Tag: general knowledge

The Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale) is specifically used to measure tornado intensity based on wind damage. It replaced the original Fujita Scale in 2007. It's not used for cyclones, snowfall, or tsunamis - each has its own measurement scale.

A blizzard is defined as a severe snow storm with strong winds (typically 35+ mph) and heavy snowfall lasting for at least 3 hours. A snow squall is shorter and more intense. A flurry is light snow. Thunder snow involves lightning but isn't necessarily long-lasting.

BRIC (now BRICS) stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and later South Africa. The 'C' represents China, not Canada, Chile, or Cuba. This term was coined in 2001 to represent emerging market economies. China is indeed the second-largest economy in this group.

YES Bank, HDFC Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank are all well-established Indian banks. TATA is primarily an industrial conglomerate (Tata Group) involved in steel, motors, IT, etc. While Tata group has financial services, 'TATA' itself is not primarily a bank name like the others.

Loans against property (using property as collateral) offered to individuals fall under Personal Banking. Corporate banking deals with business clients. Merchant banking involves raising capital. Portfolio Management is investment services. Property loans for personal use are personal banking products.

Participatory Notes (P-Notes) are offshore derivative instruments used by foreign investors to invest in Indian markets without registering with SEBI. SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) is the primary regulator for securities markets and issued guidelines on P-Notes. RBI regulates banks, IRDA regulates insurance.

VAT (Value Added Tax) is a tax levied on goods and services at each stage of production and distribution. It's a consumption tax. PAN is an identification number, NET is a tax deduction, and SAT refers to tax tribunals - none are taxes themselves like VAT.

The Élysée Palace has been the official residence of the French President since 1873. It is located in Paris and serves as both the president's office and residence. The other options (Sabau, Federick, Ladickan) are not real palaces.

Annie Besant became the first woman President of the Indian National Congress in 1917. Indira Gandhi was a Congress leader but not party president, Sarojini Naidu was a prominent freedom fighter and poet, and Sonia Gandhi led the party much later.