usage of anesthesia was well known in ancient India. Over 125 surgical equipment were used. Deep knowledge of anatomy, physiology, etiology, embryology, digestion, metabolism, genetics and immunity is also found in many texts.
17. When many cultures were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago, Indians established Harappan culture in Sindhu Valley (Indus Valley Civilization).
18. The four religions born in India, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, are followed by 25% of the world’s population.
19. The place value system, the decimal system was developed in India in 100 BC.
20. India is the only country other than US and Japan, to have built a super computer indigenously.

NDA Entrance Examination (II) 2009 will be conducted  by the Union Public Service Commission on August 30, 2009 , for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the NDA for the 124th Course and Naval Academy for 44th 10+2 (Executive Branch) Course commencing from  June 30, 2010.

Conditions of Eligibility

(a) Age Limit, Sex and Martial Status:
Only unmarried male candidates born not earlier than 2nd July, 1991 and not later than 1st January, 1994 are eligible.

(b) Educational Qualification:
(i) For Army Wing of National Defence Academy: 12th Class pass of 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination conducted by a State Education Board or a University.

(ii) For Air Force and Naval Wings of National Defence Academy and for 10+2 (Executive Branch) Course of Naval Academy: 12th Class pass of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination with Physics and Mathematics, conducted by a State Education Board or a University.

Candidates who are appearing in 12th Class under 10+2 pattern of School Education or equivalent examination can also apply for this Examination.

(c) Physical Standards:

Candidates must be physically fit accordingly to the physical standards for admission to National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II), 2009 as given in Appendix-V of Commission’s Notice for the Examination.

Application Form:

The candidates must apply in the Common Application Form devised by the commission for its examinations which can be purchased from the designated Head Post Offices/Post Offices (specified in Appendix-III of the Notice) throughout the country against cash payment of Rs. 20/- (Rupees twenty only). Each such Form can be used only once and only for one examination.

In case of any difficulty in obtaining Application Forms from the designated HPOs/POs, the candidates should immediately contact the concerned Post Master or UPSC’s “Form Supply Monitoring Cell” over Telephone NO. 011-23389366/Fax No. 011-23387310.

Fee: Rs. 50/- (Rupees fifty only) through Central Recruitment Fee Stamp only. SC/ST candidates are exempted from payment of Fee. (OBC candidates are required to pay full fee).

Address and last date for receipt of applications: All applications must reach the “Secretary, Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi-110069” either by hand or by post/speed post or by courier, on or before the April 13, 2009.

However, in respect of candidates residing abroad or in certain remote localities specified in the Notice the last date for receipt of applications by post/speed post only (not by hand or by courier) is April 20, 2009.

Facilitation counter and website for guidance of candidates: In case of any guidance/ information/clarification regarding their applications, candidature etc. candidates can contact UPSC’s Facilitation Counter near ‘C’ gate of its campus in person or over Telephone No. 011-23385271/011-23381125/011-23098543 on working days between 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs.

For any further information or to read the complete notification please visit www.upsc.gov.in

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) conduct a Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) every year for the admission to its B-Tech and other courses offered at the IIT Mumbai, IIT Kanpur, IIT Delhi, IIT Chennai, IIT Kharakpur, IIT Guwahati, IIT Roorkee, IT Varanasi and ISM Dhanbad.

IIT JEE Exam Pattern:

There are two papers: Paper 1 & Paper 2. Both the papers have three separate sections on Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics. The papers are of objective type and are designed to test comprehension and analytical ability of candidates. Those candidates who clear the JEE and are desirous of joining the B. Arch and B. Des. Courses are required to appear in an Aptitude Test conducted at each counseling Institute. The test is of two hours duration Candidates who fail in the Aptitude Test are not eligible for admission to either B. Arch. or B. Des. Courses.

Mathematics
To score in mathematics, you need to have the ability to solve simple, stereotypical questions, as well as challenging and complex problems that you might have to face unexpectedly.

1. While attempting questions, try not make make any particular problem a prestige issue. Hence, if you are unable to solve the problem within a reasonable amount of time, you should skip the question and move on. Always remember that There may be simpler problems awaiting you

2. Don’t be tempted to guess the answer to a question. It may prove costly if there is negative marking

3. Also, always try and attempt some mock question papers in a simulated environment before the D-day. In fact, there are many online tests that provide useful mock practice tests for students. One such website is

Physics

The format of the physics section in the JEE question paper changes every year. Subjective problems, which involve detailed solutions, have been dispensed with. For the first time, in JEE-2007, questions based on paragraph, assertion-reason type questions and questions on matrix matching were included. In JEE-2008, MCQs with more than one correct choice were included in the paper.

Identification of problem areas

In each chapter, identify the problem areas, which need closer study. Prepare a note of the questions you failed to solve in the first attempt. Write down the correct solutions in a separate notebook. If you are unable to solve a problem, consult your teacher. In physics, checking the given choice for dimensional consistency is often very helpful.

Questions based on experiments

In the physics paper, there is at least one question based on an experiment. You must learn how to determine the least count of measuring instruments such as vernier calipers, micrometer screw and spherometer, and to use them in making measurements.

Chemistry

The three branches of chemistry are evenly represented in both the papers in the JEE. The chemistry paper in the year 2008 was in the following format in both Paper I and Paper II: Straight-objective type: This involves questions with four alternative answers, of which only one is correct.

Multiple-correct answer type: This involves questions with four alternative answers, of which more than one is correct. Reasoning type: Here, each question involves two statements, which have to be correlated with each other. Only one answer is correct. Linked-comprehension type: This is a paragraph stating certain facts, from which a set of three questions is framed with four alternative answers, of which only one is correct.

Physical chemistry

The subject matter in physical chemistry involves topics with well-focused principles. Their application to different problems is straightforward. You should pay more attention to this branch of chemistry so that you can solve problems related to it more comfortably. Be thoroughly prepared with: Bohr’s theory of atomic structure, quantum numbers and orbitals MO approach to diatomic molecules, hybridisation/ VSEPR theory Vander Waals equation of state and application to behaviour of real gases Crystal systems, packing of atoms, ionic solids and density of crystals Colligative properties of non-electrolytic and electrolytic solutions Electrolysis, conductance and galvanic cells Differential and integrated rate laws, effect of catalyst and temperature on the rate of reaction Determination of PH of acids, bases and salt solutions (including hydrolysis) and solubility product Le-Chatelier Principle, relation between Kp and Kc Stability of nuclei Thermo-chemical calculations and criterion of spontaneity

Inorganic and organic chemistry :

Inorganic chemistry

Boron and its compounds Silicates and silicones Oxoacids of phosphorus, sulphur and halogens Inter halogens and compounds of noble gases Important compounds such as H2O2, NAHCO3, NA2CO3, KMnO4, K2Cr2O7 Transition elements, lanthanides and coordination compounds Quantitative analysis of salts

Organic chemistry

Isomerism, with optical isomerism Inductive and resonance effects on acidity and basicity of acids and bases Factors affecting SN1/SN2 reactions Reactions involving rearrangement Bromination and hydrogenerations of cis-and-transalkenes; debromination of different isomers of 2, 3-dibromobutane Reimer-Tiemann reaction Characteristic reactions of ketorres, aldehydes and carboxylic-acid derivatives Reactions with Grignar reagent and those of diazonium salt Carbohydrates and polymers Qualitative analysis of organic compounds

JNU has decided to hold the entrance examination for admission to its various full-time programmes from May 15-18.
The combined entrance exam for admission to MSc Biotechnology will also be held during the same time on behalf of 33 universities at 78 centres in the country and at Kathmandu.

Application forms and prospectus will be available from February 2 at the administrative block of the university.

The application forms can also be obtained through post by writing to

Deputy Registrar (Admissions),
Jawaharlal Nehru University,
New Delhi 110067.

The last date for issue and submission of completed forms is March 16.

The Union Public Service Commission will hold the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2009 on 17th May, 2009 for recruitment to the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, Indian Police Service and certain other Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ Central Services/Posts. The examination will be held at various centres across the country.

Eligibility:

Degree of a recognised University or an equivalent qualification.

Physical Standards: Candidates must be physically fit according to the Regulations given in Appendix-Ill of Rules for the Civil Services Examination, 2009 published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary dated 06th December, 2008.

Age Limits: Not less than 21 years and not more than 30 years on 1st August, 2009. The upper age limit is relaxable for Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes / Other Backward Classes and certain other categories of candidates to the extent specified in the Notice.

Number of Attempts: The maximum number of attempts permissible to different categories of aspirants, who are otherwise eligible, will be as follows:-

General Category – Four

Other Backward Classes- Seven

Physically Handicapped Candidates belonging to General Category Seven

Scheduled Caste (SC)/ Scheduled Tribe (ST) – No limit

How To Apply:

The candidates must apply in the Common Application Form devised by the Commission for its examinations, which can be purchased from the designated Head Post Offices/Post Offices throughout the country against cash payment of Rs. 20/- (Rupees twenty) only. Each such Form can be used only once and only for one examination.

In case of any difficulty in obtaining the Application Forms from the designated HPOs/POs the candidates should immediately contact the concerned Post Master or UPSC “Form Supply Monitoring Cell” over Telephone No. 011-23389366/ FAX No. 011-23387310.

Fee: Rs. 50/- (Rupees Fifty only) through Central Recruitment Fee Stamp only. SC/ST/PH candidates re exempted from payment of Fees (OBC candidates are required to pay full fees).

Address and Last Date for Receipt of Applications: All applications must reach the “Secretary, Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi-110069″ either by hand or by Post/Speed Post or by Courier, on or before the 05th January, 2009.

However, in respect of candidates residing abroad or in certain remote areas specified in the Notice, the last date for receipt of applications by Post/Speed Post only (Not by Hand or by Courier) is 12th January, 2009.

Facilitation Counter and Website for Guidance of Candidates: In case of any guidance / information/ clarification regarding their applications, candidature etc, candidates can contact UPSC’s facilitation counter near ‘C’ Gate of its campus in person or over Telephone No. 011- 23385271/ 011- 23381125/ 011- 23098543 on working days between 1000 hrs and 1700 hrs.

The Commission also has a website at address: www.upsc.gov.in over which the candidates can obtain details of the examination as well as information about registration of their applications, venue of the examination and results.

Important Dates:

Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 17th May, 2009

Last date of submission of Forms: 05th January, 2009

The second largest Railway system in the world, Indian Railways generates lots of jobs every year to the Indian Nationals. The broadly divided Zones of Indian Railways and its Divisions have technical and non-technical departments to which the recruitments are done through Competitive Exams. These Exams are conducted by Union public service commission (UPSC) and Railway Recruitment Board (RRB). The entry is done through three different channels:

* Group A
* Group B
* Group C

Group A officers are recruited by UPSC through:

* Civil Service Examination for Indian Railway Traffic Services (IRTS) and the Indian Railways Accounts Services (IRAS)
* Combined Engineering Service for Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE), Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE), Indian Railway Services of Signal Engineers (IRSSE) and Indian Railway Store Service (IRSS)

Group B officers are directly promoted from Group C.

Group C officers are recruited through the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB). The Group C posts include assistant station masters, drivers, motormen, guards, signal and mechanical inspectors. Here again, staff are divided into technical and non-technical staff.

CAT tests the skills of candidates in five broad areas i.e., verbal ability and reasoning, reading comprehension, quantitative skills, data interpretation, and analytical and logical reasoning.

The duration of the test is of 120 minutes. The number of questions asked in Common Admission Test vary every year and a typical CAT question paper can have anywhere between 75 and 150 questions.
All the questions are of multiple-choice nature with four/five alternate answer choices and the candidate has to choose the best answer for each of the questions and mark it on a special Optical Reader answer sheet.
For every correct answer, one mark is awarded and for every wrong answer, 1/4th of a mark is deducted. Differential marks are allotted to the questions. A question may be of 0.5 marks, 1 mark or 2 marks.