Current affairs
India, Australia signs MoU to strengthen bilateral cooperation
India and Austrlia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 1st October 2012 for strengthening long-term relationship and bilateral Cooperation on Road and Rail Infrastructure.The agreement was signed between the Minister of Railways and Road Transport and Highways, Dr. C.P.Joshi and visiting Federal Minister of Transport, Innovation and Technology of Austrlia, Mrs. Doris Burse in New Delhi.
India, Austrlia tie up to develop ‘smart cities’
India tie up with Austrlia to develop two “smart cities” in all states with a host of modern features like intelligent transport and carbon neutral status in each of the states in the second phase of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal mission.Initially half a million to one million population cities will be developed as smart cities with the help of Austrian Institute of Technology who is expertise in this field.
India gets $500 mn World Bank fund for secondary education
World Bank, the multilateral lending agency, and the government of India 5th October signed a loan agreement worth $ 500 million for Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) in the country.
India lags behind China, Pak in reducing hunger level
India lags behind neighbouring China, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in reducing hunger level, says the 2012 Global Hunger Index (GHI) released by US-based International Food Policy and Research Institute.India is ranked 65th out of 79 countries in GHI, behind China at 2nd place, Pakistan at 57 and Sri Lanka at 37.
IOC signs MoU with Korea Gas
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), on 17th October 2012, entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Korea Gas Corporation (Kogas) for jointly exploring opportunities in exploration of oil and gas and LNG business.
Cabinet clears Rs 8,000cr missile purchase for armed forces
Proposals worth over Rs 8,000 crore for procuring around 10,000 ‘Invar’ missiles from Russia for the Army’s T-90 tanks and over 200 air-launched versions of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles for the IAF were cleared on 18th October 2012 by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).
India and Australia Sign Four Agreements of Cooperation
India and Australia agreed to expand cooperation in security and Defence including fight against terrorism.They also agreed to begin negotiations for an agreement on Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation which will precede actual cooperation. Both the countries also signed four agreements in the field of space science technology and education, cooperation in student mobility and welfare, skill development and textiles.
Iran to complete gas pipeline work by year-end
Iran has said it was for India and Pakistan to sort out issues related to the proposed Indo-Iran gas pipeline, even as it committed itself to complete its part of 800 km of gas pipeline to India till Irani boundaries by the end of this year.
India, New Zealand sign five pacts to cooperate in field of education
India and New Zealand signed five Memoranda of Understanding in the different fields of education on 19th October 2012.
India, Switzerland to cooperate in Transport sector
India and Switzerland on 19th October 2012 discussed ways and means for enhancing cooperation in the field of Transport sector including roads and Railways.
India & Pakistan may introduce a common currency called “Papee”
After taking into consideration the decade long success of Euro, and due to increasing demands of businessmen of India (and terrorists of Pakistan), both countries’ ruling leaders (i.e. India’s UPA, and Pakistan’s Military) are thinking about introducing a common currency for India and Pakistan.The name with the highest votes , is a word derived by adding “pa” from ‘Pa’kistan and “pee” from Indian Ru’pee’ i.e. “Papee”
Hyderabad is world’s 3rd best city to visit in 2013
Hyderabad has been named as one of the best cities in the world to visit in 2013 by travel guide book Lonely Planet published on 22nd October 2012.The top 10 cities according to Lonely Planet to visit in 2013 are San Francisco, Amsterdam, Hyderabad, Derry/Londonderry, Beijing, Christchurch, Hobart, Montreal, Addis Ababa and Puerto Iguazu.
India, Japan focus on expanding defence cooperation
India and Japan on 22nd October 2012 discussed ways to expand their security and defence cooperation at a meeting of their foreign and defence secretaries in Tokyo.
‘Super 30’ ties up with Tokyo University
The ‘Super 30’ programme for training students of the backward sections for the IIT-JEE tied up on 24th October 2012 with the University of Tokyo, which will sponsor study of its students in Japan.This agreement is a follow-up of the Japanese Government Program named Global 30, of engagement with Super 30 for increasing the flow of Indian Students to Japan.
7th SAFF begins in Goa
The Seventh South Asia Film Festival (SAFF)-2012 held at Panaji in Goa from.
India-US-Japan trilateral meet
The US’ ‘pivot-to-Asia’ policy, Iran, China-Japan maritime dispute and South China Sea will be among the issues to be discussed during the 3rd round of India-US-Japan Trilateral dialogue in New Delhi on 29th October 2012. The meet will also focus on finding areas of cooperation between the three countries.
India to give financial assistance to Nepal’s Palpa District
India is to provide an assistance of four crore and thirty-three lakh Nepali rupees for Palpa District in Western Nepal on 31st October 2012.
