AAAS: American Association of Advancement of Science
AAFI: Amateur Athletics Federation of Afro-Asian Games AAI: Airport Authority of India AAOU: Asian Association for Open Universities AAPl: American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin APSO: Afro-Asian Peoples Solidarity Organisation AASU: All-Assam Students Union ABC: Audit Bureau of Circulations; American Broadcasting Company; Australian Broadcasting Company ABM: Anti-Ballistic Missiles ABSU: All Bodo Students Union ABU: Asian Broadcasting Union AC: Alternating Current; Ashok Chakra; Ante Christum (Before Christ) ACAS: Airborne Collision Avoidance System ACC: Auxiliary Cadet Corps; Air Coordinating Committee ACD: Asian Co-operation Dialogue ACL: Access Control List ACU: Asian Clearing Union AD: Anno Domini (After Christ) ADB: Asian Development Bank ADBS: Advanced Data Broadcast System ADC: Aide-de-Camp ADF: Asian Development Fund ADRs: American Depository Receipts AEC: Atomic Energy Commission AERB: Atomic Energy Regulation Board AF: Audio Frequency AFC: Asian Football Confederation AFP: Agence France-Presse AFSPA: Armed Forces (Special Powers) AIIMS: All India Institute of Medical Sciences AILTA: All India Lawn Tennis Association AIMA: All India Management Association AIMCET: All India Common Entrance Fest for Master of Computer Applications A1MO: All India Manufacturers Organisation AIMPLB: All India Muslim Personal Law Board AINEC: All India Newspaper Editors Conference AIR: All India Radio AISNEC: All India Small Newspaper Editors Conference AISSF: All India Sikh Students Federation AITUC: All India Trade Union Congress AIWHA: All India Women Hockey Association AJT: Advance Jet Trainer ALGOL: Algorithmic Language ALH: Advanced Light Helicopter am: Ante meridiem (before noon) AMC: Army Medical Corps AMICE: Associate Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers AMIE: Associate Member of Institute of Engineers AMIEE: Associate Member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers AMU: Aligarh Muslim University; Asian Monetary Union ANANDI: Area Networking Development Initiative ANC: African National Congress ANCA: Alternative Nuclear Command Authority ANERT: Agency for Non-Conventional Energy and Rural Technology ANMC-21: Asian Network of Major Cities-21 ANN: Asian News Network ANZUS: Australia, New Zealand and United States (Three-Nation Defense Pact) AOC: Air Officer Commanding AP: Andhra Pradesh; Associated Press APASL: Asia Pacific Association for Study of Liver APCTT: Asia and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology APEC: Asia Pacific. Economic Community APHLC: All Parties Hill Leaders Conference APM : Administered Price Mechanism APPLE: Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment APPU: Asian Pacific Postal Union APT: Asia Pacific Tele community ARC: Administrative Reforms Commission; Agricultural Refinance Corporation ARDC: Agricultural Refinance and Development Corporation ARF: ASEAN Regional Forum ARP: Air Raid Precaution ARPANET: Advanced Research Project Agency Network ARTRAC: Army Training Command ASCI: Administrative Staff College of India ASCON: Army Static Switched Communication Network ASEAN: Association of South East Asian Nations ASEM: Asia Europe Meeting ASI: Archaeological Survey of India ASIDE: Assistance to States for Infrastructural Development for Exports ASK : Aaykar Sampark Kendra ASLV: Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle ASSOCHAM: Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry AT&C Losses: Aggregate Technical & Commercial Losses AT&T: American Telegraphic and Telephone Co. Ltd. ATC: Air Traffic Control ATGM : Anti-Tank Guided Missile ATM : Automatic Teller Machine ATR: Action Taken Report ATS: Anti Tetanus Serum AU: African Union (formerly Organisation of African Unity) AVARD: Association of Voluntary Agencies for Rural Development AVC: Army Veterinary Corps AVSM: Ati Vishisht Seva Medal AVTAR: Army Vocational Training and Rehabilitation AVUT: Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy AWACS: Airborne Warning and Control System AWWA: Army Wives Welfare Association B BITS: Birla Institute of Technology & Sciences BJP: Bharatiya Janata Party BKKP: Bhartiya Kisan Kamgar Party B.Com.: Bachelor of Commerce B.Ed.: Bachelor of Education B.Pharrn.: Bachelor of Pharmacy B.Sc.: Bachelor of Science B2B: Business to Business B2C: Business to Consumer BAC: Business Advisory Committee BAI: Badminton Association of India BALCO: Bharat Aluminium Company ltd BARC: Bhabha Atomic Research Centre BBC: British Broadcasting Corporation BC: Before Christ BCCI: Board of Control for Cricket in India: Bank of Credit and Commerce International BCG: Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (preventive vaccine for tuberculosis) BCL: Bachelor of Civil law BDO: Block Development Officer BEL: Bharat Electronics Limited BENELUX: Belgium. Netherlands and Luxembourg BFA: Boao Forum for Asia BGA: Blue Green Algae BHEL: Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. BHU: Banaras Hindu University BICP: Bureau of Industrial Costs and Prices BIFR: Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction BIMARU: Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh BIMSTEC: Bangladesh, India, Myanmar. Sri Lanka, Thailand Economic Cooperation. BIPPA: Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement BIS: Bureau of Indian Standards~ Bank of International Settlement BKU: Bharatiya Kisan Union BLOB: Binary Large Objects BMW: Bayerische Motoren Warke AG BOAC: British Overseas Airways Corporation (now British Airways) BOLT: Build-Own-Lease-Transfer BP: Blood Pressure BPE: Bureau of Public Enterprises BPO: Business Process Outsourcing bps: bytes per second BRAI : Broadcast Regulatory Authorities of India BREAD : Basic Research Education And Development Society BRIC: Brazil. Russia, India and China BRO: Border Roads Organisation BRPSE: Board for Reconstruction of Public Sector Enterprises BSE: Bombay Stock Exchange BSES: Bombay Suburban Electricity Supply BSF: Border Security Force BSI: Botanical Survey of India BSNL: Bharat Sanchar Nigam BSP: Bahujan Samaj Party BSS: Bharat Sewak Samaj; Standard Specifications. C C2C: Consumer to Consumer CAB: Civil Aeronautics Board; Central Advisory Board CABE: Central Advisory Board for education CACCI: Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce & Industry CACP: Commission on Agricultural Costs and Prices CADA: Command Area Development Agency CAG: Comptroller and Auditor-General w India CAMELS: Capital Adequacy. Asset Quality, Management, Earnings, Liquidity & Systems CAN: Calcium Ammonium Nitrate Cantab: Cantabrigienis (of Cambridge) CAPART: Council for Advancement of Peoples Action and Rural Technology CAPD: Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis CAPES: Computer-Aided Paperless Examination System CARD: Centre for Astronomical Research and Development CARE: Cooperative for American Relief Everywhere CAS: Chief of the Air Staff; Conditional Access System CASE: Commission on Alternative Sources of Energy CASI: Centre for the Advanced Study of India CAT: Computerised Axial Tomography CAZRI: Central Arid Zone Research Institute Ltd. CBDT: Central Board of Direct Taxes CBEC: Central Board of Excise and British Customs CBFC: Central Board of Film Certification CBI: Central Bureau of investigation CBM: Confidence Building Measures Central CBR: Central Board of Revenue CBRI: Central Building Research Institute CBSE: Central Board of Secondary Education CBT: Childrens Book Trust CBU: Completely built-up CCDP: The Committee for Coordination on Disappearances in Punjab. CCEA: Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs CCI: Cricket Club of India; Cement Corporation of India CCP: Cabinet Committee on Prices CCS: Cash Compensatory Support CD: Civil Defence; Community Development: Certificate of Deposit: Compact Disc CDAC: Centre for Development of Advanced Computing C-DAC: Centre for Development of Advanced Computing CDMA: Code Division Multiple Access C-DOT: Centre for Development of Telematics CDRI: Central Drug Research Institute CD-ROM: Compact Disc-Read Only Memory CDS: Compulsory Deposit Scheme CEC: Chief Election Commissioner: Chief Executive Councilor CECRI: Central Electro Chemical Research institute CEERI: Central Electronic Engineering Research Institute CENTO: Central Treaty Organisation CENVAT: Central Value Added Tax CEO: Chief Electoral Officer; Chief Executive Officer CERC: Consumer Education and Research Centre CFC: Chloro Fluoro Carbon CFSL: Central Forensic Science Laboratory CGA: Central Ganga Authority CGF: Commonwealth Games Federation CGHS: Central Government Health Scheme CGI: Common Gateway Interface CGIAR: Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research CGS: Centimetre Gram Second (units of measurement) CHOGM: Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting CHOGRM: Commonwealth Heads of Government Regional Meeting CIA: Central Intelligence Agency (U.S.A.) CIB: Credit information Bureau CICA: Conference on Interaction and confidence-building Measures in Asia CID: Criminal Investigation Department CIET: Central Institute of Educational Technology CIGAR: Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research CII: Confederation of Indian Industry CIIL: Central Institute of Indian Languages C-in-C: Commander-in-Chief C IS: Commonwealth of Independent States CISF: Central Industrial Security Force CITES: Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species CITU: Centre of Indian Trade Unions CIWTC: Central Inland Water Transport Corporation CKD: Completely Knocked Down CLASP: Child Labour Action and Support Project CLAWS : Centre for Land Warfare Studies CLB: Company Law Board CM: Chief Minister; Common Market CMA: Coal Mines Authority CMAG: Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group CMC: Computer Maintenance Corporation CMEA: Council for Mutual Economic Assistance CMERI: Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute CMIE: Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy CMO: Chief Medical Officer CMP: Common Minimum Programme CNC: Computerised Numerical Control CNG: Compressed Natural Gas CNN: Cable News Network CNS: Chief of Naval Staff CO: Commanding Officer COAS: Chief of Army Staff COD: Cash On Delivery: Central Ordnance Depot COFEPOSA: Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Act COL: Commonwealth of Learning COMECON: Council for Mutual Economic Assistance COMESA : Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa COMEX: Commonwealth Expedition COMPS: Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Prediction Centre CONCORD: Council of North Indian States for Cooperation and Regional Development COPO: Citizens Organisation for Public Opinion COPRA: Consumer Protection Act COPU: Committee on Public Undertakings (of Parliament) CORDET: Cooperative Rural Development [rust CPC: Civil Procedure Code CPCB: Central Pollution Control Board CPCSEA: Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animal\ CPF: Contributory Provident Fund CPHERI: Central Public health Engineering Research Institute CPIkNI1: Communist Party of India. (Marxist) CPI(ML): Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) CPI: Communist Party of India CPI-IW: Consumer Price Index for industrial Workers CPMT: Combined Pre-Medical Tests CPR: Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation CPSU: Communist Party of the Soviet Union CPU: Committee on Public Undertakings; Commonwealth Press Union CPWD: Central Public Works Department CR: Central Railway; Chakravarty Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) CRIDA: Central Research Institute for Dry-land Agriculture CRIS: Centre for Railway information systems CRISIL: Credit Rating Information Services of India CRPF: Central Reserve Police Force CRR: Cash Reserve Ratio CRRI: Central Road Research Institute CRRID: Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development CRY: Child Relief and You CSCAP: Council for Security Cooperation in Asia Pacific CSCE: Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe CSDS: Centre for the Studs of Developing Societies CSIO: Central Scientific Instruments Organisation CSIR: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research CSIRO: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation CSIS: Centre for Strategic and International Studies/Centre for Studies in Integrated Sciences CSMCRI : Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute Bhavnagar) CSO: Central Statistical Organisation CSSRI: Central Soil Salinity Research Institute CST: Central Sales lax CT: Computerised Tomography CTBT: Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty CTO: Central Telegraph Office; Central Tractor Organisation; Chief Technical Officer CTV: Colour Television CV: Curriculum Vitae CVC: Central Vigilance Commission CVR: Cockpit Voice Recorder CVRDE: Combat Vehicles Research Development Establishment CWC: Central Warehousing Corporation: Chemical Weapons Convention CWF: Consumer Welfare Fund CWPC: Central Water and Power Commission CWPRS: Central Water and Power Research Station cwt: hundredweight (112 Ibs) D D & C: Dilation and Curettage D Phil: Doctor of Philosophy DA: Daily Allowance; Dearness Allowance DAE: Department of Atomic Energy DANICS: Delhi-Andaman Nicobar Island Civil Services DAP: Di-Ammonium Phosphate DAVP: Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity DC: Direct Current; Deputy Commissioner DCC: District Congress Committee DCL: Doctor of Civil Law DD: Doordarshan DDT: Dichloro Diphenyl Trichloroethane (insecticide) DEAL: Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory DEG: German Investment and Development Company DFDR: Digital Flight Data Recorder DG: Director General. Dei Gratia (By the Grace of God) DGAD: Directorate-General of Anti-Dumping And Allied Duties DGCA: Director General of Civil Aviation DGCEI: Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence DGHC: Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council DGMS: Directorate General of Mines Safety DGS & D: Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals DGTD: Directorate General of Technical Development DHSD: Duplex-High Speed Data Service DIA : Defence Intelligence Agency DIC: District industries Centre DIG: Deputy Inspector General DIR: Defence of India Rules DLO: Dead Letter Office (see RLO) DM: District Magistrate DMA: Direct Memory Access DM1: Directorate of Marketing and Inspection DMK: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam DMRC: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation DMRTS: Delhi Metro Rapid Transport System DNA: Di-oxyribonucleic Acid (biological elements) DO: Demi-Official DOARS : Deep Ocean Assessment and Reporting System DOD: Department of Ocean Development DOE: Department of Electronics DOTS: Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course DP: Displaced Person DPBS: Developmental Press Bulletin Service DPI: Director of Public Instruction DPSA: Deep Penetration Strike Aircraft DPT: Diptheria, Pertussis and Tetanus (Vaccine) DRDO: Defence Research and Development Organisation DRES: Department of Renewable Energy Sources DRF: Depreciation Reserve Fund DRI: Differential Rate of Interest; Directorate of Revenue Intelligence DSB: Digital Satellite Broadcasting DSC: Distinguished Service Cross DSIDC: Defence Scientific Information and Documentation Centre DSL: Digital Subscriber Line DST: Department of Science and Technology DTAA: Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement DTH: Direct-to-Home DTS: Digital Theatre System DVC: Damodar Valley Corporation DVD: Digital Versatile/Video Disc DVM: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine DWT: Dead Weight Tonnes E E & 0 E: Errors and Omissions Excepted EAC: Employment Assistance Centre EARC: Economic Administrative Reforms Commission EAS: Employment Assurance Scheme ECA: Essential Commodities Act ECAFE: Economic Commission for Asia and Far East (now ESCAP) ECE: Economic Commission for Europe ECG: Electrocardiogram ECGC: Export Credit and Guarantee Corporation ECHR: European Commission on Human Rights ECM: European Common Market ECOSOC: Economic and Social Council (UN) ECS: Electronic Clearance Service EDBI: Educational Development Bank of India EDCIL: Educational Consultants India Ltd. EDI: Electronic Data Interchange EDMS: Electronic Document Management System EEC: European Economic Community EEC: Electro Encephalogram EEZ: Exclusive Economic Zone EFA: Education For All EFF: Extended Fund Facility EFTA: European Free Trade Association - eg. exempli gratia (for example) EGP: Exterior Gateway Protocol EIL: Engineers India Limited E-in-C : Engineer-in-Chief EIS: Executive Information System ELCINA: Electronics Compone0~ Industries Association ELJSA: Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay ELSS: Equity Linked Saving Scheme E-mail: Electronic Mailing EMF: Electro Motive Force EMG: Electro Myograni EMS: European Monetary System EMU: Electric Multiple Unit, European Monetary Union ENS: Eastern Newspapers Society EOU: Export Oriented Units EPABX: Electronic Private Automatic Branch Exchange EPCG: Export Promotion Capital Goods EPCH: Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts EPCJ: Enhanced Proliferation Control Initiative EPF: Employees Provident Fund EPO: Earth Parking Orbit EPRLF: EJam Peoples Revolutionary Liberation Front EPROM: Erasable, Programmable Read Only Memory EPZ: Export Processing Zone ER: Eastern Railway ERM: Exchange Rate Mechanism ERNET: Educational and Research Network ERS: European Remote Sensing (satellite) ESA: European Space Agency ESC: Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council ESCAP: Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific ESIC: Employees State Insurance Corporation ESMA: Essential Services Maintenance Act ESP: Extra Sensory Perception EST: Eastern Standard Time Est: Established ETA: Euskadi to Askalasuma (a terrorist organisation in Spain) etc: etcetera (and other) ETT: Embryo Transfer Technology ETTDC: Electronics Trade and Technology Development Corporation ETV: Educational Television EURATOM: European Atomic Community EUTELSAT: European Telecommunications Satellite EVM: Electronic Voting Machine EVR: Electro video Recording EW: East-West F FACT: Fertilizers & Chemicals Travancore limited FACTS : Fingerprint Analysis and Criminal Tracing System FAO: Food and Agriculture Organisation (of United Nations) FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation (of ISA) FBTR: Fast Breeder Test Reactor FBW: Fly-By-Wire FCI: Food Corporation of India FCNRA: Foreign Currency Non-Resident Account FCRA: Foreign Contribution Regulation Act FDI: Foreign Direct Investment FEDEX: Federal Express FEMA: Foreign Exchange Management FERA: Foreign Exchange Regulation Act FICCI: Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry . FIDE: Federation International DEches (International Chess Federation) FIEO: Federation of Indian Exports Organisations FIFA: International Football Federation FIH: International Hockey Federation FII: Foreign Institutional Investors FIPB: Foreign Investment Promotion Board FIPC: Foreign Investment Promotion Council FIR: First Information Report FIRE: Fully Integrated Robotised Engine FLAG: Fibre-optic Link Around the Globe FM: Field Marshal FMCT: Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty FMD: Foot and Mouth Disease f.o.b.: free on board for free on rail FORE: Foundation for Organisational Research and Education FPS: Foot-Pound-Second (Units of measurement); Fare Price, Shop FRCP: Fellow of Royal College of Physicians FRCS: Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons FRGS: Fellow of Royal Geographical Society FRN: Floating Rate Note FRS: Fellow of Royal Society FTII: Films and. Television institute 01 India FTP : File Transfer Protocol FTS: Foreign Travel Scheme FTU: Free Trade Union FTZ: Free Trade Zone G GAAP: Generally Accepted Accounting Practices GAEL: Global Alliance for The Elimination of Leprosy GAIL: Gas Authority of India Limited GAP: Ganga Action Plan GATE: Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering GATT: General Agreement on Tariff and Trade GB: Great Britain GCC: Gulf Cooperation Council GCF: Greatest Common Factor GCM: Greatest Common Measure; General Court Martial GCMMF : Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation GDI: Gender-related Development Index GDP: Gross Domestic Product GDR: German Democratic Republic (East Germany); Global Depository Receipt GEDIS: Gateway Electronic Data Interchange Services GEF: Global Environment Facility GEM: Gender Empowerment Measure GHC: Gorkha lull Council GHQ: General Headquarters GI: Government Issue; General Issue GIAS: Gateway Internet Access Services GIC: General Insurance Corporation GIDC: Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation GIEC: Global Indian Entrepreneurs Conference GIS: Global Information System GIST: Graphics and Intelligence-based Script Technology GLOBE: Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment GM: General Manager. General Motors GMAT: Graduate Management Admission Test GMDSS: Global Maritime Distress and Safety System GMPS: Global Mobile Personnel Communications System GMRT: Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope GMT: Greenwich Mean Time GMUNET: Global Mega University Net GNLF: Gorkha National Liberation Front GNP: Gross National Product GOC: General Officer Commanding GOI: Government of India GOP: Grand Old Party Govt: Government GPF: General Provident Fund; Gandhi Peace Foundation GPO: General Post Office GPRS: General Pocket Radio System GRAM: Geo Reference Area Management GRE: Graduate Record Examination GRT: Gross Rated Tonnage GSI: Geological Survey of India GSLV: Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSM: Global System for Mobile Communication GSP: Generalised System of Preferences GSTP: Global System of Trade Practices GTICL : Gas Transportation & infrastructure Co. Ltd. H HAI: Health Action International HAL: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited HC: House of Commons; High Court HCF: Highest Common Factor HDI: Human Development Index HDML: Hyper Devices Markup Language HE: His Excellency; Her Excellency HEH: His/Her Exalted Highness HEMRL: High Energy Materials Research Laboratory HESSI: High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager HF: High Frequency HG: His/Her Grace HH: Her Highness; His Highness; His Holiness HHEC: Handicrafts and Handloom Exports Corporation HISA: Hero Indian Sports Academy HITEC: Hyderabad Information Technology Engineering Consultancy HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus HLC: Humanitarian Law Commission (Red Cross) HM: Her Majesty. His Majesty HMI: Himalayan Mountaineering Institute IIMT: Hindustan Machine Tools; Head Micro Telephone HMY: His Masters Voice HP: Harmonic Progression: Himachal Pradesh hp: horse power HPU: Hill Peoples Union HQ: Headquarters Hr: Hour HRD: Human Resource Development HRH: His Royal Highness: Her Royal Highness HSD: High Speed Diesel HSL: Hindustan Steel Limited HSRRSS: high Spatial Resolution Remote Sensing Satellite HSTS: High Speed Tram System HT: high Tension HTCG : High Technology Cooperation Group HTML: Hyper Text Markup Language HTR: High Temperature Reactor http: hypertext Transfer Protocol HUDCO: Housing and Urban Development Corporation HV: High Voltage HVNET: High Speed VSAF Network HZL: Hindustan Zinc Limited I I & B: Information and Broadcasting IA: Indian Airlines IAAF: International Amateur Athletic Federation IAAS: Indian Audit and Accounts Service IAC: Indian Airlines Corporation IAEA: International Atomic Energy Agency IAF: Indian Air Force IAMC: Indian Army Medical Corps IAMR: Institute of Applied Manpower Research IARI: Indian Agricultural Research Institute IAS: Indian Administrative Service IASRI: Indian Agricultural Statistical Research Institute IATA: International Air Transport Association IATP: Income Adjusted to Total Population ib, ibid: Ibidem (in the same place) IBEF: India Brand Equity Fund IBM: International Business Machines: Indian Bureau of Mines IBRD: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) ICAA: international Civil Airports Association ICADR: The International Centre for Alternate Dispute Resolution ICAI: Institute of Chartered Accountants of India ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organisation ICAR: Indian Council of Agricultural Research ICBL: International Campaign to Ban Landmines ICBM: Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile ICC: International Chamber of Commerce; International Control Commission; International Cricket Council ICCR: Indian Council for Cultural Relations ICCS: International Commission of Control and Supervision ICCW: Indian Council of Child Welfare ICDS: Integrated Child Development Scheme ICE: InfoTech Communications And Entertainment ICFTU: International Confederation of Free Trade Unions ICHR: Indian Council of Historical Research ICICI: Industrial Credit and investr~1ent Corporation of India ICJ: International Court of Justice ICMR: Indian Council of Medical Research ICOR: International Capital Output Ratio ICPD: International Conference on Population and Development ICRA: Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency of India ICRC: International Committee of Red Cross ICRIER: Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations ICRISAT: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics ICS: Indian Civil Service ICSI: Institute of Company Secretaries of India ICSSR: Indian Council of social Sciences Research ICSW: Indian Council of Social Welfare ICW: International Council of Women ICWA: Indian Council of World Affairs IDA: International Development Agencies. IDBI: Industrial Development Bank of India IDC: Industrial Development Corporation IDD: International Direct Dialing IDE: Integrated deice Electronics IDPL: Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited IDRC: International Development Research Centre IDSA: Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis ie: id est (that is) IELTS: International English Language Testing System IES: Indian Economic Service IETE: Institution of Electronics and Telecommunications Engineers IFA: Indian Football Association IFAD: International Fund for Agricultural Development IFC: Industrial Finance Corporation: international Finance Corporation IFCI: Industrial Finance Corporation of India IFCS: International Federation of Company Secretaries IFFCO: Indian Farmers Fertilisers Corporation Limited IFFI: International Film Festival of India IFP: Inkatha Freedom Party IFRI: Indian Forest Research Institute IFS: Indian Foreign Service; Indian Forest Service IFTU: International Federation of Trade Unions IFWJ: Indian Federation of Working Journalists IG: Inspector-General IGCAR: Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research IGIA: Indira Gandhi International Airport IGMDP: Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme. IGNCA: Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts IGNFA: Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy IGNOU: Indira Gandhi National Open University IGNP: Indira Gandhi Nahar Pariyojana IHF: Indian Hockey Federation IIAS: Indian institute of Advanced Studies IIFT: Indian Institute of Foreign Trade IIIT: Indian Institute of Information Technology TIMC: Indian Institute of Mass Communications IIP: Indian Institute of Petroleum IIPA: Indian Institute of Public Administration IIPA: International Intellectual Property Alliance IIRS: Indian Institute of Remote Sensing IISS: International Institute of Strategic Studies IIT: Indian Institute of Technology ILA: International Law Association ILO: International Labour Organisation ILS: Instrument Landing System IMAP: Internet Mail Access Protocol IMC: Indian Medical Council IMDT: Illegal Migrants Determination by Tribunal Act IMEWS: Integrated Missile Early Warning Satellites IMF: International Monetary Fund IMPPA: Indian Motion Picture Producers Association IMPRES: Integrated Multi-train Passenger Reservation System IMS: Indian Medical Service IMT: Institute of Management and Technology IMY: Indira Mahila Yojana IN: Indian Navy INA: Indian National Army; Iraqi News Agency INFINET: Indian Financial Network INFLIBNET: Information and Library Network Centre INL: Indian National League INMARSAT: International Maritime Satellite Organisation INMAS: Institute of Nuclear Medicines and Allied Sciences INPEX: Indian National Philatelic Exhibition INS: Indian Newspaper Society: Indian Navy Ship INSA: Indian National Science Academy INSAT: Indian National Satellite INTACFI: Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage INTELEX: International Teleprinter Exchange INTELSAT: International Telecommunication Satellite Consortium INTERPOL: International Criminal Police Organisation INTUC: Indian National Trade Union Congress IOA: Indian Olympic Association IOC: International Olympic Committee; Indian Oil Corporation IOCOM: Indian Ocean Commonwealth [OR-ARC: Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation IOSCO: International Organisation of Securities Commission IOU: I owe you IP: Internet Protocol IPBA: Inter-Pacific Bar Association IPC: Indian Penal Code IPCL: Indian Petro-chemicals Corporation Limited IPEC: International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour IPKF: Indian Peace Keeping Force IPO: Initial Public Offering IPR: Intellectual Property Rights IPS: Indian Police Service IPSA: International Peace & Security Advancement IPU: International Parliamentary Union IQ: Intelligence Quotient IRA: Irish Republican Army; Insurance Regulatory Authority IRBM: Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile IRC: International Red Cross IRCI: International Reconstruction Corporation of India - IRCON: Indian Railway Construction Company IRCS: International Red Cross Society IRDA: Insurance Regulatory Development Authority IRDP: Integrated Rural Development Programme IREDA: Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency IRNA: Iranian News Agency IRRI: International Rice Research Institute IRS: Indian Remote Sensing (satellite) IRSE: Indian Railway Service of Engineers ISAF: International Security Assistance Force ISB: Indian School of Business ISBA: International Sea-Bed Authority ISBN: International Standard l3ook Number ISC: Indian Science Congress ISCON: Indian Steel Construction Company ISD: International Subscriber Dialing ISDN: Integrated Services Digital Network ISI: Indian Standards Institute; Inter-services Intelligence (of Pakistan) ISKCON: International Society for Krishna Consciousness ISO: International Organisation for Standardisation ISP: Internet Service Provider ISRO: Indian Space Research Organisation ISS: Islamic Sevak Sangh IST: Indian Standard Time ISTRAC: ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Centre ITBP: Indo-Tibetan Border Police ITDC: India Tourism Development Corporation ITES: Infotech Enabled Services ITI: Indian Telephone Industries; Industrial Training Institute ITO: Income Tax Officer; International Trade Organisation ITPO: Indian Trade Promotion Oganisation ITR: Interim Test Range ITU: International Telecommunication Union IUCD: Intra-Uterine contraceptive device IUML: Indian Union Muslim League IUPEP: Integrated Urban Poverty Eradication Programme IVF: In-Vitro Fertilisation IWAI: Inland Waterways Authority of India TWDP: Integrated Watershed Development Programme IWRS: Isolated Word Re-organisation System IYC: Indian Youth Congress J J&K: Jammu and Kashmir JAAC: Jharkhand Area Autonomous Council JANAM: Jan Natya Manch JBRI: Japanese Bond Research Institute JCC: Junior Chamber of Commerce JCO: Junior Commissioned Officer JEIH: Jamaat-e-Tslami Hind JIPMER: Jawaharlal lnstittite of Postgraduate1 Medical Education & Research (Pondicherry) JKLF: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front JMM: Jhatkund Mukthi Morcha JNU: Jawaharlal Nehru University JP: Janatha Party, Jayprakash Narayan; Justice of Peace JPC: Joint Parliamentary Committee JRC: Junior Red Cross JRY: Jawahar Rozgar Yojana JVM: Janata Vidyarthi Morcha JVP: Janata Vimukthi Peramuna KANU: Kenya African National Union KAVAL: Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Agra and Lucknow KBE: Knight of British Empire KC: Kings Counsel KCP: Karnataka Congress Party Kg: Kilogram KG: Kindergarten KGB: Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosty (Committee for State Security) KKK: Ku-Klux-Klan KMBY: Khetihar Mazdoor Bima Yojana KMT: Kuomintang (Nationalist Party of Taiwan) KRC: Konkan Railway Corporation KVA: Kilo-Volt-Ampere KVIC: Khadi and Village Industries Commission KVS: Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan Kw: Kilowatt L L: 50 (in Roman numerals) LAC: Line of Actual Control LAN: Local Area Network LASER: Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation lbw: leg, before wicket (in cricket) LCA: Light combat Aircraft LCD: Liquid Crystal Display; Least Common Denominator LCM: Lowest Common Multiple. LDC: Least Developed Countries; Lower Division Clerk LED: Light Emitting Diode LEE: Licentiate in Electrical Engineering LERMS: Liberalised Exchange Rate Management Scheme LES: Lunar Escape System LH: Left hand LIC: Life Insurance Corporation LIPS: Language Independent Programme Sub-titles LL D: Legum Doctor (Doctor of Laws) LLB: Legum Baccalareous (Bachelor of Laws) LLM: Master of Laws LM: Lunar Module LME: Licentiate in Mechanical Engineering LMG: Light Machine Gun LNG: Liquefied Natural Gas LOAC: Line of Actual Control Loc cit: loco citato (at the p~ace1uoted) LoC: Line of Conti~o1. LPG: Liquefied Petroleum Gas LPT: Licentiate in Printing technology LSA: Lok Shakti Abhiyan LSD: dextro-lysergic acid diethylamide(hallucinogen) Lt. Col: Lieutenant Colonel Lt: Lieutenant LTC: Leave Travel Concession Ltd: Limited LTTE: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. LZ: Landing Zone M M.Ed.: Master of Education M. Sc.: Master of Science M: 1000 (in Roman numerals) M.A.: Master of Arts MAC: Multi-Agency Centre - MAD: Mutual Assured Destruction MA!: Multilateral Agreement on Investment MAI: Manufacturers Association of Information Technology MAMC: Mining and Allied Machinery Corporation MASER: Microwave Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation MAT: Management Aptitude Test, Minimum Alternate Tax MBA: Master of Business Administration MBBS: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery MBFC: Mutual Benefit Financial Company MBRS: Multi-Barrel Rocket System MBT: Main Battle Tank MC: Master of Ceremonies; Municipal Commissioner; Municipal Committee; Medical Certificate MCA: Monetary Compensatory Account; Master of Computer Application MCC: Marylebone Cricket Club; Missile Control Centre MCD: Municipal Corporation of Delhi MCI: Medical Council of India MCOCA: Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act MD: Managing Director; Doctor of Medicine MDA: Market Development Assistance MDMA : Multi Disciplinary Monitoring Agency MDMK: Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MDS: Master of Dental Surgery ME: Mechanical Engineer MEA: Ministry of External Affairs MECON: Metallurgical and Engineering Consultants MES: Military Engineering Service MFA: Multi-Fibre Agreement MFN: Most Favoured Nation MI: Military Intelligence MIBOR: Mumbai Inter-Bank Offered Rate MIC: Methyle isocyanate MIGA: Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency MISA: Maintenance of Internal Security Act MLA: Member of Legislative Assembly: Money Laundering Act MLC: Member of Legislative Council MMDS: Multi-Channel Microwave Distribution System MMMF: Money Market Mutual Fund MMS: Multimedia Messaging Service MMT: Million Metric Tonnes MMTC: Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation MNAMS: Member of the National Academy of Medical Sciences MNC: Multinational Corporation MNF: Mizo National Front MNNA : Major Non-NATO Ally MO: Money Order; Medical Officer MODEM: Modulator demodulator MODVAT: Modified Value Added Tax MONEX: Monsoon Experiment MOU: Memorandum of Understanding MOX: Mixed Oxide Fuel MP: Member of Parliament; Military Police; Madhya Pradesh MPA: Master of Public Administration MPF: Multinational Protection. Force MPFI: Multiple Fuel Infection System mpg: mules per gallon mph: miles per hour MPLADS: Member of Parliament Local Aiea Development Scheme mps: metres per second mps: metres per second MQM: Mohajir Quami Movement (of Pakistan) MRA: Moral Re-armament MRAS: Member of the Royal Academy Sciences MRCP: Member of Royal College of Physicians MRCS: Member of Royal College of Surgeons MRCVS: Member of Royal College of ~Veterinary Surgeons MRD: Movement for Restoration of Democracy (in Pakistan) MRTPC: Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission MRTS: Mass Rapid Transit System MRVC: Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation MSS: Manuscripts MSW: Master of Social Work MSY: Mahila Sainriddhi Yojna MTCR: Missile Technology Control Regime MTV: Music Television MVC: Maha Vir Chakra N N & Q: Notes and Queries NCYP: National Centre of Films for Children and Young People- NAAI: National Airport Authority of India NABARD: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development NAC : National Advisory Council NAECL: National Authority on Elimination of Child Labour NAFED: National Agricultural Co- operative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. NAFTA: North America Free Trade Agreement NALCO: National Aluminium Company Limited NAM: Non-Aligned Movement NAMS: National Academy of Medical Science NAPP: Narora Atomic Power Plant NARO: National Amnesty and Redemption Organisation NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (of U.S.A.) NASDAQ: National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation NASSCOM: National Association of Software and Service Companies NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organisation NAV: Net Asset Value NAWO: National Alliance for Women NAYE: National Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs NB: nota bene (mark well) NBA: Narmada Bachao Andolan NBCC: National Building Construction Corporation NBDB: National Book Development Board NBFC: Non-banking Finance Company NBT: National Book Trust NCA: National Commission on Agriculture NCAER: National Council of Applied Economic Research NCB: Narcotics Control Board NCBC: National Commission for Backward Classes NCBE: National Confederation of Bank Employees NCC: National Cadet Corps NCDC: National Coal Development Corporation NCERT: National Council of Educational Research and Training NCL: National Centre for Labour NCNA: New China News Agency NCO: Non-Commissioned Officer NCRB: National Capital Region Board NCSC & ST: National Commission for Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes . NCST: National Committee of Science and Technology: National Conference on Science and Technologies NCTE: National Council for Teachers Education NCW: National Commission on Women NDA: National Defence Academy; National Democratic Alliance NDC: National Development Council NDDB: National Dairy Development Board NDFB: National Democratic Front of Bodoland NDMA : National Disaster Management Authority NDMC: New Delhi Municipal Committee NDRI: National Dairy Research institute NDTF: National Democratic Teachers Front NE: North-East NEC: North-Eastern Council NEDC: National Economic Development Council NEEM: National Elementary Education Mission NEERI: National Environmental Engineering Research Institute NEFA: North East Frontier Agency NEHU: North-Eastern Hill University NEP: New Education Policy NER: North Eastern Railway NES: National Extension Service NEW: Net Economic Welfare NF: National Front NFAI: National Film Archives of India NFC: Nuclear Fuel Complex NFDC: National Film Development Corporation NFIR: National Federation of Indian Railwaymen NFR: Northeast Frontier Railway NFSIT: The National Venture Fund for Software and IT Industries NGO: Non-Governmental Organisation NGRI: National Geophysical Research Institute NHAI: National Highway Authority of India NHB: National Housing Bank NHPC: National Hydro-electric Power Corporation NHRC: National Human Rights Commission NIB: National investment Bank NIC: National Integration Council; National Informatics Centre NICD: National Institute of Communicable Diseases NICO: New Information and Communication Order NID: National Institute of Designs. (Ahmedabad) NIDC: National Industrial Development Corporation NIDS: National Immunisation Days NIEPA: National Institute for Educational Planning & Administration NIESBUD: National Institute of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development NIFT: National Institute of Fashion Technology NII: National Institute of Immunology; National Information infrastructure NIIT: National Institute of Information Technology NIM: Nehru Institute of Mountaineering NIMHANS: National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences NIO: National Institute of Oceanography NIOT: National Institute of Ocean Technology NIPFP: National institute of Public Finance and Policy NIS: Netaji Subhash Institute of Sports NISTADS: National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies NIV: National Institute of Virology NLF: National Liberation Front (Vietnam) NLM: National literacy Mission NLTA: National Lawn Tennis Association NMCC: National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council NMD: National Missile Defence NMDC: National Mineral Development Corporation NMEP: National Malaria Eradication Programme NMNH: National Museum of Natural History NMR: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance NNP: National Nutrition Policy NOC: No Objection Certificate non seq: now sequiture (it does not follow) NP: Notary Public NPC: National Productivity Council NPCC: National Projects Construction Corporation NPCL: Nuclear Power Corporation of India NPP: National Perspective Plan NPT: Non-Proliferation Treaty NR: Northern Railway NRA: National Reconstruction Army NRC: Nuclear Regulatory Commission (of US); National Register of Citizens NRDC: National Research Development Corporation NREGP: National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme NRF: National Renewable Fund NRHM : National Rural Health Mission NRI: Non-Resident Indian NRSA: National Remote Sensing Agency NRT : Net Registered Tonnes NRY: Nehru Rozgar Yojana NS: North-South NSA: National Security Act; National Security Agency (of US) NSAP: National Social Assistance Programme NSC: National Security Council; National Saving Certificate NSCI: National Sports Club of India NSCN: National Socialist Council of Nagaland NSD: National School of Drama NSEI: National Stock Exchange of India NSG: National Security Guards NSIC: National Small Industries Corporation NSS: National Service Scheme NSSO: National Sample Survey Organisation NSUI: National Students Union of India NTC: National Textile Corporation NTP: National Temperature and Pressure NTPC: National Thermal Power Corporation NTS: National Testing Service NUJ: National Union of Journalists NVF: National Volunteer Force NWDA: National Water Development Agency NWGP: National Working Group on Power NWRC: National Water Resources Council O O & M: Organisation & Methods OAPEC: Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries OAS: Organisation of American States OBC: Other Backward Classes OBE: Officer (or the Order) of the British Empire OC: Officer Commanding OCS: Overseas Communication Service ODA: Official Development Assistance OECD: Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development OECF: Overseas Economic Cooperative Fund OEEC: Organisation for European Economic Cooperation OGL: Open General Licence OIC: Organisation of Islamic Conference 0IDB: Oil India Development Board OIGS: On Government of India Service OIL: Oil India Limited OIP : Office of the Iraq Programme OK: orl korrect (all correct, all right) ONGC: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation op at: opero citato (in the work cited) OPCW : Organisation for the Prohibition f Chemical Weapons OPEC: Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries OPECNA: OPEC News Agency OPF: Ordnance Parachute Factory OPV: Oral Polio Vaccine ORT: Oral Rehydration Therapy OSCE: Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe OTCEI: Over the Counter Exchange of India OTS: Officers Training School (military) OXFAM: Oxford Committee For Famine Relief OYT: Own Your Telephone OYW: Own Your Wagon P P&K: Phosphate & Potash P&T: Posts & Telegraphs PAC: Public Accounts Committee; Provincial Armed Constabulary; Political Affairs Committee PAL: Phase Alternative Line PAN: Permanent Account Number PATA: Pacific Asia Travel Association PBS: Public Broadcasting Service PBX: Private Branch Exchange (telephone) PC: Privy Council; Petty Cash PCC: Pradesh Congress Committee PCI: Press Council of India PCM: Public Code Modulation PCRA : Petroleum Conservation Research Association PCS: Provincial Civil Service PDA: Personal Digital Assistant; Preventive Detention Act PDPA: Peoples Democratic Party of Afghanistan PBS: Public Distribution System PEC: Projects and Equipment Corporation PEN: Poets, Editors and Novelists Association PERT: Project Evaluation and Review Technique PESB: Public Enterprises Selection Board PETA: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals PFC: Power Finance Corporation PFRDA: Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority PGA: Parliamentarians for Global Action PHC: Primary Health Centre PHDCCI: Progress, Harmony and Development Chambers of Commerce & Industry PIA: Pakistan International Airways PIB: Press Information Bureau PIL: Public Interest Litigation PIM: Personal Information Management PIN-Code: Postal Index Number Code PIO: Persons of Indian Origin PLO: Palestine Liberation Organisation PLOTE: Peoples Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam PLR: Prime Lending Rates pm: post meridiem (after noon); post mortem PM: Prime Minister PMG: Post Master General PML: Pakistan Muslim League. PMRTS: Personal Mobile Radio Trunking Services PMUPEP: Prime Minister Urban Poverty Eradication Programme PO: Post Office; Postal Order P0A: Programme of Action; Power of Attorney P0K: Pakistan Occupied Kashmir POTA: Prevention of Terrorism Act POW: Prisoner of War PP: Particular Person; Public-Prosecutor PPF: Planet Protection Fund PPP: Pakistan Peoples Party; Purchasing Power Parity PRCL : Pipavav Railway Corporation Ltd. Pro tem: pro tempore (for the time being) PRO: Public Relations Officer PROLOG: Programming Logic Prox: proximo (in the next month) PS: Postscript; Personal Secretary; Private Secretary PSC: Public Service Commission PSLV: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PT: Physical Training PTA: Parent-Teacher Association; Pilotless Target Aircraft PTBT: Partial Test Ban Treaty PTI: Press Trust of India PTO: Please Turn Over PUCL: Peoples Union of Civil Liberties PUDR: The Peoples Union for Democratic Rights - Explosive PVC: Param Vir Chakra; Poly Vinyl Chloride PVSM: Param Vishisht Seva Medal PWD: Public Works Department PWG: Peoples War Group Q QCT: Quality Council of India QED: quod erat demonstrandum, (Which was to-be-proved). QEF: quod erat faciendum (which was to be done) QEI: quod erat inveniendum (which was to be found) QMG: Quarter Master General QMT: Quantitative Management Technique QR: Quantitative Restriction Qr: Quarter qv: quod vide (which see) R R&D: Research and Development RABMN: Remote Area Business Message Network RAD: Research And Development RADAR: Radio Detecting and Ranging RAF: Royal Air Force (of UK); Rapid Action Force (India) RAM: Random Access Memory RAW: Research and Analysis Wing RAX: Random Access Exchange RBI: Reserve Bank of India RBS : Risk Based Supervision RCC: Reinforced Cement Concrete RCI: Rehabilitation Council of India RD: Refer to Drawer RDA: Rural Development Agency RDSO: Research, Designs and Standard Organisation REACH: Rehabilitate, Educate and Support Street Children REC: Rural Electrification Corporation; Regional Engineering College REM: Rapid Eye Movement REP: Replenishment Export Permit RI: Rigorous Imprisonment RIA: Radio Immuno Assay RIMC: Rashtriya Indian Military College RIP: Requiescat in Peace (May he or she rest in peace) RIS: Research & Information System for the non-aligned & other developing Countries. RITA: Regional Trade & Investment Agreement RITES: Rail India Technical and Economic Services RJD: Rashtriya Janta Dal RJP: Rashtriya Janta Party RLEGS: Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Scheme RLM: Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha RLO: Returned Letter Office (formerly DLODead Letter Office) RMO: Resident Medical Officer RMS: Railway Mail Service RNA: Ribonucleic Acid RNO: Resident Naval Officer ROBERT: Rocket Borne Emergency Radio Transmitter ROM: Read Only Memory ROO : Rules of Origin RPF: Railway Protection Force RPM: Revolutions Per Minute RPV: Remote-controlled Pilotless Vehicle RRB: Rural Regional Bank RRC: Regional Reactor Centre RSE: Renewable Source of Energy RSP: Rourkela Steel Plant; Revolutionary Socialist Party RSS: Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh RSVP: Respondez sil vous plait (please reply) RTA: Railway Territorial Army RTC: Round Table Conference RTG: Radio-isotope Thermo-electric Generator RTIA: Regional Trade & Investment Area S SAARC: South Asian Association fir Regional Cooperation SAC: Space Application Centre; Science Advisory Council SACEPS: South Asia Centre for Policy Studies SACODIL: SAARC Consortium of Open & Distance Learning. SAD: Shiromani Akali Dal SADCC: South African Development Coordination Council SADF: South Asian Development Fund SAEC: South Asian Economic Community SAFMA: South Asia Free Media Association SAFTA: South-Asian Free Trade Agreement SAHR: South Asians Human Rights Forum SAI: Sports Authority of India SAIDC: South African Industrial Development Corporation. SAIL: Steel Authority of India Limited SALT: Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty SAM: Surface-to-Air Missile SAPTA: South Asian Preferential Trading Arrangement SARF: South Asia Regional Fund SARS: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome SAS: Subordinate Accounts Service. $mall Astronomy Satellite SASEC: South Asian Sub-regional Economic Co-operation SASER: Sound Amplification by stimulated Emission of Radiation SAT: Scholastic Aptitude Test SATTE: South Asia Travel and Tourism Exchange SAVE: SAARC Audio Visual Exchange SC: Scheduled Castes; Space Commission; Supreme Court; Security Council SCBA: Supreme Court Bar Association SCI: Shipping Corporation of India SCOPE: Standing Committee of Public Enterprises SCUBA: Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus SDI: Strategic Defence Initiative SDO: Sub-Divisional Officer SDR: Special Drawing Rights SEARCH : Society for Environmental Awareness. Rehabilitation for Child and Handicapped SEATO: South Fast Asia Treaty Organisation SEBC: Socially and Educationally Backward SEBI: Securities Exchange Board of India SEMFEX: Self Employment for Ex-servicemen SEMIBOMBLA: Scheme of the Economists for Monetary Immobilisation through Bond Medallions and Blocked Accounts SENSEX: Sensitive Index (of share price) SEPUR: Self-Employment Programme for the Urban Poor SER: South Eastern Railway SEWA: Self-Employed Womens Association SEZ: Special Economic Zone SFC: State Financial Corporation Strategic Forces Command SF1: Students Federation of India SF10: Serious Fraud Investigation Office SGPC: Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee SHAR: Sriharikota Tracking Station SHCIL: Stock Holding Corporation of India Ltd. SIA: Singapore Airlines SIAM : Society for Indian Automobile Manufacturers SIDBI: Small Industries Development Bank of India SIDC: State Industrial Development Corporation SIEMA: Southern India Engineering Manufacturers Association SIF: Stock Index Futures SIMI: Students Islamic Movement of India SIPRI: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute SIT: Special Investigation Team SITA: Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act SITE: Satellite Instructional Television Experiment SLBM: Sea-Launch Ballistic Missile SLFP: Sri Lanka Freedom Party SLR: Statutory Liquidity Ratio SLV: Satellite Launch Vehicle SMART: Small Missions for Advanced Research & Technology SMS: Short Messaging Service SMTP: Simple Mail Transfer Protocol SNIPES: Society of National Institutes for Physical Education and Sports SO: Special Officer; Section Officer SOS: Save Our Soulsdistress signal SP: Superintendent of Police SPCA : Society for the Prevention of to Animals SPE: Special Police Establishment SPG: Special Protection Group SPIC MACAY: Society for the of Indian Classical Music & Culture SR: Southern Railway; Supplementary Rules SRAM: Short Range Attack Missile SRI: Systems Research Institute SRO: Statutory Rules and Orders SSA : Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan SSB: Service Selection Board SSC: Staff Selection Commission SSI : Supplemental Security Income; Small Scale Industry SSM: Surface to Surface Missile SST: Supersonic Transport ST: Scheduled Tribes STARS: Satellite Tracking and Ranging Station START: Strategic Arms Reduction Talks STC: State Trading Corporation STD: Subscriber Trunk Dialing (telephone); Sexually Transmitted Disease STEP: Satellite Telecommunication Experiment Project STF: Special Trust Fund; Special Task Force STPI: Software Technology Parks of India SUNFED: Special United Nations Fund br Economic Development SUV: Sports Utility Vehicle SVP: Saturated Vapour Pressure SW: South-West SWAPO: South-West Africa People Organisation SWIFT: Society for World-wide International Financial Transactions, SWOT: Strength,- Weakness, opportunities, Threats SYL: &nb