1. ONGC, on December 1, 2009, signed agreements to pick up 40 per cent interest in the $7.5-billion, Phase 12 of the gigantic South Pars gas field in-

2. On which data did India and Russia adopt a Joint declaration at the Indo-Russian summit in Moscow?

3. Reliance Industries Ltd., on December 22, 2009, announced a third successive gas discovery in the - deep-sea block in the Krishna-Godavari basin, off the east coast.

4. The U.S. House of Representatives, on December 11, 2009, approved nearly $ 1.5 billion of assistance to - to be spent under the Kerry-Lugar legislation.

5. When in 2009 did U.S. President Obama lay out an aggressive strategy to end the war in Afghanistan by rapidly deploying 30,000 new troops to quell the Taliban insurgency?

6. Who has taken over as Chief Election Commissioner after the retirement of Shri N. Gopalaswami?

7. Who is the present chief of ISRO?

8. Three varieties of rice produced in - Pokkali, Navara and Palakkadan Matta-were registered as Geographical Indications (GI) in December 2009.

9. In the worst fire in Russian history, more than 100 people were killed and still more wounded in a nightclub in the Ural city of - in December 2009.

10. The U.S. House of Representatives, on December 11, 2009, approved nearly $ 1.5 billion of assistance to - to be spent under the Kerry-Lugar legislation.