Union Cabinet has recently approved signing and ratifying the Extradition Agreement between India and Morocco.
It will provide a strong legal base for the extradition of fugitive offenders who are accused of economic offences, terrorism and other serious offences in one contracting State and found in another contracting State.
Extradition Treaty Vs Arrangement - An extradition treaty is a mutually agreed text signed and ratified by two Governments.
The arrangement is made in the absence of an extradition treaty on the assurance of reciprocity including under an international convention.
In the arrangement, two countries consider any international convention as the legal basis for extradition in respect of any offence to which the convention applies.
It does not cover all offences.
For e.g India has signed extradition arrangement with Italy.
India and Italy are both States Parties to the 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
This Convention has been notified under the Extradition Act by the Government of India.
Thus, the legal basis for extradition will be based on this convention.
Privatisation of Airports
Union Cabinet has recently given in principle approval for operating, managing and developing 6 non-metro airports under Public Private Partnership (PPP).
The airports are Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru.
At present, airports at Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Cochin are managed under the PPP model.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will hold a minor stake in 6 new airports under PPP, just like it does at the Delhi and Mumbai airports.
The private player will hold at least 75 per cent stake.
PPP bidding model - It will be held in a revenue-sharing model, where bidders are required to pay a specified share of gross revenue to the AAI.
The same model followed was during the privatisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports.
PPP mode has helped create world-class airports while also helping the AAI increase its revenues.
Advanced Motor Fuels Technology Collaboration Programme
The programme is under the International Energy Agency.
It is an international platform for co-operation among countries to promote cleaner and more energy efficient fuels & vehicle technologies.
The programme provides an opportunity for fuel analysis, identifying new/ alternate fuels for deployment in transport sector and allied R&D activities for reduction in emissions in fuel intensive sectors.
Union Cabinet has recently approved India’s membership in this programme.
The aim of joining this by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is
To facilitate the market introduction of Advanced motor fuels/ Alternate fuels
To bring down emissions and achieve higher fuel efficiency in transport sector.
India is the 16th member of the programme and other members are USA, China, Japan, Canada, Chile, Israel, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Spain, Republic of Korea, Switzerland and Thailand.
International Energy Agency
IEA is a Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organization established in the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Founded in 1974, the IEA was initially designed to help countries co-ordinate a collective response to major disruptions in the supply of oil.
Only OECD member states can become members of the IEA.
Except for Chile, Iceland, Israel, Latvia, Slovenia all OECD member states are members of the IEA.
Mexico has recently joined IEA as 30th member.
Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Singapore and Thailand are the associate members of IEA.
The IEA examines the full spectrum of energy issues including oil, gas and coal supply and demand, renewable energy technologies, electricity markets, energy efficiency, access to energy, demand side management etc.
The IEA acts as a policy adviser to its member states, but also works with non-member countries, especially China, India, and Russia.
Its flagship releases are World Energy Outlook and Key World Energy Statistics.
Central Tribal University
Union Cabinet has recently approved setting up of a Central Tribal University in Andhra Pradesh.
The decision was made according to the provision provided under the 13th Schedule to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.
The proposed university will come up after necessary amendments in the Central Universities Act.
