New Delhi (NVI): The Union Cabinet today approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Bhutan on cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.
The decision was announced by Union Minister Prakash Javadekar after the Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to an official statement, the MoU was signed between the Government of the Republic of India and the Royal Government of Bhutan on November 19, by both sides at Bangalore/Thimpu and exchanged.
This MoU shall enable to pursue cooperation in potential interest areas, such as remote sensing of the earth, satellite communication and satellite based navigation, and space science and planetary exploration, use of spacecraft and space systems and ground system; and application of space technology.
Under the MoU, a Joint Working Group will be set up drawing members from Department of Space (DOS)/ISRO and the Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) of Bhutan, which will further work out the plan of action including the time-frame and the means of implementation, the Cabinet stated in a statement.
It will also provide impetus to explore cooperation possibilities in the field of remote sensing of the earth, satellite communication, satellite navigation, space science and exploration of outer space.
Furthermore, the cooperation with the government of Bhutan through this MoU would lead to develop a joint activity in the field of application of space technologies for the benefit of humanity. Thus, all sections and regions of the country will get benefitted.
India and Bhutan have been discussing on establishing formal space cooperation. Earlier on November 2017, a template for Inter-governmental MoU for space cooperation was shared with MEA in for further taking up with Bhutan.
This draft was further discussed along with other cooperative proposals during the bilateral meeting in February this year, the statement read.
“After a few iterations through diplomatic channels, both sides have arrived at a workable draft of the MoU and the same was processed for internal approvals,” it added.
-RJV
