Cabinet approves agreement, MoUs with Brazil

Extends tenure of commission examining sub-categorisation of OBCs

23/01/2020

NEW DELHI, Jan 22: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved agreements and MoUs to be signed with Brazil including on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
The cabinet nod came ahead of the visit of Brazilian President Jair Messias Bolsonaro who will be the chief guest during the Republic Day parade. Apart from the agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, the cabinet also approved MoU on cooperation in oil and natural gas sectors. It approved Memor-andum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation to be signed between Brazil's Ministry of Citizenship and the Ministry of Women and Child Development for cooperation in issues relating to early childhood. It also gave approval for the signing of MoU between Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Geological Survey of Brazil.
An official release said the agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters aims to enhance the effectiveness of two countries in investigation and prosecution of crime through cooperation and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
The proposed agreement will provide a broad legal framework for bilateral cooperation in the context of transnational crime and its linkages to terrorism with Brazil. It will help in the investigation of crime as well as tracing and confiscation of proceeds and funds meant to finance terrorist acts.
The MoU on cooperation in the field of oil and natural gas will enhance cooperation between the two sides in the oil and natural gas sector.
Under the MoU, both sides will explore collaboration in Liquefied Natural Gas projects in Brazil, India and third countries, and also encourage collaboration in energy policies such as energy efficiency, energy research development and expansion of the regional energy infrastructure networks.
Union Cabinet also approved the extension of the term of the commission to examine the issue of sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) by six months up to August 31 this year.
The Cabinet has also approved an addition to the terms of reference of the commission, which will now also study various entries in the `Central list of OBCs and recommend correction of any repetitions, ambiguities, inconsistencies and errors of spelling or transcription.'
An official release said the communities in the existing list of OBCs which have not been able to get any major benefit of the scheme of reservation for OBCs for appointment in Central government posts and for admission in central government educational institutions, are expected to be benefitted on the implementation of the recommendations of the commission. The commission is likely to make recommendations for benefit of such marginalised communities in the central list of OBCs.
The Commission, headed by Justice (Retd) G Rohini commenced functioning on October 11, 2017, and has interacted with all the States and Union Territories that have subcategorised OBCs and the State Backward Classes Commissions.
The release said that the commission has come to the view that it would require some more time to submit its report since repetitions, ambiguities, inconsistencies, and errors of spelling or transcription appearing in the existing central list of OBCs need to be cleared. The commission had sought extension of its term by six months.

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