13 January 2016 Current Affairs
Cabinet approved India joining the International Energy Agency Ocean Energy Systems
On 13 January 2016 the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi gave its approval for India becoming a member country of the International Energy Agency – Ocean Energy Systems (IEA-OES) by signing the Implementing Agreement (IA). The nodal agency for the membership would be Earth System Science Organisation – National Institute of Ocean Technology (ESSO-NIOT) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.By becoming a member of the IEA-OES, India will have access to advanced R&D teams and technologies across the world. India will partner in developing test protocols along with other countries. This will help in testing Indian prototypes as per international requirements and norms.
Union Budget for 2016-17 to be presented on 29 February
The Union Budget for 2016-2017 will be presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitely on 29 February 2016.
NHAI signs MoU with ISRO and NECTAR
On 13 January 2016 NHAI signed Memorandum of Understanding with National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) under Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and North East Centre for Technology Application and Research (NECTAR) for use of spatial technology for monitoring and managing National Highways.
MoU between India and Maldives for Health
“The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Maldives which was signed in 13 January 2014 on cooperation in the field of Health.
The Memorandum of Understanding covers the following areas of cooperation:-
i. Exchange & training of medical doctors, officials, other health professionals and experts;
ii. Assistance in development of human resources and setting up of health care facilities;
iii. Medical and health research development;
iv. Management of healthcare sector and public health services;
v. Procurement of generic and essential drugs and assistance in sourcing of drug supplies;
vi. Health promotion and disease prevention;
vii. Traditional and; complementary Medicine
viii. Telemedicine; and
ix. Any other area of cooperation as may be mutually decided upon.”
India signed loan agreement with Japan to clean Mula Mutha river in Pune
The Government of India on 13 Januar 2016 signed a loan agreement with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for pollution abatement of River Mula-Mutha in Pune under National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) in the presence of Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in Pune .The Government of Japan has committed to provide a soft loan of 19.064 billion Yen (about Rs. 1000 crore) to Government of India for the project at an interest rate of 0.30% per annum.
1971 Indo-Pak War Hero, Lieutenant General JFR Jacob Dies
Lieutenant General Jacob-Farj-Rafael Jacob (retired)( 92), hero of 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and former Governor of Goa and Punjab, died on 13 January 2016 in New Delhi. Born in 1923, Lt Gen Jacob is best known for his role in India’s victory in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971 and the liberation of Bangladesh. Lt Gen Jacob, then a Major General, served as the Chief of Staff of the Indian Army’s Eastern Command during the war.