• The poison-arrow frog has enough poison to kill about 2,200 people.
• The hummingbird, the loon, the swift, the kingfisher, and the grebe are all birds that cannot walk.
• The poisonous copperhead snake smells like fresh cut cucumbers.
• A chameleon's tongue is twice the length of its body.
• Worker ants may live seven years and the queen may live as long as 15 years.
• The blood of mammals is red, the blood of insects is yellow, and the blood of lobsters is blue.
• Cheetahs make a chirping sound that is much like a bird's chirp or a dog's yelp. The sound is so an intense, it can be heard a mile away.
• The underside of a horse's hoof is called a frog. The frog peels off several times a year with new growth.
• The bloodhound is the only animal whose evidence is admissible in an American court. 98% of brown bears in the United States are in Alaska.
• Before air conditioning was invented, white cotton slipcovers were put on furniture to keep the air cool.
• The Barbie doll has more than 80 careers.
• To make one pound of whole milk cheese, 10 pounds of whole milk is needed.
• 99% of pumpkins that are sold for decoration.
• Every 30 seconds a house fire doubles in size.
• The month of December is the most popular month for weddings in the Philippines.
• A one ounce milk chocolate bar has 6 mg of caffeine.
• Carbon monoxide can kill a person in less than 15 minutes.
• The largest ever hailstone weighed over 1kg and fell in Bangladesh in 1986.
• Ants can live up to 16 years.
• In Belgium, there is a museum that is just for strawberries.
• The sense of smell of an ant is just as good as a dog's.
• Popped popcorn should be stored in the freezer or refrigerator as this way it can stay crunchy for up to three weeks.
• Coca-Cola was originally green.
• The most common name in the world is Mohammed.
• The name of all the continents end with the same letter that they start with.
• The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue.
• TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row ! of the keyboard.
• Women blink nearly twice as much as men!!
• You can't kill yourself by holding your breath.
• It is impossible to lick your elbow.
• People say "Bless you " when you sneeze because when you sneeze, your heart stops for a millisecond.
• It is physically impossible for pigs to look up into the sky.
• The "sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick" is said to be the toughest
• tongue twister in the English language.
• If you sneeze too hard, you can fracture a rib. If you try to suppress a sneeze, you can rupture a blood vessel in your head or neck and die.
• Each king in a deck of playing cards represents great king from history.
Spades - King David
Clubs - Alexander the Great,
Hearts - Charlemagne
Diamonds - Julius Caesar.
• If a statue of a person in the park on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.
• What do bullet proof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser printers all have in common? Ans. - All invented by women.
• The only food that doesn't spoil is HoneY.
• A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.
• A snail can sleep for three years.
• All polar bears are left handed.
• American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating one olive from each salad served in first-class.
• Butterflies taste with their feet.
• Elephants are the only animals that can't jump.
• In the last 4000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.
• On average, people fear spiders more than they do death.
• The cigarette lighter was invented before the match.
• Most lipstick contains fish scales.
• Like fingerprints, everyone's tongue print is different. Tapeworms range in size from about 0.04 inch to more than 50 feet in length.
• A baby bat is called a pup.
• German Shepherds bite humans more than any other breed of dog.
• A female mackerel lays about 500,000 eggs at one time.
• It takes 35 to 65 minks to produce the average mink coat. The numbers for other types of fur coats are: beaver - 15; fox - 15 to 25; ermine - 150; chinchilla - 60 to 100 .
22 August 2007
Did u know........(I)
• Shakespeare invented the word 'assassination' and 'bump'.
• Stewardesses is the longest word typed with only the left hand.
• The ant always falls over on its right side when intoxicated.
• The electric chair was invented by a dentist.
• The human heart creates enough pressure when it pumps out to the body to Squirt blood 30 feet.
• Wearing headphones for just an hour will increase the bacteria in your ear By 700 times.
• Ants don't sleep .
• Owls have eyeballs that are tubular in shape, because of this, they cannot move their eyes.
• A bird requires more food in proportion to its size than a baby or a cat.
• The mouse is the most common mammal in the US.
• A newborn kangaroo is about 1 inch in length.
• A cow gives nearly 200,000 glasses of milk in her lifetime.
• The Canary Islands were not named for a bird called a canary. They were named after a breed of large dogs. The Latin name was Canariae insulae - "Island of Dogs."
• There are 701 types of pure breed dogs.
• A polecat is not a cat. It is a nocturnal European weasel.
• The animal responsible for the most human deaths world-wide is the mosquito.
• The biggest pig in recorded history was Big Boy of Black Mountain, North Carolina, who was weighed at 1,904 pounds in 1939.
• Cats respond most readily to names that end in an "ee" sound.
• A cat cannot see directly under its nose. This is why the cat cannot seem to find tidbits on the floor.
• Pigs, walruses and light-colored horses can be sunburned.
* Snakes are immune to their own poison.
• An iguana can stay under water for 28 minutes.
• Cats have more than one hundred vocal sounds, while dogs only have about ten.
• The biggest member of the cat family is the male lion, which weighs 528 pounds (240 kilograms).
• Most lipstick contains fish scales.
• Rats multiply so quickly that in 18 months, two rats could have over a million descendants.
• Each day in the US, animal shelters are forced to destroy 30,000 dogs and cats.
• A shrimp's heart is in their head.
• A pregnant goldfish is called a twit.
• A cockroach will live nine days without its head, before it starves to death.
• The cat lover is an ailurophile, while a cat hater is an ailurophobe.
• A woodpecker can peck twenty times a second.
• It may take longer than two days for a chick to break out of its shell.
• Dragonflies are one of the fastest insects, flying 50 to 60 mph.
• Despite man's fear and hatred of the wolf, it has not ever been proved that a non-rabid wolf ever attacked a human.
• There are more than 100 million dogs and cats in the United States.
• Americans spend more than 5.4 billion dollars on their pets each year.
• Cat's urine glows under a black light .
• The largest cockroach on record is one measured at 3.81 inches in length.
• It is estimated that a single toad may catch and eat as many as 10,000 insects in the course of a summer.
• Amphibians eyes come in a variety shapes and sizes. Some even have square or heart-shaped pupils.
• It would require an average of 18 hummingbirds to weigh in at 1 ounce.
• Dogs that do not tolerate small children well are the St. Bernard, the Old English sheep dog, the Alaskan malamute, the bull terrier, and the toy poodle.
• Moles are able to tunnel through 300 feet of earth in a day.
• Howler monkeys are the noisiest land animals. Their calls can be heard over 2 miles away.
• A quarter of the horses in the US died of a vast virus epidemic in 1872.
• The fastest bird is the Spine-tailed swift, clocked at speeds of up to 220 miles per hour.
• There is no single cat called the panther. The name is commonly applied to the leopard, but it is also used to refer to the puma and the jaguar. A black panther is really a black leopard. A capon is a castrated rooster.
• The world's largest rodent is the Capybara. An Amazon water hog that looks like a guinea pig, it can weigh more than 100 pounds.
• Stewardesses is the longest word typed with only the left hand.
• The ant always falls over on its right side when intoxicated.
• The electric chair was invented by a dentist.
• The human heart creates enough pressure when it pumps out to the body to Squirt blood 30 feet.
• Wearing headphones for just an hour will increase the bacteria in your ear By 700 times.
• Ants don't sleep .
• Owls have eyeballs that are tubular in shape, because of this, they cannot move their eyes.
• A bird requires more food in proportion to its size than a baby or a cat.
• The mouse is the most common mammal in the US.
• A newborn kangaroo is about 1 inch in length.
• A cow gives nearly 200,000 glasses of milk in her lifetime.
• The Canary Islands were not named for a bird called a canary. They were named after a breed of large dogs. The Latin name was Canariae insulae - "Island of Dogs."
• There are 701 types of pure breed dogs.
• A polecat is not a cat. It is a nocturnal European weasel.
• The animal responsible for the most human deaths world-wide is the mosquito.
• The biggest pig in recorded history was Big Boy of Black Mountain, North Carolina, who was weighed at 1,904 pounds in 1939.
• Cats respond most readily to names that end in an "ee" sound.
• A cat cannot see directly under its nose. This is why the cat cannot seem to find tidbits on the floor.
• Pigs, walruses and light-colored horses can be sunburned.
* Snakes are immune to their own poison.
• An iguana can stay under water for 28 minutes.
• Cats have more than one hundred vocal sounds, while dogs only have about ten.
• The biggest member of the cat family is the male lion, which weighs 528 pounds (240 kilograms).
• Most lipstick contains fish scales.
• Rats multiply so quickly that in 18 months, two rats could have over a million descendants.
• Each day in the US, animal shelters are forced to destroy 30,000 dogs and cats.
• A shrimp's heart is in their head.
• A pregnant goldfish is called a twit.
• A cockroach will live nine days without its head, before it starves to death.
• The cat lover is an ailurophile, while a cat hater is an ailurophobe.
• A woodpecker can peck twenty times a second.
• It may take longer than two days for a chick to break out of its shell.
• Dragonflies are one of the fastest insects, flying 50 to 60 mph.
• Despite man's fear and hatred of the wolf, it has not ever been proved that a non-rabid wolf ever attacked a human.
• There are more than 100 million dogs and cats in the United States.
• Americans spend more than 5.4 billion dollars on their pets each year.
• Cat's urine glows under a black light .
• The largest cockroach on record is one measured at 3.81 inches in length.
• It is estimated that a single toad may catch and eat as many as 10,000 insects in the course of a summer.
• Amphibians eyes come in a variety shapes and sizes. Some even have square or heart-shaped pupils.
• It would require an average of 18 hummingbirds to weigh in at 1 ounce.
• Dogs that do not tolerate small children well are the St. Bernard, the Old English sheep dog, the Alaskan malamute, the bull terrier, and the toy poodle.
• Moles are able to tunnel through 300 feet of earth in a day.
• Howler monkeys are the noisiest land animals. Their calls can be heard over 2 miles away.
• A quarter of the horses in the US died of a vast virus epidemic in 1872.
• The fastest bird is the Spine-tailed swift, clocked at speeds of up to 220 miles per hour.
• There is no single cat called the panther. The name is commonly applied to the leopard, but it is also used to refer to the puma and the jaguar. A black panther is really a black leopard. A capon is a castrated rooster.
• The world's largest rodent is the Capybara. An Amazon water hog that looks like a guinea pig, it can weigh more than 100 pounds.
The First... ( INDIAN )
Actress of the Talkies ----------------- Zubeida, Alam Ara(1931)
Actress to win Padma Shri Award ----------------- Nargis Dutt(1958)
Architect ------------------ Maha Govinda(5th C.BC)
Aryabhatta Medal Winner ------------------ K.R. Ramanathan(1977)
Bharat Ratna Award Winner ------------------- C.Rajgopalachari( 1954)
British Governor General of Indian Union ------------ Lord Louis Mountbatten( Aug. 15, 1947-June 20, 1948)
Captain of Test Cricket -------------------- C.K.Nayudu(1932)
Century in Test Cricket -------------------- Lala Amarnath(1933- 1934)
Chairman of Rajaya Sabha -------------------- S.V.Krishnamoorthy( 1952)
Chevalier Award Winner -------------------- Sivaji Ganesan
Chief Election Commissioner -------------------- Sukumar Sen(1950-1958)
Chief Justice of India -------------------- Hiralal J.Kania(1950- 1951)
Chief of Air Staff -------------------- Sir Thomas Elmhirst(1947- 1950)
Chief of Army Staff to die in harness ---------------- B.C.Joshi(1994)
Chief of Coast Guard -------------------- V.A.Kamath(1978- 1980)
Chief of Naval Staff -------------------- R.D.Katari(1958- 1962)
Commander-in- Chief -------------------- K.M.Cariappa( 1949-1953)
Cosmonaut --------------------- Rakesh Sharma(1984)
Dada Saheb Phalke Award Winner -------------------- Devika Rani Roerich(1969)
Dancer to perform abroad ---------------------- Uday Shankar
Deputy Prime Minister ---------------------- Vallabhbhai Patel(1947-1950)
Deputy Prime Minister to die in harness ------------- Vallabhbhai Patel(1950)
Elected President ---------------------- S.Radhakrishnan( 1962-1967)
Emperor of Mughal Dynasty ---------------------- Babar(1526-1530)
Field Marshal ---------------------- S.H.F.J.Manekshaw( 1973)
Film Star Chief Minister ---------------------- M.G.Ramachandran( Tamil Nadu, 1977)
Financial Minister to present the ----------------------- Manmohan Singh (1933, 1994, 1995) Budget three times in a row
Finix Award Winner ----------------------- Sr.P.C.Sorcar
Geometer ---------------------- Baudhayana, Sulva Sutras(800 BC)
Governor General of British India --------------------- Warren Hastings(1774- 1785)
Grammarian ---------------------- Panini, Ashtadhyaayi( 6th C. BC)
Helms Award Winner ---------------------- Kunwar Digvijay Singh Babu(1952)
Home Minister ---------------------- Vallabhbhai Patel(1946)
ICS Officer ---------------------- Satyendranath Tagore
Indian Chief of Air Staff ---------------------- S.Mukherjee( 1954-1960)
Indian Governor General of Indian Union ------------ M.Rajendra Singh(April 1, 1955-May 14, 1955)
Indian Woman President of I N C -------------------- Sarojini Naidu(1925)
J.C.Bose Medal Winner --------------------- V.Ramalingaswami( 1977)
Jain Tithankara --------------------- Rishabha Dev
Jananpith Award Winner ---------------------- G.Sankara Kurup, Odakuzhal(1965)
Lady of the Indian Film ---------------------- Devika Rani Roerich
Lata Mangeshkar Award Winner ---------------------- Naushad(1984)
Lawgiver ----------------------- Manu, Manu Smirti(3100 BC)
Man to climb Mount Everest without oxygen ----------- Phu Dorjee(1984)
Man to climb Mount Everest ---------------------- Tanzing Norgay(with Edumund Hillary, 1953)
Man to make solo Flight(from US to India) ------------ Satish Soman(1994)
Man to swim across English Channel ------------------- Mihir Sen(1966)
Man to swim several Straits in one calender year ----- Mihir Sen(1966)
Managing Director of World Bank -------------------- Gautam Kaji(1995)
Member of British Parliament -------------------- Dadabhai Naoroji(1862)
Member of Viceroy's Executive Council --------------- Sir S.P.Sinha(1909)
Miss Universe -------------------- Sushmita Sen(1994)
Miss World --------------------- Reita Faria(1966)
Musician to get Padma Bhushan ---------------------- M.S.Subbulakshmi( 1954,1975) and Padma Vibhushana
Musician to get Ramon Magsaysay Award -------------- M.S.Subbulakshami( 1974)
Naval Pilot ---------------------- Y.N.Singh(1941)
Nishan-Eey-Pakistan Award Winner --------------------- Morarji Desai(1991)
Nobel Prize Winner ---------------------- Rabindranath Tagore, Gitanjali(1913)
Olympic Medal Winner ------------------------ Norman Pritchard, Silver(1900)
Oscar Winner ------------------------- Bhanu Athaiya
Patricide ------------------------- Ajatshatru's killing of Bimbisara(494 BC)
Physically handicapped mountaineer ---------------------- Baba Manindra Pal
Pilot ----------------------- J.R.D.Tata, Tata Airlines(1929)
Presentation of Budget ------------------------ R.K.Shanmugham Chetty, Finance Minister(1947)
Presentation of General Budget ------------------------ C.D.Deshmukh, Finance Minister(1952)
President ------------------------ Rajendra Prasad(1950- 1962)
President of Indian National Congress -------------------- W.C.Bannerjee( 1885)
President of International Court of Justice ---------------- Nagendra Singh(1970)
President to die in harness ----------------------- Zakir Hussain(1967- 1969)
Prime Minister ------------------------ Jawaharlal Nehru(1947-1964)
Prime Minister to be assassinated ------------------------ Indira Gandhi(1984)
Prime Minister to die in harness ------------------------- Jawaharlal Nerhru(1964)
Prime Minister to head a minority government ------------ Choudhary Charan Singh(July 28, 1979-Jan,14, 1980)
Prime Minister to resign from office ---------------------- Morarji Desai(1979)
Prime Minister who did not face Parliament -------------- Chaudhary Charan Singh(July 28, 1979-Jan 14, 1980)
Raman Medal Winner ---------------------- Salim Moinuddin Ahmed Ali(1979)
Raman Magsaysay Award Winner ----------------------- Vinoba Bhave(1958)
Recipient of Stalin Peace Prize ----------------------- Saifuddin Kitchlew(1954)
Recipient of World Food Prize ----------------------- M.S.Swaminathan( 1987)
S.Ramanujan Medal Winner ----------------------- S.Chandrashekhar( 1962)
S.S.Bhatnagar Medal Winner ----------------------- Atma Ram(1959)
Scientist ----------------------- Uddalaka Aruni(560 BC)
Slave Ruler of India ----------------------- Qutb-ud-din Aibak(1206-1210)
Speaker in Hindi at the UN ----------------------- Atal Bihari Vajpayee(1977)
Speaker of Lok Sabha ------------------------ Ganesh Vasudeo Mavalankar(1952- 1957)
Test-tube baby ------------------------- Baby Harsha or Indira(1986)
Vice-President ------------------------- S.Radhakrishnan( 1952-1962)
Viceroy of India ------------------------- Lord Canning (1858-1862)
Woman (Muslim) Ruler of India ------------------------- Razia Sultana(1236- 1240)
Woman Advocate -------------------------- Cornelia Sorabji(1894)
Woman Ambassador -------------------------- Vijayalakshmi Pandit(U.S.S. R., 1947-1949)
Woman at Antarctica --------------------------- Meher Moos(1976)
Woman Central Minister -------------------------- Rajkumari Amrit Kaur(Health)
Woman Chief Justice(of High Court) ------------------------- Leila Seth(Himachal Pradesh, 1991)
Woman Chief Minister ------------------------- Sucheta Kriplani(Uttar Pradesh, 1963-1967)
Woman Foreign Minister -------------------------- Lakshmi N. Menon(1957-1966)
Woman Secretary General of Rajya Sabha ---------------- V.S.Rama Devi(1993)
Woman Governor ------------------------- Sarojini Naidu(Uttar Pradesh, 1963-1967)
Woman IAS Officer --------------------------- Anna Rajam George(1950)
Woman IPS Officer ---------------------------- Kiran Bedi(1974)
Woman Jet Commander -------------------------- Saudamini Deshmukh
Woman Jnanpithpith Award Winner ------------------------- Ashapurna Devi, Prathama Pratishruti( 1976)
Woman Judge of Supreme Court --------------------------- Meera Sahib Fatima Beevi(1989)
Woman Minister of State -------------------------- Vijayalakshmi Pandit(Uttar Pradesh, 1937)
Woman Missionary --------------------------- Sanghamitra, daughter of King Ashoka (Sri Lanka, 3rd C.BC)
Woman Pilot (Commercial) -------------------------- Prem Mathur(Deccan Airways, 1951)
Woman Pilot (Indian Airlines) ------------------------- Durga Banerjee(1966- 1988)
Woman President of Indian National Congress ------------ Annie Besant(1917)
Woman President of UN General Assembly --------------- Vijayalakshmi Pandit(1953)
Woman Prime Minister ------------------------- Indira Gandhi(1966- 1977, 1980-1984)
Woman Sahitya Akademi Award Winner ----------------- Amrita Pritam, Sunehre(1956)
Woman to climb Mount Everest ------------------------- Bachendri Pal(1984)
Woman to perform a solo Flight ------------------------ Harita Kaur Deol(1944)
Woman to swim across English Channel --------------- Arati Saha(1959)
Woman to swim across the Strait of Gibraltar ----------- Arti Pradhan
Woman to win an Asian Gold ----------------------- Kamaljit Sandhu(1970)
Woman to go in Space ------------------------ Dr.Kalpana Chawla(November 1997)
Actress to win Padma Shri Award ----------------- Nargis Dutt(1958)
Architect ------------------ Maha Govinda(5th C.BC)
Aryabhatta Medal Winner ------------------ K.R. Ramanathan(1977)
Bharat Ratna Award Winner ------------------- C.Rajgopalachari( 1954)
British Governor General of Indian Union ------------ Lord Louis Mountbatten( Aug. 15, 1947-June 20, 1948)
Captain of Test Cricket -------------------- C.K.Nayudu(1932)
Century in Test Cricket -------------------- Lala Amarnath(1933- 1934)
Chairman of Rajaya Sabha -------------------- S.V.Krishnamoorthy( 1952)
Chevalier Award Winner -------------------- Sivaji Ganesan
Chief Election Commissioner -------------------- Sukumar Sen(1950-1958)
Chief Justice of India -------------------- Hiralal J.Kania(1950- 1951)
Chief of Air Staff -------------------- Sir Thomas Elmhirst(1947- 1950)
Chief of Army Staff to die in harness ---------------- B.C.Joshi(1994)
Chief of Coast Guard -------------------- V.A.Kamath(1978- 1980)
Chief of Naval Staff -------------------- R.D.Katari(1958- 1962)
Commander-in- Chief -------------------- K.M.Cariappa( 1949-1953)
Cosmonaut --------------------- Rakesh Sharma(1984)
Dada Saheb Phalke Award Winner -------------------- Devika Rani Roerich(1969)
Dancer to perform abroad ---------------------- Uday Shankar
Deputy Prime Minister ---------------------- Vallabhbhai Patel(1947-1950)
Deputy Prime Minister to die in harness ------------- Vallabhbhai Patel(1950)
Elected President ---------------------- S.Radhakrishnan( 1962-1967)
Emperor of Mughal Dynasty ---------------------- Babar(1526-1530)
Field Marshal ---------------------- S.H.F.J.Manekshaw( 1973)
Film Star Chief Minister ---------------------- M.G.Ramachandran( Tamil Nadu, 1977)
Financial Minister to present the ----------------------- Manmohan Singh (1933, 1994, 1995) Budget three times in a row
Finix Award Winner ----------------------- Sr.P.C.Sorcar
Geometer ---------------------- Baudhayana, Sulva Sutras(800 BC)
Governor General of British India --------------------- Warren Hastings(1774- 1785)
Grammarian ---------------------- Panini, Ashtadhyaayi( 6th C. BC)
Helms Award Winner ---------------------- Kunwar Digvijay Singh Babu(1952)
Home Minister ---------------------- Vallabhbhai Patel(1946)
ICS Officer ---------------------- Satyendranath Tagore
Indian Chief of Air Staff ---------------------- S.Mukherjee( 1954-1960)
Indian Governor General of Indian Union ------------ M.Rajendra Singh(April 1, 1955-May 14, 1955)
Indian Woman President of I N C -------------------- Sarojini Naidu(1925)
J.C.Bose Medal Winner --------------------- V.Ramalingaswami( 1977)
Jain Tithankara --------------------- Rishabha Dev
Jananpith Award Winner ---------------------- G.Sankara Kurup, Odakuzhal(1965)
Lady of the Indian Film ---------------------- Devika Rani Roerich
Lata Mangeshkar Award Winner ---------------------- Naushad(1984)
Lawgiver ----------------------- Manu, Manu Smirti(3100 BC)
Man to climb Mount Everest without oxygen ----------- Phu Dorjee(1984)
Man to climb Mount Everest ---------------------- Tanzing Norgay(with Edumund Hillary, 1953)
Man to make solo Flight(from US to India) ------------ Satish Soman(1994)
Man to swim across English Channel ------------------- Mihir Sen(1966)
Man to swim several Straits in one calender year ----- Mihir Sen(1966)
Managing Director of World Bank -------------------- Gautam Kaji(1995)
Member of British Parliament -------------------- Dadabhai Naoroji(1862)
Member of Viceroy's Executive Council --------------- Sir S.P.Sinha(1909)
Miss Universe -------------------- Sushmita Sen(1994)
Miss World --------------------- Reita Faria(1966)
Musician to get Padma Bhushan ---------------------- M.S.Subbulakshmi( 1954,1975) and Padma Vibhushana
Musician to get Ramon Magsaysay Award -------------- M.S.Subbulakshami( 1974)
Naval Pilot ---------------------- Y.N.Singh(1941)
Nishan-Eey-Pakistan Award Winner --------------------- Morarji Desai(1991)
Nobel Prize Winner ---------------------- Rabindranath Tagore, Gitanjali(1913)
Olympic Medal Winner ------------------------ Norman Pritchard, Silver(1900)
Oscar Winner ------------------------- Bhanu Athaiya
Patricide ------------------------- Ajatshatru's killing of Bimbisara(494 BC)
Physically handicapped mountaineer ---------------------- Baba Manindra Pal
Pilot ----------------------- J.R.D.Tata, Tata Airlines(1929)
Presentation of Budget ------------------------ R.K.Shanmugham Chetty, Finance Minister(1947)
Presentation of General Budget ------------------------ C.D.Deshmukh, Finance Minister(1952)
President ------------------------ Rajendra Prasad(1950- 1962)
President of Indian National Congress -------------------- W.C.Bannerjee( 1885)
President of International Court of Justice ---------------- Nagendra Singh(1970)
President to die in harness ----------------------- Zakir Hussain(1967- 1969)
Prime Minister ------------------------ Jawaharlal Nehru(1947-1964)
Prime Minister to be assassinated ------------------------ Indira Gandhi(1984)
Prime Minister to die in harness ------------------------- Jawaharlal Nerhru(1964)
Prime Minister to head a minority government ------------ Choudhary Charan Singh(July 28, 1979-Jan,14, 1980)
Prime Minister to resign from office ---------------------- Morarji Desai(1979)
Prime Minister who did not face Parliament -------------- Chaudhary Charan Singh(July 28, 1979-Jan 14, 1980)
Raman Medal Winner ---------------------- Salim Moinuddin Ahmed Ali(1979)
Raman Magsaysay Award Winner ----------------------- Vinoba Bhave(1958)
Recipient of Stalin Peace Prize ----------------------- Saifuddin Kitchlew(1954)
Recipient of World Food Prize ----------------------- M.S.Swaminathan( 1987)
S.Ramanujan Medal Winner ----------------------- S.Chandrashekhar( 1962)
S.S.Bhatnagar Medal Winner ----------------------- Atma Ram(1959)
Scientist ----------------------- Uddalaka Aruni(560 BC)
Slave Ruler of India ----------------------- Qutb-ud-din Aibak(1206-1210)
Speaker in Hindi at the UN ----------------------- Atal Bihari Vajpayee(1977)
Speaker of Lok Sabha ------------------------ Ganesh Vasudeo Mavalankar(1952- 1957)
Test-tube baby ------------------------- Baby Harsha or Indira(1986)
Vice-President ------------------------- S.Radhakrishnan( 1952-1962)
Viceroy of India ------------------------- Lord Canning (1858-1862)
Woman (Muslim) Ruler of India ------------------------- Razia Sultana(1236- 1240)
Woman Advocate -------------------------- Cornelia Sorabji(1894)
Woman Ambassador -------------------------- Vijayalakshmi Pandit(U.S.S. R., 1947-1949)
Woman at Antarctica --------------------------- Meher Moos(1976)
Woman Central Minister -------------------------- Rajkumari Amrit Kaur(Health)
Woman Chief Justice(of High Court) ------------------------- Leila Seth(Himachal Pradesh, 1991)
Woman Chief Minister ------------------------- Sucheta Kriplani(Uttar Pradesh, 1963-1967)
Woman Foreign Minister -------------------------- Lakshmi N. Menon(1957-1966)
Woman Secretary General of Rajya Sabha ---------------- V.S.Rama Devi(1993)
Woman Governor ------------------------- Sarojini Naidu(Uttar Pradesh, 1963-1967)
Woman IAS Officer --------------------------- Anna Rajam George(1950)
Woman IPS Officer ---------------------------- Kiran Bedi(1974)
Woman Jet Commander -------------------------- Saudamini Deshmukh
Woman Jnanpithpith Award Winner ------------------------- Ashapurna Devi, Prathama Pratishruti( 1976)
Woman Judge of Supreme Court --------------------------- Meera Sahib Fatima Beevi(1989)
Woman Minister of State -------------------------- Vijayalakshmi Pandit(Uttar Pradesh, 1937)
Woman Missionary --------------------------- Sanghamitra, daughter of King Ashoka (Sri Lanka, 3rd C.BC)
Woman Pilot (Commercial) -------------------------- Prem Mathur(Deccan Airways, 1951)
Woman Pilot (Indian Airlines) ------------------------- Durga Banerjee(1966- 1988)
Woman President of Indian National Congress ------------ Annie Besant(1917)
Woman President of UN General Assembly --------------- Vijayalakshmi Pandit(1953)
Woman Prime Minister ------------------------- Indira Gandhi(1966- 1977, 1980-1984)
Woman Sahitya Akademi Award Winner ----------------- Amrita Pritam, Sunehre(1956)
Woman to climb Mount Everest ------------------------- Bachendri Pal(1984)
Woman to perform a solo Flight ------------------------ Harita Kaur Deol(1944)
Woman to swim across English Channel --------------- Arati Saha(1959)
Woman to swim across the Strait of Gibraltar ----------- Arti Pradhan
Woman to win an Asian Gold ----------------------- Kamaljit Sandhu(1970)
Woman to go in Space ------------------------ Dr.Kalpana Chawla(November 1997)
Can you beat this CV????
EDUCATION /Qualification:
Stood first in BA (Hons), Economics, Panjab University,Chandigarh,1952;
Stood first in MA (Economics),Panjab University, Chandigarh,1954;
Wright's Prize for distinguished performance atSt John's College, Cambridge, 1955 and 1957;
Wrenbury scholar, University ofCambridge,1957;
DPhil (Oxford), DLitt (Honoris Causa); PhD thesis on India's export competitiveness
OCCUPATION /Teaching Experience:
Professor (Senior lecturer, Economics, 1957-59;
Reader, Economics,1959-63;
Professor, Economics,Panjab University, Chandigarh, 1963-65;
Professor,International Trade,Delhi School of Economics,University of Delhi,1969-71;
Honorary professor,Jawaharlal Nehru University,New Delhi,1976
and Delhi School of Econom ics, University of Delhi,1996
and Civil Servant
Working Experience/ POSITIONS:
1971-72: Economic advisor, ministry of foreign trade
1972-76: Chief economic advisor, ministry of finance
1976-80: Director, Reserve Bank ofIndia; Director, Industrial Development Bank ofIndia; Alternate governor for India, Board of governors, Asian Development Bank; Alternate governor forIndia, Board of governors, IBRD
November 1976 - April 1980: Secretary, ministry of finance (Department of economic affairs); Member, finance, Atomic Energy Commission;
Member, finance, Space Commission
April 1980 -September 15, 1982: Member-secretary, Planning Commission
1980-83: Chairman, India Committee of the Indo-Japan joint study committeeSeptember 16,
1982 - January 14, 1985:Governor, Reserve Bank of India
1982-85: Alternate Governor forIndia, Board of governors, International Monetary Fund
1983-84: Member, economic advisory council to the Prime Minister
1985: President, Indian Economic Association
January 15, 1985 - July 31, 1987: Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission
August 1, 1987 - November 10, 1990: Secretary-general and commissioner, south commission,Geneva
December 10, 1990 - March 14, 1991: Advisor to the Prime Minister on economic affairs
March 15, 1991 - June 20, 1991: Chairman, UGC
June 21, 1991 - May 15, 1996: Union finance minister
October 1991: Elected to Rajya Sabha fromAssam on Congress ticket
June 1995: Re-elected to Rajya Sabha
1996 onwards: Member, Consultative Committee for the ministry of finance
August 1, 1996 - December 4, 199 7: Chairman, Parliamentary standing committee on commerce
March 21, 1998 onwards: Leader of the Opposition, Rajya Sabha
June 5, 1998 onwards: Member, committee on finance
August 13, 1998 onwards: Member, committee on rules
Aug 1998-2001: Member, committee of privileges
2000 onwards: Member, executive committee, Indian parliamentary group
June 2001: Re-elected to Rajya Sabha
Aug 2001 onwards: Member, General purposes committee
May 2004 onwards: If you are a citizen ofIndia, you must know this!!
BOOKS:
India's Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth -Clarendon Press,Oxford University, 1964; also published a largenumber of articles in various economic journals.
OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Adam Smith Prize,University of Cambridge, 1956
Padma Vibhushan, 1987
Euro money Award, Finance Minister of the Year, 1993;
Asia money Award, Finance Minister of the Year for Asia, 1993 and 1994
INTERNATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS:
1966: Economic Affairs Officer
1966-69: Chief, financing for trade section, UNCTAD
1972-74: Deputy forIndia in IMF Committee of Twenty on International Monetary Reform
1977-79: Indian delegation to Aid-India Consortium Meetings
1980-82: Indo-Soviet joint planning group meeting
1982: Indo-Soviet monitoring group meeting
1993: Commonwealth Heads of Government MeetingCyprus
1993: Human Rights World Conference,Vienna
RECREATION:
Gymkhana Club,New Delhi; Life Member, India International Centre, New Delhi
Name: Dr. Manmohan Singh DOB:September 26, 1932 Place of Birth: Gah (West Punjab) Father: S. Gurmukh Singh Mother: Mrs Amrit Kaur Married on:September 14, 1958 Wife: Mrs Gursharan Kaur
Stood first in BA (Hons), Economics, Panjab University,Chandigarh,1952;
Stood first in MA (Economics),Panjab University, Chandigarh,1954;
Wright's Prize for distinguished performance atSt John's College, Cambridge, 1955 and 1957;
Wrenbury scholar, University ofCambridge,1957;
DPhil (Oxford), DLitt (Honoris Causa); PhD thesis on India's export competitiveness
OCCUPATION /Teaching Experience:
Professor (Senior lecturer, Economics, 1957-59;
Reader, Economics,1959-63;
Professor, Economics,Panjab University, Chandigarh, 1963-65;
Professor,International Trade,Delhi School of Economics,University of Delhi,1969-71;
Honorary professor,Jawaharlal Nehru University,New Delhi,1976
and Delhi School of Econom ics, University of Delhi,1996
and Civil Servant
Working Experience/ POSITIONS:
1971-72: Economic advisor, ministry of foreign trade
1972-76: Chief economic advisor, ministry of finance
1976-80: Director, Reserve Bank ofIndia; Director, Industrial Development Bank ofIndia; Alternate governor for India, Board of governors, Asian Development Bank; Alternate governor forIndia, Board of governors, IBRD
November 1976 - April 1980: Secretary, ministry of finance (Department of economic affairs); Member, finance, Atomic Energy Commission;
Member, finance, Space Commission
April 1980 -September 15, 1982: Member-secretary, Planning Commission
1980-83: Chairman, India Committee of the Indo-Japan joint study committeeSeptember 16,
1982 - January 14, 1985:Governor, Reserve Bank of India
1982-85: Alternate Governor forIndia, Board of governors, International Monetary Fund
1983-84: Member, economic advisory council to the Prime Minister
1985: President, Indian Economic Association
January 15, 1985 - July 31, 1987: Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission
August 1, 1987 - November 10, 1990: Secretary-general and commissioner, south commission,Geneva
December 10, 1990 - March 14, 1991: Advisor to the Prime Minister on economic affairs
March 15, 1991 - June 20, 1991: Chairman, UGC
June 21, 1991 - May 15, 1996: Union finance minister
October 1991: Elected to Rajya Sabha fromAssam on Congress ticket
June 1995: Re-elected to Rajya Sabha
1996 onwards: Member, Consultative Committee for the ministry of finance
August 1, 1996 - December 4, 199 7: Chairman, Parliamentary standing committee on commerce
March 21, 1998 onwards: Leader of the Opposition, Rajya Sabha
June 5, 1998 onwards: Member, committee on finance
August 13, 1998 onwards: Member, committee on rules
Aug 1998-2001: Member, committee of privileges
2000 onwards: Member, executive committee, Indian parliamentary group
June 2001: Re-elected to Rajya Sabha
Aug 2001 onwards: Member, General purposes committee
May 2004 onwards: If you are a citizen ofIndia, you must know this!!
BOOKS:
India's Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth -Clarendon Press,Oxford University, 1964; also published a largenumber of articles in various economic journals.
OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Adam Smith Prize,University of Cambridge, 1956
Padma Vibhushan, 1987
Euro money Award, Finance Minister of the Year, 1993;
Asia money Award, Finance Minister of the Year for Asia, 1993 and 1994
INTERNATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS:
1966: Economic Affairs Officer
1966-69: Chief, financing for trade section, UNCTAD
1972-74: Deputy forIndia in IMF Committee of Twenty on International Monetary Reform
1977-79: Indian delegation to Aid-India Consortium Meetings
1980-82: Indo-Soviet joint planning group meeting
1982: Indo-Soviet monitoring group meeting
1993: Commonwealth Heads of Government MeetingCyprus
1993: Human Rights World Conference,Vienna
RECREATION:
Gymkhana Club,New Delhi; Life Member, India International Centre, New Delhi
Name: Dr. Manmohan Singh DOB:September 26, 1932 Place of Birth: Gah (West Punjab) Father: S. Gurmukh Singh Mother: Mrs Amrit Kaur Married on:September 14, 1958 Wife: Mrs Gursharan Kaur
Improve ur G.K
Some GK questions 1. What programming language is GOOGLE developed in?
2. What is the expansion of YAHOO?
3. What is the expansion of ADIDAS?
4. Expansion of Star as in Star TV Network?
5. What is expansion of "ICICI?"
6. What does "baker's dozen" signify?
7. The 1984-85 season. 2nd ODI between India and Pakistan at Sialkot- India 210/3 with Vengsarkar 94*. Match abandoned. Why?
8. Who is the only man to have written the National Anthems for two different countries?
9. From what four word ex-pression does the word 'goodbye' derive?
10. How was Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu better known?
11. Name the only other country to have got independence on Aug 15th?
12. Why was James Bond Associated with the Number 007?
13. Who faced the first ball in the first ever One day match?
14. Which cricketer played for South Africa before it was banned from international cricket and later represented Zimbabwe?
15. The faces of which four Presidents are carved at Mt.Rushmore?
16. Which is the only country that is surrounded from all sides by only one country(other than Vatican)? ........................................................................
Answers 1. Google is written in Asynchronous java-script and XML, or its acronym Ajax.
2.Yet Another Hierarchy of Officious Oracle
3. ADIDAS- All Day I Dream About Sports
4. Satellite Television Asian Region
5. Industrial credit and Investments Corporation of India
6. A baker's dozen consists of 13 items - 1 more than the items in a normal dozen
7. That match was abandoned after ppl heard the news of indira gandhi beingkilled.
8. Rabindranath Tagore who wrote national anthem for two different countries one is our 's National anthem and another one is for Bangladesh-(Amar Sonar Bangla)
9. Goodbye comes from the ex-pression: 'god be with you'
. 10. Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu is none other Mother Teresa.
11. South Korea.
12. Because 007 is the ISD code for Russia (or the USSR, as it was known during the cold war)
13. Geoffrey Boycott
14. John Traicos
15. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln
16. Lesotho surrounded from all sides by South Africa.
2. What is the expansion of YAHOO?
3. What is the expansion of ADIDAS?
4. Expansion of Star as in Star TV Network?
5. What is expansion of "ICICI?"
6. What does "baker's dozen" signify?
7. The 1984-85 season. 2nd ODI between India and Pakistan at Sialkot- India 210/3 with Vengsarkar 94*. Match abandoned. Why?
8. Who is the only man to have written the National Anthems for two different countries?
9. From what four word ex-pression does the word 'goodbye' derive?
10. How was Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu better known?
11. Name the only other country to have got independence on Aug 15th?
12. Why was James Bond Associated with the Number 007?
13. Who faced the first ball in the first ever One day match?
14. Which cricketer played for South Africa before it was banned from international cricket and later represented Zimbabwe?
15. The faces of which four Presidents are carved at Mt.Rushmore?
16. Which is the only country that is surrounded from all sides by only one country(other than Vatican)? ........................................................................
Answers 1. Google is written in Asynchronous java-script and XML, or its acronym Ajax.
2.Yet Another Hierarchy of Officious Oracle
3. ADIDAS- All Day I Dream About Sports
4. Satellite Television Asian Region
5. Industrial credit and Investments Corporation of India
6. A baker's dozen consists of 13 items - 1 more than the items in a normal dozen
7. That match was abandoned after ppl heard the news of indira gandhi beingkilled.
8. Rabindranath Tagore who wrote national anthem for two different countries one is our 's National anthem and another one is for Bangladesh-(Amar Sonar Bangla)
9. Goodbye comes from the ex-pression: 'god be with you'
. 10. Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu is none other Mother Teresa.
11. South Korea.
12. Because 007 is the ISD code for Russia (or the USSR, as it was known during the cold war)
13. Geoffrey Boycott
14. John Traicos
15. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln
16. Lesotho surrounded from all sides by South Africa.
How to design a tax-smart salary package
How to design a tax-smart salary package Corporate India is witnessing unprecedented growth. Consequently, the demand for savvy talent is also growing apace. In a bid to attract and retain the best people in their fold, companies are competing with one another in offering high salary with attractive perks.
Realising that the income tax takes away a good portion of the pay packet, and also that individual needs differ, companies often consult their employees in designing their own salary packages.
Here is a checklist to help you work out tax-smart salary and perk options:
Major tax-smarts
1. Interest paid on housing loan is deductible u/s 24 up to Rs 1.5 lakh (Rs 150,000) on self-occupied property, and without any limit on a rented out house.
2. The repayment of housing loan from specified sources is also deductible, irrespective of whether the house is self-occupied or given on rent within the overall ceiling of Rs 1 lakh (Rs 100,000) under Section 80C, taken together with contributions to other avenues under its umbrella.
3. Where the accommodation provided to the employee is taken on lease by the employer, the perk value is the actual amount of lease rental, or 20% of the salary, whichever is lower. Understandably, if the house belongs to a family member who is at a low or nil tax zone, the family benefits. Yes, the maximum benefit accrues when the rent is over 20% of the salary.
4. Chauffeur-driven motorcar provided by the employer has no perk value. True, the company would pay FBT (fringe benefit tax). It is @30% on 20% of the value, thereby bringing down the effective rate to 6%. Better still, if the employee owns the car and the employer pays the cost of petrol and maintenance.
5. Contributions up to Rs 1 lakh per annum to a Superannuation Fund (SAF) of the employee are not taxed, either as fringe benefit in the hands of the employer or as perk in the hands of the employee.
6. Contributions to certain specified schemes (Company PF, PPF, NSC, life insurance, etc.) qualify for a deduction u/s 80C from gross total income with an overall ceiling of Rs 1 lakh. PPF has a ceiling of Rs 70,000 to contributions made to the accounts of self and minor children whereas the contributions to accounts of self, wife and children (major or minor) attract the deductions.
7. Employer's contribution to Company PF in excess of 12% of an employee's salary is taxable. Employee contributes an equal (or higher) amount to his PF account. Again, any excess over 27% of salary contributed by the employer to Company PF and SAF put together is to be treated as a taxable perk.
8. Any death-cum-retirement gratuity received up to Rs 3.5 lakh (Rs 350,000) -- subject to certain conditions -- is tax-exempt.
9. Leave Travel Allowance (LTA) given as reimbursement of expenses incurred by the employee and his family for travelling while on leave is exempt, once in two years.
10. Transport allowance for commuting between residence and place of duty is exempt up to Rs 800 per month.
11. Reimbursement, not exceeding Rs 15,000 in a year, for medical treatment from any doctor for himself and his family members is tax deductible.
12. Under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, a deduction up to Rs 10,000 paid as medical insurance premiums on the health of an assessee, the assessee's spouse, dependent children or parents is allowed. Where an individual has insured a senior citizen (dependent parent), a higher ceiling of Rs 15,000 is available.
13. Professional tax paid by a salaried employee (around Rs 2,500 p.a.) is deductible under Section 16(iii).
14. As a tax-smart strategy, the salary (basic + DA) should be low, the rest should come by way of such allowances on which the employer pays FBT; the employee, then, does not have to pay any tax thereon.
15. ESOP has been brought under the purview of FBT by Budget-07.
Other tax-smarts
In respect of HRA, the least of the following is exempt from tax under Section 10(13A):
(a). 40% of salary (50% for Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Chennai).
(b). HRA for the period the house is occupied by the employee.
(c). The excess of rent paid over 10% of salary.
Please note that an employee who lives in his / her own house, or where s/he does not pay any rent, is not eligible for this exemption. If you are staying in a house belonging to your family members (preferably not your wife), start paying rent to the owner and ask for HRA from your employer.
* A helper engaged at home for the performance of the duties of an office or employment of profit is not considered as a perk. * If the employer employs a gardener for the building premises belonging to the employer, it would not be treated as a perk. The possibility of it being extrapolated to other servants is logical. * Perk value of concessional loan to the employee for purchase of house or motor cars shall be the difference between the interest payable calculated at the rate of interest for similar loans charged by SBI, and the actual interest charged. * Loan for medical treatment specified in Rule-3A is exempt, provided it is not reimbursed under any medical insurance scheme. Where it is reimbursed, the perquisite value shall be charged from the date of reimbursement on the amount reimbursed but not repaid against the outstanding loan taken specifically for this purpose. * Small loans from the employer up to Rs 20,000 in the aggregate are exempt. * Expenses on meals provided to the employee during his hours of duty are not treated as perks. * Employer pays FBT on the value of any gifts to an employee. Gifts up to Rs 50,000 in a year received without consideration by an individual from any person are tax-free in the hands of the donee. However, there is a risk that the IT Department may claim that such gifts are in lieu of salary. * Employer pays FBT on the value of the facility of credit cards and expenses for the club. * Where an employer transfers a movable asset to an employee directly or indirectly, the perquisite value shall be the actual cost to the employer minus the cost of normal wear and tear @10% for each completed year during which such asset was put to use. In the case of motor cars, the normal wear and tear would be @20% whereas in the case of computers, data storage and handling devices, digital diaries, printers, etc. it would be @ 60%. These do not include household appliances (i.e., white goods) such as washing machines, microwave ovens, mixers, hot plates, ovens, etc. * Uniform allowance to meet the expenditure incurred on the purchase or maintenance of uniform for wearing during the performance of the duties of an office or employment of profit is exempt from tax. * Expenses for soft furnishings (table linen, curtains, etc.), including their maintenance at the residence in the case of employees who entertain guests at home for official purpose are also exempt. * Goods at concessional rates, membership of professional associations, subscriptions for technical and business journals and newspapers are not considered as taxable perks. * Payment or reimbursement by the employer towards bills on telephones and cellular is not a perk.
Tailpiece
It is unlikely that good employers would add the FBT payable by them as a part and parcel of the pay package. For instance, take the case of chauffeur-driven car, which has a cost to the company of Rs 120,000. FBT has to be paid on 20% of this amount. The tax payable works out at Rs 7,416 (= 30.9% of 20% of Rs 120,000) only.
Excerpt from:
Taxpayer to Taxsaver (F.Y. 2007 - 08 )
By A N Shanbhag
Publisher: Vision Books
Price: Rs 235.
A N Shanbhag is a best-selling author and a very widely syndicated columnist on personal finance and taxation.
Realising that the income tax takes away a good portion of the pay packet, and also that individual needs differ, companies often consult their employees in designing their own salary packages.
Here is a checklist to help you work out tax-smart salary and perk options:
Major tax-smarts
1. Interest paid on housing loan is deductible u/s 24 up to Rs 1.5 lakh (Rs 150,000) on self-occupied property, and without any limit on a rented out house.
2. The repayment of housing loan from specified sources is also deductible, irrespective of whether the house is self-occupied or given on rent within the overall ceiling of Rs 1 lakh (Rs 100,000) under Section 80C, taken together with contributions to other avenues under its umbrella.
3. Where the accommodation provided to the employee is taken on lease by the employer, the perk value is the actual amount of lease rental, or 20% of the salary, whichever is lower. Understandably, if the house belongs to a family member who is at a low or nil tax zone, the family benefits. Yes, the maximum benefit accrues when the rent is over 20% of the salary.
4. Chauffeur-driven motorcar provided by the employer has no perk value. True, the company would pay FBT (fringe benefit tax). It is @30% on 20% of the value, thereby bringing down the effective rate to 6%. Better still, if the employee owns the car and the employer pays the cost of petrol and maintenance.
5. Contributions up to Rs 1 lakh per annum to a Superannuation Fund (SAF) of the employee are not taxed, either as fringe benefit in the hands of the employer or as perk in the hands of the employee.
6. Contributions to certain specified schemes (Company PF, PPF, NSC, life insurance, etc.) qualify for a deduction u/s 80C from gross total income with an overall ceiling of Rs 1 lakh. PPF has a ceiling of Rs 70,000 to contributions made to the accounts of self and minor children whereas the contributions to accounts of self, wife and children (major or minor) attract the deductions.
7. Employer's contribution to Company PF in excess of 12% of an employee's salary is taxable. Employee contributes an equal (or higher) amount to his PF account. Again, any excess over 27% of salary contributed by the employer to Company PF and SAF put together is to be treated as a taxable perk.
8. Any death-cum-retirement gratuity received up to Rs 3.5 lakh (Rs 350,000) -- subject to certain conditions -- is tax-exempt.
9. Leave Travel Allowance (LTA) given as reimbursement of expenses incurred by the employee and his family for travelling while on leave is exempt, once in two years.
10. Transport allowance for commuting between residence and place of duty is exempt up to Rs 800 per month.
11. Reimbursement, not exceeding Rs 15,000 in a year, for medical treatment from any doctor for himself and his family members is tax deductible.
12. Under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, a deduction up to Rs 10,000 paid as medical insurance premiums on the health of an assessee, the assessee's spouse, dependent children or parents is allowed. Where an individual has insured a senior citizen (dependent parent), a higher ceiling of Rs 15,000 is available.
13. Professional tax paid by a salaried employee (around Rs 2,500 p.a.) is deductible under Section 16(iii).
14. As a tax-smart strategy, the salary (basic + DA) should be low, the rest should come by way of such allowances on which the employer pays FBT; the employee, then, does not have to pay any tax thereon.
15. ESOP has been brought under the purview of FBT by Budget-07.
Other tax-smarts
In respect of HRA, the least of the following is exempt from tax under Section 10(13A):
(a). 40% of salary (50% for Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Chennai).
(b). HRA for the period the house is occupied by the employee.
(c). The excess of rent paid over 10% of salary.
Please note that an employee who lives in his / her own house, or where s/he does not pay any rent, is not eligible for this exemption. If you are staying in a house belonging to your family members (preferably not your wife), start paying rent to the owner and ask for HRA from your employer.
* A helper engaged at home for the performance of the duties of an office or employment of profit is not considered as a perk. * If the employer employs a gardener for the building premises belonging to the employer, it would not be treated as a perk. The possibility of it being extrapolated to other servants is logical. * Perk value of concessional loan to the employee for purchase of house or motor cars shall be the difference between the interest payable calculated at the rate of interest for similar loans charged by SBI, and the actual interest charged. * Loan for medical treatment specified in Rule-3A is exempt, provided it is not reimbursed under any medical insurance scheme. Where it is reimbursed, the perquisite value shall be charged from the date of reimbursement on the amount reimbursed but not repaid against the outstanding loan taken specifically for this purpose. * Small loans from the employer up to Rs 20,000 in the aggregate are exempt. * Expenses on meals provided to the employee during his hours of duty are not treated as perks. * Employer pays FBT on the value of any gifts to an employee. Gifts up to Rs 50,000 in a year received without consideration by an individual from any person are tax-free in the hands of the donee. However, there is a risk that the IT Department may claim that such gifts are in lieu of salary. * Employer pays FBT on the value of the facility of credit cards and expenses for the club. * Where an employer transfers a movable asset to an employee directly or indirectly, the perquisite value shall be the actual cost to the employer minus the cost of normal wear and tear @10% for each completed year during which such asset was put to use. In the case of motor cars, the normal wear and tear would be @20% whereas in the case of computers, data storage and handling devices, digital diaries, printers, etc. it would be @ 60%. These do not include household appliances (i.e., white goods) such as washing machines, microwave ovens, mixers, hot plates, ovens, etc. * Uniform allowance to meet the expenditure incurred on the purchase or maintenance of uniform for wearing during the performance of the duties of an office or employment of profit is exempt from tax. * Expenses for soft furnishings (table linen, curtains, etc.), including their maintenance at the residence in the case of employees who entertain guests at home for official purpose are also exempt. * Goods at concessional rates, membership of professional associations, subscriptions for technical and business journals and newspapers are not considered as taxable perks. * Payment or reimbursement by the employer towards bills on telephones and cellular is not a perk.
Tailpiece
It is unlikely that good employers would add the FBT payable by them as a part and parcel of the pay package. For instance, take the case of chauffeur-driven car, which has a cost to the company of Rs 120,000. FBT has to be paid on 20% of this amount. The tax payable works out at Rs 7,416 (= 30.9% of 20% of Rs 120,000) only.
Excerpt from:
Taxpayer to Taxsaver (F.Y. 2007 - 08 )
By A N Shanbhag
Publisher: Vision Books
Price: Rs 235.
A N Shanbhag is a best-selling author and a very widely syndicated columnist on personal finance and taxation.
09 August 2007
How to Configure DHCP in ur PC..
How to Configure DHCP in ur PC.. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is the configuration of your Internet Protocol (IP) address, subnet mask, DNS servers, domain name suffix and about 200 other possible options to let your computer communicate with a network automatically via a server or router. It sounds complicated, but once set up, it can make connecting to a network much easier. Steps Log into Windows XP with administrator rights. This makes setting up the network for you, and other users, easier as you can make all the necessary changes to settings. Look for the Network Neighborhood or My Network Places icon in your desktop. If it is not there, try your Start Menu. Right-click the Network Neighborhood/ My Network Places icon. A drop-down menu will appear. Choose the "Properties" option, generally found at the bottom of the menu. Look for an icon named "Local Area Connection". The icon looks like a pair of computer connected by a link. Double-click this icon. Click the "General" tab, if it is not already selected. You will see a list of protocols to choose form. Scroll down and choose Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click the button that is labeled "Properties" . Again, click the "General" tab, it it is not alreay selected. You will see two choices:
"Obtain an IP address Automatically" "Use the following IP address..." Choose option 1. You have effectively configured DHCP for your PC. When your computer obtains the IP address, it will also obtain DNS server information automatically. This is provided by your dhcp server.
Tips Make sure your NIC (Network Card)is working properly. Make sure you are connected directly to a router, switch or hub. Make sure the Link light is on. (small green light where the cable plugs into the computer) If you are connected to a LAN, make sure that you have a router that will give addresses away, since the address will be obtained by the PC from the router. If you have a Server on the LAN such as Windows 2000 or 2003, make sure the server is configured DHCP enabled as well.
"Obtain an IP address Automatically" "Use the following IP address..." Choose option 1. You have effectively configured DHCP for your PC. When your computer obtains the IP address, it will also obtain DNS server information automatically. This is provided by your dhcp server.
Tips Make sure your NIC (Network Card)is working properly. Make sure you are connected directly to a router, switch or hub. Make sure the Link light is on. (small green light where the cable plugs into the computer) If you are connected to a LAN, make sure that you have a router that will give addresses away, since the address will be obtained by the PC from the router. If you have a Server on the LAN such as Windows 2000 or 2003, make sure the server is configured DHCP enabled as well.
back up windows xp
Learn how to backup your Windows XP computer quickly. This is a down and dirty full system backup. This will allow you to restore everything on your system if you had a system crash. Steps
1. Click Start -> Run -> type in, with out the quotes, "ntbackup.exe". 2. Click on Backup Wizard and then "Next". 3. Select the radio button "Backup everything on this computer" and click "Next". 4. Choose a location where you will save your backup. 5. Type in a name of your backup that you will recognize and click "Next". 6. Click "Finish" and your backup will begin. 7. It will complete and provide you a report of the backup. 8. Click "Close" and your backup is complete.
Tips
* Make sure the location you are backing up to has enough storage space to backup your entire computer. * You will have to be certain you won't have to turn off your computer during the backup. * Full System backups can take extended amounts of time depending on how much data you have to backup so be prepared.
1. Click Start -> Run -> type in, with out the quotes, "ntbackup.exe". 2. Click on Backup Wizard and then "Next". 3. Select the radio button "Backup everything on this computer" and click "Next". 4. Choose a location where you will save your backup. 5. Type in a name of your backup that you will recognize and click "Next". 6. Click "Finish" and your backup will begin. 7. It will complete and provide you a report of the backup. 8. Click "Close" and your backup is complete.
Tips
* Make sure the location you are backing up to has enough storage space to backup your entire computer. * You will have to be certain you won't have to turn off your computer during the backup. * Full System backups can take extended amounts of time depending on how much data you have to backup so be prepared.
lock a folder in xp
Suppose you want to lock the folder games in d: which has the path D:\Games.In the same drive create a text file and type ren games games.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D} Now save this text file as loc.bat
create another text file and type in it ren games.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D} games Now save this text file as key.bat
Now you can see 2 batch files loc and key.Press loc and the folder games will change to control panel and you cannot view its contents.Press key and you will get back your original folder.
Hey do not forget to change games to ur folder name.
try it out!!!!!!!
create another text file and type in it ren games.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D} games Now save this text file as key.bat
Now you can see 2 batch files loc and key.Press loc and the folder games will change to control panel and you cannot view its contents.Press key and you will get back your original folder.
Hey do not forget to change games to ur folder name.
try it out!!!!!!!
11 June 2007
To convert a FAT partition to NTFS:
To convert a FAT partition to NTFS:To convert a FAT partition to NTFS:Click Start, click Programs, and then click Command Prompt.In Windows XP, click Start, click Run, type cmd and then click OK.At the command prompt, type CONVERT [driveletter]: /FS:NTFS.Convert.exe will attempt to convert the partition to NTFS.NOTE: Although the chance of corruption or data loss during the conversion from FAT to NTFS is minimal, it is best to perform a full backup of the data on the drive that it is to be converted prior to executing the convert command. It is also recommended to verify the integrity of the backup before proceeding, as well as to run RDISK and update the emergency repair disk (ERD).
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