1) India, Nepal amend bilateral Treaty of Transit
India has agreed to Nepal`s request for allowing the movement of vehicles imported from a third country into Nepal through four border points by amending the bilateral Treaty of Transit. Nepal had requested India for the move citing the requirements of additional handling facilities, special carriers and equipment which added to the cost and time of clearance of vehicles from Kolkata port into Nepal.
- According to an Indian Embassy press release in Kathmandu on 22nd June, movement of vehicles from a third country destined to Nepal through Indian Territory on their own power, will be allowed. The matter was also discussed between the two governments in the third meeting of Nepal-India Joint Commission held in Kathmandu on 25-26 July last year.
- According to the press release, the movement of vehicles on their own power to Nepal has been allowed through Raxaul-Birgunj, Jogbani-Biratnagar, Sunauli-Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj Road-Nepalgunj border points.
2) India, Japan to sign pact on increasing IP cooperation
Current Affirs The government on 24th June approved the signing of an agreement with Japan to increase cooperation in the field of industrial property (IP). The decision regarding this was taken by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- The Memorandum of Cooperation will be signed between the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) and the Japan Patent Office (JPO).
- The purpose of MoC is to establish a framework for bilateral cooperation in the field of IP, with emphasis on capacity building, human resource development and awareness generation. The pact also aims at increasing efforts to support innovation in both the countries. To be renewed automatically every four years, the MoC will be implemented through biennial Action Plans. The first plan is ready for implementation.
- Areas on which both the sides will work include information sharing on IP protection systems and practices; and cooperation in the area of examination, including utilisation of the examiner-exchange programme.
- They will also enhance cooperation in the scheme of the Patent Cooperation Treaty; assistance in developing IP infrastructure; capacity building in the use of IT infrastructure; and awareness building for the general public. The key feature of the pact will be building awareness among the general public about the most important property rights for the 21st century.
- To this end, the JPO will impart training at its own cost to individuals, people in educational institutions, lawyers, corporate employees and judges, besides examiners and other IPO officials.
- The exchange of best practices between the two countries is expected to improve protection and awareness about India`s range of intellectual creations which are as diverse as its people, including patents, trademarks, designs and geographical indications.
3) India, US sign pacts to enhance cooperation in health sector
India and the US on 25th June signed a series of agreements on health, seeking to enhance cooperation in areas such as cancer research, infrastructure development and application of new diagnostic technologies. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cancer Research and a Letter of Intent on Anti-microbial Resistance Research were signed by Health Secretary B P Sharma and US Ambassador to India Richard Verma.
- The collaboration will be in the areas for conducting research and training on development of low-cost technologies, diagnostics of existing medications against common cancers and development of existing therapies related to oncology. The MoU will focus on cancer research, projects on population-based cancer control, E-health and M-health.
4) India to set up Emergency Ambulance Service in Lanka
India will set up an Emergency Ambulance Health Protection Service in Sri Lanka with 50-crore rupee assistance. The decisions taken at the Cabinet, Sri Lanka’s Health Minister Mr Rajitha Senarathne said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Sri Lanka earlier this year had promised to help the country in setting up an emergency ambulance system in line with the one that exists in India.
- According to Senarathne said the project will be implemented in four stages. In the first phase India will be giving 88 Ambulances which will be deployed in Western and Southern provinces, he added.
- A total of 297 ambulances will be given by India to Sri Lanka and 2 thousand health workers will be trained for providing emergency health services
5) India signs motor vehicles pact with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal
Current Affirs India on 15th June signed a major motor vehicles pact with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal, BBIN to enable seamless transit of passenger and cargo vehicles among them. The agreement was signed by the Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari with his Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepalese counterparts at a meeting in Thimpu, Bhutan. A joint statement issued after the meeting, said that the agreement will not only reduce transport costs but also foster development of multi-modal transport and transit facilities.
- The move will also enable increased connectivity and promotion of greater trade between the four countries.
- As per the agreement, the four SAARC countries will carry out a six-month work plan from July for the implementation of the BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement.
- According to the statement, India will work on signing a similar motor agreement with Myanmar and Thailand.
6) India to bring 150 nations under e visa scheme
According to the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism Dr Mahesh Sharma Union Government plans to cover 150 countries under the e-visa scheme by the end of the year.
- The number of foreign tourists arriving in India has increased by 10 percent over the last year. Already around 1,36,000 tourists had already availed of the e-visa scheme, that is currently applicable to 77 nations.
7) India, Kazakhstan hold talks over cooperation in energy sector
India and Kazakhstan have decided to cooperate in Energy Sector. India’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on 17th June co-chaired a meeting of India-Kazakhstan Inter Governmental Commission with Energy Minister of Kazakhstan, Vladimir Shkolnik.