currentaffairs

INDIA & WORLD

EC signs MoU with South Korean counterpart

The Election Commission of India on 01 August 2012 signed an MoU with its South Korean counterpart to help each other in strengthening the  electoral processes and political culture. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Chief
Election Commissioner of India V S Sampath on behalf of the poll panel and by Justice Nung Hwan Kim of the Republic of Korea at a brief ceremony. This is the 13th MoU signed by ECI with other countries and international election panels.

India-Israel Sign MoU on research programme

India and Israel on 02 August 2012 entered into a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for launching a programme that would promote collaborative research across a wide range of disciplines from medical and information technology to social sciences, humanities and arts. The programme, which will run for five years will provide support up to $1,00,000 a research project for three years .The MoU was signed by Chairman of the Israel science Foundation professor Benjamin Geiger and Chairman of University Grants Commission ved Prakash.

India, Monaco ink tax information exchange  agreement
Tata Communications’ payment solutions providing arm has bagged an exclusive order to install and manage nearly 14,000 ATMs for all public sector banks in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal,Puducherry and Andaman and Nicobar Islands by 2013—14.”Government of India and Government of Principality of Monaco have signed a Tax
Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) on 02.August 2012″.

India, Iran & Afghanistan to expand trade,transit through Chabahar port
India, Iran and Afghanistan have moved one step closer to expand their trade and economic ties. At a trilateral meeting in Teheran, they agreed to work for expanding trade, investment and transit cooperation through Chabahar port in Iran. A joint working group consisting of the representatives of the three countries will meet within the next three months in Chabahar to expedite the process.

India to help Sri Lanka set up SEZs
India will help Sri Lanka establish a special economic zone to manufacture auto components in Trincomaee, commerce minister Anand Sharma said in colombo on 03 August 2012. The SEZ would promote exports to the production chains in India.

Indian Scientist , Amitabh Ghosh in NASA team helped choose Curiosity’s landing site

An Indian scientist, Amitabh Ghosh part of the NASA team which had identified the landing site of the ‘Curiosity’ rover on Mars on 6August 2012 described the Spot as “very exciting and holding “great promise”.

Pakistan asked India to register Oil Marketing

Companies (OMCs) with Pakistan State Oil In the wake of New Delhi’s decision to allow pakistani investments, Islamabad has asked India to register its oil marketing companies(OMCs) with Pakistani State Oil to take part in spot tenders for
supply of petroleum products such as petrol,diesel, furnace oil and petcoke.

India Ranked Second in Search Queries for Education on Google

Indian Ranked second in education queries on Google.After the US, Indian people from IIT Delhi and IIM Ahmadabad were the most searched in their respective categories. India was Ranked 8th in 2008, at present it is behind only to the US.

TB screening for Indians seeking UK visa

From August 16, Indians planning to travel to UK for more than six months will be screened for tuberculosis before they are given a visa under a pre-entry TB screening programme extended to India. However, the screening will not be required for those travelling for six months or less.The Home Office announced that all such applicants would be required to submit a certificate from a local clinic approved by the British Government to show that they are “TB-free’’. There will be a fee of Rs 1500 for screening, to be borne by the applicant.

India gets first Embraer jet with Indian airborne radar tech

India, with taking the delivery of the first Embraer 145 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) in Brazil on 17 August 2012, moved one more step ahead in aerial security.India and Brazil signed a deal reportedly worth $ 210 million for the supply of three aircraft by 2014. This includes a comprehensive logistic package that entails training, technical support, supply of spare parts and ground support equipment.

Government extends ban on import of milk, milk products from China

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recommended the extension of the ban till June 2013 or until further orders.The banned milk products include chocolate, chocolate products, candies, confectionery, food preparations with milk or milk solids as ingredient.

Sonia is Sixth in Forbes list of 100 most powerful Women

The Forbes magazine on 22nd August 2012 ranked united progressive Alliance(UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi the sixth most powerful woman in the world in the list of 100women.Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel got the first place. United States Secretary Hillary Clinton got the second place and Michelle Obama got the 7th Place.

Ranking by World Bank

As per the World Bank Report, India has been ranked at 132 amongst the sample 183 Countries.Recognising the need for Reforming the Regulatory Environment for doing business in India, a Committee under the Chairmanship of Shri. M.Damodaran has been constituted on 23 August 2012 by this ministry to extensively examine different areas
of root functioning such as financial reforms, governance reforms, liberalized policy framework,process reforms etc, and to suggest a roadmap for improving business climate in India.

Pak hails India’s move to allow FDI

Pakistan 01 August 2012 welcomed India’s decision to allow Pakistani Foreign Direct Investment, saying the move will create goodwill and give a boost to efforts to normalise bilateral relations. Foreign Office spokesman Moazzam Khan welcomed the Indian government’s decision to allow Pakistani investments in all areas except defence, space and atomic energy.  Pakistan can explore sectors like cement, textiles and sports for investments in India. Besides, the FDI proposals from Pakistan need to be cleared from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB).