[CA] 25th anniversary of SIMBEX

The 25th edition of SIMBEX, an acronym for “Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise” is scheduled from Nov 10 – 21, 2018 off Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal.

The 2018 edition marks the Silver Jubilee of SIMBEX.  To mark the historical occasion, both navies are undertaking exercises over an extended geography.  This year, the Indian Navy is being represented by

Ø the Ranvir class destroyer – INS Ranvijay

Ø two Project 17 multirole stealth frigates – INS Satpura and INS Sahyadri

Ø the Project 28 ASW corvette - INS Kadmatt

Ø the Project 25A missile corvettes - INS Kirch

Ø the OPVs INS Sumedha and INS Sukanya

Ø the Fleet Support Ship, INS Shakti,

Ø a Sindhughosh Class submarine, INS Sindhukirti,

Ø the P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol and

Ø ASW aircraft from INAS 312

Ø Dornier 228 Maritime Patrol aircraft from INAS 311

Ø Mk 132 Hawk AJTs from INAS 551 and

Ø integral helicopters such as the UH3H

Ø Seaking 42 B, Seaking 42C and Chetak utility helicopters

Silver Jubilee Commemoration Ceremony, various professional and training interactions, 10 Km ‘Friendship Run’ during the Annual Vizag-Navy Marathon, social evening and joint cultural programmes would be held during the harbour phases to commemorate the 25th anniversary. 

SIMBEX 2018 will be the largest edition since 1994 in terms of scale and complexity.

SIMBEX – 2018
Phases	Date	Venue
Initial Harbour Phase	Nov 10 – 12, 2018	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Sea Phase	Nov 12 – 16, 2018	Andaman Sea
Second Harbour Phase	Nov 16 – 19, 2018	Visakhapatnam (City of Destiny)
Final Sea Phase	Nov 19 – 21, 2018	Bay of Bengal

[CA] Modi's visit to Singapore

Modi’s visit to Singapore – a look 

Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi was in Singapore from Nov 23-25 on for his maiden official visit during which the two countries signed 10 agreements to elevate their relations to strategic partnership. The visit marked 50 years of formal ties between Singapore and India. India was the second nation to recognise Singapore after its independence in 1965. Mr. Modi made his first trip to Singapore in 2006 while he was the chief minister of Gujarat.

List of Agreements signed between India & Singapore

Joint Declaration on a Strategic Partnership	Seeks to elevate bilateral relations to a strategic partnership to deepen and broaden engagement in existing areas of cooperation. The Strategic Partnership is also a framework to contribute to greater regional stability and growth
Agreement concerning Defence Cooperation	It provides for a) Defence Ministers’ Dialogue b) Joint exercises between armed forces c) Cooperation between defence industries to identify areas of co-production and co-development
Agreement on the Extension of Loan of Artifacts to the Asian Civilisations Museum of Singapore Executive Programme on Cooperation in the Fields of the Arts, Heritage, Archives and Library for the Years 2015-2018	Programme envisages detailed plan of action and cooperation in the field of Arts, Museums, Archives, Monuments, Library and Exchange of Technical Experts & Students for the period 2015-2018.
Operationalisation of the Technical Agreement on Sharing White Shipping Information	Was signed between the Indian Navy and the Singapore Navy signed on 21 July 2015.
MoU on Cooperation in the area of Cyber Security	The agreement was inked between Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), Department of Information Technology of India and Singapore Computer Emergency Response Team (SingCERT), Cyber Security Agency of Singapore
MoU in Civil Aviation	It was inked between Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE). The MoU facilitates mutual cooperation in a number of mutually agreed areas of civil aviation services and airport management beginning with Jaipur and Ahmedabad airports
MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Planning	It was inked between National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) and Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE). The MoU promotes knowledge and information exchange in areas such as a) Urban planning b) Waste water management c) Solid waste management d) Public-private partnerships between the two organisations
MoU on Cooperation to Combat Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substance and their Precursors	It was inked between the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) of India and the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) Singapore
MoU in Capacity Building in the Field of Urban Planning and Governance	It was inked between the Town and Country Planning Organisation of the Government of India and the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise

The highlight was the India-Singapore Strategic Partnership, which elevates the ties between the two countries. It will broaden and deepen ties across various sectors including defence relations, economic and cultural cooperation, skills development and capacity building. The ties between India and Singapore is termed as “Renewed Spirit, New Energy”

India offers opportunities to Singapore in economic. The strategic location of Singapore, a financial, aviation and maritime hub, with flow of investments, a large Indian Diaspora, and expertise in urban development, makes it a valued partner.

Ø  Mr. Modi attended the State Funeral Service for the late Mr. Lee in March, and he ordered flags in India to be flown at half-mast as a mark of respect to Mr. Lee.

Ø  Singapore Prime Minister Mr. Lee Hsien Loong and his wife Ms. Ho Ching hosted Mr. Modi to a vegetarian meal at Komala Vilas.

Ø  Mr. Modi received a rousing welcome from about 18,000 people, mainly Indian expatriates at the Singapore Expo organised by Singapore NRI Forum.

Ø  Mr. Modi also took a moment to take a photo with construction workers at the Indian National Army memorial at Esplanade Park and posted the snap on Facebook.

Ø  Besides, the Prime Ministers Mr. Narendra Modi and Mr. Lee Hsein Loong also released commemorative stamps depicting Rashtrapati Bhawan and Istana-Official residence of Singapore President-as a mark of 50 years of bilateral relation.

=========================================

èNewly Added Topicsç

More on Current Affairs

[Study Materials/Notes] Schemes

[Study Materials/Notes] GK

[Study Materials/Notes] Indian Polity
[Study Materials/Notes] Indian Geography

[Study Materials/Notes] Economics

[Study Materials/Notes] Culture

[Study Materials/Notes] Indian Defence

[Study Materials/Notes] Other Topics