1. S P Sethuraman is the youngest grandmaster of india .

The 17year-old Chennai lad is currently the youngest grandmaster in India, having pipped Parimarjan Negi of New Delhi by 16 day . 2. worlds first all-women paramilitary pipe band marched to its maiden

tune after it got its ceremonial colours under the CRPF . 3.Assam has recorded an increase in the total population of the worldfamous one-horned rhinos over the past three years. The figures of the just-concluded 2012 census have revealed the presence of 2,505 rhinos as against 2,201 found during the 2009 count an increase of 304. 4. The National Water Development Agency (NWDA), the nodal
agency responsible for inter-basin transfer of river waters, has identified 14 river links in a northern Himalayan river development component and 16 in a southern peninsular river development component even as a lot of experts have raised doubts about the feasibility of the project of interlinking of rivers . 5. Macau and Hong Kong are the two special administrative

regions(SAR) of people republic of china. Hong kong was wit british till 1997 and then china claim sovereignty over it. 6. International Human Rights Day is celebrated on 10th December . 7. World Forestry Day is celebrated worldwide every year on 21st March to recognize the importance of forests in human well being as well as their critical role as life sustaining system . 8. Indian Private Banks with majority foreign stake will be considered local.The updated foreign direct investment policy which was released recently gives a special status to these banks. This will mean that these banks will not face any restriction on their investments that are otherwise applicable to foreign companies.The clarification will ensure that Indian private banks that have majority foreign ownership will enjoy the same rights as majority Indian-owned bank. 9. RISAT-1 is India's indigenous radar imaging satellite. It can take images of the earth during day and night and in cloudy conditions. It is likely to be launched on April 20. RISAT-1 is in queue for launch by ISRO's PSLV-XL rocket. The satellite would be used for disaster prediction and agriculture forestry, and the high resolution pictures and microwave imaging could also be used for defence purposes. The SAR

sensor enables the satellite to collect data during both day and night in all weather conditions. 10. The Ministry of Water Resources since this year has endeavoured to celebrate India Water Week annually as an international event to focus on water issues .The first international event in the series of India Water Week on Water, Energy and Food Security: Call for Solutions will be organized during April 10-14, 2012 at New Delhi. The inaugural ceremony was chaired by the Prime Minister. 11. Indian scientists have achieved a breakthrough in the search for new anti-malarial compounds of natural origin. These compounds have been isolated from two marine organisms. They generate these compounds naturally within their bodies. 12. India's first Spices Park in Rajasthan for processing of seed spices like cumin, coriander and fennel was commissioned on Saturday, April 7, 2012 in Jodhpur, Rajasthan . 13. Integrated Check Post at Attari , 30kms from Amritsar is scheduled to become operational for trade across India-pakistan border on the Punjabi New Years day , Baisakhi Apr13th,