Current Affairs for IAS Exams – 22 May 2016

:: National ::

Apple chief executive officer Tim Cook met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed sensitive issues relating to cybersecurity, data encryption, the possibility of manufacturing in the country and tapping India’s young talent.
The Apple CEO appreciated the breadth of young talent in India with significant skills that Apple would like to tap.He highlighted the immense potential for ‘app-development’ in the country, according to the statement.
During his maiden visit to India, Mr. Cook announced the setting up of an app development centre in Bengaluru and another one in Hyderabad for maps.
The PMO said Mr. Cook appreciated Mr. Modi’s initiatives on “ease of doing business” and renewable energy. Apple runs on 93 per cent renewable energy and plans to move its entire supply chain to renewable energy.
Mr. Cook unveiled an updated version of the PM’s mobile app that includes a new volunteering network.

President Pranab Mukherjee has sought legal advice on the Ordinance to keep State boards out of the National Eligibility-cum- Entrance Test for this year.
The President is seeking clarification on the Ordinance, he is consulting inhouse legal experts on certain questions.
The Ordinance, cleared by the Union Cabinet, is aimed at “partially” overturning a Supreme Court verdict which said all government colleges, deemed universities and private medical colleges would be covered under NEET.
Clarifying that the exemption is only for the State government seats, government sources had said State seats earmarked in the private medical colleges have also been exempted.
Different States earmark anywhere between 12 and 15 per cent seats in various private medical colleges for State quota so that students from one State can get seat in another State.
The remaining seats in such colleges are reserved for domicile students. Now with this Ordinance, the remaining seats meant for domicile students will come under NEET.

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed amendments to the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA)-2017, seeking to enhance the country’s defence cooperation with India.
A similar bill is under the consideration at the Senate as well. The bipartisan move of Congress seeks to bring India at par with NATO allies for technology and equipment sale.
Once signed into law by the President, these provisions will liberalise the sale of a wide range of technologies to India, bypassing legislative approvals.
The move also seeks to open a special office in the Pentagon dedicated exclusively to the U.S.-India Defence Technology and Trade Initiative.
The Senate is likely to pass the bill before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to a joint session of Congress on June 8.
The U.S.-India Defence Technology and Partnership Act in the Senate was introduced by Senators Mark Warner and John Cornyn, co-chairs of the Senate India Caucus. Senator Marco Rubio has also joined as a sponsor.
In further amendments, the House has tightened the flow of aid to Pakistan. The Secretary of Defence must now certify to Congress that Pakistan is not using funds or equipment provided to persecute minority groups.
The amendments also put new conditions to be met before Pakistan can access $450 million next year in Coalition Support Fund, which is for reimbursing costs incurred in Afghanistan.

China threatened to suspend talks with Taiwan if the newly sworn-in Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen does not acknowledge the “1992 consensus”, which refers to a purported understanding that they belong to a single sovereign nation.
Only by confirming the adherence to the common political foundation of the 1992 Consensus that embodies the ‘one China’ principle can cross-Strait affairs authorities continue with their regular communication.

Pitching for a better business environment for start-ups, Reserve Bank Governor Raghuram Rajan said India has done away with the licence raj, but ’inspector raj’ continues to some extent.
He also said that regulations should be for betterment of the industry and not to discourage entrepreneurs and suggested a system of self-certification for the industries with some checks on the part of the authorities to prevent any misuse.
Advocating an easier set of regulations for small and medium enterprises in India, Rajan gave examples of the UK and Italy saying, “We have seen that while regulations are liberal in United Kingdom, it is very heavy in Italy.
Calling for a need to focus on the development of small and medium enterprises that require ‘hand-holding’ by the state governments and other agencies, Rajan said,
“Indian economy is in the midst of recovery. However, some areas are still under stress and need to be focused in order to get them better.”
A good monsoon will be helpful for the growth of the economy, he added.
Small and medium enterprise require focused attention, the governor said and mooted setting up new institutions to finance SMEs to ensure easy access to funds.
Rajan said public sector banks have increased their credit to small and medium enterprises after RBI identified medium enterprises as priority sector and that he was optimistic about growth of start ups if provided required facilities to grow.