On April 25, 2018, Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved following bilateral agreements and initiatives:
Cabinet approves Memorandum of Understanding between India and Sao Tome and Principe for Cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy
Union Cabinet Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Sao Tome and Principe for Cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy.
- This MoU was signed in March 2018.
- Considering the shared cultural heritage, both countries will stand to gain immensely on account of activities carried out under the scope of this MoU.
- It is to be noted that Indian Government has already signed similar MoUs with Malaysia, Trinidad & Tobago, Hungry, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mauritius, Mongolia and Iran.
Cabinet approves MoU between India and Sao Tome and Principe on cooperation in the field of Medicinal Plants
Union Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Sao Tome and Principe on cooperation in the field of Medicinal Plants.
- This MoU was signed on March 14, 2018.
- India is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of biodiversity and has more than 7000 species of flowering plants that have medicinal usage in traditional systems of medicine like Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha & Homoeopathy.
- This MoU holds lot of significance as world herbal trade has touched $ 120 billion mark on account of global resurgence in traditional and alternative health care systems.
- Both, India and Sao Tome and Principe will stand to gain from this MoU, as there are a large number of medicinal plants which are common to the two countries given similar geo-climatic factors.
 Quick facts about Sao Tome and Principe:
♦ Capital – Sao Tome
♦ Currency – Dobra
♦ Current President – Evaristo Carvalho
Cabinet apprised of the Memorandum of Agreement between India and World Health Organisation represented by its Regional Office for South-East Asia acting through its Country Office in India
- This MoA was signed on March 13, 2018 in New Delhi.
- It shall encourage bilateral cooperation between India and World Health Organisation (WHO) for improving the public health status of the people in India.
Quick Facts about World Health Organisation (WHO):
♦ Formed in – 1946
♦ Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
♦ Current Director General – Tedros Adhanom
Cabinet approves MoU on cooperation in the field of regulation of medical products for human use amongst the medicine regulatory agencies of the BRICS countries
- This MoU would facilitate better understanding about the regulatory aspects between the parties.
- Besides, it could help in increasing India’s export of medical products to BRICS countries Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa.
Cabinet approves Long Term Agreements for supply of iron ore to Japan and South Korea through MMTC Limited
These Long Term Agreements (LTAs) are for supply of iron ore (lumps and fines)Â of grade +64% Fe content to Japanese Steel Mills (JSMs) and POSCO, South Korea from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2023 through Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation of India (MMTC).
- These are the renewed Long Term Agreements (LTAs) as the current LTAs were valid only till March 31, 2018.
- Export of iron ore under the LTAs would not only help to strengthen India’s bilateral ties with Japan and South Korea but would also help to secure international market for India’s ores and ensure stable economic ecosystem which provides direct and indirect employment in mining, logistics and related sectors.
- MMTC has been supplying iron ore to Japanese Steel Mills (JSMs) since 1963 and to South Korea since 1973.
Quick Facts about MMTC:
♦ Founded in – 1963
♦ Headquarters – New Delhi
Cabinet approves declaration of Scheduled Areas in respect of Rajasthan under Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of India
Union Cabinet granted this approval by rescinding the Constitution Order (C.O.) 114 dated February 12, 1981 and promulgation of a new Constitution Order.
- Promulgation of a new Constitution Order will ensure that the Scheduled Tribes residing in Banswara, Dungarpur, Pratapgarh, and partial areas of Udaipur, Rajsamand, Chittorgarh, Pali and Sirohi districts of Rajasthan will get benefits of protective measures available under the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of India.
- Constitution Orders specifying the Scheduled Areas in Rajasthan were issued in 1981. However, due to reÂorganization/creation of new districts and changes in population of Scheduled Tribes as per 2011 Census, the Government of Rajasthan had requested for extension of Scheduled Areas in the State of Rajasthan.
Quick Facts about Rajasthan:
♦ Capital – Jaipur
♦ Current Governor – Kalyan Singh
♦ Current Chief Minister – Vasundhra Raje