Karnataka Department of Information Technology (IT) entered into a MoU with Finland to establish Karnataka- Finland Innovation corridor.
The corridor offers a virtual platform facilitating the exchange of information and expertise in the fields of science, research, innovation and skill development.
It envisions organising joint projects, such as start-up incubation programmes, research programmes, events, competitions and exposure visits.
Electoral bonds
The government is set to notify the electoral bond scheme, which aims to bring transparency in political funding.
The scheme was announced in Union Budget 2017-18.
Electoral bonds will be issued by a notified bank for specified denominations.
Those who want to donate to a political party can buy these bonds by making payments digitally or through cheque.
Then they are free to gift the bond to any registered political party.
The bonds will likely be bearer bonds and the identity of the donor will not be known to the receiver.
The party can convert these bonds back into money via their bank accounts.
The bank account used must be the one notified to the Election Commission and the bonds may have to be redeemed within a prescribed time period.
The issuing bank will remain the custodian of the donor’s funds until the political party redeems the bond.
Indo-Israel Agriculture Project (IIAP)
India and Israel signed Agriculture Cooperation Agreement in 2008.
The agriculture cooperation projects are implemented in 10 states focusing on irrigation, pest and disease management and training on post-harvest for all floriculture segments.
Floriculture is an important segment under the Indo-Israel Agricultural Project.
IIAP aims to develop a strong and relevant value chain to benefit farmers.
The value chain includes nursery management, demonstrations of best practices in cultivation and focus on irrigation and fertigation guidelines.
Hike in assets of MP and MLA
Section 75A of Representation of People Act, 1951 requires candidates standing for election to furnish information relating to movable and immovable property owned by them and their spouses.
The details of the asset should be furnished to Election Commission of India.
Recently, Lok Prahari, NGO filed a plea in SC seeking a thorough investigation into MP’s and MLA’s disproportionate assets.
It claimed that the lawmakers' assets have increased manifold.
Subsequently, Central Board of Direct Taxes has filed report in the Supreme Court that there has been substantial hike in the assets of the 7 Lok Sabha MPs and 98 MLA’s across the country.
The discrepancies over the assets were identified as per the arrangement between Election Commission of India and CBDT under the Income Tax Act, 1961.
India and Japan
12th India & Japan annual summit is going to be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Japan is going to have an equity stake in Mumbai – Ahmedabad high speed rail project.
Japan has also decided to develop 3 smart cities in India – Chennai, Varanasi and Ahmedabad.
Both countries have signed a MoU for civil nuclear cooperation in Dec, 2015 and it got transformed in to a deal in Nov. 2016.
This agreement enabled nuclear deal with India despite reservations over India’s status as a nation which has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Coastal Shipping and Inland Water Transportation Summit
Kochi will host the fifth edition of the ‘Coastal Shipping and Inland Water Transportation Business Summit 2017’.
The summit will be an initiative to explore the immense potential of coastal shipping and waterways.
