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Memorandum of Understanding Current Affairs March 4th Week 2020

Cabinet approved MoU signed between India and Germany to enhance Railway sector:

 
The Union Cabinet led by the PM Narendra Modi apprised a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Ministry of Railways, GoI and DB Engineering & Consulting GMBH of Germany. The MoU was signed for technological cooperation in the Railway Sector. The agreement was signed in February 2020.
 
MoU Provisions:
 
♦ The MoU will freight operations, passenger operations and infrastructure building and management between the countries in the railway sector.
♦ It will enhance the development of a modern, competitive railway organization, IT solutions for railway operations, marketing and sales and administrative purposes.
♦ It will also improve predictive maintenance, private train operations between the two parties.
 
Background:
 
Ministry of Railways have signed several MoUs, Memorandums of Cooperation (MoCs), Administrative Arrangements (AAs) and Joint Declarations of Intent (JDI) for technical cooperation in the rail sector with various foreign Governments and National Railways in several areas including development of world-class stations, high-speed rail, heavy haul operations and modernization of rail infrastructure, speed raising of existing routes, etc.
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Memorandum of Understanding Current Affairs March 3rd Week 2020

Finance Ministry notified about its agreement with Brunei:

Ministry of Finance appraised the Government of India about the agreement between India and the Government of Brunei Darussalam. 
 
Agreement Highlights:
 
♦ The Agreement will enable the exchange of information, including banking and ownership information, between the two countries for tax purposes. 
♦ The agreement is based on international standards of tax transparency and exchange of information and enables the sharing of information on request and automatic exchange of information. 
♦ The Agreement also provides for representatives of one country to undertake tax examinations in the other country. It provides assistance in the collection of tax claims.
♦ It will also enhance mutual co-operation between the two countries by providing an effective framework for the exchange of information in tax matters in order to curb tax evasion and tax avoidance.
 
Background:
 
The agreement was signed on 28 February 2019 in New Delhi. The agreement was signed for the exchange of information and assistance in collection with respect to taxes. 
Note:
The Central Government is authorized under section 90 of the Income Tax (IT) Act, 1961, to enter into an agreement with a foreign country or specified territory for exchange of information for the prevention of evasion or avoidance of income-tax chargeable under the Income Tax Act, 1961.
 
Brunei Darussalam:
 
Sultan and Prime Minister: Hassanal Bolkiah
Crown Prince and Senior Minister: Al-Muhtadee Billah
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
Currency: Brunei dollar (BND)
 
APEDA, SFAC signed MoU to improve productivity and quality of the varieties of crops:
 
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has signed MoU with Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) on 18 March 2020. The MoU was signed by Ms. Neelkamal Darbari, Managing Director SFAC and Mr. Paban Kumar Borthakur, Chairman, APEDA. 
 
MoU provisions:
 
♦ As per the MoU, SFAC will share a list of all clusters in various states with APEDA for achieving scale and aggregation with export orientation.
♦ APEDA and SFAC will jointly work together to link up the Farm Producer Organizations (FPOs) with the exporters to achieve the goal and double the farmers` income.
♦ Both the organization will work towards capacity development, outreach programs, awareness programs, and workshops of various stakeholders.
♦ APEDA and SFAC will work together to showcase to the Indian and Global Market, the products, technologies, processes, knowledge, and services by the FPO sector stakeholders through a variety of modes as may be identified by them from time to time.
♦ APEDA will facilitate certification of organic produce /areas by the FPCs assisted or identified by SFAC.
♦ The MoU will start an Agri-Business Promotion Unit in the North East and to mentor and handhold the FPOs in North East.
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Memorandum of Understanding Current Affairs March 2nd Week 2020

Infosys partners with Qualcomm to offer smart cities solutions:

Software major Infosys partnered with the US-based chipmaker Qualcomm to offer smart cities solutions through Qualcomm`s accelerator program. The partnership will provide solutions for smart stadiums, smart venues, and smart event management.

Highlights:

♦ The Accelerator program will connect cities, municipalities, state-run agencies, and enterprises with Qualcomm Technologies` ecosystem. This will help deliver efficiencies, cost savings, and access to solutions for smart cities` problems.

♦ The solutions have been built upon Qualcomm`s proprietary framework for smart spaces. It offers features for building and resource management, physical assets management, and occupants` safety and security.

♦ The framework uses digital technologies to deliver an enhanced user experience for personal comfort, wellness, collaboration, and convenience.

♦ It will also optimize resources for easy maintenance and improved efficiencies.

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Memorandum of Understanding Current Affairs March 1st Week 2020

ICAR, PBRI signs MoU to undertake research work and education:

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Hardiwar-based Patanjali Bio Research Institute (PBRI) on 1 March. The MoU aims to undertake research work, training, and education. The MoU was signed by ICAR Director General Trilochan Mohapatra and PBRI CEO Acharya Balkrishna in the presence of Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.

Aim:

The MoU aims to foster close interaction in research, technology demonstration, capacity building, seed production, entrepreneurship, and skill development.

MoU provisions:

♦ The MoU will provide a new opportunity to include a new arena to work for both organizations.

♦ It is expected to promote organic farming practices across the country.

♦ Specific plans will be developed under the agreement to work on collaborative research programmes in areas of national interest related to sustainable agriculture development that is suitable for different agro-ecologies in India.

♦ The agreement will enable the postgraduate (PG) students of deemed universities and research institutes of ICAR to undertake internships in various areas of specialization with PBRI.

♦ As per the agreement, ICAR will assist PBRI in capacity building, technology demonstration, seed production for scaling up popular varieties developed by ICAR so that it can be transferred among the farming community of the country.

IAF, Savitribai Phule Pune University signs MoU to establish Chair of Excellence: 

The Indian Air Force (IAF) entered into an academic collaboration and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Savitribai Phule Pune University. The MoU aimed to establish a `Chair of Excellence` at the Department of Defence & Strategic Studies. 

Chair of Excellence:

♦ The IAF has named it as "Marshal of the Air Force (MIAF) Arjan Singh Chair of Excellence" with an aim to pay tribute to the legend and commemorate the centenary birth year of the MIAF Arjan Singh. 

♦ The Chair will empower the IAF officers to pursue Doctoral Research and higher studies in Defence & Strategic Studies and allied fields.

♦ The chair will facilitate research and higher studies in the area of National Defence and allied fields of Air Force officers. 

♦ It will be inculcating a strategic outlook and building a pool of strategic thinkers.

Participants:

Delegations including Shri Nitin Karmalkar, Hon`ble Vice-Chancellor of SPPU, Air Marshal Amit Dev AVSM, VSM, Air Officer-in-Charge Personnel, IAF, and Air Vice-Marshal LN Sharma AVSM, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education) and other senior IAF and University officials participated in the meeting.

 

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