*CURRENT AFFAIRS (05:08:2014)

1. Government partially relents on anti-CSAT agitators; marks of the
question-section on "English Language comprehension skills" of Paper
II (Preliminary Examination) is not to be included for gradation or
merit.
- Candidates, who appeared in Civil Services Examination 2011, to get
one more attempt in 2015.
- This may provide very little relief to the agitators who are
demanding a thorough scrapping of CSAT.
2. Government comes up with a National Perspective Plan (NPP) for
better water management in the country.
- The programme aims to avert water scarcity by implementing
inter-basin transfer of water from surplus basins to deficit areas.
- National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has identified 30 links
under the NPP.
- Three links namely Ken-Betwa Link, Damanganga-Pinjal link, and
Par-Tapi-Narmada link have been taken up for the preparation of
Detailed Project Report (DPR).
3. India inks three agreements with Nepal including one on the 5,600
MW Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project that will pave the way to start
the stalled project.
- Memorandum of Understandings:
- India would provide Rs 65 million to procure and distribute iodized
salt in the rural areas of Nepal.
- Both countries also resolve to amend the Terms of Reference (ToR) of
the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project on the Mahakali River.
4. Centre plans to add 29,800 MW of power from various renewable
energy sources during 12th Plan period.
- This includes 15,000 MW from wind, 10,000 MW from solar, 2,100 MW
from small hydro and 2,700 MW from bio-power.
- The total power generated from the renewable energy sources in the
country (public plus private sector) during 2013-14 are 53.22 billion
units.
5. Lieutenant General Philip Campose is the new Vice Chief of Army Staff.
- The post was lying vacant after the elevation of incumbent Dalbir
Singh to the post of Army Chief
6. NGRBA (National Ganga River Basin Authority) and Mission Clean
Ganga have been transferred to Ministry of Water Resources from
Ministry of Environment