IBM has signed three Memorandum of Understanding

♦ On 18th October 2023, IBM has signed three Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in areas of semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing.

♦ This MoUs aim to collaborate to advance and accelerate AI, semiconductor and quantum innovation in India. 

♦ IBM will collaborate with three distinct entities within the ministry: Digital India, India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC). 
 

National Maritime Search and Rescue Board meeting

♦ The 21st National Maritime Search and Rescue (NMSAR) Board meeting was held at Kolkata. The meeting was chaired by Director General Rakesh Pal, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) in his capacity as  Chairman, NMSAR Board. ICG is the coordinating and executing agency for Maritime Search and Rescue in Indian Search and Rescue Region (ISRR).

♦ During the meeting National Search and Rescue (SAR) awards for the year 2022-23 were also presented.

♦ The United Kingdom Flag vessel MV Furious was awarded in the merchant vessel category, Indian Fishing Boat New Aparajita from West Bengal was awarded in fishing boat category, ICG Ship Sujeet & ICG Air Squardon 835 Sqn(CG) in Govt owned SAR unit category while Gujrat Maritime Board and INMCC received the award in the ashore unit category.

♦ The NMSAR Board was formed in 2002 and since the Board meeting is being held annually to discuss policy issues, formulate guidelines/ procedures and consider recommendations for reviewing the National Search and Rescue plan. Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman emphasised on synergy amongst the stakeholders to  ensure  safer  sea for all seafarers.
 

India and Italy signed an agreement on defence cooperation

♦ India and Italy signed an agreement on defence cooperation on 11th October 2023 during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s official visit to the country.  Rajnath Singh is on a visit to Italy and France from October 9 to 12.

♦ The agreement will promote bilateral cooperation in areas such as security and defence policy, research and development, education in military field, maritime domain awareness, sharing of defence information, and industrial cooperation including co-development, co-production and setting up of joint ventures.

♦ The relationship between India and Italy was elevated to strategic partnership in March 2023 during the visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to India.
 

SC and IIT Madras MoU

♦ The Supreme Court (SC) and IIT Madras signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate digital transformation of Indian judiciary and improve access to justice.
♦ The SC and IIT Madras will be collaborating on using artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies for transcription tools, summarization of page transcript, translation tool, exclusive streaming platform for court trials, process automation and large languages models for the legal domain.

♦ The apex court, under the leadership of CJI Chandrachud, is driving technological enhancement in making its process automated, user friendly and citizen centric to enhance access to justice.
 

President of Tanzania met with PM Modi

♦ President of Tanzania Samia Sulubu Hassan met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, New Delhi on October 9. During the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) will be exchanged in various areas between the two sides. President Hassan arrived here on October 8 on a four-day visit.

♦ India and Tanzania elevated their ties to strategic partnership and agreed on a five-year roadmap to significantly expand defence cooperation. 

♦ The two leaders commended the existing close, cordial and cooperative relations and noted that India and Tanzania are time-tested partners bound by a long history of shared values and ideals spanning many years.

India and Saudi Arabia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding

♦ India and Saudi Arabia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in electrical interconnections, green/clean hydrogen and supply chains on 9th October 2023. 

♦ The MoU was signed between the visiting Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Government of India, Shri R.K. Singh and the Minister of Energy, Government of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud on the sidelines of the MENA Climate Week in Riyadh.

♦ This MoU aims to establish a general framework for cooperation between the two countries in the field of electrical interconnection; exchange of electricity during peak times and emergencies.

♦ The MENA Climate Week 2023 is being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from October 8-12.
 

Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Christ University (CU), Pune signed an MoU

♦ The India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Christ University (CU), Pune signed an MoU for working in the field of weather and climate sciences. 

♦ The five-year MoU was inked between Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director general, IMD, and Fr Lijo Thomas, director, Christ University, Lavasa, during the Stakeholder Consultation Workshop on the National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS) in India.

♦ In 2018, the IMD had installed an Automatic Weather Station (AWS) on the campus. Since then, rainfall, temperature and other vital weather parameters of the neighbouring areas covering more than 18 villages are being recorded.