MoUs with Japan and Russia in the various fields of Railways

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was today apprised of the following Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) and Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs):-

(i) The MoC signed between Ministry of Railways (MoR) and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Japan on technological cooperation in Rail Sector on 11th December 2015.

(ii) The MoU signed between Ministry of Railways and Joint Stock Company "Russian Railways" on technical cooperation in railway sector on 24th December 2015.

(iii) The MoU signed between Research Design & Standards Organization (RDSO) and Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRI), Japan on technological cooperation in railway sector on 11th December 2015.

Background

Ministry of Railways have signed MoC/MoUs for technical cooperation in the rail sector with various foreign Governments and National Railways. The identified areas of cooperation include high speed corridors, speed raising of existingroutes, development of world class stations, heavy haul operations and modernization of rail infrastructure, etc. The cooperation is achieved through exchange of information on developments in areas of railways technologyoperations, knowledge sharing, technical visits, training & seminars and workshops in areas of mutual interest.

The MoUs provide a platform for Indian Railways to interact and share the latest developments and knowledge in the railway sector. The MoUs facilitate exchange of technical experts, reports and technical documents, training and seminars/workshops focusing on specific technology areas and other interactions for knowledge sharing.

(i) The Memorandum of Cooperation between MoR and MLIT of Japanwill enable technical cooperation in the following areas:-

(a) Railway Safety;

(b) Rolling stock including train sets/EMU;

(d) Information sharing for environment friendly Sanitation technology in trams;

(e) Signaling and telecommunication;

(f) Railway Electrification;

(g) Civil structure and railway track system;

(h) Train control system;

(i) Mitigation of natural disasters; and

(j) Any other areas jointly determined by both Sides.

This MoC is valid for a period of three years. Thereafter it will be automatically renewed for further period of two years.

(ii) The MoU signed between Ministry of Railways and Russian Railways provides for technical cooperation in the following areas:

a) High Speed Rail (HSR) in India;

b) Modernization of existing lines of the Indian railways in order to raise train speeds up to 160-200 kmph;

c) Modern Control and safety related Systems based on satellite navigation and digital communication means,

d) Satellite and geo- information technologies;

e) Transportation safety and cyber security;

f) Rolling stock;

g) Heavy haul transportation;

h) Organization of Human Resources training for the Indian Railways: secondary and higher vocational education of students and advanced training of staff members including managers;

i) Station redevelopment

j) Dedicated freight rail corridors;

k) Modernization, reconstruction and construction of track superstructure,civil engineering works, including bridges and tunnels; and

l) Slab tracks.

This MoU is valid for a period of three years. Thereafter, it will be automatically renewed for further successive period of two years.

(iii) The MoU signed between RDSO, India and RTRI, Japan provides for technical cooperation in the following areas:-

(a) Safety in train operation;

(b) Advanced techniques of maintenance;

(d) Throughput enhancement measures; and

(e) Any other area jointly agreed upon by the Parties.

This MoU is valid for a period of three years and it may be renewed for further period of one year at a time with mutual written agreement.

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Setting up of a Society, "36thInternational Geological Congress", for organizing 36th International Geological Congress in the year 2020 and promoting geoscience in Indian subcontinent

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to set up of a Society, "36th International Geological Congress", under the Indian Society Registration Act, 1860 for organizing 36th International Geological Congress (IGC) in year 2020 and promoting geoscience in Indian subcontinent. The event will be held in NCR, Delhi during March 2-6, 2020. A budgetary outlay worth Rs. 52 crore has been already approved by Cabinet to carry out preparatory activities upto 2018-19 and additional funds will be sought on revising the estimate a year before the main event.

The 36th IGC will be hosted jointly by the Ministry of Mines (MoM) and Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) with active support from the science academies of India and co-host neighboring countries. It is expected to attract 7000+ geoscientists from all over the world. The event is to be organized under the aegis of International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and as per the statutes of IUGS-IGC Council. On being registered, the Society, 36IGC will start preparing for the event by taking up activities including constitution of a Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and participation in the 35th IGC which is scheduled to be held during 27 August-4 September, 2016 at Cape Town, South Africa.The Society will be wound-up after the completion of the event.

The event will benefit the entire geoscientific community and all geoscience-related domains including mineral exploration, mining, environmental management, climate change studies, management of natural hazards, etc. It is also expected to give a boost to geo-tourism in the country.An exhibition 'GEOEXPO-2020", scheduled to be held alongside the conference, is expected to attract major mining and mineral exploration companies.The GEOEXPO exhibition will attract global companies involved in mining, mineral exploration and infrastructure development. Showcasing of India's mineral potential can create an opportunity for foreign investment in India in these areas.

The 36th IGC has the theme “Geoscience-the Basic Science for Sustainable Future”. Hosting the event in India will provide an opportunity to upgrade geosciences and geoscientific research in the country to meet the challenges of global changes and ever increasing quest for natural resources. The Indian subcontinent has more than 10000 geoscientists engaged in mineral exploration, geotechnical investigations, geoscientific mapping, and research and development in fundamental geoscientific activities in various national organizations and institutions/ universities, industry and private sector enterprises. The applied fields are diverse ranging from oil and gas to groundwater, mining to environment, climate changes to natural hazards etc. The Indian Geoscientists will get a big opportunity to interact with the best of subject experts from world over to further improve their knowledge and skills to meet the emerging challenges.

Background:

India made a bid to host the 36th IGC in India along with its co-host neighboring countries, namely, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka during the 34th international Geological Congress held at Brisbane, Australia in August 2012, and won it with an overwhelming support of global geoscientific community.

The IGC is a prestigious geoscience conference organized at an interval of 4 years under the aegis of International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) an affiliate of International Council of Science (ICSU). The IGC, since its inception in 1878, has attracted 6000 + delegates to each of its last five sessions held in different parts of the world. India had earlier hosted the 22nd session of IGC, which was the first IGC in Asia, in year1964 in Delhi.

The event will showcase India as a scientific destination for human resource development and training, and this will help improve Indian position in the South Asian and African regions on a long term basis. It will also contribute towards increasing tourism revenue by opening new avenues for geo-tourism.

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Winding up of National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval for winding up of National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC) with immediate effect as the Council has fulfilled the mandate for which it was constituted.

The NMCC was established in 2004 as a part of the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of erstwhile government to provide a continuing forum for policy dialogue to energize and sustain the growth of manufacturing industry. It was set up as an autonomous organization with its Chairman in the rank of a Cabinet Minister and members from Government and Industry. Dr. V. Krishnamurthy, the former Chairman of the Council resigned from the post on 28th May, 2014 and Shri Ajay Shankar, IAS (Retd.) demitted office as Member-Secretary of the Council upon expiry of his tenure on 22nd November, 2014. In the absence of a Chairman and no fresh constitution, the NMCC has become non-functional.

Further, since its inception in 2004, NMCC conducted various studies independently in consultation with several Government Ministries/Departments and also industry association, and shared these studies/reports with the Ministries/Departments concerned during the decade of its functioning.