The Daily Brief – 30th November 2019

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Myanmar on bilateral cooperation for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons: Rescue, Recovery, Repatriation and Re-integration of victims of Trafficking. It will strengthen the friendship between the two countries and increase bilateral cooperation on the issues of human trafficking.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the increasing of authorized capital of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) from the existing Rs. 3,500 crores to Rs. 10,000 crores. With this, additional equity capital can be infused in the FCI through the Union Budget, to fund the food grains’ stock, perpetually held by the FCI. This will reduce the borrowings of the FCI, save its interest cost and reduce food subsidy in consequence. Founded in 1965, the Food Corporation of India is an organization created and run by the Government of India.

The Union Cabinet has given ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) between India and Saudi Arabia in the field of combating illicit trafficking and smuggling of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Chemical Precursors. The MoUs will facilitate and enhance the cooperation between the two countries to combat the smuggling of narcotic drugs as defined by the United Nations International Drug Control Conventions.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a waiver of repayment of loan and interest thereon, worth over Rs 4 crores, outstanding, against the Sikkim Mining Corporation. The Sikkim Mining Corporation (SMC) was established on 27^th February, 1960, as a Joint Venture undertaking of the Government of Sikkim and the Government of India.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the signing of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and Protocol between India and Chile on 27^th November, 2019. The tax agreement helps tax-payers in these countries avoid being taxed twice for the same income. A DTAA applies in cases where a tax-payer resides in one country and earns income in another.

The Parliament passed the National Institute of Design (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which seeks to amend the National Institute of Design Act, 2014, which declares the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad as an “institution of national importance”, on 26^th November, 2019. It seeks to declare four other National Institutes of Design located at Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh, Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, Jorhat in Assam and Kurukshetra in Haryana as institutions of national importance.

The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2019 has been passed by the Parliament, with the Rajya Sabha approving it on 26^thNovember, 2019. The bill aims to protect the rights of the transgender persons by granting them their due recognition and making welfare provisions for them. The Bill defines a transgender person as one whose gender does not match the gender that was assigned at birth. The category of people includes trans-men, trans-women, gender-queers, persons with intersex variations and persons with socio-cultural identities.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved post facto the Agreement signed by the Prime Minister on 29^th October, 2019 for the establishment of the Strategic Partnership Council between India and Saudi Arabia. Prime Minister Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Salman will jointly head the Council, which will meet after the interval of two years. The Council will help identify new areas for forging strategic engagement and will define the goals to be achieved and benefits to be derived.