Census 2011 Highlights

• Initiation:
  • First census: 1872 during Viceroy Mayo's tenure.
  • First scientific/decennial census: 1881 during Viceroy Ripon's tenure (decided every 10 years).
• Census Commissioner:
  • Supreme officer: Census Commissioner.
  • First Indian Census Commissioner: W.C. Plowden.
• 2011 Census:
  • Overall rank: 15th census.
  • Post-independence rank (since 1951): 7th census.
  • Decennial basis rank: 14th census.
  • Commissioner: C. Chandramouli.
  • Motto: "Our Census, Our Future" (हमारी जनगणना हमारा भविष्य).
  • Population: 121.09 crore (second globally at the time, now India is first).
• Demographic Trends:
  • 1911-1921 decade: Known as the "Great Divide Year" (महाविभाजक वर्ष) due to population decrease (first and only time).
  • 2001-2011 decennial growth: 17.7%.
  • Female population: 48.53%.
  • Male population: 51.47%.
• Area-wise Distribution:
  • Largest state by area: Rajasthan.
  • Smallest state by area: Goa.
  • Largest UT by area: Ladakh.
  • Smallest UT by area: Lakshadweep.
• Population Distribution:
  • Highest population states:
    1. Uttar Pradesh (16.51% of India's population)
    2. Maharashtra
    3. Bihar
    4. West Bengal
  • Lowest population states:
    1. Sikkim (0.05%)
    2. Mizoram
    3. Arunachal Pradesh
    4. Goa
• Decennial Growth Rate:
  • Highest decennial growth: Meghalaya (27.9%).
  • Lowest decennial growth (negative): Nagaland (-0.6%).
• Population Density (persons per sq. km):
  • India's average: 382.
  • Highest density state: Bihar (1106).
  • Lowest density state: Arunachal Pradesh (17).
  • Highest density UT/Region (overall): Delhi (much higher than Bihar).
  • Lowest density UT: Lakshadweep.
• Sex Ratio (females per 1000 males):
  • India's average: 943.
  • Highest sex ratio state: Kerala (1084) – only state above 1000.
  • Lowest sex ratio state: Haryana (879).
• Child Sex Ratio (0-6 years):
  • Highest child sex ratio: Arunachal Pradesh (972).
  • Lowest child sex ratio: Haryana (834).
• Literacy Rate (7+ years):
  • India's average: 73% (not 74%).
  • Male literacy: 80.09%.
  • Female literacy: 64.60%.
  • Highest literacy state: Kerala (94%).
  • Lowest literacy state: Bihar (61.80%).
• Urban/Rural Population:
  • Highest rural population (percentage): Himachal Pradesh (90%).
  • Highest urban population (percentage): Goa (62.2%).
  • Highest urban population (number): Maharashtra (5.08 crore).
• Scheduled Caste (SC) Population:
  • Highest SC population (number): Uttar Pradesh (5.25 crore).
  • Highest SC population (percentage): Punjab (31.9%).
• Scheduled Tribe (ST) Population:
  • Highest ST population (number): Madhya Pradesh (1.5 crore).
  • Highest ST population (percentage): Mizoram (94%).

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International Organizations

• United Nations Organization (UNO):
  • Establishment: October 24, 1945.
  • Members: 193 (South Sudan is the latest member). India is a founding member.
  • Headquarters: Manhattan Island, New York.
  • Organs: 6 (UN General Assembly, UN Security Council, International Court of Justice, Secretariat, ECOSOC, Trusteeship Council - currently inactive).
  • Credit for establishment: Franklin D. Roosevelt (awarded Nobel Prize for this).
  • UN General Assembly: Known as Mini World Parliament. One nation, one vote principle. 80th session head: Annabella (Germany).
  • UN Security Council: 15 members (5 permanent with veto power: USA, UK, Russia, China, France; 10 non-permanent with 2-year terms).
  • International Court of Justice (ICJ): Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands. 15 judges, 9-year terms. India's representative: Justice Dalveer Bhandari.
  • Secretariat: Headed by Secretary-General. Current: Antonio Guterres (Portugal). First: Trygve Lie (Norway).
  • ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council): 54 members, 3-year term. India recently became a member.
• OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries):
  • Establishment: 1960, Baghdad.
  • Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.
  • Members: 12.
• NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization):
  • Full Form: North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
  • Nature: Military alliance of capitalist countries (USA-led) against Russia.
  • Establishment: 1949.
  • Members: 32 (31st: Finland, 32nd: Sweden).
  • Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium.
  • Head: Mark Rutte.
  • India is not a member.
• UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme):
  • Full Form: United Nations Environment Programme.
  • Establishment: June 5, 1972 (World Environment Day).
  • Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya.
• WTO (World Trade Organization):
  • Full Form: World Trade Organization.
  • Establishment: January 1, 1995 (Marrakesh Agreement).
  • Previous name: GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade).
  • Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Head: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Nigeria).
  • Members: 166 (Timor-Leste is the latest). India is a member.
• ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations):
  • Full Form: Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
  • Establishment: 1967.
  • Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia.
  • Members: 11.
  • India is not a member.
  • 2025 Meeting: Vientiane, Laos.
• BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation):
  • Establishment: 1997.
  • Headquarters: Dhaka, Bangladesh (Correction: previously mentioned Kathmandu, corrected to Dhaka).
  • Members: 7 (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan).
  • 2025 Meeting: Thailand.
  • Head: Indra Mani Pandey.
• IMF (International Monetary Fund):
  • Full Form: International Monetary Fund.
  • Establishment: 1944 (Bretton Woods Conference, along with World Bank).
  • Headquarters: Washington D.C., USA.
  • Latest member: Andorra (190th).
  • Includes SDR (Special Drawing Rights) with five currencies: US Dollar, British Pound, Japanese Yen, Euro, Chinese Yuan (Renminbi).
  • Current Executive Director (India): Urjit Patel.
• World Bank:
  • Headquarters: Washington D.C., USA.
  • Also known as IBRD (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development).
  • Head: Ajay Banga.
• SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation):
  • Establishment: 1985.
  • Headquarters: Kathmandu, Nepal.
  • Members: 8 (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka).
• SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization):
  • Establishment: 1996 as "Shanghai Five", renamed SCO in 2001.
  • Members: India and Pakistan joined in 2017. Iran (9th), Belarus (10th) also joined.
  • Headquarters: Beijing, China.
  • 2025 Meeting: Tianjin, China.
• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature):
  • Full Form: International Union for Conservation of Nature.
  • Establishment: 1948.
  • Headquarters: Gland, Switzerland.
  • Known for issuing the Red Data Book.
• WWF (World Wildlife Fund):
  • Full Form: World Wildlife Fund.
  • Establishment: 1961.
  • Headquarters: Gland, Switzerland.
• UNESCO:
  • Establishment: 1945.
  • Headquarters: Paris, France.
• EU (European Union):
  • Establishment: Treaty of Rome.
  • Members: Started with 28, now 27 after Brexit (UK exited via Lisbon Treaty).
  • Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium.
  • India is not a member. Some members use Euro currency.
• ADB (Asian Development Bank):
  • Full Form: Asian Development Bank.
  • Establishment: 1966.
  • Headquarters: Manila, Philippines.
  • Latest member: Israel (69th).
  • Vice President (India): Ashok Lavasa.
• ISA (International Solar Alliance):
  • Establishment: COP21 Paris (initiative of India and France).
  • Headquarters: Gurugram, India.
  • Moldova recently became a member.
• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization):
  • Full Form: Food and Agriculture Organization.
  • Establishment: 1945.
  • Headquarters: Rome, Italy.
• BRICS:
  • Concept: Jim O'Neill (2001).
  • Members (original): Brazil, Russia, India, China (BRIC).
  • First Summit: 2009, Yekaterinburg, Russia.
  • South Africa joined in 2010.
  • Current members: 10 (Indonesia is the latest).
  • 2025 Meeting: Brazil.
  • New Development Bank (NDB): Suggested by India at the 2014 Fortaleza Summit. Algeria recently became a member. Headquarters: Shanghai, China.
• G7:
  • Members: Germany, France, Japan, USA, Italy, Canada, England.
  • Previously G8 (Russia was part, later excluded).
  • 2025 Meeting: Canada.
• WHO (World Health Organization):
  • Establishment: April 7, 1948.
  • Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
• ILO (International Labour Organization):
  • Full Form: International Labour Organization.
  • Establishment: 1919.
  • Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
• WEF (World Economic Forum):
  • Full Form: World Economic Forum.
  • Establishment: 1971.
  • Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Famous meeting location: Davos, Switzerland.
• G20:
  • Establishment: 1999.
  • No permanent headquarters.
  • 2023 Host: India (Bharat Mandapam).
  • 2024 Host: Brazil.
  • 2025 Host: Johannesburg.
• Interpol:
  • Establishment: September 7, 1923.
  • Headquarters: Lyon, France.

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Daily Current Affairs (September 3, 2025)

• Joint Military Exercise:
  • Yudh Abhyas: 21st edition (2025) between India and USA. Hosted in Alaska, USA. India's Madras Regiment participated.
  • Other India-USA exercises: Vajra Prahar, Cope India, Tarkash, Tiger Kill, Red Flag.
  • Maître Exercise: Between India and Thailand, held in Umroi, Meghalaya.
• Alaska, USA:
  • Site of former Trump-Putin meeting.
  • Largest province of USA.
  • Location of "Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes" (धुआँरों की घाटी).
  • Mount McKinley (Denali Range), highest peak in North America, located here.
• Sports:
  • 2026 Badminton World Championship: To be hosted by New Delhi, India.
    • India last hosted in 2009 (Hyderabad).
    • First championship: 1977.
    • First Indian medalist: Prakash Padukone (Bronze, 1983).
    • Badminton World Federation (BWF) headquarters: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
    • Major Badminton trophies: Uber Cup, Thomas Cup.
  • T20 Cricket Retirement: Mitchell Starc (Australia) announced retirement from T20 cricket.
  • 2026 Commonwealth Games: To be hosted in Glasgow, Scotland.
  • FIDE World Cup (Chess): To be hosted in Goa, India.
  • 2034 Olympic Games: To be hosted in Los Angeles, USA.
• International Relations:
  • India-Singapore Relations: Singapore PM Lawrence Wong visited India for three days to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
    • Singapore is a top source of FDI for India.
    • India-Singapore exercises: Bold Kurukshetra (held in Jodhpur, Rajasthan), Simbex.
  • PM Modi's International Visits (recent): China (SCO meeting), Ghana, Cyprus, Namibia, Brazil (BRICS meeting), Canada (G7 meeting), Japan.
    • First visit by an Indian PM to Croatia (Zagreb).
  • PM Modi's Awards (recent): Grand Cross of Makarios III from Cyprus.
• Governance & Appointments:
  • Controller General of Accounts (CGA): Ms. TCA Kalyani appointed as the new CGA under the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
    • CGA oversees government accounts. Not mentioned in the Constitution.
  • Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG): Mentioned for comparison.
    • CAG audits accounts. Mentioned in Articles 148-151 of the Constitution.
    • Term: 6 years or 65 years. Appointed by President, removed by Parliament.
    • First CAG: Narahari Rao.
    • Current CAG: Sanjay Murthy.
• Financial Inclusion:
  • Niveshak Didi (Investor Sister) Scheme: Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) launched the second phase in Hyderabad.
    • A financial literacy initiative for rural women. First phase started in 2023.
• Science & Technology:
  • Pratush Telescope: A radio telescope, developed by Raman Research Institute (Bengaluru) with ISRO's assistance.
    • Purpose: To study the reionization of the universe using hydrogen signals, providing insights into star formation.
    • Frequency: 30-250 MHz.
    • Placement: Far side of the Moon.
    • Also called "Future Radiometer."
• Important Days:
  • World Coconut Day: Celebrated on September 2nd annually (started 2009). Theme: Unlocking the power of coconut (नारियल की शक्ति को उजागर करना). Kerala is the top coconut producing state.
  • National Nutrition Week: First week of September (1-7 Sept).
  • Indian Post Payment Bank (IPPB) Foundation Day: September 1st (established 2018).
  • National Small Industry Day: August 30th.
  • International Day Against Nuclear Tests: August 29th.
• Education & Policy:
  • NCERT Initiatives (on 65th Foundation Day, Sept 1, 2025): Based on New Education Policy (NEP) recommendations (Kasturirangan Committee).
    • Bal Vatika TV Channel: Channel 35 on DTH, for early childhood education (3-6 years).
    • Diksha 2.0: Digital learning platform, available in 12 languages.
    • Prashast 2.0: Tool for quick assessment of disability/impairment.
• Festivals:
  • Pat Utsav: Annual festival held in Bhaderwah Valley, Jammu & Kashmir.
    • Dedicated to Vasuki Nag Devta (Serpent God).
    • Symbolizes the meeting of King Akbar and King Nag.
    • Features Dikko dance.
  • Bathukamma Festival: "Festival of Flowers" in Telangana.
    • To be celebrated like the Rio Carnival this year.
• Partnerships & Approvals:
  • Mastercard & Infosys: Partnership to enhance cross-border payments.
  • DGCA Approval: Granted to Air India SATS (AISATS) as India's first ground handling operation company for security. India is the second country after Malaysia to get this approval.
• Miscellaneous:
  • Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): India's rank is 99 (first time in Top 100).
  • Climate Mission: Launched by Indore to become the world's first energy-literate city.