Current Affairs 15 May 2016

Current Affairs 15 May 2016 - Important Points

• PM Narendra Modi, Sri Lankan President Release - Simhastha Declaration
• 2016 Red Flag Aerial combat exercises concludes in – US
• Supreme Court upholds validity of - Criminal Defamation Law
• Parkash Singh panel submits report on - Jat Quota Agitation
• In Canada road accident which Nirankari Spiritual Leader died – Baba Hardev Singh

Current Affairs 15 May 2016 - Details

PM Narendra Modi, Sri Lankan President Release - Simhastha Declaration

Among Important National Current Affairs, The Prime Minister along with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has released ‘Simhastha Declaration’ at Ninora village in Ujjain.

Both the leaders addressed the concluding session of the three day International Vichar Mahakumbh held on side-lines of the month-long Simhastha mela.

PM Narendra Modi requested saints to conduct Vichar Kumbh every year with devotees and discuss social issues like the need to educate the girl child or plant trees.

Modi also called Kumbh as the biggest example of excellent management and he advised academic institutions to adopt Kumbh as a management case study.

Few Key Highlights of Simhastha Declaration - 

• Simhastha Declaration has 51 sacred points for betterment of mankind that will start new discourse not only in India but around the world.

• This declaration is also a prescription on how a duty-centred system that had been the origin of Indian philosophy of life is relevant in today’s India.

2016 Red Flag Aerial combat exercises concludes in – US

Among Important International Current Affairs, The multilateral Red Flag Aerial combat exercises between US, NATO and allied forces and India Air Force (IAF) concluded in Alaska, US. 

India had participated for the second time in such an exercise after 2008.

Do You Know – 

• Main objective of IAF’s participation in this inter-continental exercise was to showcase its capability in undertaking integrated air operations and gain also operational lessons. 

• Also in this edition, IAF flew 10 aircraft viz. 4 Su-30MKIs, 4 Jaguars and 2 IL-78 aerial refuelling tankers and a team of over 170 personnel was part of the exercise. 

• However, the exercise was conducted multiple simulated scenario to provide realistic settings with a Red Force, defending their airspace and assets and a Blue Force acting as offensive side.

Supreme Court upholds validity of - Criminal Defamation Law

On 13 May 2016, The Supreme Court upheld constitutional validity of penal laws on defamation.

Under Article 21, which includes the right to reputation, the two-judge bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Justice Prafulla C Pant said the right to life.

However, the apex court was hearing the matter based on 24 petitions alleging that the provisions of criminal sanction act as a censoring device, violates the freedom of speech guaranteed by the Constitution. 

They also argued that criminal defamation travels beyond the Constitution's article 19(2) that imposes reasonable restrictions on the freedom of speech and expression.

Parkash Singh panel submits report on - Jat Quota Agitation

Among Important National Current Affairs, on 13 May 2016, Parkash Singh committee constituted to inquire into the omission and commission on part of all officers and officials of police and civil administration during Jat Quota agitation submitted its report to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. 

Although, the panel submitted its report in two volumes which run into about 450 pages, of which the Main Report is in about 200 pages and another 200 pages is of Annexures. 

While the, second volume of only about 40 pages, deals with the role of Intelligence in the context of the riots.

In Canada road accident which Nirankari Spiritual Leader died – Baba Hardev Singh

Among Important National Current Affairs, on 13 May 2016, Baba Hardev Singh, the Spiritual leader and chief of Nirankari Mission, died at the age of 62 in a road accident in Montreal, Canada. 

Hardev Singh was in a SUV travelling on westbound Highway 30. He was on a tour, visiting several centres, and was scheduled to visit the Pointe-Claire establishment.

Know About Baba Hardev Singh  - 

• From 1980 until his death, Baba Hardev Singh Nirankari Baba was an Indian spiritual guru and chief leader of the Sant Nirankari Mission.

• Baba Hardev Singh became a member of the Nirankari Seva Dal in 1971. After the assassination of his father Gurbachan Singh, who headed the Sant Nirankari Mission in 1980, he succeeded as the chief leader (satguru) of the organization.