Current Affairs for IAS Exams

Current Affairs for IAS Exams – 29 May 2016

Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented his “report card” of two years at the helm of the NDA government in a five-and-a-half-hour television talkathon over the national broadcaster, Doordarshan.
He said his government’s work as a the beginning of a “new dawn”, and the result of “keeping the interests of the common man front and centre.”
Prime Minister Modi spoke about the general direction of his government and his strong measures to tackle graft across the board in the governmental system.
We have managed to save more Rs 36,000 crore in pilferage within the system. We caught more than 1.62 crore fake ration cards, fake schools with teachers on their rolls receiving salaries,” Mr. Modi said.
“Facts like these, and the use of subsidised LED bulbs leading to a saving of over 20,000 MW of power every year do not make for headlines, but we must not allow a spirit of despondency to grip the nation,” he said.
“My target is to provide five crore gas connections to those households which still rely on wood fired ovens for cooking,” Mr. Modi said.
“We have three years of this term left; I promise to work hard to justify the confidence placed on me by the people. I will not stint when it comes to hard work,” the Prime Minister said.

The no detention policy in schools should be applicable till Class V and exams be held from Class VI onwards, the Subramanian committee formed by the government to formulate a New Education Policy (NEP) has recommended.
Panel has suggested that foreign institutions be allowed to come to India to improve the quality of higher education.
The panel has also given specific suggestions to raise the standard of education which are found wanting in many respects from primary to higher level.
One of the key suggestions is to focus on “remedial coaching” and “hand-holding” to ensure the learning outcome of children does not suffer.
It has recommended that the ‘No detention policy’ be reviewed and exams be held from Class VI. The Right To Education law prescribes the no detention policy for students till Class VIII.
However, in case a child does not pass in the first instance, he or she should be given two more chances to appear in the exam.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried his hand at beating the traditional Khasi drum as he wound up his two-day visit to Meghalaya.
Mr. Modi expressed keenness about ‘rhythm’ and beat a drum together with Khasi tribal musicians.
“The Prime Minister tried his hand at beating our ‘Ka Bom’ and also interacted with leaders from at least 10 Himas,” The chief priest of HimaMawphlang, said.
Mr. Modi also expressed interest on sacred groves and forest fragments with religious connotation for the protectors and sought to know details of how they were managed by the local community.
Hunting and logging are usually strictly prohibited within these sacred groves.
Mr. Modi’s visit to the sacred forest of Mawphlang, however, could not take place due to inclement weather. However, he was briefed on how the highly-regarded grove was managed, controlled and administered.

Pakistan seems to have failed to seal the $700 million deal for the purchase of eight F-16 fighter jets from the U.S. following a row between the two countries over their financing.
The Pakistani government was required to provide the Letter of Acceptance for purchase of the jets by May 24, but Dawn reported that the document was not issued leading to expiry of the offer.
Initially, the $700 million deal for eight F-16 multi-role fighters, was to be partially financed through the U.S. Foreign Military Financing (FMF) programme but the Congress disallowed subsidising the sale.
The subsidising was disallowed over concern that Pakistan had not done enough to end the dreaded Haqqani network’s terror sanctuaries on its soil as well as fears over Islamabad’s nuclear programme.
Pakistan, which expected to get the fighters at the subsidised rate of $270 million, was subsequently asked by the U.S. administration to make the full payment for the eight aircraft from its national resources.
Pakistan Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said last month that Pakistan could look to buy the aircraft from some other country if the deal did not go ahead.

The U.S. has asked Pakistan to go after terrorists, especially the Taliban leadership, days after an American drone killed Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour in Balochistan Province.
“We continue to cooperate closely with Afghanistan, but also urge Pakistan to go after terrorists, especially Taliban leadership, and that cooperation continues,” State Department Deputy Spokesman said.
Meanwhile, a former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, James B. Cunningham, said the drone strike that killed Taliban leader Mullah Mansour inside Pakistan should send a signal that the U.S. will not tolerate terrorist safe havens.