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Showing posts from August, 2011

India Brazil Relations

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India Brazil Historical Relations : Pedro Álvares Cabral, a Portuguese explorer landed on the East coast of Brazil in 1500, two years after Vasco de Gama had landed in India. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, Brazil and Goa, both outposts of the Portuguese imperialist outreach, had bilateral exchanges, which found reflection in the flora and fauna, food and dress as well as folk traditions of Brazil. However, our different colonial histories limited our contacts. India opened its diplomatic mission in Rio de Janeiro in 1948, which later moved to Brasilia in 1971. The Indian Consulate General in Sao Paulo, the industrial and commercial hub of Brazil, was opened in 1996. India Brazil Political Relations India -Brazil bilateral relations are in a state of clearly discernible upswing. Although the two countries are divided by geography and distance, they share common democratic values and developmental aspirations. Both are large developing countries, each an important player

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Statement on Anna Hazare fast

Statement by Indian Prime Minister Manmmohan Singh about Anna Hazare in the Lok Sabha on August 17, 2011 Hon’ble Speaker, 2. It is my painful duty to report to this House certain events that took place yesterday in New Delhi. 3. Hon’ble Members are aware that after extensive consultations and discussions, including deliberations in a Joint Drafting Committee and a meeting of all political parties represented in Parliament, the Government has introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha on the setting up of Lok Pal. The Bill has been referred to the Standing Committee concerned. 4. Notwithstanding the introduction of the Bill, Shri Anna Hazare and his supporters have persisted with their demand that the Jan Lok Pal Bill drafted by Shri Anna Hazare should be introduced in Parliament and that the Jan Lok Pal Bill should be the Bill that must be passed by Parliament. In support of this demand, Shri Anna Hazare had announced some time ago that he would undertake an indefinite fast beginning

Indian New Zealand Relations

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India- New Zealand have traditionally enjoyed cordial and friendly relations based on common linkages of Commonwealth, parliamentary democracy, English language and sports. Agreements Signed : Trade Agreement - October 1986 Agreement on avoidance of Double Taxation - October, 1986 Civil Aviation Agreement between India and New Zealand August 1997 MOU on Scientific and Technical Cooperation between ICAR and Horti Research of New Zealand - March 1998 MoU of Technical Cooperation between Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, GOI and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Regulatory Authority of New Zealand on Cooperation on Plant Quarantine Issues, April 1999 Arrangement between India and New Zealand for cooperation in the area of Information Technology, December 2001 MoU between Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT) and the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand (WRONZ), May 2003 MOU on Cooperation between the Indian Co

India Tajikistan Relations

India and Tajikistan share common perspectives on several international and regional issues. Regular exchanges of visits at the highest level have taken place. President Pratibha Devisingh Patil paid a state visit to Tajikistan in September 2009 which enhanced bilateral relations. Prime Minister Vajpayee paid an official visit to Dushanbe in November 2003 and President Rahmon visited India (for the fourth time) in August 2006. At the operational level, Joint Working Groups and Inter Governmental Commissions on matters of mutual interest were constituted and they meet at regular intervals India opened its Embassy in Dushanbe in 1994 and Tajikistan opened its Consulate in Delhi in 2003, which was upgraded to a full fledged Embassy in 2006. 2. Project assistance During the visit of President Rahmon to India in August 2006, India announced that it would undertake rehabilitation and modernization of Varzob-1 Hydro Power Station (costing approx US $ 17 mn) through Indian com

Indian Foreign Services

The origin of the Indian Foreign Service can be traced back to the British rule when the Foreign Department was created to conduct business with the “Foreign European Powers”. In fact it was on September 13, 1783, when the Board of Directors of the East India Company passed a resolution at Fort William, Calcutta (now Kolkata), to create a department, which could help “relieve the pressure” on the Warren Hastings administration in conducting its “secret and political business”. Subsequently known as the “Indian Foreign Department”, it went ahead with the expansion of diplomatic representation, wherever necessary, to protect British interests. In 1843, Governor-General Ellenborough carried out administrative reforms under which the Secretariat of the Government was organized under four departments – Foreign, Home, Finance and Military. Each was headed by a Secretary level officer. The foreign department Secretary was entrusted with the “conduct of all correspondence bel