Civil Service Bytes

Saudi Arabia and Egypt Has Decided to Build Bridge Over the Red Sea Saudi Arabia and Egypt Has Decided to Build Bridge Over the Red Sea Saudi Arabia and Egypt have decided to build bridge which will connect both them over the Red Sea to boost trade and commerce. Saudi Arabia has publicized that an agreement has been reached with Egypt regarding to this. During official visit of Saudi Arabia’s king Salman to the Egypt this was announced but where the bridge will be situated was not declared in this announcement. Key facts: It is hypothesized that the joint bridge will be planned over the Red Sea at the entrance of the Gulf of Aqaba. It will be situated at the closest point near Nabq, north of Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt and Ras Alsheikh Hamid in Saudi Arabia where two countries are 16km apart. To connect the two countries from Africa and Asia continents the project will be act as the pipeline for several years. The walkway bridge would pass through Saudi Arabia’s Ti...

The French President’s Francois Hollande visit to India for the India-France Business Summit and as the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations. The 2016 Indian Republic Day parade has included the first-ever participation of a contingent of foreign troops in the march-past. US President Barack Obama was the chief guest of the 2015 Republic Day parade. France has announced an investment of $10 billion (Rs 67,540 crore) in India over the next five years, which will largely cater to the industrial sector in the country. France is the 9th largest foreign investor in India. The two countries have sealed 19 deals, including 13 Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs): 1. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Centre National D’études Spatiales (CNES) implementation agreement on hosting Argos-4 payload on board India’s Oceansat-3 satellite. 2. ISRO and CNES implementation agreement on a future joint Thermal Infrared earth observation mission. 3. Letter of intent on CN...

India and France on signed a Memorandum of Understanding over the purchase of 36 Rafale jets. The Indian Air Force’s quest for a Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) is finally over with the Indian government confirming the order for 36 Rafale jets with the French government. There were a lot of hiccups, over costs of the aircraft — over $100 million-plus per aircraft — and offsets from the Indian side and responsibility over the quality of production in India from the French side. Finally, keeping in mind IAF’s urgent requirements, the prime minister intervened to order 36 aircraft, or two squadrons, in a direct government-to-government deal during his visit to Paris in April. In brief: The  Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft  ( MMRCA )  competition , also known as the  MRCA tender , was a competition to supply 126 multi-role combat aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF). The Defence Ministry has allocated  ₹ 55000 crore  (US$8.1 b...

The Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman will conduct a bilateral maritime exercise NASEEM AL BAHR in the Arabian Sea from 22 – 27 January 16. The exercise will be another milestone in strengthening maritime security cooperation between the two navies. Aims: To increase interoperability amongst the two navies and develop common understanding and procedures for maritime security operations. Deriving mutual benefit from each other’s experiences and sharing best practices. To reinforce the long standing bond of friendship between the two countries. Representations: The Indian Navy will be represented by INS Trikand and INS Trishul. The Omani Navy will be represented by RNOV Al-Shamikh, a Corvette and RNOV Al-Seeb, a Fast Attack Craft. The exercise will be progressed in two phases: 1.Harbour Phase (22 – 24 January 16) at Goa: The Harbour Phase would include variety of professional interactions, courtesy calls, social and sporting interactions and planning...

Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) have agreed to hold talks on the possibility of “BBIN Rail Agreement” drawing on the draft Saarc Regional Rail Agreement template. India was the first to take the BBIN initiative and start discussions on sub-regional theme like water resources and connectivity. Joint Working Groups decided: To constitute an Experts Group for exchanging best practices in water resources management and on specifics of the identified projects, power trade, inter grid connectivity, flood forecasting and other areas of possible cooperation. To commence discussion on the possibility of having a BBIN Rail Agreement drawing on the draft SAARC Regional Rail Agreement template.(The BBIN railway service agreement would be framed in accordance with the draft proposal of the SAARC Railway Service Agreement) Land ports and land customs stations crucial for sub regional trade and transit would be given priority attention by all four countries.  Specific...

The Nepal government has proposed formation of a four-member Eminent Persons’ Group to review the existing bilateral agreements with India including  the strategic Peace and Friendship Treaty of 1950. The EPG will be authorised to look into the entire gamut of Nepal-India relations. It will get two years to come up with a comprehensive report on anything that needs to be amended in all bilateral treaties. The proposal to form the EPG comes as the government prepares for Prime Minister’s visit to India scheduled for the second week of February. The government formed  the EPG comes at a time when the bilateral relations between the two countries has marked a new low following the unofficial trade embargo imposed by India since Nepal promulgated the new Constitution on September 20 last year. The Third Joint Commission Meeting of Nepal and India in July 2014 had decided to set up the EPG with four members from each side at the request of Nepal. It is learnt that Ind...

India is all set to overhaul its security cooperation agreement with China and further liberalise visa norms for the neighbouring country. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2005 between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security  for exchange of security-related information to combat terrorism is being revisited . Impact of the agreement :  China will deport Indians accused of terrorist acts and operating in Chinese territory after its agencies conduct an independent probe.  Factor in contemporary global threats like the Islamic State, as many Chinese nationals are also learnt to have joined the extremist outfit, especially those from the  Uighur region   who are fighting for a separate state. India and China will exchange information on terrorist activities, terror groups and their linkages and share experience on anti-hijacking, hostage-like situations and coordinate positions on anti-terrorism endeavours at...

The Union Cabinet gives approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Maldives which was signed on cooperation in the field of Health.   MoU envisages: i. Exchange & training of medical doctors, officials, other health professionals and experts; ii. Assistance in development of human resources and setting up of health care facilities; iii. Medical and health research development; iv. Management of healthcare sector and public health services; v. Procurement of generic and essential drugs and assistance in sourcing of drug supplies; vi. Health promotion and disease prevention; vii. Traditional and; complementary Medicine viii. Telemedicine; ix. Any other area of cooperation as may be mutually decided upon.

Indo-French joint military training exercise named ‘Exercise Shakti-2016’ will be held in Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan’s Bikaner. It will be focused on counter terrorism operations in backdrop of semi-urban terrain under United Nations Mandate. This is the third edition in the series of bilateral exercises under this banner.  A comprehensive training programme for a period of two weeks has been worked out for achieving the same. During the exercise, participants will engage in variety of missions from joint planning, cordon and search operations, search and rescue, joint tactical drills and basics of special arms skills. The exercise would be conducted in two phases, namely combat conducting and tactical training and validation exercise. A look into the INDO-FRENCH defence relations: Defense partnership and cooperation is built on historic French and Indian military interactions which stretch back to the Carnatic Wars. India was heavily involved ...

Who: Indo-Russia bilateral naval exercise Indra Navy-15 Where: In Visakhapatanam What: INDRA Commenced When: 7 December 2015 Indo-Russia bilateral maritime exercise Indra Navy 2015 commenced on 7 December 2015 in Vishakhapatanam. The exercise epitomises the strategic relationship between the two nations. The 8th edition of Indra Navy will be conducted in the Bay of Bengal till 12 December 2015. About Indra Navy 2015 • The primary aim of Indra Navy 2015 is to increase interoperability between the two navies and develop common understanding of procedures for maritime security operations. • The scope of the exercise includes wide-ranging professional interactions during the Harbour phase and a diverse canvas of operational activities at sea across a spectrum of maritime operations. • The Indian Navy will be represented by INS Sahyadri an indigenous frigate, INS Ranvijay, a guided missile destroyer and INS Shakti a Fleet Support Ship. • The Russian Federation Nav...