13th April 2016

A.Union Cabinet approves MoU between India, UAE to check human trafficking

1.The Union Cabinet has given its approval for signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and United Arab Emirates (UAE) on cooperation in preventing and combating of Human Trafficking.

2.The MoU will increase the bilateral cooperation on the issues of prevention, recovery, rescue and repatriation related to human trafficking especially of women and children expeditiously. 

3.Salient features of MoU Strengthen cooperation to prevent all forms of human trafficking, especially that of women and children. 

4.Ensure speedy investigation and prosecution of traffickers and organized crime syndicates in either country. 

5.Taking preventive measures in order to eliminate human trafficking and for protecting the rights of trafficked victims. 

6.Anti-trafficking Task Forces and Cells will work to prevent human trafficking on both sides. 

7.Concerned authorities and Police will work in close cooperation and exchange information to interdict human traffickers. 

8.The repatriation of victims would be done expeditiously and the home country will undertake the effective and safe measures for re-integration of the victims.

B.Union Cabinet gives nod to MoU between India and Bangladesh on cooperation in the field of Fisheries

1.The Union Cabinet has given its approval for extension of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Bangladesh on cooperation in the field of Fisheries. 

2.The MoU was signed in September 2011 to enhance bilateral cooperation in the field of Fisheries and aquaculture and allied activities between two neighbouring countries. 

3.With this extension, the MoU will remain in force for a period of next five years i.e. 2021 unless either of the parties terminate it. 

4.This MoU can be extended for further period as may be mutually agreed upon. Since it came in to force, the MoU has strengthened the friendly relations between India and Bangladesh. 

5.It had played important role in promotion of development of cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture and allied sectors through mutually agreed activities and procedures.

C.India, US agree to sign logistics support pact

1.India and United States have agreed to sign Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) to ramp up bilateral defence ties. 

2.In this regard, an announcement was made by Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter after delegation-level talks between two sides. 

3.Ashton Carter was on three day official visit to India. By signing LEMOA, both countries will be able to have access to each other’s logistics support along with refuelling and berthing facilities. 

4.LEMOA is one of the three foundational agreements that guide US high technology cooperation with other countries. 

5.Other two are Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation (BECA). 

6.Both countries will also sign two other agreements that will allow the two militaries to work in closer coordination with each other. Besides, India and US also announced the launch of two dialogues 

(i) Between the two navies on submarine safety and anti-submarine warfare, 

(ii) Maritime security dialogue between officials of the defence and foreign ministries of the two countries.

D.Dogri Poetess Padma Sachdev selected for 2015 Saraswati Samman

1.Dogri Poetess and novelist Padma Sachdev (76) has been chosen for the prestigious Saraswati Samman for the year 2015. 

2.She has been chosen for her autobiography ‘Chitt-Chete’ written in Dogri language and published in 2007. 

3.In her 662-page autobiography, Ms. Sachdev has included some historic photographs with dignitaries from her state, nation and the world. 

4.Her work was selected by the jury presided by former Chief Justice AS Anand from 22 works in as many languages published between the years 2005-2014. 

About Saraswati Samman 

1.Saraswati Samman is an annual award bestowed upon Indian citizen for his outstanding literary work written in any Indian language mentioned in Schedule VIII of Constitution and published during last 10 years. 

2.It has been named after an Indian goddess of learning and is considered to be among the highest literary awards in India. 

Established: 1991 by the K. K. Birla Foundation.

E.PM Narendtra Modi inaugurates 3rd Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation

1.Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the third edition of Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi to save wild tigers. 

2.India is host of this edition of conference in which more than 700 tiger experts, scientists, managers, donors and other stakeholders are participating. 

Key facts 

1.The conference will discuss issues related to tiger conservation and anti-poaching strategies. 

2.Ministers and government officials from all 13 tiger range countries (TRCs) participating in the conference. 

3.These 13 TRCs are: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam. 

4.In this edition of conferences participating TRCs will share their 

(i) good practices and success stories in conserving tigers 

(ii) success stories in conserving tigers.