The Union Cabinet chaired by the
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on January 18, 2017 gave its ex-post facto
approval to Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) signed with various countries in
the field of IT & electronics, Cyber security, Youth affairs, outer space,
agriculture and allied science among others. The MoU’s includes:
1. Cabinet approves MoU
between India and Serbia for cooperation in the field of Information Technology
and Electronics
The Union Cabinet chaired by the
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval to the
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Serbia for promoting
cooperation in the field of Information Technology and Electronics.
The MoU aims to promote cooperation
between India and Serbia in the field of IT and Electronics, and to foster
active cooperation and exchanges between the private entities, capacity
building institutions, the Governments and other public and private
organizations of the two countries in IT & Electronics.
2. Cabinet approves India’s
Membership in the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), South Korea
The Union Cabinet chaired by the
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the proposal for
India’s taking full membership of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI)
Governing Council. The move involves payment of annual contribution of US $
5,00,000 to the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), Seoul, South Korea.
Background
International Vaccine Institute
(IVI), Seoul, South Korea, established in 1997 on the initiatives of the UNDP,
is an international organization devoted to developing and introducing new and
improved vaccines to protect the people, especially children, against deadly
infectious diseases. In the year 2007, with the approval of Cabinet, India
joined IVI. India is a long-term collaborator and stake-holder of IVI. In
December, 2012 the Board of Trustees (BOT) of IVI approved the formation of its
new governance structure. As per the new governance structure of IVI, a member
State has to contribute to the IVI by paying a portion of its core budget.
Since India is classified in Group-I, it has to pay an annual contribution of
US $ 50,000.
3. Cabinet approves MoU on
cooperation on Youth matters between India and Russia
Exchange programmes in the field of
Youth Affairs between India and Russia will help in promoting exchange of
ideas, values and culture amongst Youth through establishment of
people-to-people contacts and in consolidating friendly relations between the
two countries.
The selections for participation in
exchange programmes shall be done in an objective and transparent manner and
the outcomes of the programmes under the MoU shall be open for public scrutiny.
Exchange programmes will help in
developing international perspective among the Youth and expanding their
knowledge and expertise in the areas of Youth Affairs.
4. Cabinet apprised of the
MoU between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Japanese
Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for cooperation in the field of outer space
The Union Cabinet chaired by the
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) signed on November 11, 2016 at Tokyo, Japan between the
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Japanese Aerospace
Exploration Agency (JAXA) for cooperation in the field of outer space.
The purpose of this MoU is to pursue
future cooperative activities in the exploration and use of outer space
exclusively for peaceful purposes in accordance with the laws and regulations
applicable in each country and their international obligations.
This MoU provides scope for pursuing
cooperation in various areas of space science technology and applications
including: eearth observation, satellite communication and navigation;
exploration and space sciences; Research and development (space systems and
space technology); and Space industry promotion.
5. Cabinet approves MoU
between India and Vietnam In the field of cyber security
The Union Cabinet chaired by the
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given ex-post facto approval to the
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Vietnam in the field of
Cyber Security. It was signed between Indian Computer Emergency Response Team
(CERT-In), India and the Cyber Security Department, Ministry of Public
Security, Vietnam on 3rd September 2016 at Hanoi.
The MoU intends to promote closer
cooperation for exchange of knowledge and experience in detection, resolution
and prevention of cyber security-related incidents between India and Vietnam.
Implementation of the MoU will result
in significant mutual benefits in the cyber security sector, through
institutional and capacity-building in the field of cyber security in the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
6. Cabinet approves Trade
Agreement negotiations with Peru
The Union Cabinet chaired by the
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved holding negotiations for Trade
Agreement with Peru on trade in goods, services and investment.
A Joint Study Group (JSG) between
India and Peru was constituted in order to explore the possibility for entering
into trade agreement with Peru on 15th January, 2015. Both sides concluded the
Joint Study Group Report on 20th October, 2016 and agreed to carry forward the discussions
on trade in goods, trade in services and investment.
7. Cabinet approves MoU
between India and the United Arab Emirates on the Mutual Recognition of
Certificates of Competency
The Union Cabinet chaired by the
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) between India and the United Arab Emirates on the Mutual Recognition of
Certificates of Competency.
The proposed MoU will pave way for
recognition of maritime education and training, certificates of competency,
endorsements, training documentary evidence and medical fitness certificates
for seafarers issued by the Government of the other country in accordance with
the provisions of Regulation 1/10 of the Convention, and cooperation between
the two countries in training and management of seafarers.
The MoU will ensure that the
education, training and assessment of seafarers, as required by the STCW Convention,
are administered and monitored in accordance with of the STCW Code for each
type and level of training assessment involved.
8. Cabinet approves the exclusion of States from the
investments of National Small Savings Fund from 1.4.2016
The Union Cabinet chaired by the
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to exclude State
Governments States/UTs (with Legislature) except Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi,
Kerala and Madhya Pradesh from National Small Savings Fund (NSSF) investments
from 01.04.2016. It also approved
providing a one-time loan of Rs. 45,000 crore from NSSF to Food Corporation of India
(FCI) to meet its food subsidy requirements.
The details are as
under:-
a)
Exclusion of States/UTs (with Legislature) excepting Arunachal
Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya
Pradesh and Delhi
from NSSF Investments. Arunachal
Pradesh shall be given loans to the tune of 100% of NSSF collections within its
territory, whereas Delhi, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh shall be provided 50% of
collections.
b)
Servicing of interest and principal of debt extended to FCI through the
budget line of Department of Food and Public Distribution. The repayment
obligation of the FCI in respect of NSSF Loans would be treated as the first
charge on the food subsidy released to the Food Corporation of India. In
addition, FCI shall reduce the amount of its current Cash Credit Limit with the
banking consortium to the extent of the NSSF loan amount.
c)
NSSF in the future shall, with the approval of Finance Minister, invest
on items the expenditure of which is ultimately borne by Government of India
and the repayment of principal and interest thereto would be borne from the
Union budget.
9. Cabinet approves MoU
between India and the United Arab Emirates on Bilateral Cooperation in the Road
Transport and Highways sector
The Union Cabinet chaired by the
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) between India and the United Arab Emirates on Bilateral Cooperation in
the Road Transport and Highways Sector to be signed between the Ministry of Road
Transport and Highways, India and the Federal Transport Authority – Land and
Maritime, U.A.E.
Salient features of
the MoU are:
a) Exchange and sharing of knowledge
and cooperation in the area of transportation technologies and transport
policies, for passenger and freight movement by roads;
b) Planning, administration and
management of road infrastructure, technology and standards for roads/highways
construction and maintenance;
c) Sharing of information and best
practices for developing road safety plans and road safety intervention
strategies, and outreach activities aimed at reducing deaths and injuries
resulting from road accidents through:
d) Sharing of knowledge and best
practices in user-free (toll)-related issues; including modern systems,
technologies and methods of levying of user-free and collection including Electronic
Toll Collection System;
e) Sharing of information areas of
improved technologies and materials in road and bridge construction, including
joint research; and
f) Sharing of information and
cooperation for mobilizing investments for setting up of Logistics Parks,
freight logistics, transportation warehousing and value added services (VAS) as
an enabler and as a catalyst of economic growth and seamless freight movement.
10. Cabinet approves MOU
between India and United Arab Emirates for cooperation in the field of Small
and Medium Enterprises and Innovation
The Union Cabinet chaired by the
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing the
Memorandum of Understanding between India and United Arab Emirates for
cooperation in the field of Small and Medium Enterprises and Innovation.
The MoU would benefit Indian SMEs and
lead to equitables and inclusive development. The exposure to best practices in
SME sector abroad would provide an opportunity to Indian SMEs to improve upon
them and innovate further. It would also provide to Indian SME sector an
opportunity to have a mutually beneficial relation with SME sector of the
United Arab Emirates and to explore their markets.
11. Cabinet approves MOU
between India and United Arab Emirates for cooperation in the field of
agriculture and allied sectors
The Union Cabinet chaired by the
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for Signing of
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and United Arab Emirates in the
field of agriculture and allied sectors.
The MoU will be mutually beneficial
to both countries. It will promote understanding of best agricultural practices
in the two countries and will help in better productivity at farmer fields as
well as improved global market access leading to equity and inclusiveness.
Cooperation in agricultural technology will lead to innovative techniques for
increasing production and productivity leading to strengthening of food
security.
12. Cabinet approves the
Establishment of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Jharkhand
The Union Cabinet has approved the
12th Plan Proposal of the DARE/ICAR Plan Scheme for the ‘Establishment of
Indian Agricultural Research Institute (lARI)- Jharkhand’.
The total estimated outlay of the
project is Rs. 200.78 crores that will be 100% contributed by ICAR. The project
would be bulid on 1,000 acre land provided by the Government of Jharkhand at
the Gauria Karma Village in Barhi Block of Hazaribag.
lARI-Jharkhand would be a unique
Institution, which would possess all the hallmark identities as that of IARI at
New Delhi including all sectors of agriculture like field crops, horticultural
crops, agro-forestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, poultry, piggery, silk and
lac rearing, honey production etc.
13. Cabinet approves
amendment in Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi
approved amendment in the Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS)
to attract investment in electronics manufacturing.
The amendment aims to further
incentivize investments in Electronic Sector and further move towards the goal
of ‘Net Zero imports’ in electronics by 2020.
Besides, the amendments in M-SIPS are
expected to create employment opportunities and reduce dependence on imports.
