1) India-South Africa affirm commitment to boost ties in security, commerce

• The signing of agreement is a re-affirmation of the shared commitment of India and USA towards tax transparency and the fight against offshore tax evasion and avoidance. Mr. Das said this step reaffirms the commitment of central government to fight the menace of black money. 

3) India, Pakistan decide to take dialogue forward 

• After much awaited meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Ufa on 10th July, a joint statement was read out by the foreign secretaries. 
• Both the nations have decided to expedite the trial of Mumbai terror attack case. To discuss all issues related to terrorism, National security advisors of both the countries will meet in New Delhi. Indian PM Modi and Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan`s Foreign Secretary said that both sides will work to combat terrorism. 
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on the sidelines of SCO summit in Ufa. During the meeting both the leaders talked about strengthening bilateral ties and opening new avenues of collaborations. 
• Mumbai terror attack trial: Joint statement says, both the nations decide to release fishermen in each other`s custody within 15 days. PM Modi to visit Pakistan in 2016 for the SAARC Summit. 

• The galvanised corrugated sheets would be used for providing temporary shelters to a large number of affected families in Nepal. 
• Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae handed over the documents related to import of the sheets to the Nepal Home Secretary at Singha Durbar secretariat. Nepal was struck by a devastating earthquake that killed over 9,000 people in April this year. 

5) India, Turkmenistan sign seven agreements

• During comprehensive talks between Modi and Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov both sides decided to intensify efforts in dealing with threats of terrorism, organised crime and illegal drug-trafficking. 
• The two sides, a total of seven pacts were signed including an agreement on cooperation in the field of defence and another on tourism.  
• The TAPI project was envisaged to take gas from Turkmenistan, which holds the world`s fourth-largest natural gas reserves, to India and Pakistan through Afghanistan. 
• The pact on defence would provide a framework for intensifying bilateral defence and security cooperation through exchanges of high and mid-level visits, training and dialogue between the Ministries of Defence and other relevant organisations.  
• It would also enable capacity-building and technical cooperation, thus imparting a new momentum to the bilateral partnership in the defence sector.  
• Yoga centre inaugurated: Indian Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the traditional medicine and yoga centre in Turkmenistan. 

• On the last day of her three-day visit, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj co-chaired the 7th meeting of the India-Thailand Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation. The two sides also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Establishment of Nalanda University.  
• By signing this agreement, Thailand joins other East Asian Summit countries in the establishment of Nalanda University in Bihar. The agreements were signed by Swaraj and Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Gen Tanasak Patimapragorn.  
• Another significant development during External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj`s visit to Thailand is the signing of an MoU on the establishment of an Ayurveda Chair in one of the Thai Universities.  
• The MoU is between the Ministry of Ayush and Rangsit University of Thailand under which the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences will set up a Chair at the Thai University to undertake academic and research activities in Ayurveda. 
• Co-chairing the 7th Joint Commission meeting, Sushma emphasised trade and investment, connectivity, security cooperation, defence, science and technology and people to people contact as key drivers. 

• The new mission in Guwahati will have consular jurisdiction over Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. Bangladesh has missions already in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Agartala.

1) India, Tajikistan agree to strengthen defence co-operation 

• India and Tajikistan also pledged to further deepen their cooperation to fight the menace and agreed to step up defence ties besides boosting trade and investment.  
• Both the nations have also agreed to promote the international North South Transport Corridor and have discussed measures to tap the rich potential in trade and commerce as well as to encourage joint ventures and investments. He and the President also visited India-Tajik Friendship Hospital. 

• The major aims of the MoU are, promotion of exchanges of knowledge and experience in electoral processes, exchange of information, materials, expertise and training of personnel, production and distribution of materials pertaining to electoral systems, voting technology, voters’ education and awareness and participation of women and minorities in electoral process. 
• Election Commission of India has so far signed twenty MOUs with Election Management Bodies and international organizations across the world. Some of the MoUs signed recently are with the Kyrgyz Republic, Yemen, Mauritius, Egypt, Venezuela and Republic of Korea. 

3) India, Myanmar recommit to fight terrorism, insurgent activities

• It was agreed that the first meeting of India-Myanmar Joint Boundary Group to address all outstanding boundary issues would be held in New Delhi at the earliest. 

• The Indian Prime Minister also held bilateral talks with Uzbekistan President at Kuksaroy Presidential complex. 

• Both sides agree to enhance co-operation in defence and cyber security and to improve trade and connectivity.
• PM Modi invited Uzbekistan to join international North-South transport corridor and says India`s presence in SCO will strengthen the organisation.
• Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday arrived in Uzbekistan`s capital Tashkent on the first leg of his 8-day visit to Central Asia and Russia.
• PM`s visit aims to enhance strategic, economic and energy ties between India on the one hand and Central Asia and Russia on the other besides attending the BRICS and SCO summits at Ufa in Russia.
• From Neighbourhood first to ‘Act East’ from ‘Link West to Indian Ocean diplomacy’ now the focus is on ‘Reconnect Central Asia’.
• Political cooperation, counter terrorism cooperation, cyber cooperation, lack of surface connectivity, Uzbekistan joining NSIC, post 2014 Afghanistan situation, defence cooperation and need for joint working group on defence were some of the issues that were discussed.
• India lauded Uzbekistan`s support for India`s membership in SCO and permanent membership of UNSC.
• Showcasing a bond of several millennia in the backdrop of historic, civilizational and cultural ties with Uzbekistan the PM Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome by President Karimov at the Kuksaroy Complex.
• Stressing on the need for counter-terrorism co-operation PM pointed to the threat of instability in Afghanistan owing to the rising violent extremism there.
• He pointed a finger at those in the neighbourhood that provide safe havens to terrorists and gave a call to counter the challenge collectively.
• The Prime Minister also made a strong case for India`s inclusion in Shanghai Co-operation Orgnaisation as a full time member.
• There are close cultural linkages which have influenced Indian architecture, dance, music and cuisine. Indian movies have traditionally been popular in Uzbekistan. Uzbek radio completed 50 years of Hindi broadcasting in 2012.
• Tashkent is one of centers of Indology in the world and has historical significance for Indo-Pak ties since the Tashkent Declaration was signed there in 1966 which was a peace agreement between the two neighbours after the 1965 war.
• There is considerable interest in Uzbekistan in cooperation with India in the area of Information Technology. A vibrant Indian community numbering nearly 3000 lives in Uzbekistan.
• PM`s visit to Central Asia aims to reconnect with them and reinvigorate ties with the strategically important region.
• PM Modi also stressed on the importance of greater connectivity between the two nations and proposed Uzbekistan to join north south corridor.
• India made clear its concerns regarding Afghanistan and once again stressed on the importance of fighting terror together.
• The joint statement reflected the commitment and desire of closer ties between the two countries.

5) Japan`s NEC to develop hi-tech security system for Tirupati

• A MoU signed between NEC India Private Limited, a subsidiary of diversified business conglomerate NEC, with Andhra Pradesh Technology Services Limited (APTS) aims to build a safe city project for the temple town of Tirupati by creating future-proof solution architecture to establish a common platform for integration of all technology components into the central city operations centre. 
• The company also involves in developing a city surveillance system with surveillance cameras, facial recognition solution and behaviour detection, a domain of video analytics, and develops smart transport management system with automated number plate recognition, automatic vehicle tracking and automatic fare collection. 
• NEC proposes to collaborate with the state government in evolving a smart policing mechanism through an automated fingerprint identification system, facial recognition-based forensic and dial 100 platform
• The MoU speaks of establishing a centre of excellence for the safe city project, which is supposed to undertake R&D, capacity building and consultancy on technological aspects relating to these areas besides setting up an NEC development centre in the state. 
• The second MoU is between Sunrise AP, state’s nodal agency for investment promotion, and Mizuho Bank Limited.  
• Mizuho, a global financial institution having business relationship with 70 per cent of listed Japanese companies, intends to facilitate and support resource and investment activities in both the countries and promote Japanese investments in India by leveraging its vast customer base, the government said. 
• According to the MoU, the AP nodal agency will facilitate Mizuho’s client companies investing in AP and doing business with Indian companies by introducing local partners as well as by assisting them in implementing the projects in Andhra Pradesh. 
• It may be recalled that the AP government had already signed a number of agreements with some of the top Japanese companies, including Sumitomo Corporation, which has been entrusted to build a super-critical thermal power project in the north coastal district of Srikakulam. 
• SoftBank chairman and Japanese billionaire Masayoshi Son, who met the chief minister in Hyderabad soon after announcing a joint venture to fund projects in the Indian renewable energy sector in Delhi last month, would also be playing an important role in bringing investments to the state.  

• The agreements are signed in the field of tourism, culture and protocol. The Indian Prime Minister also held bilateral talks with Uzbekistan President at Kuksaroy Presidential complex. 
• Both sides agree to enhance co-operation in defence and cyber security and to improve trade and connectivity. 
• PM`s visit aims to enhance strategic, economic and energy ties between India on the one hand and Central Asia and Russia on the other besides attending the BRICS and SCO summits at Ufa in Russia. 
• From Neighbourhood first to ‘Act East’ from ‘Link West to Indian Ocean diplomacy’ now the focus is on ‘Reconnect Central Asia’. 
• Political cooperation, counter terrorism cooperation, cyber cooperation, lack of surface connectivity, Uzbekistan joining NSIC, post 2014 Afghanistan situation, defence cooperation and need for joint working group on defence were some of the issues that were discussed. 
• PM Modi also stressed on the importance of greater connectivity between the two nations and proposed Uzbekistan to join north south corridor.
• The talks between the two leaders focused on not only the development of commerce and trade in the region but also on the important aspect of the security in the region. 
• India made clear its concerns regarding Afghanistan and once again stressed on the importance of fighting terror together.  
• The two countries signed agreements for cooperation in field of foreign affairs, tourism and culture among others. 
• Prime Minister also invited President Karimov to pay a visit to India at his convenience. The dates of the visit shall be agreed through diplomatic channels.  
• Nazarbayev University students’ address: PM Narendra Modi addressed the students of Nazarbayev Universiyt in Kazakhstan and congratulated the first batch of graduate students. He further added that no Indian will forget Kazakhstan`s generosity in making way for India`s bid for the membership of the UN Security Council in 2011-12.  
• The Prime Minister also inaugurated India-Kazakh Centre for Excellence in Information and Communication Technology. 

• India has seven nuclear power plants, which operate a total of 21 nuclear reactors. Six more nuclear reactors are under construction. India’s aim is to supply a quarter of its electricity from nuclear power by 2050, an ambitious goal. 
• Last summer, Modi directed the Department of Atomic Energy to triple India’s nuclear capacity to 17 GWe by 2024. 
• Initially, the development of Indian nuclear power production was largely independent. Excluded from the nuclear nonproliferation treaty (NPT) because it acquired nuclear weapons after 1970, Indian nuclear energy development proceeded without external fuel sources or technical assistance. In September 2008, however, the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)–a multinational group formed in 1974 in response to India’s first nuclear weapons test that controls the export and re-transfer of nuclear materials–granted India a waiver, allowing it to engage in international nuclear trade. The waiver came after significant U.S. pressure, most clearly stated in the signing of the Indian-United States Civil Nuclear Agreement in 2006. 
• India now has uranium contracts with Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, Argentina, and Namibia. 
• Kazakhstan produces 38 percent of the world’s uranium–22,451 metric tons in 2013–more than the next three top producers combined (Canada, Australia, and Niger). The country is also set to host the International Atomic Energy Agency’s low-enriched uranium (LEU) bank, a facility which will stockpile LEU, used in civilian nuclear power reactors, in order to assure supply to members should they experience a disruption. 
• India and Kazakhstan also made a number of other agreements during Modi’s visit, covering military cooperation, coordination on counterterrorism, and range of economic and business deals. Other agreements are in defence, railways 
• Modi gift to Kazakhstan president: Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a set of books relating to religions born in India to Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev. The gift set includes the English translation of Guru Granth Sahib along with specially commissioned reproductions from the manuscripts collection of National Museum in Delhi. 
• The gift set also includes one of Jainism`s revered texts, Bhadrabahu`s Kalpasutra in Prakrit; one of Buddhism`s scriptures Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita in Sanskrit; and a Persian translation of Valmiki`s Ramayana in nastaliq script. 
• President Nazarbayev has been organising a Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions every three years at the Palace of Peace and Accord in Astana since 2003. 

1) Deadline for finalisation of social security pact

• Refusing to let Washington dilly-dally anymore on a matter that is costing the Indian IT industry an estimated $4 billion every year in non-refunded social security payments, New Delhi is insisting on a solution by the year-end.  
• In the absence of a social security agreement, Indians working on short-term visas in the US have been losing their social security contributions as they are neither eligible for a refund nor are they able to take advantage of the scheme. 
• According to US laws, social security refund can be claimed by foreign workers after 10 years of service whereas the H1B visas are given for only six years. New Delhi wants workers on short-term visas exempted from contributing to social security. 

• The external affairs ministry earlier agreed to provide Rs.400 crore to lay the new tracks and to acquire land in Bangladeshi territory. 
• The 1,650-km distance between Agartala and Kolkata would be reduced to 515 km once the rail track is constructed through Bangladesh. 

3) India signs loan agreement with ADB $300mn for NUHM

• Current Affirs India signed a loan agreement with Asian Development Bank (ADB) worth 300 Million dollar to support the Government’s flagship program, the National Urban Health Mission.
• The loan will reinforce ongoing government efforts to develop health systems in urban areas that can deliver quality services and reach the urban poor and vulnerable sections. It will focus on strengthening primary healthcare and promote better coordination between health and urban sectors and opportunities for public-private partnerships.  
• India is urbanising rapidly, bringing a massive growth of urban poor. Disparities in health status between the poor and non-poor in urban areas are large, due to the adverse living conditions of the urban poor and their limited access to good basic health services. 

• dollars to support a lecture series on rising India. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj gave this information in the Rajya Sabha 30th July. 
• She said India has also given 1.5 million U.S. dollars to the University of Chicago to enrich its Vivekananda Chair for promoting the study of Indian sub-continent as also for research and teaching of India’s history and culture. 

5) India signs civil nuclear cooperation deals to enhance power generation capacity: Govt

• In a written reply, Minister of State for External Affairs V.K.Singh informed the House that these agreements have been finalised to enhance India’s nuclear power generation capacity. The aim is to achieve the long-term target of generating 63,000 megawatt of nuclear energy by 2032-33. 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi said both the countries can reinforce each other’s economic development. 
• Other agreements signed between India and Kyrgyzstan include 
• Memorandum of mutual understanding and corporation in the field of elections, 
• MoU between Ministry of Economy of Kyrgyzstan and Bureau of Indian Standards on cooperation in the sphere of standards and agreement on cooperation in culture.  
• On defence cooperation, the Indian Prime Minister said new agreement on defence cooperation would provide a framework to broaden engagement between the two countries.  
• The defence agreement signed is aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation in defence, security, military education and training. 
• Two MoU were also signed for cooperation between the Election Commissions of the two countries and on cooperation in the sphere of Standards, a move that will help economic relations.  
• Noting that agriculture is an important sector in both India and the Kyrgyz Republic, Modi said they will shortly hold a round-table to explore possible avenues for cooperation and identify concrete projects in this sector. 

• His case history was digitally transferred by a special software known as E-Sanjeevani. Successfully completing the penultimate leg of his five nation tour of central Asia, PM Modi proceeded for Dushanbe leaving a message of friendship and love in Kyrgyzstan.