Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Indian Postal Department 2014: Exam paper pattern
Government of India,
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Department of Posts has
invited applications for recruitment at 8243 posts of postal assistants/
sorting assistants/ postal assistants (Savings Bank Control Organization)/
postal assistants (Foreign Post Organization)/ postal assistants (Returned
Letter Offices)/ postal assistants (Mail Motor Services) and postal assistants
(Circle and Regional Offices).
Exam Pattern for the same
is mentioned below:
There are two types of
test for this post:
·
Paper I: Aptitude Test
·
Paper II: Computer/ Typing
Test
Paper I: Aptitude Test:
This paper will comprise
of four parts: (Part A, B, C and D). The paper to be continued for a duration
of two hours does not have any negative marking. It will contain 100 questions
overall, each section having 25 questions each.
Part A: 25 questions
carrying 25 marks. It will consist of questions on general knowledge-
current events, sports, history, geography, basic economics, general politics,
indian constitution, science environment.
Part B: 25 questions
carrying 25 marks. It will consist of questions on mathematics of matriculation
standard which may cover number system, simplification, decimals, corrections,
simple and compound interest, percentage, average, profit and loss, discount,
menstruation, time & work and time & distance etc.
Part C: 25 questions
carrying 25 marks. It will consist of questions of English covering grammar
(prepositions, adverbs, conjunction, direct/indirect speech, singular &
plural, tenses, antonyms/synonyms etc.
Part D: 25 questions
carrying 25 marks. It will consist of questions on reasoning and analytical
ability.
Paper II: Computer/
Typing Test:
It will be held for a
duration of 30 minutes (15 minutes for typing and 15 minutes for data entry).
The candidates will have to type 450 words in English with a minimum speed of
30 words per minute or they will have to type 375 words in Hindi with a minimum
speed of 25 words per minute. The data entry test will consist of figures and
letters carrying equal marks. The test will be conducted on computer keyboard,
and not a typewriter.
The registration for the
same has begun and will continue till March 27.
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/indian-postal-department-2014-exam-paper-pattern/1/347204.html
Missing plane: Chinese satellites spot 3 oil slicks
Chinese high-resolution satellites have found three oil slicks which scientists believe might be linked to the missing Malaysian plane, providing a new direction to the multinational search operations which have failed to spot the wreckage.
The Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that its findings are based on comparison of remote-sensing satellite images of the oil patterns on the ocean surface in the targeted area before and after the plane went missing.
It is not clear whether the oil slicks are the same as those found earlier by search and rescue forces, the institute said.
The institute is cooperating with various departments, including the National Marine Environmental Forecasting Centre, to determine the hypothetical location of oil from the plane by analysing factors such as the speed of local currents and timeline for the missing plane in order to confirm whether the oil slicks are related to the plane, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
China on Monday pressed ten high-resolution satellites to look for the missing plane.
Malaysian authorities who tested the sample of an earlier oil slick near Vietnam said it did not belong to the aircraft.
Meanwhile, a Malaysian airline spokesman here said there is still no trace of the aircraft 88 hours after its disappearance.
Rescue efforts are ongoing, covering eastern and western parts of peninsular Malaysia, but there is "no finding of the aircraft," an airline spokesman told the media on Tuesday.
A total of 42 vessels and 35 aircraft from various countries have joined the rescue mission.
China, which is under pressure as majority of the passengers are its citizens, has stepped up its efforts by sending nine ships and besides number of aircraft for the search operations, Foreign Ministry spokesman, Qin Gang told the media.
It also sent a joint working team to Kuala Lumpur to coordinate the search operations with the Malaysian officials.
Seven Top Investment
Ideas for 2014
By:
Published: February
11, 2014
As the global economy continues its recovery, Credit Suisse’s
top investment ideas focus on carefully selected themes which aim to help you
generate more bang for your buck in 2014. In this video, Giles Keating, Head of
Private Banking Research, explains the rationale behind the ideas and their
investment implications.
As the
global economy continues its recovery, Credit Suisse’s top investment ideas
focus on carefully selected themes which aim to help you generate more bang for
your buck in 2014. In this video, Giles Keating, Head of Private Banking
Research, explains the rationale behind the ideas and their investment
implications.
Idea 1: Europe’s Recovery
Rationale: Europe’s
recovery is slowly gathering pace and Credit Suisse anticipates an acceleration
in earnings growth in 2014. Valuations are more attractive than in the US.
Investment implications: Buy (or overweight) European stocks.
Among countries, Credit Suisse currently favors Germany given its operating
leverage towards a recovery. For higher-risk investors: Europe-wide small and
mid-cap stocks, cyclicals and selected banks on low valuations. For lower-risk
investors: Dividend-yielding stocks offer potentially lower risk with higher
yields than fixed income markets.
Idea 2: Seeking Equity Alpha
Rationale: Equities
are the preferred asset class for 2014. After a good performance in 2013, the
market recovery is set for a new phase in which active style, sector, country
and stock selection can generate superior returns, noting that within both US
and European stock markets, correlations among equities have fallen markedly.
Investment implications: Choose sectors, styles, countries and
individual stocks based on prevailing market dynamics; cyclicals and momentum
stocks from the IT and capital goods sectors are recommended.
Idea 3: Emerging Markets Reloaded
Rationale: During
2014 Credit Suisse expects that most emerging markets will benefit from a
cyclical upswing supported by export opportunities to the developed markets.
Emerging market trend growth rates remain above those of developed markets
(albeit lower than before) and could further re-accelerate with structural
reforms. Deficits still a source of volatility.
Investment implications: Gain exposure to export-led,
growth-sensitive countries, such as Taiwan, and also look for those where the
potential for successful structural reforms is not yet fully discounted.
Compelling valuations can still be found (for example, China) where long term
fundamentals – like consumption, urbanization, export potential – remain key
investment drivers. Take a position in companies that benefit from emerging
market cyclical recovery.
Idea 4: Fixed
Income in a World of Rising Yields
Rationale: The
need to obtain reasonable fixed income returns at a time when duration is
unattractive since yields may rise on an economic recovery and tapering, and
credit spreads are low.
Investment implications: Focus on short-duration assets in
areas where value still exists, like corporate senior loans (usually held via a
fund), bank subordinated debt, bank CoCos, corporate hybrids and distressed
debt. Credit spreads on high yield and floating rate debt are near historic
lows but limited amounts of such debt from strong issuers can be included in an
overall portfolio. Avoid overvalued assets such as bank senior debt.
Idea 5: Forex as the Fed Tapers
Rationale: With
tapering, the USD is set to strengthen against some currencies, like the JPY,
and trade at the stronger end of the range against others, for example the EUR.
In portfolios, a USD long position offers diversification in times of stress.
Investment implications: Buy USD/JPY, spot or forward.
Opportunistically sell EUR/USD near the top of the range. Within emerging
markets, sell currencies of deficit countries against those of surplus
countries and of reformers.
Idea 6: Cash-Rich Companies
Rationale: Corporate
cash piles remain near multi-year highs. Rising CEO confidence levels and
pressure from shareholders to invest in growth or return cash bodes well for
M&A activity.
Investment implications: Moderate risk-appetite investors
should favor companies with a strong free cash flow and the ability to buy back
shares. Investors with higher risk-appetite should prefer companies that are
the potential targets of industry consolidation or which will benefit from
asset disposals through restructurings.
Idea 7: China Reform Reaccelerates
Rationale: The
Third Plenary Session of China’s Central Committee announced a clear direction
for structural reforms, with accelerated product and financial market
liberalization which should accelerate economic rebalancing, from exports and
investment towards consumption. Concrete measures are expected in the coming
months.
Investment implications: Stock selection is key. Gain exposure
to global, regional and domestic firms that can benefit from China’s structural
reforms with a focus on the private companies, services sectors and winners
from economic rebalancing towards consumption. CNY and CNH (Chinese Offshore
Yuan) remain our top emerging market currency ideas and are expected to sustain
gradual appreciation in the course of exchange-rate reform.
Photo of the Bull statue at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange by Rob
Wilson, courtesy of Shutterstock.com
Monday, March 10, 2014
India has an interesting postal history and there is enough philatelic material available for a philatelist to make it speciality. The early postal history of India can be divided into two categories-pre-1837 and post-1837, when the Post Office Act was passed. The famous historian, Ziauddin Barani, has described in his records that the horse and the foot runner were in existence for means of communication from way back in the 13th century in India. Horses were used for speedy delivery in certain parts of the country but it was really the foot runner who was the mainstay. The foot runner is called “Harkara” in ancient books but for our purposes he is the postal runner or dak runner. “Dak” is the Hindi word for post or mail. The runner carried a cleft stick; the small bag with the mail was held in this cleft. When traveling at night, he lit resinous twigs to guide him on his way. These postal runners had to face a lot of hardship and danger, traveling through forests with wild animals, crossing swollen rivers during monsoons and trekking across snow-capped regions. The stick and a spear could hardly afford any protection. In spite of all these odds, they kept running and delivered the mail. They were a hardy race of people, honest, with a great sense of duty. Even today the postal department has to use runners in some parts of the country like Badrinath during the pilgrim seasons and also to the Gilgit and Leh snowbound areas. Wheeled traffic can operate only up to a point, thereafter the runners take over and deliver the mail to its destination. The Mughal emperors Babar and Akbar, tried to improve the postal service. Babar helped to organize a horse courier system from Agra to Kabul. Akbar introduced camels for carrying mail to the desert regions. Once the East India Company was formed and received the Royal Charter, in the interest of trade with India, they had to develop a more organized system of communication. They organized postal runners on regular routes, setting stages of handing over. By 1688, the Company asked its Bombay and Madras offices to build a post office each and directed that all mail should be brought to the post office first. Lord Clive introduced the system of sorting mail into different bags according to destination. These bags have to be sealed with Company seal and only the chiefs at different places could open it. When Warren Hastings took over in 1774, he introduced further reforms. Postal rates depended on weight and distance. Hand struck Bishop Marks(explained later) were applied on letters at Calcutta. These are known as the Indian Bishop Marks and they differ from the foreign Bishop Marks in that the months are printed in three letters, such as JAN, FEB, and so, whereas the foreign ones have the months in two letters. The three presidencies of Bombay, Madras and Calcutta used different hand struck stamps. After the East India Company had established itself, they decided on major changes in the postal system. The Post Office Act of 1837 was passed which combined the presidencies and declared all private posts illegal. Even so, they continued to function in many parts of the country some time. A parcel post service called Bhangies, for deliver of bulky parcels was established. Its rates were cheaper than that for ordinary mail. The Company’s letters were carried by merchant ships to England. It used to take almost a year to get a reply to a letter from Calcutta. Mail from India was transported to Marseilles in France and then on horseback to Calais where a steamboat then took it to Dover. It was once again carried on horseback to London. Gradually the time taken was reduced with the formation of the “Overland Route”, in which mail was transported across land and at certain points carried over water, instead of relying exclusively on ships and steamers. The first Indian stamps, known as the Scinde Dawks were issued by the Commissioner of Sind, Sir Bartle Frere, who was an admirer of Sir Rowland Hill, in 1852. He authorized the use of half-anna stamps in his district. Every collector should know something about the Scinde Dawks. These stamps were first introduced as red on vermillion wafers but they were soon discarded. A new issue came out in July 1852, embossed in white on white, which was later changed to a bluish wave, unevenly spaced on sheets of three inches by six inches. Sir Bartle Frere was not satisfied with the local printing, so he sent the design to his friends in England, and asked them to print the stamps in blue. In 1852, the Postmater General of Karachi received 10,000 stamps. These orders were repeated till almost 50,000 of them were in circulation, when Sir Bartle Frere withdrew them on the release of the All India Postage stamps. There is a theory that the Scinde Dawks were not adhesive stamps but simple was seals, used as trial at a post office in Karachi. In the eyes of the stamp collector, the best loved and desirable of early Indian stamps are those issued between 1852 and 1870. These are called ‘Classics’. The Indian Classics comprise the first three series of stamps known respectively as the Scinde Dawks, the East India Company and the Crown Colony stamps. The Court of Directors of the East India Company were keen that stamps should be printed in India. Col. Forbes was put in charge but he was not successful and gave it up. Then Capt. H.L. Thuillier, Deputy Surveyor General of the Survey Office, Calcutta, was asked to undertake it. After some trial and error and experiments, stamps in the denominations of one anna and four annas were released. Capt. Thuillier’s essays are valuable. From 1855 to 1926, stamps were printed in England by M/s. De La Rue and Co., and the inscription on stamps was East India Postage. In 1877, when Queen Victoria assumed the title of Empress of India, the inscription was changed to India Postage. A new printing press established in Nasik and all stamps since 1926 have been printed there. After the Indian empire was consolidated by the British, the centrally issued stamps ere valid throughout the country, but the native Maharajas also issued stamps which were valid only in their territories. Some of them over printed the name of their States on the centrally issued stamps. After Independence and amalgamation of the Indian States into the Republic of India, these stamps were no longer valid; they are now collector’s items. The value of a stamp depends upon scarcity and demand. Between unused copies of a mint stamp and used copies of a stamp, the value depends on the relative availability. A stamp which has been issued a long ago is more valuable if unused. In the case of Scinde Dawks, there is only one unused, uncancelled stamp, which is the British Royal Collection and is not for sale.
No. 20-13/2013-D (Pt)
Government of India
Ministry of Communication & IT
Department of Posts
Mail Business Division
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) FOR CONSULTANCY ON PARCEL
NETWORK OPTIMIZATION PROJECT OF DEPARTMENT OF POSTS
This is to inform that the last date for submission of Expression of Interest (EOI) for
Consultancy on Parcel Optimization Project of Department of Posts has been
extended upto 11th
March 2014 (upto 1500 hrs)
Sd/-
(Rishikesh)
Director (Mail Management)
Government of India
Ministry of Communication & IT
Department of Posts
Mail Business Division
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) FOR CONSULTANCY ON PARCEL
NETWORK OPTIMIZATION PROJECT OF DEPARTMENT OF POSTS
This is to inform that the last date for submission of Expression of Interest (EOI) for
Consultancy on Parcel Optimization Project of Department of Posts has been
extended upto 11th
March 2014 (upto 1500 hrs)
Sd/-
(Rishikesh)
Director (Mail Management)
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