Agreements and MoUs Signed in October 2016

  ●     India and South Korea have signed a revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income.

●       India and New Zealand signed three agreements in the areas of double taxation avoidance, food security and sports.

●       Ministry of Urban Development and the Ministry of Railways signed an MoU under which railway stations and adjoining areas will be redeveloped on smart city lines for enhancing passenger amenities, easy access to stations, enabling optimal utilisation of land at railway stations.

●       During a bilateral meeting attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and State Counsellor of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi, both sides inked pacts on power, banking and insurance.

●       India & Russia formally inked the agreement for five S-400 Triumf air defence systems & four stealth frigates & a joint venture to manufacture Kamov-226T helicopters in India. The S-400 is considered one of the most advanced long range missile system in the world & can tackle all incoming airborne targets at ranges of up to 400 km.

 ●      Doordarshan & Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) have entered into an agreement for transmission of four Gyan Darshan educational channels.

 ●      Cabinet has approved amendments to the HIV & AIDS (Prevention & Control) Bill, 2014 in a meeting chaired by PM Narendra Modi. The bill makes antiretroviral treatment a legal right of HIV/AIDS patients.

  ●     The two agreements, one in the field of water resources, including innovations in irrigation technology & second for promotion of co-operation between Indian Council of World Affairs and its Hungarian counterpart was signed between India and Hungary during VP(Ansari) visit.

 ●      Union Cabinet gave its approval to sign MoU between India & African Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) for capacity building programmes in the field of rural development.

●       Union Cabinet gave its approval for the signing of MoU between India & European Union in the field of water resources. The MoU envisages strengthening the technological, scientific & management capabilities of India & the European Union in the field of water management on the basis of equality, reciprocity & mutual benefit.

●       Facebook is collaborating with the Election Commission of India in five states ,which are going to polls next year, to run a voter registration drive aimed at encouraging youth to participate in the democratic exercise.

●       India & Singapore have signed 3 agreements, including two in the area of skill development, following delegation-level talks headed by PM Narendra Modi & Singapore Premier Lee Hsien Loong. A third MoU was signed in the field of industrial property cooperation.

  ●     A historic global climate deal was finalised in Kigali, Rwanda at the 28th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (MOP28).

  ●     The five-nation group of emerging economies BRICS has agreed to set up an independent BRICS Rating Agency in its efforts to challenge the western hegemony in the world of finance.