International Organizations, Defence, Books & Authors, World History

Notes:
The North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) was signed by 12 countries on April 4, 1949 at the Departmental Auditorium in Washington, D.C.. The countries that signed the treaty were:  Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, The United Kingdom, The United States.  The treaty established the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a mutual defense treaty between the 12 nations. The purpose of NATO was to deter the Soviet Union from invading Western Europe. The treaty committed each member to share the risks, responsibilities, and benefits of collective defense.  NATO is now an alliance of 31 nations from Europe and North America. The main purpose of NATO is to safeguard the freedom and security of its members by political and military means.

Notes:
The correct answer is “A bank for central banks.” The Bank for International Settlements (BIS), established in 1930, serves as a bank for central banks, facilitating international monetary and financial cooperation. It provides a forum for central banks to exchange information and collaborate on financial stability. The BIS also conducts research and offers banking services to central banks, making it a pivotal institution in the global financial system.

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Apart from the 23 postal circles in which India has been divided, India Post also has a Base Circle to cater to the postal communication needs of the Armed Forces. The Base Circle is headed by an Additional Director General, Army Postal Service in the rank of a Major General.

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The Special Service Bureau (now Sashastra Seema Bal) was conceived in November 1962 and eventually created in March 1963 with the sole objective of achieving ‘Total security preparedness’ in the remote border areas for performing a ‘stay-behind’ role in the event of a war. SSB was started in North Assam, North Bengal, hill districts of Uttar Pradesh (now Uttarakhand), Himachal Pradesh, part of Punjab and Ladakh area of J&K.

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The Rapid Action Force (RAF) is a specialized unit of the Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). It was established in 1991 in response to the growing need for a quick-response force that could be deployed in situations of communal violence, riots, and other forms of civil unrest. The RAF is trained in riot control and crowd management techniques, and is equipped with specialized non-lethal weapons and equipment. The unit is made up of personnel from various state police forces, and is known for its professionalism and effectiveness in dealing with volatile situations.

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The World Investment Forum is a biennial event organized by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). It brings together government officials, business leaders, investors, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in international investment. The Forum is designed to facilitate dialogue and cooperation on issues related to investment and development, and to promote inclusive and sustainable growth. The first World Investment Forum was held in 2008, and it has been held every two years since then.

Notes:
The book “Equilibrium Unemployment Theory” is authored by Christopher A. Pissarides. It is a comprehensive work that focuses on unemployment dynamics, job creation, and job destruction. The author introduces the theory of equilibrium unemployment – a framework which has been highly influential in the economics field. Additionally, Pissarides’s work in the search and matching theory of frictional unemployment, along with his contribution to the book has earned him a share of the 2010 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.

Notes:
The book “Taj-ul-masir” was penned by Sadruddin Mohammad Hassan Nizami, popularly known as Hasan Nizami. The book, written in the Turki language, notably deals with political events in North India from approximately 1192 AD to 1228 AD. It offers a thorough examination of the reign of Sultan Qutub-ud-din Aibak, the founder of the Slave dynasty, and the early rule of Iltumish, Sultan Qutub-ud-din Aibak’s son-in-law.

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During the reign of Govindachandra ( ruler of Sena dynasty), his minister Laksmidhara wrote “Kritya Kalpataru”.

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“Unhappy India” was written by Lala Lajpat Rai. It was published in the year 1928. The book was a reply to “Mother India” written by Katherine Mayo.