On August 2, 2017, Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved following bilateral agreements and initiatives:
Cabinet apprised of MOU between India and Spain on India-Spain cooperation in renewable energy
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Spain on India-Spain Cooperation in renewable energy was signed on May 30, 2017
- The MoU will help in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries with the exchange of expertise and networking of information.
- Both sides aim to establish an institutional relationship to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable energy issues which will be mutually beneficial.
- The MoU envisages establishing a Joint Working Committee to review, monitor and
discuss matters related to areas of cooperation.
discuss matters related to areas of cooperation.Spain :
- Capital: Madrid
- Currency: Euro
Cabinet approves MoU to set up BRICS Agriculture Research Platform
Union Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed among India and various BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, China & South Africa) for establishment of the BRICS Agriculture Research Platform (BRICS-ARP).
About BRICS Agriculture Research Platform (BRICS-ARP):
During the 7th BRICS Summit held on July 9, 2015 at Ufa in Russia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed to establish BRICS Agriculture Research Centre.
- The Centre will promote sustainable agricultural development and poverty alleviation through strategic cooperation in agriculture to provide food security in the BRICS member countries.
- BRICS-ARP will be the natural global platform for science-led agriculture-based sustainable development for addressing the issues of world hunger, under-nutrition, poverty and inequality, particularly between farmers’ and non-farmers’ income, and enhancing agricultural trade, bio-security and climate resilient agriculture.
Cabinet clears proxy voting for NRIs
On August 2, 2017, the Union Cabinet cleared a proposal to extend proxy voting to overseas Non –Resident Indians (NRIs).
- The government will soon bring a bill that will amend the Representation of the People Act to make proxy voting for NRIs a reality.
- Nearly 16 million NRIs will be then able to vote in Indian elections by appointing proxies residing in their constituencies to cast their votes.
- It is to be noted that currently, only service personnel are permitted to vote through proxy.
- However, the facility for NRIs will not be the same as that enjoyed by service personnel. For instance, voters in the armed forces can nominate their relatives as permanent proxy to vote on their behalf. In case of NRIs they cannot nominate one proxy for all polls. They will have to appoint a nominee afresh for each election and one person can act as proxy for only one overseas voter.
- With the Cabinet’s approval, suitable rules and guidelines will be framed soon to make this facility operational.
