Recent 6 months news in Agreements

The Ministry of Jal Shakti has signed reform-linked MoUs with Manipur and Bihar under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0.

The agreements aim to shift the focus from infrastructure creation to long-term sustainability by establishing a Gram Panchayat-led, service-based, and community-centered governance framework. With this, 33 out of 34 eligible States and Union Territories have signed the agreement with the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) under JJM 2.0.

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has partnered with Rapido (Roppen Transportation Services Pvt Ltd) to promote the RahVeer Scheme.

The scheme, launched by the MoRTH in 2025, is a reward-based initiative to encourage citizens to provide timely assistance to road accident victims during the critical golden hour. Under the scheme, those providing life-saving support are assured of protection from legal or procedural concerns and are eligible for a reward of ₹25,000.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Public Works Department (PWD) of Uttar Pradesh and the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi. The collaboration aims to implement a scientific framework for the paving and greening of urban roads.

Air India has signed an MoU with Riyadh Air, the new premium national carrier of Saudi Arabia, to enhance premium travel options.

The partnership aims to streamline booking processes and expand flight connectivity between India, Saudi Arabia, and global destinations.

Under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), India has extended liberalized tariffs on 77.79% of its tariff lines, covering 94.81% of imports from Oman.

Oman has committed to expanding market access across 127 services sub-sectors, including binding provisions for professionals in various sectors. The agreement also enhances professional mobility, permitting business visitors to stay for up to 90 days, independent professionals for up to 180 days, and Intra-Corporate Transferees (ICTs) for up to 4 years.

The Sports Authority of India has signed an MoU with the University of Tsukuba, Japan, to facilitate specialized training and exchange programmes for Indian athletes, coaches, and sports scientists.

The Telangana government and the German state of Thuringia have signed a cooperation agreement to strengthen collaboration in sectors like skill development, industrial growth, innovation, technology, workforce development, startups, and life sciences.

The collaboration also includes the establishment of a German Language Training Hub in Hyderabad, which will be integrated with the Telangana Overseas Manpower Company (TOMCOM) to enhance capacity building.

The Asian Development Bank and Standard Chartered Bank have signed agreements to enhance supply chain finance in India. This collaboration establishes risk-sharing arrangements for transactions in both the United States Dollar (USD) and the Indian Rupee (INR).

The India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) came into force in June 2026, in the presence of Union Minister Piyush Goyal.

Following the operationalisation, the first consignments availing preferential tariff benefits, including agricultural products, gems, and jewellery, were flagged off from Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai.

The CEPA provides duty-free export access on 99.38% of tariff lines, covering 98.08% of India’s exports. Under the previous Most Favoured Nation (MFN) regime, only 15.33% of India’s exports entered Oman duty-free.

India and the UK have launched the India-UK Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory (GSCO) in New Delhi. The platform was jointly inaugurated by Union Minister G Kishan Reddy and UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.

The initiative is a result of a partnership between the IIT (Indian School of Mines) (IIT-ISM) Dhanbad, TEXMiN, and the University of Cambridge.

The Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) has signed an MoU with the Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure & Artificial Intelligence (DPI-AI) at Kathmandu University, Nepal.

The partnership aims to advance Language AI, multilingual digital public infrastructure, and inclusive digital ecosystems in both India and Nepal.

The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) has signed three MoUs to modernise Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) through digital innovation and structural enhancements.

Under the first agreement, the EdTech firm CoGrad will provide 499 EMRSs with two years of free access to its “Medha AI” platform. NESTS has also renewed its corporate philanthropy partnership with the Learning Links Foundation (Amazon) for another two years. Additionally, a governance MoU signed with the Bihar Mahadalit Vikas Mission has standardised EMRS funding at ₹1.47 lakh per student.

The West Bengal Legislative Assembly has signed a tripartite MoU to implement the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA).

With this, the state becomes the 33rd legislature in India to join the platform. The initiative aims to transition the state legislature towards a paperless and a fully digital ecosystem.

The National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM) has partnered with Galgotias University in Uttar Pradesh to enhance professional learning in sectors like securities markets, financial services, derivatives, fintech, and risk management.

Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) Ltd has signed an MoU with Credit Rating Information Services of India Ltd (CRISIL) to jointly develop data-driven infrastructure consultancy solutions across multiple sectors in India and overseas.

The Tamil Nadu government has signed an MoU with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for investments worth ₹18,600 crore.

The agreement covers 3 projects: a Hyperscale and Edge AI Data Centre in Kancheepuram (₹15,000 crore), an Electronics and Electrical Systems Manufacturing Hub in Coimbatore (₹2,500 crore), and an Offshore Wind Infrastructure and Shipyard Expansion in Kattupalli, Tiruvallur (₹1,100 crore).

The Ministry of Jal Shakti has signed reform-linked MoUs under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0 with Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Nagaland, and the UT of Puducherry.

The core objective of the JJM 2.0 is to establish a decentralized governance framework, specifically a Gram Panchayat-led, service-based model of rural water supply.

The National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE) has signed an MoU with the Steel Users Federation of India (SUFI) to develop the steel and commodity derivatives ecosystem.

It is to be noted that the crude steel production of India increased by nearly 11% year-on-year to 168.4 million tonnes (MT) in the FY26 and is projected to reach 300 MT by 2030.

Saudi Arabia has officially joined the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), becoming the 26th member nation to ratify the treaty-based global alliance. With this accession, the IBCA now comprises 26 member countries and 5 observer nations.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal visited Canada to facilitate an economic reset and accelerate free trade negotiations. He led the largest-ever Indian business delegation to the country to fast-track the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Both nations aim to finalize a balanced CEPA by the end of 2026. India and Canada have set a target to scale bilateral trade from $8.5 billion to $50 billion by 2030. During his visit, he held bilateral engagements in Ottawa, including a meeting with Canadian PM Mark Carney.