MoU’s Signed Dec – 23
Zen Technologies, govt of Goa sign MoU for setting up R&D facility in state
Zen Technologies Limited, a provider of simulators for weapons and allied defence equipment, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government of Goa to set up a new R&D facility in the state. The new facility, to be set up at the Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) Tuem, Goa, will be established at a cost of Rs 50 crore and is expected to create employment opportunities for 800 individuals. This new facility will help it in its manufacturing capabilities, particularly in cuttingedge simulators and drone-related technologies. This symbiotic relationship is expected to boost the local economy and contribute to the overall development of the region.
Background
Last month, Zen Technologies Limited secured a Rs 100 crore order from the Ministry of Defence for its advanced force-on-force tank training system, enabling tank units to train in real terrains without live ammunition.
Zen Technologies
- Established: 1993
- Founder: Kishore Dutt Atluri
- CMD: Ashok Atluri
Max Healthcare collaborates Tihar Jail in first ever corporate sector tie-up for skill training of inmates
The Max Healthcare partners with Tihar Jail on a venture, the initiative called “Prarambh 2.0” which was launched in Delhi. This signifies the first-ever corporate collaboration for a skill training program within an Indian correctional facility. The chosen job role for the skill training program is ‘Food and Beverage Steward’ within the Hospitality sector, a decision reached through extensive consultations with stakeholders.
Max Healthcare:
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Founded: 2001
- Founder: Analjit Singh
- CMD: Abhay Soi
Noida International Airport signs MoU with IndiGo
IndiGo signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Noida International Airport (NIA) to become the first airline to start flights from the upcoming airport near New Delhi. Under this arrangement, the NIA and IndiGo will work together towards developing and strengthening the air connectivity within Uttar Pradesh and beyond. The Noida International Airport, which is coming up at a fast pace, is set to be operational by the end of 2024.
MoU signed between Inland Waterways Authority of India and Amazon
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Amazon Seller Services Private Limited (Amazon) in New Delhi. The MoU aims to promote cargo movement and transportation of customer shipments and products via inland waterways using the river Ganga (National Waterway 1). This partnership will not only benefit Amazon by lowering their transportation cost but also open up new possibilities for all e-commerce companies to leverage the extensive inland waterways in India.
Inland Waterways Authority of India:
- Formed: 1986
- Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh
MoU signed between Inland Waterways Authority of India and Amazon
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Amazon Seller Services Private Limited (Amazon) in New Delhi. The MoU aims to promote cargo movement and transportation of customer shipments and products via inland waterways using the river Ganga (National Waterway 1). This partnership will not only benefit Amazon by lowering their transportation cost but also open up new possibilities for all e-commerce companies to leverage the extensive inland waterways in India.
Inland Waterways Authority of India:
- Formed: 1986
- Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh
- Chairman: Sanjay Bandopadhyay
Tata Steel Foundation, KGA ink MoU to promote tribal art, music, culture
To promote tribal art, music and culture a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Tata Steel Foundation (TSF) and Mumbai-based Kala Ghoda Association (KGA). It will allow tribals to participate in the Kala Ghoda Art Festival, which has been taking place in South Mumbai, Kala Ghoda Fort for the last 20 years. The festival will celebrate its silver jubilee year in January 2024. The platform has been an important promoter of art, culture, music, dance, theater and other creative expressions. This collaboration will enable new MOU’s dialogues and interactions around the preservation and promotion of tribal art, which is at risk of extinction.
IPGL to sign agreement with Iranian Port Authority soon to start full-fledged operation at Chabahar port
State-owned India Ports Global Ltd (IPGL) — formed to develop and run Chabahar port in Iran — will soon sign an agreement with the Iranian Port Authority to start full-fledged operation. Located in the SistanBalochistan province on the energy-rich Iran’s southern coast, the Chabahar port is being developed by India, Iran and Afghanistan to boost connectivity and trade ties. Chabahar is an oceanic port. It is near to the Indian Ocean and closest to the route to Afghanistan. The port in Rakhine state of the neighbouring country was built with assistance from India as part of the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP).
RBI approves Hinduja Group entity acquisition of Reliance Capital
The Reserve Bank of India approved the resolution plan for debt-ridden Reliance Capital. The move finally clears the path for Hinduja Group entity — IndusInd International Holdings Ltd (IIHL) — to acquire the company. After a protracted battle, IIHL had emerged as the highest bidder with an offer of Rs 9,650 crore to take over Reliance Capital in the second round of auction concluded this April. The other two were Srei Group NBFC and Dewan Housing Finance Corporation (DHFL).
India and US sign MoU to connect dynamic startup ecosystems, particularly in critical and emerging technologies
India and US have signed an MoU with the objective of connecting both the countries’ dynamic startup ecosystems, particularly in critical and emerging technologies (CET). The understanding named ‘Enhancing Innovation Ecosystems through an Innovation Handshake’ was signed by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal from the Indian side, who is on a 4-day US visit. The MoU is poised to positively impact economic activity, attract investment, and generate employment. Mr Goyal also held a bilateral meeting with his US counterpart Gina Raimondo on the sidelines of the IPEF Ministerial Meeting and discussed the growing India-US commercial cooperation and business engagement. India joined the United States and 12 other Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) partners to ink the IPEF supply chain resilience agreement. It will “fortify and strengthen” global supply chains. India and the US are among the 14 supply chain resilience partners of IPEF.
United States of America (USA):
- Capital: Washington, D. C
- President: Joe Biden
- Vice President: Kamala Harris
- Currency: U. S. dollar
Safran, PTC Industries sign contract to provide casting parts for LEAP engine powering single-aisle jet
Indian-based PTC Industries and Safran Aircraft Engines, the French global leader in aero engine design, development, and manufacturing, announced a multi-year contract to develop industrial cooperation for LEAP engines casting parts as per a SAFRAN communication to the media. Under the terms of the contract, PTC Industries will produce titanium-casting parts for Safran Aircraft Engines. Safran Aircraft Engines’ ambition is to develop a comprehensive aero engines ecosystem in India, strengthening its global supply-chain built for the LEAP production ramp-up.
Sky One airlines signs MoU to acquire Libyan Airline Fly Oya
Sharjah-based aviation service provider Sky One has signed memorandums of understanding to acquire a stake in Libyan airline Fly Oya and Uplift Airport Services, a ground-handling company based at Bucharest International Airport. Fly Ola resumed passenger flights from Tripoli to Dubai in July, ending a nine-year hiatus in connectivity between the two Arab cities. In addition, the Libyan airline, which was established in 2018, flies to Alexandria, Jeddah, and Istanbul. The final terms of the agreement are yet to agreed. No financial details or percentage of stake acquisition were given. Uplift Airport Services is licensed to provide services for passengers and aircraft, such as ramp, cargo, ticketing, and catering handling services, in addition to general aviation services for various types of flights, including business, VIP, and military operations.
India, Netherlands sign pact on regulation of medical products
India and Netherlands have signed a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) for cooperation on medical product regulation and enhance the quality of medical products and health care services for both countries, at Hague in Netherlands. The World Local Production Forum is a platform created at the initiative of WHO with the aim of increasing access to medicines and other health technologies.
Netherlands:
- Capital: Amsterdam
- Official language: Dutch
- Prime minister: Mark Rutte
US joins Adani Group to build terminal at Colombo Port
The US Develop–ment Finance Corporation (DFC) would provide $553 million for Colombo West International Terminal Pvt Ltd (CWIT), in which Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) is a majority stakeholder with 51 per cent. It is part-owned by Sri Lanka’s John Keells Holdings and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. Adani Group, which has seen significant turbulence in the past months after short-seller Hindenburg Research made allegations of corporate governance lapses, sees the development as a positive. The western terminal is being developed with an investment of close to $650 million.
APEDA inks MoU with Lulu Hypermarket for export promotion of Indian agri-products
To boost exports of agricultural products to the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCCs), the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global retail major Lulu Hypermarket LLC. With the MoU, APEDA would promote Indian agricultural products, including Millets across the GCC as the LuLu Group International (LLC) has its presence across the GCC, Egypt, India and the Far East with 247 LuLu stores in operation and 24 shopping malls.
APEDA:
- Formation: 1986
- Purpose: Export promotion of agricultural and processed food products
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Chairman: Dr. Abhisek Dev
5 MoUs exchanged between Australian and Indian HEIs
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan co-chairs 1st Australia India Education and Skill Council meeting (AIESC) with Australian Counterparts in Gandhinagar; holds bilateral meeting with HE Jason Clare, MP, Minister of Education, Australia. 5 MoUs between Australian and Indian HEIs have been exchanged to facilitate greater research collaborations in areas like, agriculture, water management, critical minerals, healthcare, AI, renewable energy and climate change. This is going to create more opportunities for advancing educational, research and innovation priorities, student and faculty exchanges, more twining programs/dual degrees.
Australia:
- Capital: Canberra
- Governor-General: David Hurley
- Prime Minister: Anthony Albanese
- Currency: Australian dollar
COLORS collaborates with WCD Ministry to support Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao initiative to bring societal change
The entertainment channel COLORS has collaborated with the Ministry of Women and Child Development to support the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao initiative to bring societal change. The collaboration will help to raise awareness around girl child abandonment through their latest show Doree starting. The channel will also raise awareness of our Child Helpline Number 1098 amongst viewers and provide the muchneeded popular support to this initiative.
COLORS:
Colors TV is an Indian general entertainment pay television channel owned by Viacom18. It was launched on 21 July 2008.
Ministry of Women and Child Development:
The current minister for the Ministry of Women and Child Development is Smriti Irani having held the portfolio since 31 May 2019.
Air India inks deal with Alaska Airlines on 32 destinations in US, Mexico, Canada
Tata owned Air India has entered an interline partnership with Alaska Airlines which will allow Air India guests to avail seamless connections from New York JFK, Newark- New Jersey, Washington DC, Chicago, San Francisco, and Vancouver gateways to and from 32 destinations in the US, Mexico, and Canada. The scope of agreement includes bilateral interlining which allows both the airlines to sell tickets on each other’s network. In addition, the two airlines have also entered a Special Prorate Agreement, which allows Air India to file ‘through fares’ on routes covering Alaska Airlines’ network. The tie-up with Alaska Air will expand Air India’s international footprint in the US and Canada.
Air India:
- Founded: 15 October 1932
- Headquarters: Airlines House, New Delhi, India
- Chairman: N. Chandrasekaran
- CEO & MD: Campbell Wilson
- Founder: J. R. D. Tata
CSIR-NIIST, HAL sign MoU to strengthen indigenisation in aerospace sector
Kerala-based CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST) signed an MoU with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Bengaluru for a collaboration in the nation’s aerospace and defence sectors. NIIST said that it would be collaborating with HAL on strengthening the indigenisation and import substitution programme for the nation’s aerospace and defence sectors, as envisioned by the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The MoU, signed and exchanged in Bengaluru, involves the development of magnesium and aluminium alloy castings and deals with related areas for the aerospace and defence sectors. The MoU facilitates CSIR-NIIST to collaborate on human resource utilisation, facility utilisation, technology support services, consultancy services and collaborative research works in the field of light alloys, for the design and development of aerospace components and welding.
CSIR – National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIST):
- Formation: 1975
- Headquarters: Thiruvananthapuram, India
- Director: Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan
NSDCI and EFS Facilities Services Group Ink MOU for Skilled Workforce Mobility
National Skill Development Corporation of India and EFS Facilities Services Group (EFS), a Facilities Management Firm based in the UAE, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote Skilled International Workforce Mobility (IWM) for Indian nationals, with a specific focus on the GCC countries. The MoU outlines the collaborative efforts of these two entities to structure a principle framework for achieving the common objective of promoting skilled workforce mobility. Additionally, NSDCI and EFS will jointly develop courses for the Skill India Digital App and support accreditation and curriculum development for various training institutes.
ECI & Ministry of Education signs MoU to bring electoral literacy to classrooms across country
The Election Commission and the Ministry of Education signed a Memorandum of Understanding to bring electoral literacy to classrooms across the country. Now the students of school and college will soon learn about their future roles and duties as voters in the election process, as part of the curricular and extra-curricular interventions in educational institutions. The MoU is intended to integrate voter education and electoral literacy into the curricular framework, starting from classes 6 to 12 in all schools.
Election Commission of India:
- Formed: 25 January 1950 (Later celebrated as National Voters’ Day)
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Chief Election Commissioner of India: Rajiv Kumar
- Election Commissioner of India: Anup Chandra Pandey, Arun Goel
28 Countries including India, US, UK and European Union sign world’s first agreement to contain risks associated with artificial intelligence
28 Countries including India, UK, US, China and the European Union have signed world’s first agreement on AI, known as the “Bletchley Declaration”, pledging to work together to assess the risks associated with artificial intelligence. The UK government kicked off the two-day event at Britain’s World War II (WWII) code-breaking centre in Bletchley Park.
AI:
Artificial intelligence is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems.
Father of AI:
Mr.John McCarthy is considered as the father of Artificial Intelligence. John McCarthy was an American computer scientist. The term ‘artificial intelligence’ was coined by him. He is one of the founder of artificial intelligence, together with Alan Turing, Marvin Minsky, Allen Newell, and Herbert A.
India and UAE Strengthen Educational Ties with Landmark MoU
In Abu Dhabi, India’s Union Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of Education for the United Arab Emirates, Dr. Ahmad Al Falasi, signed a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which aims to fortify existing educational cooperation between the two countries. The primary objective of this MoU is to facilitate student and faculty mobility, thus enhancing collaboration in the Education sector. Furthermore, the MoU aims to promote the exchange of critical information in various domains.
UAE:
- Capital: Abu Dhabi
- President: Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
- Prime Minister: Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
- Currency: UAE dirham
Punjab signs pact with HPCL for 10 compressed biogas plants
Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) for setting up ten compressed biogas (CBG) projects and other new and renewable energy projects in the state. HPCL would initially set up ten CBG projects with an investment of about Rs 600 crore. It will also explore possibilities of establishing other renewable projects.
Punjab:
- Capital: Chandigarh
- Chief minister: Bhagwant Mann
- Governor: Banwarilal Purohit
- Bird: Northern goshawk
- Flower: Gladiolus
- Districts: 23
