Cabinet approves signing the Paris Agreement on Climate change
Cabinet approved signing the Paris Agreement on climate change while 130 countries including India is to sign the agreement on 22nd April.
A record number of more than 130 countries are expected to sign the “historic” Paris agreement in New York. The Paris Agreement on climate change is a milestone in global climate cooperation. It is meant to enhance the implementation of the Convention (UNFCCC) and recognizes the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in the light of different national circumstances.
The Paris Agreement on climate change is a milestone in global climate cooperation. It acknowledges the development imperatives of developing countries and recognizes the developing countries’ right to development and their efforts to harmonize development with environment.
Memorandum of Understanding between India and Bhutan
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Bhutan on technical cooperation in the field of capacity building, benchmarking and bilateral exchange in infrastructure engineering.
The MoU is in furtherance of Article 2,7 and 8 of the India-Bhutan friendship treaty. The MoU will provide an Umbrella for educational, scientific & technical research and environment protection which are also stated aim of the India-Bhutan foundation established in August 2003.
There is already ongoing Hydro Power Cooperation between the two countries which provides an exemplary template for mutual cooperation.
Through this MoU, the Central Public Works Department will stand to gain in terms of experience in hills road construction which is of paramount importance in J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and various States of North-East Region. The CPWD also expects to garner some road construction projects in Bhutan.
Memorandum of Understanding on Youth Exchange Programmes with foreign countries
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi was today apprised of the Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) signed with Bahrain, Kuwait, Nepal, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and BRICS Nations on Organising Youth Exchange Programmes with these countries.
International Youth Exchange programmes promote exchange of ideas and values amongst youth of different countries and help in developing international perspective among the youth. Further, through people-to-people contacts, these Programmes promote peace and understanding and strengthen friendly relations between countries.
Operationalisation of new Indian Institute of Science Education and Research at Tirupati
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for operationalisation of new Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) at Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh from the Academic Year of 2015-16 from a transit / temporary campus, at an estimated cost of Rs. 137.30 crore for the initial three years (2015-18).
Expansion of India – Chile Preferential Trade Agreement
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for expansion of India – Chile Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between India and Chile.
India’s export basket with Chile is diversified and keeping in view the wide variety of tariff lines offered by Chile, the expanded PTA would immensely benefit India. Under the expanded PTA, Chile has offered concessions to India on 1798 tariff lines with Margin of Preference (MoP) ranging from 30%-100% and India has offered concessions to Chile on 1031 tariff lines at 8-digit level with MoP ranging from 10%-100%. Under the proposed expanded PTA, 86% of India’s exports to Chile will get covered with concessions, which is likely to result in doubling of our exports in the near future.
MoU between the MSDE, NSDC and WOF of USA in the fields of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minster Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for signing the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Wadhwani Operating Foundation (WOF) for cooperation in the fields of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
This MoU will assist facilitating and supporting Skill Development initiatives in the country through Multi-skill Institutes and Skill Universities along with promotion and creation of an eco-system for skill development. Additionally, the MoU is expected to contribute significantly to Entrepreneurship Education & Training through an open source; thereby, assisting in enterprise and job creation.
Under the MoU, Wadhwani operating Foundation commits a minimum of USD 30 million and maximum of 40 Million contribution in value of services to be provided in support of mutually agreed Skill and Entrepreneurship Development initiatives but subject to a maximum of 10% (ten percent) of the total new spending of the Government of India in each of these identified and mutually agreed schemes and initiatives over a period of three years.
