On September 7, 2022, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) of India approved the following proposals:
i.MoU between India and the UK and Northern Ireland on mutual recognition of academic qualifications
ii.MoU between India’s MoE and United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Ministry of Education
iii.MoU on disaster management between India-Maldives
iv.Kochi Metro Rail Project Phase-II from JLN Stadium to Infopark via Kakkanad
v.Policy on long term leasing of Railways Land for implementing PM Gati Shakti framework
vi.PM SHRI Schools (PM ScHools for Rising India)
Cabinet approves MoU signed on mutual recognition of academic qualifications between India, UK and Northern Ireland
The Union Cabinet approved the MoU between India, the United Kingdom (UK), and Northern Ireland on mutual recognition of academic qualifications which was signed on April 25, 2022.
- However, the recognition under this will be at par with the qualifications norms of both nations as approved under national policy, law, rules and regulations.
Key Points:
i.The MoU will promote academic collaboration and student mobility.
ii.It will facilitate periods of study undertaken, documents related to academic degrees/qualifications and accreditation by educational institutions.
iii.It will also facilitate establishment of Joint/Dual degree courses between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). It is one of the objectives under NEP (Nationals Education Policy) 2020 for Intel-nationalization of Education.
iv.This MoU is not applicable for Professional degrees like Engineering, Medicine, Nursing and Para-Medical Education, Pharmacy, Law, and Architecture.
v.It will promote bilateral exchange of information about educational structure, programs and standards, and encourage other areas of cooperation in education sector, development of study programs.
Cabinet approves signing of MoU between India and UAE on cooperation in the field of Education
The Cabinet also approved MoU between India’s Ministry of Education (MoE) and United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Ministry of Education to further strengthen the educational collaboration between India and UAE, and to widen the scope of engagements.
- The MoU will be valid for 5 years, and will supersede the MoU signed between both nations in 2015.
- Both sides can renew the MoU after expiry with mutual consent.
- It should be noted that UAE is a major work destination for Indians.
What is in the MoU?
i.It promotes Exchange of Information Education, Capacity Development of Technical and vocational Education and Training (TVET) teaching staff, Facilitation of academic collaboration between HEIs of both nations for offering Twinning, Joint Degree and Dual Degree Programs.
ii.This MoU will renew educational cooperation, and increase academic mobility between India and UAE.
iii.There will be exchange of information in order to promote mutual recognition of these qualifications.
Background:
The MoU in the field of education was signed in 2015 between India and UAE which expired in 2018. Then in 2019 a new MoU was proposed by UAE, which incorporated changes as per India’s NEP 2020.
Cabinet clears India-Maldives MoU on disaster management
The Cabinet also approved a MoU on cooperation between India and Maldives in the field of disaster management which was signed between the National Disaster Management Authorities (NDMAs) of the both nations on August 2, 2022.
- As a part of MoU, an annual disaster management exercise will be held at different locations of India and Maldives.
Objective:
i.To benefit from the Disaster Management mechanisms of each other
ii.To strengthen the areas of preparedness, response and capacity building in the field of Disaster Management
Features of MoU:
i.A mutual support will be provided during a large scale disaster incident occurred in the territory of India or Maldives, and in the field of emergency relief, response, humanitarian assistance.
ii.There will be exchange of information, and sharing of best practices of disaster response, mitigation, planning and preparedness.
- The exchange of information includes Tsunami Advisories, Storm Surge, High Wave Alert, Multi Hazard vulnerability information, Numerical weather Predication (NWP) products and Extended Range Forecast (ERF).
- It also include provision of access by Indian side to the Real Time Analysis of Products and Information Dissemination (RAPID) for visualization of Indian Weather Satellite Data.
iii.The NDMA of both nations will share satellite remote sensing data and expertise of space technology base applications for effective disaster mitigation.
iv.They will cooperate in the field of advanced information technology, early warning systems, remote sensing, satellite communication & navigation services.
v.Trainings will be provided to the seniors and rescue personnel of emergency management service.
About Maldives:
Capital- Male
Currency– Maldivian Rufiyaa
Cabinet approves Kochi Metro Rail Project Phase-II from JLN Stadium to Infopark via Kakkanad
The Union Cabinet approved the implementation of Rs 1,957.05 crore Kochi metro Rail Phase II of Kochi Metro Rail Project from JLN (Jawaharlal Nehru) International Stadium to Infopark via Kakkanad. It will cover a length of 11.17 Kms, and 11 stations.
Key Points:
i.The Phase-I in Kochi from Aluva to Petta, covering a length of 25.6 Km with 22 stations is fully operational. Its estimated completion cost is Rs 5181.79 crore.
ii.The Kochi Metro Phase 1A project of viaduct of 1.80 km between Petta to SN Junction with an approved cost of Rs 710.93 crore is being implemented as state sector project. iii.Kochi Metro Phase 1 B Project of 1.20 Km from SN Junction to Thripunithura Terminal is also under construction as state sector project.
iv.Kochi is the most densely populated city in the State of Kerala. Its metropolitan area is estimated to have population of about 20.8 Lakh in 2013, 25.8 Lakh in 2021 and 33.12 Lakh by the year 2031.
Cabinet approves policy on long term leasing of Railways Land for implementing PM Gati Shakti framework
The Union Cabinet has approved the Ministry of Railway’s proposal to revise the railways’ land policy to implement PM Gati Shakti Framework (Cargo related activities, Public utilities & Railway’s exclusive use).
- This approval will allow leasing of railway land for cargo use for longer periods at lower costs. As per the new policy, the land can be now leased for cargo-related activities for up to 35 years (5 years earlier) at 1.5% of market value of land per annum, down from 6% earlier.
- A comprehensive policy document for the same will be framed and implemented within 90 days.
Public service utilities include electricity, gas, water supply, sewage disposal, urban transport etc.
Key Points:
i.It will enable integrated development of infrastructure and more cargo terminals, thus improving revenues for the Railways.
ii.The policy also enables usage of railway land to set up solar plants at a nominal cost, and encourages development of social infrastructure (such as hospitals and schools through Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangthan) at an annual fee of Rs 1 per sqm. per annum.
iii.300 cargo terminals will be developed over next five years and about 1.2 lakh employment would be generated.
iv.The existing entities using railway land for cargo terminals will have the option to switch to the new policy regime through bidding process.
v.For Optical Fibre Cables and other smaller diameter underground utilities, a one-time fee of Rs 1,000 would be charged for crossing railway tracks.
Cabinet approves a new centrally sponsored Scheme – PM SHRI Schools (PM ScHools for Rising India)
The Cabinet also approved a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) – PM SHRI Schools (Pradhan Mantri ScHools for Rising India) Yojana under which there will be development and upgradation of 14,500 schools across India.
- The scheme will be implemented with a total project cost of Rs. 27360 crore which includes a central share of Rs. 18128 crore for the period of five years from year 2022-23 to 2026-27.
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