Apti Basin Mega Recharge Project

♦ Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra for the implementation of the 'Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project' on 10 May 2025.

♦ The MoU was signed and exchanged in the presence of Chief Ministers of both the states, MP CM Mohan Yadav and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis in the Bhopal. 

♦ The project marks a major step forward in water-sharing cooperation between States and aims to receive national project status and 90% Central funding.

India and Chile signed the Terms of Reference (ToR)

♦ India and Chile signed the Terms of Reference (ToR) for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), marking a significant advancement in their bilateral trade relations.

♦ The mutually agreed ToR were duly signed by H.E. Juan Angulo, Ambassador of Chile in India and Vimal Anand, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, also the Chief Negotiator for India-Chile CEPA from the Indian side.

♦ Both sides reiterated their shared vision for strengthening bilateral relations and look forward to fruitful discussion during the first round scheduled for 26-30th May, 2025 in New Delhi.

♦ The CEPA aims to build upon the existing PTA between the two nations and seeks to encompass a broader range of sectors, including digital services, investment promotion and cooperation, MSME, critical minerals etc.

♦ Thereby enhancing economic integration and cooperation.

Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)

♦ The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) signed an agreement with global logistics major Rhenus Group to boost the inland waterways sector of India.

♦ The memorandum of understanding (MoU) facilitates Rhenus Logistics India Pvt. Ltd. to commence scheduled barge operations across key National Waterways (NWs) in India. 

♦ As part of MoU, Rhenus will introduce 100 barges in a phased manner in the national waterways while 20 barges and 6 pushers are to be deployed in the first phase, targeting the movement of more than one million tonnes of cargo annually by the end of 2025.

♦ Cargo movement has surged from 30 MMTPA in 2014-15 to 133 MMTPA in 2023-24, contributing to a cumulative movement of over 779 MMT in the past decade.

♦ is the nodal agency for National Waterways under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways.

Narendra Modi

♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on 3 May 2025.

♦ India has announced a defence credit line of 200 million dollars to support the modernisation of Angola’s armed forces.

♦ PM Modi emphasised India’s commitment to taking firm and decisive action against terrorists and their supporters and thanked Angola for its solidarity in combating cross-border terrorism.

♦ The leaders engaged in discussions aimed at deepening cooperation across sectors such as agriculture, traditional medicine, and cultural exchange.

Meeting of the India-Egypt

♦ The 4th Meeting of the India-Egypt Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism was held in Cairo.

♦ The two delegations were led by Ambassador K. D. Dewal, Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism), Ministry of External Affairs of India and Ambassador Walid Al-Fiqi, Director of the Department of Counter Terrorism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt and included representatives of various agencies from both countries.

♦ India and Egypt have agreed to intensify their collaboration in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

♦ India and Egypt agreed to deepen bilateral collaboration in areas such as anti-money laundering, drug trafficking, and organized crime.

♦ Additionally, they committed to strengthening joint efforts in training and capacity building, cybersecurity, the use of artificial intelligence for counter-terrorism, and the exchange of best practices and information.

♦ The two nations also discussed enhancing multilateral cooperation in counter-terrorism through forums such as the United Nations, BRICS, the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF), and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).