June 2021 India and the World

Sakshi Education

Indian govt to abide by Saudi Arabia’s decision on conducting Haj 2021
The Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has said that Indian government will abide by the Saudi Arabia’s decision on conducting Haj 2021. India is doing its preparations, including vaccination of pilgrims.

After chairing a review meeting regarding Haj 2021 in Mumbai that was virtually attended by India’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dr. Ausaf Sayeed; Consul General of India in Jeddah Shahid Alam and senior officials.
EAM Jaishankar to chair BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting
India is the hosting country and the chair of the BRICS Foreign Ministers 2021 meeting. The country will be chairing the meeting for the third time, after 2012 and 2016.
India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will chair a BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting virtually on June 1, 2021.
The leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa of the BRICS group will deliberate on the ways to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, global and regional issues of concern, sustainable development, and terrorism, mentioned a press release from External Affairs Ministry.
India-Australia cooperation and collaboration in the field of Agriculture
A virtual meeting between Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Mr. David Littleproud MP, Australian Minister for Agriculture, Drought & Emergency Management, was held on 1st June, 2021. It was acknowledged that the frequent engagement between the two Nations at the highest level has resulted in significant progress in many spheres of the bilateral relations during the last five years.
The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership announced by Prime Ministers of India and Australia at their Summit on 4th June 2020.
The India - Australia Grains Partnership was a significant inclusion aiming to use Australia’s expertise in post harvest management to strengthen rural grain storage and supply chains so as to reduce losses and wastage.
Australia has recently given market access for export of Indian pomegranates. There would be a joint strategy for deeper access for Indian mangoes and pomegranates in Australian markets led by the Indian High Commission in Canberra also. The Australian Minister assured to fast track the Indian requests for market access for okra and pomegranate arils.
On the issue of closer cooperation between India and Australia in multilateral fora like FAO and G20 raised by the Minister of Australia, Shri Tomar said that he looked forward for closer dialogue between likeminded countries. He suggested that climate change was one area where there was great opportunity for India and Australia to work together since both countries had similar commitments. He mentioned the flagship program of National Innovation for Climate Resilient Agriculture and said collaboration could be set up with the research organisations of Australia.
Memorandum of Cooperation between India and Japan in the field of Sustainable Urban Development
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on Sustainable Urban Development between the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Government of India and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Government of Japan, in supersession of existing MoU of 2007 on Urban Development.
The MoC is expected to create employment opportunities in the areas of sustainable urban development, including Urban Planning, Smart Cities Development, Affordable Housing, (including rental housing), Urban Flood Management, Sewerage and Waste Water Management, Urban Transport (including Intelligent Transport Management System, Transit-Oriented Development and Multimodal Integration) and Disaster Resilient development.
MoU between India and Argentine Republic on cooperation in the field of Mineral Resources
The Union Cabinet has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to be signed between the Ministry of Mines, Government of India and the Secretariat of Mining Policy of the Ministry of Productive Development of the Argentine Republic.
The MoU will provide an institutional mechanism for cooperation in the field of Mineral Resources.
The objectives of the MoU are to strengthen the activities involved like cooperation for encouraging minerals exploration and development, including extraction, mining and beneficiation of lithium; possibilities of forming joint venture in the field of base metals, critical and strategic minerals for mutual benefit; exchange of technical and scientific information and interchange of ideas and knowledge; training and capacity building; and promotion of investment and development in the area of mining activities, would serve the objective of innovation.
MoU between India and Maldives on cooperation in the field of Sustainable Urban Development
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India and Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Government of Maldives on cooperation in the field of Sustainable Urban Development. The MoU was signed in February, 2021.
The MoU will promote strong, deep and long-term bilateral cooperation in the field of Sustainable Urban Development between the two countries. The MoU is expected to create employment in the areas of sustainable urban development including Urban Planning, Smart Cities Development, Solid waste management, Affordable housing, Urban Green Mobility, Urban Mass Rapid Transport, Smart Cities Development.