New Delhi: As UPA-2 completes one year in power, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will meet the press today. The press meet, his first in four years, is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a m this morning.
He was to unveil a report card on Saturday on the achievements of his government this past year, but that was put off because of the Mangalore air crash.
A gala dinner to commemorate the occasion for all UPA allies and those who have extended outside support to his government was also postponed.
The Opposition BJP has criticised the government on many fronts particularly internal security, economy, agriculture and foreign policy, and contended that there was nothing to cheer about.
Here's a quick look at the hits and misses of the UPA in the first year of its second stint at the Centre.
Hits:- It managed to steer the economy through the worst global economic crisis in decades
- In 2008-09, 2009-10, India grew 7.5 to 8 per cent, when most global economies contracted
- Initiating legislation on food security, right to free and compulsory education for children from 6-14 years
- Unified goods and services tax (GST), new Direct Tax Code, NREGA and Unique ID project
- Opened up education to foreign players
- Women's Reservation Bill passed in Rajya Sabha
- Proactive management of drought helped limit the damage
- Successful auction of 3G spectrum
Misses:- One of its biggest failures has been the handling of the growing Naxal violence
- Financial sector reforms have failed to take off
- The government missed its targets in all infrastructure sectors
- There have been lapses in the implementation of NREGA, Forest Rights Act and RTI
- The government has drawn a lot of flak for infighting within the government on key policy matters
- The Congress has had to compromise with allies in order to get crucial Bills passed in Parliament and stay in power.
- The government has been unable to tame spiralling food prices
- The Opposition has attacked the government for not sacking telecom minister A Raja despite allegations of corruption in the allocation of 2G spectrum
- The PM's efforts to promote peace with Pakistan at Sharm-el-Sheikh was widely criticised