Friday, September 30, 2011

India Post Ties-up with MoneyGram International for Money Transfer Solutions



India Post, the largest distribution postal network in the world, and the MoneyGram International, the fastest growing global money transfer company joined hands today to offer convenient money transfer solutions to Indians. Shri Kapil Sibal, the Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology commenced the scheme by conducting a remittance transaction through the MoneyGram service and displayed the ease in the transaction through the new system. The transaction was made from UAE to Delhi.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sibal said that more than fifty percent Indians do not have bank accounts and international inward remittances to rural areas to support financial inclusion initiatives of the Government of India. Transacting money without a bank account will make a difference in the lives of the citizens.
Starting today, 100 important Post Offices in Delhi, Punjab and Tamil Nadu Circles will begin offering MoneyGram instant inward money transfer services. MoneyGram’s services will be extended to other Post Offices and Circles in the country in a phased manner. The service is expected to be available in 5,000 Post Offices in the country by 2014. India Post and MoneyGram have planned a joint marketing endeavor in a number of states.
Earlier Shri Sachin Pilot, Ministers of State for Communications and IT said that 30 million Indians are living abroad and this number is growing. Money remittance services have huge market potential as banks have only five percent rural presence in the country. This partnership with MoneyGram will provide valuable service to those customers, particularly in rural areas, who are not fully served by banks and other financial institutions, he added.
Ms. Radhika Doraiswamy, Secretary, Department of Posts said, “India Post has long been in international money transfer service through its traditional paper-based Money Order service to many countries The social relevance of India Post has gained momentum in the recent past through active participation of Post Offices in disbursement of wages to the rural poor under the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee (MNEGR) Scheme throughout the country. We work tirelessly to extend access not only to mail services, but to financial services for all, and it is in this context that our association with MoneyGram, a leading global money transfer company, is significant. This tie-up will help India Post to provide valuable service to our customers in a fast, convenient and cost-effective manner.”
Smt. Manjula Prasher, Member (Operations & Technology) Postal Services Board said “all departmental post offices numbering around 25,000, which are already computerized, are expected to be covered under Core Banking Solution (CBS) by 2012-13. Plans are afoot to provide Rural ICT to all 1.3 lakh branch post offices in the country. India Post is undertaking diversified activities by leveraging its network to augment revenues. Our Post Offices have more than 10 years of experience in providing instant international money transfer service. This valuable experience will be of great help to make the association with MoneyGram a successful and long-lasting one.
Harsh Lambah, MoneyGram’ Senior Regional Director for South Asia said, “MoneyGram’s teaming with India Post reaffirms the company’s commitment to serving its hundreds of thousands of customers in the world’s largest remittance receive market and the value MoneyGram brings India Post’s business and customers. Bringing India Post, one of the world’s largest postal services to our network is very exciting.
MoneyGram International is a leading global money transfer company offering money transfer services worldwide through a global network of more than 244,000 agent locations—including retailers, international post offices and financial institutions—in 192 countries and territories around the world.

 Source : PIB

House Rent Allowance not a right, merely a compensation: HC


The HC has ruled that house rent allowance (HRA) is not a right. A division bench of Justice B P Dharmadhikari and Justice A P Bhangale ruled that a government employee not staying in the quarters despite its availability can be disentitled from claiming the special allowance. The bench was hearing a petition filed by the defence ministry against its employees working in the ordinance factory in Nagpur, who were staying in their own accommodation.

Nagpur has surplus government accommodation and is one of the few cities where a central government employee, who lives in his own house has to submit a "non-availability certificate" before he can ask for HRA. The government claimed that its employees, who are offered accommodation but refuse to occupy the same, would not be entitled to HRA.
"HRA is not a matter of right, it is a compensatory allowance given by an employer towards the rental accommodation expenses when the government is unable to provide suitable accommodation to its employee," said the judges. "The employee, if he resides in his own property, may not be entitled to claim the HRA, because it is paid to central government employees to compensate them partly for the especially higher rents which they have to pay for hired or rented residential accommodation in big cities, but not as a source of profit," they added.

The court quashed an order of the central administrative tribunal asking the government to pay HRA to employees who had were residing in their own houses. "Prima facie in our opinion, the pre-requisite for a non-availability certificate (NAC) as laid down in the office memorandum as operative in Nagpur, when central government accommodation is available in surplus and the government is required to spend huge amounts towards construction and maintenance (of the quarters), it is neither arbitrary nor malafide," said the judges.

Courtesy:TOI

OFFICE PROCEDURE & MANAGEMENT

Thursday, September 29, 2011

CADRE REVIEW MEETING

As scheduled, the meeting on cadre restructuring was held in the Postal Directorate on 28.9.2011 under the chairmanship of Dr. Salim Haque, DDG (P). Sri Alox Saxena, DDG (Tech), Sri Rajkumar, Director, Staff, Ms Kalpana, Director, Establishment, Sri Subash Chander, Director, SR & Legal, & Sri Surendrakumar, ADG (PCC) were present on behalf of the official side. The Staff side represented by Sri K.V.Sridharan, General Secretary, P3, Sri D.Kishanrao, General Secretary, P3 FNPO, Sri Giriraj Singh, General secretary, R3 NFPE, Sri D.Theagarajan, General Secretary,R3 FNPO, Sri Iswar Singh Dabas, General Secretary P4, NFPE and Sri T.N.Rahate, General Secretary,P4, FNPO.

The Chairperson expressed the delay in convening the first sitting and assured that the process shall be completed before 31.10.2011 by having two further continuous sittings. It was categorically mentioned by the official side that the proposals for cadre review shall be based only on functional justification and not merely on the percentage basis. Further, they are not in the opinion to suggest forming many new cadres as it will tantamount against the principle accepted by the Govt after implementing the Sixth Pay Commission.

The staff side presented their proposals in each cadre and also the justification for the need of cadre review. It was decided to redraft the proposals by incorporating the various changes taken place in the recent past. The Staff side assured to submit its revised proposals before 7.10.2011. The views of the Staff side demanded discussions on the draft finalized by the former chairman of the committee on cadre review and place it was well taken note of by the official side.

The Chair person declared that next sitting will be held on 12.10.2011 at 14.30 hrs in the Directorate.

STUDY MATERIAL ON CONSTITUTION

LAUNCHING OF MONEY GRAM SERVICE IN POST OFFICES

India Post has now in tie up MoneyGram Payment Systems Inc, USA to introduce MoneyGram Services in India Post. This is just like Western Union Money Transfer Services, purely an Inward Remittances only not Outward.


This service will be launched by Hon'ble MoC & IT on 29.09.11 at Hotel Taj, Delhi.
In 1st Phase, launching in 100 POs. Delhi - 20 / Punjab - 40 / Tamilnadu 40 POs.

DDG DO No : 95 - 7 / 2011-FS Dt. 14.09.11 to all HoCs.

SB ORDER 20/2011 : REMOVAL OF MAXIMUM LIMIT FOR SB ACCOUNTS

SB ORDER NO. 20/2011

No. F.No.113-23/2005-SB
Government of India
Ministry of Communications & IT
Department of Posts
Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi-110001,
Dated: 27.09.2011

To All Heads of Circles/Regions Addl. Director General, APS, New Delhi.



Subject:- Removal of ceiling of maximum balance to be retained in a post office savings account- amendment to Rule-4 of the Post Office Savings Account Rules 1981 regarding.

Sir / Madam,

The undersigned is directed to say that issue of removal of ceiling of Rs.1 lac in single savings account and Rs.2 Lac in Joint Savings Account fixed in the year 2000 was under consideration in the Min. of Finance (DEA). This issue was linked to the benefit of exemption in Income Tax on the interest earned in Post Office Savings Account under Section10(15) (i) of Income Tax Act, 1961 by the CBDT and Min. of Finance (DEA). After sustained efforts on the part of this Directorate, Min. of Finance (DEA) has now amended Rule-4 of the Post Office Savings Account Rules 1981 vide G.S.R.681(E) F.No.2/5/2006-NS-II dated 15.9.2011 (copy enclosed). Some major benefits of this amendment are given below:


(i) From 1.10.2011, there will be no limit for retaining balance in single as well as joint savings account.

(ii) A depositor or depositor(s) can deposit any amount into single as well as joint savings account.

(iii) Maturity value of any savings instrument can be credited into savings account of the depositor standing in the same post office irrespective of the balance in the account.

(i) Any cheque either issued by Postmaster or any other authority irrespective of any amount can be credited into post office savings account irrespective of the balance in the account.

(ii) From the Financial year 2011-12, Interest income of Rs.3500/- in the case of single account and Rs.7000/- in case of Joint account will be exempted from Income Tax. (Section 10(15) (i) of Income Tax Act, 1961 amended vide Notification No. 32/2010 {F.No. 173/13/2011-IT A.I}/S.O.1296(E) dated 03.06.2011)

(iii) It is the duty of the depositor(s) to show the interest income earned from Post Office Savings Account(s) beyond the limit prescribed above in the Income Tax return and pay due Income Tax.

1. It is requested that all field units may be directed to give wide publicity to these changes in the shape of Public Notice and printing of leaflets.

2. This issues with the approval of DDG(FS).

Yours faithfully,
(Kawal Jit Singh)
Assistant Director (SB)

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Study Material on : Suspension

Dear Friends

Study Material useful for IPO Exam 2011 and Postmater Exam

View/Download: Study Material on Suspension

POSTMATER CADRE IS ILL FATED!??????

 




WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT US ! (POSTMASTER)

Filling up of Postmaster Grade III Posts: - According to the scheme, Postmaster Grade-III posts will be carved out only when the posts are filled up. As such, technically there is no Postmaster Grade III post in existence. After the finalization of HSG I Recruitment Rules and offered regular promotion to the present adhoc HSG I official and others, option will be called for among them whether they will for Postmaster Grade III. The posts will be filled up at first with the HSG-I officials opted for the cadre and the remaining Postmaster Grade III posts will be declared for promotion under the channel of Postmaster's cadre. After the creation of Grade III, the Department assured to consider the one time relaxation to fill up all the unfilled up Grade II & Grade III posts by relaxing the minimum service conditions required.

WHAT DEPARTMENT SAY ABOUT US ! (POSTMASTER)

The Postmaster Cadre has been created by a Notification No. G.S.R 741(E) dated 09-09-2010 by carving out posts from the existing General line posts in LSG/HSG-II /HSG-I. Whatever applicable to General line officials will be equally applicable to Postmaster Cadre also with a difference that the officials is POSTMASTER CADRE can be elevated to Sr. Postmaster position by virtue of seniority. The General line posts will be converted to Postmaster Cadre Posts only on assumption of officials who have opted to Postmaster cadre or passed a LDCE for Postmaster Cadre. Till such time these posts earmarked for Postmaster cadres are to be manned by general line officials and known as General Line posts.

Therefore the highlighted (RED) is a wrong presumption that the Postmaster Grade III posts will be carved out only when the posts are filled up. As such, technically there is no Postmaster Grade III post in existence.

Therefore, folks ! With reference ti order ni 12-2/2010/PE-1 GOI MOC and IT Dept of Posts, Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marg dated 03.02.2010 is self explanatory as the posts are already carved and all the circles earmarked the allotted number of Post offices and issued the list of identified post offices list in their circle except the Sr. PM as it will be done by the Staff section in Directorate as it is an All India Cadre.


For PM Gr III as per the notification No4-17/2008-SPB-II,GOI MOC &I.T. Depaartment of Posts Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marg, dt 7/8.Feb.2011 in PARA – 4

The Circle are requested to immediately furnish the number of eligible official who have opted for appointment of PM Gr.III along with the comments of CPMG if any, lastest by 20.02.2011 to enable the Directorate to review the position and take appropriate decision in the matter. Pending the same they are advised not to proceed further filling up the posts in the Postmaster Gr III under initial constitution.

Therefore the highlighted (blue) presumption below by Folks, smells some sort of diversion of the facts and line for the reasons unknown.

After the finalization of HSG I Recruitment Rules and offered regular promotion to the present adhoc HSG I official and others, option will be called for among them whether they will for Postmaster Grade III. The posts will be filled up at first with the HSG-I officials opted for the cadre and the remaining Postmaster Grade III posts will be declared for promotion under the channel of Postmaster's cadre.

As of now, all the Circles and regions are rejecting the application for Adhoc for PM GR III for the above reason to keep the posting “Pending”. And when we compare the monetary loss if not opt for the PM cadre, we are getting reply that the HSG I RR are also under revision on the same line of PM cadre and expressing that both the cadre and RR are different and not to compare.

Therefore, if fresh option is opened to the existing General line officials now in HSG-I either on Regular or Adhoc basis, such option should also be extended to those officials working in the erstwhile HSG-I (Adhoc), before introduction of the Postmaster Cadre, notionally promoting them to Regular HSG-I from the date on which his junior HSG-I (Adhoc) officials is given promotion to HSG-I (REGULAR) so that the inter-se seniority can be maintained without any injustice done to them.


HOPE FOR THE BEST !

http://postmastermaharashtra.blogspot.com/

Study Material on PO Accounts

Dear Friends

Useful for IPO Exam and Postmaster Grade I Exam

View/Download :Study Material on PO Accounts 

Declining promotion to Postmaster Grade-I by the officials declared successful in Postmaster Grade-I Departmental CompetitiveExamination held on 12.06.2011.


D.G. Posts No. 4-24/2011-SPB-II dated 26 Sep, 2011.
I am directed to refer to Directorate's letter of even number dated 9.8.2011 on the above subject and to say that in the aforesaid letter the Circles were advised that declination of appointment by the candidate to the post of Postmaster Grade-I after passing the Departmental examination, but before his appointment ,may be accepted.
2. References are being received seeking clarification with regard to acceptance of declination of appointment by the candidate to the post of Postmaster Grade-I after issue of order of appointment but before joining by the candidate to the post of Postmaster Grade-I.
3. The Directorate's letter of even number dated 9.8.2011 is very clear. Declination of appointment by the officials can be accepted by the Circles only if the same is received before issue of order of appointment. No deviation is permissible in the matter.

Dear Postmasters Grade I Grade II Grade III

This is with reference to the appraisal letter no D.O.No.1-28/2010-Trg.Dt 11th August 2011 issued by Secretary to Govt. of India, Director General, Posts and Chairman, Postal Services Board officially congratulated the candidate that the newly created cadre of Postmaster (Grade-I) either through a process of selection or through examination and said that “Postmasters are the frontrunners of this Department.. .” The Postmasters' Cadre was designed with great care and expectation. You have a career profile with lots of responsibilities and challenges ahead of you” and wished for the best in the exciting career.

In view of the above, it is felt that this is the high time for sharing the daily experience as a Postmaster and the carrier progression related matter to improve our efficiency, we must interact with each other. Therefore, all Postmaster Grade I,II and III official should give their email ID, present office of posting and Mobile number. If the information collected by anybody in DO/RO in all Circle will be appreciable to compile a list to circulate one and all.

The collected information may please be send to : mortalfriends003@gmail.com, savivenkey@gmail.com.

Thank you.


Visit: http://postmastermaharashtra.blogspot.com/
          http://www.postmasterpunjab.blogspot.com

Study Material for IPO : Financial Handbook Volume II

Dear Friends

Financial Handbook Volume II ,Useful for IPO Examination 2011

View/Download :Study Material on FHB-II

Monday, September 26, 2011

60 days bonus announced for postal employees

DEAR FRIENDS

The Department of Posts has issued orders (letter No: 26-07/2011-PAP dated 23.09.2010), declaring Productivity Linked Bonus for 2010-11. The bonus will be 60 days. The details given follows:




1. Regular Employees: Rs. 3500/-
    3500/30.4 x60 = Rs. 6908/-

2. GDS Employees: Rs. 2500/-
    2500/30.4 x60 = Rs. 4934/-

 VIEW/DOWNLOAD :ORDERS FOR 60 DAYS BONUS 

TRAVELLING ALLOWANCE : STUDY MATERIAL

FR & SR : USEFUL FOR IPO EXAM 2011

DEAR FRIENDS

STUDY MATERIAL FOR IPO EXAM 2011

VIEW/DOWNLOAD : STUDY MATERIAL ON FR & SR

PENSION RULES : USEFUL FOR IPO EXAM 2011

LTC RULES : USEFUL FOR IPO EXAM

DEAR FRIENDS


LTC RULES USEFUL FOR IPO EXAM 2011


VIEW/DOWNLOAD : LTC RULES

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Tackling Corruption:New Bill in Winter Session of Parliament


The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has accepted the first report of the Group of Ministries (GOM) on corruption.The new bill to tackle corruption will now  be introduced  in the Winter session of the Parliament.The GOM's strong suggested withholding pension of corrupt officials. 
In a bid to tackle rampant corruption in procurement of items, the government announced that it would bring in a Bill to deal with the issue even as a Group of Ministers set up to tackle corruption adopted a report which recommended means to make the procedure more transparent.
The comprehensive public procurement law to clearly demarcate powers and responsibilities of various authorities and ensure full transparency to reduce corruption is likely to be introduced in the winter session, Law Minister Salman Khursheed said here after a meeting of the GoM on corruption.
He said the decision was in response to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's announcement on Independence Day on introduction of a Bill on public procurement.
“As the rules would need to be in place soon after the law is enacted by the DoPT [Department of Personnel and Training], the four committees on procurement of goods, pharma drugs, services and works may directly commence drafting rules and standard templates,” the GoM, headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, decided.
In February, the Cabinet Secretary set up a special committee on procurements headed by the former Competition Commission of India chairman, Vinod Dhall, to give recommendations.
According to the committee's recommendations, the emphasis is on transparency and putting maximum information in public domain. “This facet is especially relevant in the context of a public procurement legislation and public procurement portal,” a statement said. The legislation seeks to highlight the importance of appropriate and well-designed procurement policies, putting special focus on an aspect of governance which has remained “neglected for long.
Source :www.tkbsen.blogspot.com

Amendment in Anti-Corruption Act, 1988


The property of corrupt public servant is confiscated under the provisions of Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 1944 and Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. However, to make the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 self contained and comprehensive the Government is considering incorporating the provisions for confiscation/forfeiture of property of corrupt public servants in the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

On 8th June, 2011, the media had reported that the Hon’ble Supreme Court has sought amendment to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. These observations were reportedly made by the Supreme Court while dismissing an appeal filed by an Assistant Commissioner, Central Excise, against his conviction. However, the formal order passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court on 8.6.2011 in the case, i.e. Criminal Appeal No. 945 of 2006 (Sat Paul vs. State of West Bengal & Anr.) does not contain any such observations.

A Committee headed by the Chairman, CBDT has been constituted to examine ways to strengthen laws to curb generation of black money in India, its illegal transfer abroad and its recovery. The Committee shall examine the existing legal and administrative framework to deal with the menace of generation of black money through illegal means including inter-alia (i) declaring wealth generated illegally as national asset; (ii) enacting/amending laws to confiscate and recover such assets; and (iii) providing for exemplary punishment against its perpetrators. The Committee is required to consult all stakeholders and submit its report within a period of six months.

As per information provided by the CBI, it has not unearthed any case wherein benami properties of more than Rs.100 Crore have been unearthed against any officer in any case.

This information was given by Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and the Prime Minister’s Office, Shri V. Naraynasamy in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

How to Process RTI Applications

Dear Friends

Simple Presentation 'How to Process RTI Applications.its very useful for our daily office work and IPO Exam

Click View/Download : Processing of RTI Applications

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Appointment of Orders of Postmaster Grade -I in Maharastra Circle

Dear Friends
        In Maharashtra Circle Appointment Orders of Postmaster Grade-I has been issued prior to training at PTC Vadodra..

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Diploma in banking and Finance : Useful for Postal Employees for their Future

Dear Friends

As all of us know that Department is going to take the license from RBI for Banking Service in all 150000 Post Offices.It means Our Post Bank of India will be the largest Bank of World with extensive reach.. I want to share you one important thing.Indian Institute of Banking and Finance conduct a Course named 'Diploma in Banking and Finance ' For Members and Non Members(Members means employees working in Banks and Non Member who are not in banks but are eligible for the Diploma).This Diploma is very useful for Banking Service .For Bank Employees this Diploma is named as JAIIB.


EXAMINATION CONDUCTED BY IIBF AS A DESIRABLE QUALIFICATION ALONG WITH
OTHER PRESCRIBED ENTRY LEVEL QUALIFICATION FOR RECRUITMENT IN BANKS.

ELIGIBILITY
 12th Pass.
SUBJECTS OF EXAMINATION
(1) Principles & Practices of Banking,
(2) Accounting & Finance for Bankers,
(3) Legal & Regulatory Aspects of Banking
MEDIUM OF EXAMINATION
English
EXAMINATION FEES / REGISTRATION FEES
First Block of 2 attempts                         3,200/-@`               
Second Block of 2 attempts                     2,100/-
@includes registration fees of

`500/-, CBS learning and exam fee for first block of 2 attempts

For more Details please visit www.iibf.org.in

Friday, September 2, 2011

Post Offices to Provide Visa Related Services In Remote Areas


India Post Signs MOU with M/S VFS Global to this Effect

India Post has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with M/s VFS Global to provide visa related services for different countries through Post Offices. Memorandum of Understanding between India Post and M/s VFS Global was signed here on 30.08.2011 in the presence of Secretary, Department of Posts and senior officers from Department of Posts and VFS Global. The MOU sets out broad understandings and intentions of both the parties to provide visa related services at places where they are not currently available.

Post Office counters will be used for fee collections, providing visa applications forms, dissemination of visa information, biometric enrollment and other visa application process related services. India Post and VFS are also planning to cooperate in utilizing India Post’s courier service, Speed Post for movements of passports to VFS offices and concerned embassies, and their delivery back to the applicants. Both the parties will also explore to provide any other service that India Post may want to provide through VFS global network on mutually accepted terms. 


M/s VFS Global is in the business of visa application services and is working with 35 governments across the world with over 450 offices in 50 countries. India Post and VFS realize that there are many areas of mutual interest and synergy between India Post and VFS would benefit the public at large.

Currently visa related services are largely available in metros only and the people from smaller cities and rural areas have to travel long distances in order to avail these services. Lack of information is also a major area of concern as this allows unscrupulous elements to cheat unsuspecting and vulnerable people. Engagement of India Post towards provision of visa related services is expected to address this situation to a large extent.

Source : http://www.pib.nic.in/ ,September 2, 2011

Over Ninety Percent Departmental Post Offices Computerised :


Shri Sachin Pilot, the Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology informed Rajya Sabha today in written reply to a question that 24015 (94 per cent) Departmental Post Offices out of 25538 Departmental Post Offices have been supplied with computer hardware. Remaining Departmental Post Offices along with Branch Post Offices will be computerized under the Department’s IT Modernisation Project 2012 to be completed by 2012-13 subject to availability of funds and resources. 


The reply further stated that there is no project proposal of the State Government of Madhya Pradesh pending before the Ministry for computerization of Post Offices. 

Source: PIB Release, September 2,2011

How to Pass an Interview - 10 Tips from Monster Advice


Even the smartest and most qualified job seekers need to prepare for job interviews. Why, you ask? Interviewing is a learned skill, and there are no second chances to make a great first impression. So study these 10 strategies to enhance your interview IQ from Monster's Career Advice

Practice Good Nonverbal Communication
It's about demonstrating confidence: standing straight, making eye contact and connecting with a good, firm handshake. That first impression can be a great beginning -- or quick ending -- to your interview.

Dress for the Job or Company
Today's casual dress codes do not give you permission to dress as "they" do when you interview. It is important to look professional and well-groomed. Whether you wear a suit or something less formal depends on the company culture and the position you are seeking. If possible, call to find out about the company dress code before the interview.

Listen
From the very beginning of the interview, your interviewer is giving you information, either directly or indirectly. If you are not hearing it, you are missing a major opportunity. Good communication skills include listening and letting the person know you heard what was said. Observe your interviewer, and match that style and pace.

Don't Talk Too Much
Telling the interviewer more than he needs to know could be a fatal mistake. When you have not prepared ahead of time, you may tend to ramble, sometimes talking yourself right out of the job. Prepare for the interview by reading through the job posting, matching your skills with the position's requirements and relating only that information.

Don't Be Too FamiliarThe interview is a professional meeting to talk business. This is not about making a new friend. Your level of familiarity should mimic the interviewer's demeanor. It is important to bring energy and enthusiasm to the interview and to ask questions, but do not overstep your place as a candidate looking for a job.

Use Appropriate Language
It's a given that you should use professional language during the interview. Be aware of any inappropriate slang words or references to age, race, religion, politics or sexual orientation -- these topics could send you out the door very quickly.

Don't Be CockyAttitude plays a key role in your interview success. There is a fine balance between confidence, professionalism and modesty. Even if you're putting on a performance to demonstrate your ability, overconfidence is as bad, if not worse, as being too reserved.

Take Care to Answer the Questions
When an interviewer asks for an example of a time when you did something, he is seeking a sample of your past behavior. If you fail to relate a specific example, you not only don't answer the question, but you also miss an opportunity to prove your ability and talk about your skills.

Ask Questions
When asked if they have any questions, most candidates answer, "No." Wrong answer. It is extremely important to ask questions to demonstrate an interest in what goes on in the company. Asking questions also gives you the opportunity to find out if this is the right place for you. The best questions come from listening to what is asked during the interview and asking for additional information.

Don't Appear Desperate
When you interview with the "please, please hire me" approach, you appear desperate and less confident. Maintain the three C's during the interview: cool, calm and confident. You know you can do the job; make sure the interviewer believes you can, too

Indian National Movement Quiz

1. Quit India Movement was launched in—
(A) 1941
(B) 1947
(C) 1942
(D) 1905
Ans : (C)

2. Non-cooperation Movement was withdrawn mainly because of—
(A) Friction between the Moderates and Extremists
(B) Withdrawal of support by Muslim League
(C) Chauri-chaura incident
(D) Oppressive attitude of British Government
Ans : (C)

3. Who among the following started the Aligarh Movement ?
(A) Liaquat Ali Khan
(B) Sir Sayyad Ahmed Khan
(C) Fazl-i-Hussain
(D) Mohammed Ali Jinnah
Ans : (B)

4. Apart from the Quit India Movement which started on 9th August, 1942, what other sensational activity of the freedom fighters was done on that day ?
(A) Salt Satyagraha
(B) Boycott of Simon Commission
(C) Champaran Satyagraha
(D) Kakori Mail Train ‘Robbery’
Ans : (D)

5. The Ahmedabad Satyagraha of Gandhi was directed against—
(A) British mill owners and government officials
(B) Indian mill owners and non-government officials
(C) British non-government officials
(D) Indian government officials
Ans : (A)


8. Why did Motilal Nehru and Chittaranjan Das form a separate group known as Swaraj Party within the Congress ?
(A) They were not satisfied with the progress made by the Congress in achieving Swaraj
(B) It was their reaction to Mahatma Gandhi’s sudden decision to suspend the Non-cooperation Movement
(C) They were interested in forming more active party with revolutionary ideas
(D) They felt that their opinions and views were not given due importance in Congress sessions
Ans : (B)

9. In the year 1919, what was the reason for Mahatma Gandhi to warn the Viceroy that a country-wide Satyagraha would be launched ?
(A) He wanted the Government to withdraw the Rowlatt Act immediately
(B) He was forcing the British rulers to be sensitive to the Khilafat Movement
(C) He wanted the Government to abolish the Zamindari system to alleviate the miseries of peasants
(D) He was forcing the British rulers to give atleast the dominion status to India to make Home Rule possible
Ans : (A)

10. Sundarlal Bahuguna is associated with the—
(A) Chipko Movement
(B) Bhoodan Movement
(C) AIDS awareness
(D) Literacy Mission
Ans : (A)

Important Books and Authors

A Bunch of Old Letters : Jawaharlal Nehru
● Adventures of Sherlock Holmes : Arthur Conan Doyle
● Adhe Adhure : Mohan Rakesh
● A Week with Gandhi : Louis Fischer
● A China Passage : J.K. Galbraith
● Aesop’s Fables : Aesop
● A Farewell to Arms : Ernest Hemingway
● A Midsummer Night’s Dream : William Shakespeare
● A Million Mutinies, Now : V.S. Naipal
● An iron Will : Swett Marden
● A Pair of Blue Eyes : Thomas Hardy
● A Passage to India : E.M. Forster
● A Prisoner’s Scrapbook : L.K. Advani
● A Season of Ghosts : Ruskin Bond
● A Suitable Boy : Vikram Seth
● A Tale of Two Cities : Charles Dickens
● A Village by the Sea : Anita Desai
● A Voice for Freedom : Nayantara Sehgal
● Aenied : Virgil
● Against the Tide : Minoo Masani
● Age of Reason : Jean Paul Sartre
● A Dangerous Place : Daniel Patrik Moyihan
● A Haunted House : Virginia Woolf
● Agni Veena : Kazi Nazrul Islam
● Amar Kosha : Amar Singh
● Anand Math : Bankim Chandra Chatterje
● A Story of History : Arnold Toynbee
● Avanti Sundari : Dandi
● Autobiography : Jawaharlal Nehru
● As You Like It : W. Shakespeare


● Between the Lines : Kuldeep Nayyar
● Bhagwad Gita : Maharshi Ved Vyas
● Black Wednesday : Promila Kalhan
● Bubble : Mulk Raj Anand
● Buddha Charitam : Ashvaghosh
● Bal Gitayan : D.P. Maheshwari
● Bitter Sweet : Noel Coward
● Blind Beauty : Boris Pasternak
● Broken Wings : Sarojini Naidu
● Canterbury Tales : Chaucer
● Chidambara : Sumitra Nandan Pant
● Chitralekha : Bhagwati Charan Verma
● City of Joy : Dominique Lapierre
● Confessions of a Lover : Mulk Raj Anand
● Comedy of Errors : Shakespeare
● Communist Manifesto : Karl Marx
● Comus : John Milton
● Confidential Clerk : T.S. Eliot
● Coolie : Mulk Raj Anand
● Count of Monte Cristo : Alexander Dumas
● Childe Harold : Lord Byron
● Chittirappavai : P.V. Akhilandam
● Degeneration of India : T.N. Seshan
● Devdas : Sharat Chandra
● Divine Comedy : Dante
● Discovery of India : Jawaharlal Nehru
● Don Ouixote : Cervantes
● Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde : R.L. Stevenson
● Dash Kumar Charitam : Dandi
● Dark Room, The : R.K. Narayan
● Debacle : Emile Zola
● Diana, The True Story : A. Morton
● Deserted Village : Goldsmith
● Distant Drums : Manohar Malgaonkar
● Emma : Jane Austen
● Ends and Means : Aldous Huxley
● Essays of Elia : Charles Lamb
● Emperor Jones, The : Eugene O’ Neill
● Essays on Gita : Sri Aurbindo Ghosh
● Every Man a King : Swett Marden
● Father and Sons : Ivan Turganev
● Faust : Goethe
● For Whom the Bell Tolls : Ernest Hemingway
● Flames from the Ashes : P.D. Tandon
● Friends, Not Masters : Ayub Khan
● Gathering Storm : Winston Churchill
● Geet Govind : Jaya Dev
● Ghasiram Kotwal : Vijay Tendulkar
● Gitanjali : R.N. Tagore
● Gita Rahasya : Bal Gangadhar Tilak
● Glimpses of World History : J.L. Nehru :
● Godan : Premchand
● God Father, The : Mario Puzo
● Grapes of Wrath : John Steinbeck
● Great Tragedy : Z.A. Bhutto
● Guide, The : R.K. Narayan
● Hamlet : William Shakespeare
● Harsha Charit : Bana Bhatt
● Heat and Dust : Ruth Prawar Jhabwala
● Himalayan Blunders : Brig. J.P. Dalvi
● House Divided : Pearl S. Buck
● Idle Hours : R.K. Laxman
● Idols : Sunil Gavaskar
● Idylls of the King : Lord, Alfred Tennyson
● If I am Assassinated : Z.A. Bhutto
● Isabela : Keats
● Illiad : Homer
● Inside the C.B.I. : Joginder Singh
● India Divided : Rajendra Prasad
● India Wins Freedom : Maulana Azad
● Indian War of Independence : V.D. Savarkar
● Jean Christopher : Romian Rolland
● Judgement, The : Kuldip Nayyar
● Julius Caesar : William Shakespeare
● Jurassic Park : Michael Chrichton
● Kadambari : Bana Bhatt
● Kagaz Te Kanwas : Amrita Pritam
● Kamayani : Jay Shankar Prasad
● Kamasutra : S.H. Vatsayayan
● Kaya Kulp : Premchand
● King Lear : W. Shakespeare
● Lajja : Tasleem Nasreen
● Lady Chhatterley’s Lover : D.H. Lawrence
● Leaves of Grass : Walt Whitman
● Life Divine : Sri Aurbindo
● Living History : Hillary Rodham Clinton
● Living with Honour : Shiv Khera
● Lolita : Vladimir Nobokov
● Long Walk to Freedom : Nelson Mandela
● Less Miserable : Victor Hugo
● Macbeth : Shakespeare
● Madhushala : Harivansh Rai ‘Bachchan’
● Mahabharata : Maharshi Ved Vyas
● Major Barbara : G.B. Shaw
● Malti Madhav : Bhavbhuti
● Malvikagnimitra : Kalidas
● Man and Superman : G.B. Shaw
● Meghdoot : Kalidas
● Men Who Killed Gandhi : Manohar Magaonkar
● Merchant of Venice : Shakespeare
● Middle March : George Eliot
● Midnight Children : Salman Rushdie
● Mother : Maxim Gorky
● Mudra Rakshasa : Vishakha Datt
● Murder in the Cathedral : T.S. Eliot
● My Experiments with Truth : Gandhi
● Nana : Emile Zola
● Natya Shastra : Bharat Muni
● Netaji Dead or Alive : Samar Guha
● Nine Days’ Wonder : John Mansfield
● Ninteen Eighty Four : George Orwell
● O’ Jeruselam : L. Collins & D. Lapierre
● Odyssey : Homer
● Old Man and the Sea : Ernest Hemingway
● Of Human Bondage : Somerset Maugham
● Our India : Minoo Masani
● Out of Dust : F.D. Karaka
● On Contradiction : Mao-Tse-Tung
● Pakistan, The Gathering Storm : Behazir Bhutto
● Panchatantra : Vishnu Sharma
● Pather Panchali : Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyaya
● Peace has no Alternative : Mikhail Gorbachev
● Pickwick Papers : Charles Dickens
● Pilgrim’s Progress : John Bunyan
● Prathma Pratishruti : Ashapoorna Devi
● Price and Prejudice : Jane Austin
● Prince : Machiaveli
● Peter Pan : J.M. Barrie
● Principia : Isaac Newton
● Raghuvansha : Kalidasa
● Rajtaringini : Kalhan
● Ram Charit Manas : Tulsidas
● Ramayana : Valmiki
● Rangbhoomi : Premchand
● Ratnavali : Harshavardhan
● Robaiyat : Omar Khayyam
● Robinson Crusoe : Daniel Defoe
● Rugby Chapel : Mathew Arnold
● Saket : Maithili Sharan Gupta
● Satanic Verses : Salman Rushdie
● Satyarth Prakash : Swami Dayanand
● Shakuntalam : Kalidas
● Shahnama : Firdausi
● Social Contract : Rousseau :
● Sursagar : Surdas
● Sakharam Binder : Vijay Tendulkar
● Testament of Beauty : Robert Bridges
● The Blind Assassin : Margaret Atwood
● The Emperor’s New Suit : Hans Chrishtian Anderson
● Three Musketeers : Alexander Dumas
● The Otherness of Self : Feroz Varun Gandhi
● The Elephant Paradigm : Gurcharan Das
● The Affluent Society : J.K. Galbraith
● The God of Small Things : Arundhati Roy :
● The Inheritance of Loss : Anita Desai
● The Legacy of Nehru : K. Natwar Singh
● Tom Jones : Henry Fielding
● Treasure Island : R.L. Stevenson
● Trail of Jesus : John Masefield
● Uncle Tom’s Cabin : Mrs. Haraiet Stowe
● Unhappy India : Lajpat Rai
● Utopia : Tomas Moor
● Unto The Last : John Ruskin
● Untold Story : B.M. Kaul
● Urvashi : Ram Dhari Singh Dinkar
● Uttara Ram Charita : Bhav Bhuti
● Universe Around Us : James Jeans
● Vanity Fair : Thackeray
● Victim, The : Saul Bellow
● Village, The : Mulk Raj Anand
● Vinay Patrika : Tulsidas
● Voskresenia : Leo Tolstoy
● War and Peace : Tolstoy
● Wealth of Nations : Adam Smith
● We Indians : Khushwant Singh
● Waiting for God : Thomas Becket
● Wings of Fire : Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
● Yama : Mahadevi Verma
● Yashodhara : Maithili Sharan Gupta
● Zulfi, My Friend : Piloo Mody
● Zhivago, Dr. : Boris Pasternak

Training Memo : Postmaster Grade -I PUNJAB CIRCLE

Thursday, September 1, 2011

National Sports Awards 2011




Winners are as follows:
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna : Mr. Gagan Narang - Shooting

Dronacharya Awards :
Mr. I. Venkateshwara Rao - Boxing
Mr. Devender Kumar Rathore - Gymnastics
Mr. Ramphal - Wrestling
Dr. Kuntal Roy - Athletics * (Life time achievement)
Mr. Rajinder Singh - Hockey * (Life time achievement)

Dhyan Chand Awards : Mr. Shabbir Ali - Football
Mr. Sushil Kohli - Swimming
Mr. Rajkumar - Wrestling


Arjuna Awards :
Mr. Rahul Banerjee - Archery
Ms. Preeja Sreedharan - Athletics
Mr. Vikas Gowda - Athletics
Ms. Jwala Gutta - Badminton
Mr. M. Suranjoy Singh - Boxing
Mr. Zaheer Khan - Cricket
Mr. Sunil Chhetri - Football
Mr. Ashish Kumar - Gymnastics
Mr. Rajpal Singh - Hockey (Men)
Mr. Rakesh Kumar - Kabaddi (Men)
Ms. Tejeswini Bai V. - Kabaddi (Women)
Ms. Tejaswini Ravindra Sawant - Shooting
Mr. Veerdhawal Vikram Khade - Swimming
Mr. Somdev Kishore Devvarman - Tennis
Mr. Sanjay Kumar - Volleyball
Mr. Ravinder Singh - Wrestling
Mr. Naib S Katulu Ravikumar - Weightlifting
Ms. Wangkhem Sandhyarani Devi - Wushu
Mr. Prasantha Karamakar - Swimming - Paralympics

Objective Questions on Indian History

  1. The statue of Gomateshwara at Sravanabelagola was built by—
    (A) Chandragupta Maurya
    (B) Kharvela
    (C) Amoghavarsha
    (D) Chamundaraya
    Ans : (D)

    2. ‘Live well, as long as you live. Live well even by borrowings, for once cremated, there is no return’. The rejection of after life is an aphorism of the—
    (A) Kapalika sect
    (B) Sunyavada of Nagarjun
    (C) Ajivikas
    (D) Charvakas
    Ans : (D)

    3. Which one of the following usages was a post-Vedic development ?
    (A) Dharma-Artha-Kama-Moksha
    (B) Brahmana-Kshatriya-Vaishya-Shudra
    (C) Brahmacharya-Grihasthashrama-Vanaprastha-Sanyasa
    (D) Indra-Surya-Rudra-Marut
    Ans : (C)


    4. The capital of the kingdom of Maharaja Ranjit Singh was—
    (A) Amritsar
    (B) Patiala
    (C) Lahore
    (D) Kapurthala
    Ans : (C)

    5. In the Gandhara sculptures the preaching mudra associated with the Buddha's First Sermon at Sarnath is—
    (A) Abhaya
    (B) Dhyana
    (C) Dharmachakra
    (D) Bhumisparsa
    Ans : (C)

    6. The name of the poet Kalidas is mentioned in the—
    (A) Allahabad pillar inscription
    (B) Aihole inscription
    (C) Alapadu grant
    (D) Hanumakonda inscription
    Ans : (B)

    7. Zero was invented by—
    (A) Aryabhatta
    (B) Varahamihira
    (C) Bhaskara I
    (D) An unknown Indian
    Ans : (D)

    8. Which one of the following important trade centres of ancient India was on the trade route connecting Kalyana with Vengi ?
    (A) Tagara
    (B) Sripura
    (C) Tripuri
    (D) Tamralipti
    Ans : (A)

    9. The first Indian ruler who joined the subsidiary Alliance was—
    (A) The Nawab of Oudh
    (B) The Nizam of Hyderabad
    (C) Peshwa Baji Rao II
    (D) The king of Travancore
    Ans : (B)

    10. Vidhushaka, a common character in Sanskrit drama is invariably a—
    (A) Brahmana
    (B) Kshatriya
    (C) Vaishya
    (D) Shudra
    Ans : (A)

    11. Toramana belonged to the ethnic horde of the—
    (A) Scythians
    (B) Hunas
    (C) Yue-chis
    (D) Sakas
    Ans : (B)

    12. Who among the following is said to have witnessed the reigns of eight Delhi Sultans ?
    (A) Ziauddin Barani
    (B) Shams-i-siraj Afif
    (C) Minhaj-us-siraj
    (D) Amir Khusrau
    Ans : (D)

    13. The first Indian ruler to organize Haj pilgrimage at the expense of the state was—
    (A) Alauddin Khilji
    (B) Feroz Tughlaq
    (C) Akbar
    (D) Aurangzeb
    Ans : (C)

    14. Who among the following ladies wrote a historical account during the Mughal period ?
    (A) Gulbadan Begum
    (B) Noorjahan Begum
    (C) Jahanara Begum
    (D) Zebun-nissah Begum
    Ans : (A)

    15. The first to start a joint stock company to trade with India were the—
    (A) Portuguese
    (B) Dutch
    (C) French
    (D) Danish
    Ans : (B)

    16. The caves and rock-cut temples at Ellora are—
    (A) Buddhist
    (B) Buddhist and Jain
    (C) Hindu and Jain
    (D) Hindu, Buddhist and Jain
    Ans : (D)

    17. The significance of the Bengal Regulation of 1793 lies in the fact that—
    (A) It provided for the establishment of the Supreme court
    (B) It restricted the application of English law to Englishmen only
    (C) It accommodated the personal laws of Hindus and Muslims
    (D) It provided for the appointment of the Indian Law Commission
    Ans : (C)

    18. The Mansabdari system introduced by Akbar was borrowed from the system followed in—
    (A) Afghanistan
    (B) Turkey
    (C) Mongolia
    (D) Persia
    Ans : (C)

    19. Which one of the following monuments has a dome which is said to be one of the largest in the world ?
    (A) Tomb of Sher Shah, Sasaram
    (B) Jama Masjid, Delhi
    (C) Tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din Tuglaq, Delhi
    (D) Gol Gumbaz, Bijapur
    Ans : (D)

    20. Ashtapradhan was a Council of Ministers—
    (A) In the Gupta administration
    (B) In the Chola administration
    (C) In the Vijaynagar administration
    (D) In the Maratha administration
    Ans : (D)

    21. The concept of Anuvrata was advocated by—
    (A) Mahayana Buddhism
    (B) Hinayana Buddhism
    (C) Jainism
    (D) The Lokayata School
    Ans : (C)

    22. Which one of the following territories was not affected by the revolt of 1857 ?
    (A) Jhansi
    (B) Jagdishpur
    (C) Lucknow
    (D) Chittor
    Ans : (D)

    23. Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched ?
    (A) Battle of Buxar— Mir Jafar Vs Clive
    (B) Battle of Wandiwash—French Vs East India Company
    (C) Battle of Chelianwala—Dalhousie Vs Marathas
    (D) Battle of Kharda—Nizam Vs East India Company
    Ans : (B)

    24. The word ‘Hindu’ as reference to the people of Hind (India) was first used by—
    (A) The Greeks
    (B) The Romans
    (C) The Chinese
    (D) The Arabs
    Ans : (A)

    25. Hughly was used as a base for piracy in the Bay of Bengal by—
    (A) The Portuguese
    (B) The French
    (C) The Danish
    (D) The British
    Ans : (A)