It is an Air Force level exercise between India and Russian Federation.
It is a bi-annual exercise.
First Aviaindra was conducted in the year 2014.
Exercise Aviaindra 2018 is being conducted at Lipetsk, Russia and Jodhpur, India.
The exercise is focused towards anti-terrorist operations in a bi-lateral scenario.
Air Services Agreement
Air services agreements are signed bilaterally to improve seamless air connectivity between two sovereign nations.
Union cabinet has recently approved the revised air services agreement between India and Morocco.
Under the agreement, both countries designate one of more airlines.
These designated airlines of either country
Have the right to establish offices in the territory of the other country for the promotion end sale of air services.
Can enter into cooperative marketing arrangements with the designated carriers of same party, other party and third country.
Can operate any number of services to/from the six points specified in the Route Schedule to the agreement.
These developments will enable the people of each country to travel to the other country leading to better economic and cultural ties.
Dam Rehabilitation Improvement Project (DRIP)
Dam Rehabilitation Improvement Project (DRIP) was commenced in the year 2012 as a 6-year project.
Later, Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation extended the project period with a revised closure date by June, 2020.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has recently approved the revised cost estimate of DRIP.
The project aims to improve safety and operational performance of 198 Dams, along with strengthening of institutions.
The funds for this project will be shared by World Bank, State Implementing agencies and Central Water Commission.
The primary beneficiaries are communities dependent on reservoir and downstream communities, who are prone to risk associated with dam failure or operational failure.
It also focusses on capacity building of staff for effectiveness of Dam Safety Organisation to make dams safe from structural and operational point of view.
Reservoirs in the state of kerala managed by water resources department and state electricity department will get funded under the DRIP programme to the tune of Rs. 514 crore.
Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna
Employees' State Insurance Corporation under Ministry of Labour and Employment has recently rolled out Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna.
The scheme covers Insured Persons (IP) covered under the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948.
It aims to provide cash relief to unemployed insured person.
The relief will be payable in cash directly to their Bank Account in case of unemployment and while they search for new engagement.
Nuclear Plant in M.P
Activist and villagers in Madhya Pradesh raised their concerns over the proposed nuclear plant in Chutka.
In 2009, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) has decided to set up the atomic station in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh to generate 1,400 MW power.
At present, there are 9 nuclear power reactors at various stages of construction.
Kakrapar (2 reactors) in Gujarat, Rawatbhata (2 reactors) in Rajasthan, Kudankulam (2 reactors) and Kalpakkam (1 reactor) in Tamil Nadu and Gorakhpur ( 1 reactor) in Haryana.
There are few nuclear power reactors accorded administrative approval and financial sanction. Each site has 2 reactors.
Gorakhpur in Haryana, Mahi-Banswara in Rajasthan, Kaiga in Karnataka, Chutka in Madhya pradesh, Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu
International Criminal Court
ICC is an intergovernmental organization and international tribunal headquartered in The Hague in the Netherlands.
ICC has the jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for the international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, crime of aggression and war crimes.
ICC is the world‘s first permanent international criminal court.
States which become party to the Rome Statute becomes member of ICC, thus totalling 123 members.
The co-operation of the non-party states with the ICC is of voluntary nature.
But when a case is referred to the ICC by the UN Security Council all UN member states are obliged to cooperate, since its decisions are binding for all of them.
India is not a signatory to the Rome Statute.
Recent Developments - ICC has recently opened preliminary probe into Myanmar crimes against Rohingya muslims.
ICC judges has previously ruled that though Myanmar has not signed up to the Hague-based ICC, the court still has jurisdiction over crimes against the Rohingya because Bangladesh is a member.
A preliminary examination can lead to a formal investigation by the ICC.
The UN fact-finding mission also repeated suggestions that crimes against the Rohingya be referred to the ICC.
