1. Mumbai aamchi
“Maharashtra has always put the country’s interests first and abided by the Rashtra Dharma,” this is Bal Thackeray, writing in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna, on the conduct of his nephew Raj Thackeray. Well, his statement can easily be contested, after Shiv Sena’s role in the 1992-1993 Mumbai riots, but what nephew Raj Thackeray is indulging in is certainly not Rashtra Dharma either. He has declared an open war on people from northern states seeking work in Maharashtra. From taking a potshot at Bachchans for living in Maharashtra and singing praises of UP, to warning the settlers from Bihar and UP not to impose their culture, to demanding a ban on Bhojpuri films, Raj missed no opportunity to spread venom against the northerners. Name Raj Thackeray’s political party. Click for answer

2. Kidney racket busted
Nithari had just ebbed from public memory when another case of organ transplant surfaced, this time in Gurgaon, shocking the nation. A kidney racket, with links to international clients, was busted by the police. The culprit was arrested in Nepal and deported to India. The racketeer duped many poor and unsuspecting labourers, luring them into donating their kidney. Name the kingpin behind the racket. Click for answer

3. Now, a new map
In a bid to ensure delimitation of assembly and parliamentary constituencies, the Centre has cleared a delimitation order by the Delimitation Commission under the Delimitation Act 2002. According to reports, four north-eastern states, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh will not come under the purview. The development will cost several political heavyweights dear, as their pocketboroughs will disappear following the delimitation exercise. How many states will face delimitation? Click for answer

4. Strong foundations, unsure future
“Sarkar kuchh nahi karti” is the staple complaint of Indian people. But any government that attempts to do something, meets stiff resistance. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar got a taste of this mindset when he attempted to start a university in the vicinity of Nalanda. The new university, which has Dr Kalam’s support (he visited the site in early February), will be built on the land that the government is acquiring from the locals. Name the new university. Click for answer

5. Natwar quits
Natwar Singh, one of the old guards of the Congress, quit the party after close to 25 years of association. In a BJP rally in Jaipur, he vent his anger against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, prophesising that she would ruin the party. Name the scam which forced him to quit his portfolio of minister in charge of external affairs. Click for answer

6. Bird flu in Bengal
Bird flu hit the eastern state of West Bengal, leading to culling operations in 14 affected districts. A total of 196 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) were engaged (78 for surveillance / mopping and 118 for disinfection and sanitisation), which did the mopping exercise, taking the figure of cumulative culling to 38.15 lakh. Bird flu is also known as the… Click for answer

7. At nature’s mercy
Who says it’s only the poor nations which are suffering nature’s wrath? This epitome-of- prosperity nation is in the news more and more for hurricanes and tornadoes. The early-February tornado in this country took 55 lives. The tornado was dubbed the deadliest one in the last 20 years. Name the country. Click for answer

8. Amte is no more
Baba Amte breathed his last on February 9, 2008. Born in 1914, Amte was a successful lawyer with a flourishing practice in Wardha. Inspired by Gandhian thoughts during his Sevagram stay, he took to championing the rights of the downtrodden. He devoted his life to the well-being of leprosy patients, and also championed the cause of Narmada Bachao Aandolan. He won the Magsaysay Award, and the Gandhi Peace Prize. Baba Amte was a noted… Click for answer

9. Strategy for states
The Congress has deployed three central ministers as heads of state units of three election-bound states. Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh have assembly elections this year. And the Congress, which has seen a number of assembly election defeats, has given the charge of Kashmir to Saifuddin Soz, West Bengal to Priyaranjan Das Munsi and Madhya Pradesh to … Click for answer

10. Trouble over Sonia’s Belgian honour
Belgium’s second-highest civilian honour - and an honorary doctorate to Sonia Gandhi would do the country proud, so we thought. But the honour has given enough headache to the Election Commission. Acting on a complaint by a Kerala advocate, the Election Commission found itself faced with a strange task, serving notice to Sonia Gandhi, seeking her disqualification from Lok Sabha. After much debate, the EC arrived at a split verdict, with two members pressing for the notice. The complainant had alleged that the honour made Sonia owe allegiance to Belgium. Name the honour. Click for answer