CURRENT AFFAIRS ENGLISH (06.2.2024)

1. CBSE URGES SCHOOLS TO PREPARE FOR NATIONAL CREDIT FRAMEWORK ROLL-OUT

• National Credit Framework (NCF) is a proposed system by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to allocate credits to students in schools affiliated with the board
• Credit Allocation: Credits are assigned to students based on their academic achievements across various subjects.
• Curricular Structure: Students are required to clear five subjects, including two main languages and three main subjects mathematics, science, and social science to pass the class.
• Total Credit Hours: Around 1,050 hours are allocated to five compulsory subjects, with an additional 150 hours for internal assessment of subjects like Physical Education, Health, Art Education, and a skill-related subject, plus a third language.
• Credit System: A student passing with five compulsory subjects and completing internal assessments will earn at least 40 credits.
• Roll-out: The new curriculum in line with the NCF is expected to be implemented from the 2024-2025 academic session, expanding the number of subjects to 10 studied compulsorily
• Academic Locker: Credits earned by students will be stored in their academic bank of credit in the students’ DigiLockers, facilitating a record that is recognised nationally and can be used if the student goes abroad.
• Flexibility and Recognition: The NCF aims to recognize different levels of education through its credit system, including undergraduate, postgraduate, and diplomas, for various academic and equivalence purposes Schools are encouraged to begin the internal implementation of the credit system according to guidelines before its official nationwide rollout.

2. INDIA AND U.S

• The India-U.S. nuclear cooperation is termed as “an important piece of unfinished business” by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Geoffrey R. Pyatt There is a “shared interest” to figure out the path forward in civil nuclear cooperation, encompassing both traditional reactors and emerging Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology
• The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, is a significant step in advancing nuclear cooperation between India and the U.S
• The history of India-U.S. nuclear cooperation and major pacts/agreements include:

• Atoms for Peace (1950s): India’s nuclear program began with U.S. assistance under President Eisenhower’s “Atoms for Peace” initiative
• India’s Nuclear Tests (1974 & 1998): These tests led to U.S. sanctions and a halt in nuclear cooperation
• Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT): India has remained outside the NPT framework, citing it as discriminatory
• Indo-U.S. Nuclear Deal (2005): Officially known as the U.S.–India Civil Nuclear Agreement. It lifted a three-decade U.S. moratorium on nuclear trade with India
• 123 Agreement (2007): Formally titled as the U.S.–India Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy. It allowed India to access civilian nuclear technology while separating its civil and military nuclear facilities
• NSG Waiver (2008): The Nuclear Suppliers Group granted a unique waiver to India allowing it to engage in civilian nuclear trade despite not being a signatory to the NPT Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (2010): Addressed liability issues and facilitated cooperation by providing a legal framework on compensation for nuclear damage Contact Group (2015): Established to resolve technical and policy issues related to the implementation of the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal
• The Joint Statement (2015): Announced during President Obama’s visit to India, confirming the advancement of the deal, including administrative arrangements Westinghouse Agreement (2016): To build six AP1000 reactors in India, marking a significant step in operationalizing the 2005 agreement
• Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI): Although not exclusively nuclear, it strengthens strategic and technological cooperation, which complements the nuclear deal’s objectives
• Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) Waiver (2018): Potentially affects India’s defense purchases from Russia but has implications on broader strategic ties, including nuclear cooperation.

3. CHAMAI GOVERNMENT WINS THE FLOOR TEST

• A floor test is conducted whenever a new government is going to replace the older one
• It is a precautionary test to check whether the new leader/s will garner support from the majority of people in the legislature
• Who calls for a floor test?
• When the House is in session, it is the Speaker who can call for a floor test
• But when the Assembly is not in session, the Governor’s residuary powers under Article 163 allow him to call for a floor test

4. BILL TO CHECK CHEATING IN GOVERNMENT RECRUITMENT EXAMS INTRODUCED

• Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024
• Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill said that malpractices in public examinations lead to delays and cancellation of examinations adversely impacting the prospects of millions of youth
• The bill aims to address malpractices in government recruitment exams
• Introduces a minimum of three years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹1 crore for individuals and organisations involved in cheating in job recruitment exams
• Targets the prevention of question paper leakage and unauthorised access to answer keys
• Criminalises direct or indirect assistance to candidates in cheating
• Penalises the tampering with computer networks or resources associated with public examinations

5. MYANMAR’S CIVIL WAR AND INDIA’S INTEREST

• The developments in Paletwa will impact the Indian government’s Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) in Myanmar, which has already faced significant delays
• The Kaladan project was aimed at addressing the geo[1]economic and geo-political challenges of northeast India
• Transporting goods to and from northeast India via the narrow Siliguri corridor is an expensive affair
• In a worst-case scenario with China, there is a possibility of movement along the corridor being adversely affected
• Therefore, the Kaladan project was conceptualised as an alternative route that gives northeast India access to the sea

ONE LINER

FEB 6 – To raise awareness about the importance of a secure internet experience for individuals of all ages with a theme of Inspiring Change, Making a difference, Managing Influence and Navigating change online (2024).