CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Vietnam and India have a bilateral agreement for co-operation in the utilization of atomic energy for peaceful purposes, which entered into force on March 25, 1986.

Detailed explanation-2: -India’s three-stage nuclear power programme was formulated by Homi Bhabha and Jawaharlal Nehru in the 1950s to secure the country’s long term energy independence, through the use of uranium and thorium reserves found in the monazite sands of coastal regions of South India.

Detailed explanation-3: -(i) India had also made a lot of progress in the fields of atomic energy and space research. (ii) Dr. Homi Bhabha laid the foundation of the Indian atomic power programme. (iii) India insisted on using atomic energy for peaceful purposes like generation of electricity, pharmaceuticals and defence.

Detailed explanation-4: -An Open Skies Agreement was signed in April 2005, enhancing trade, tourism, and business via the increased number of flights, and Air India purchased 68 US Boeing aircraft at a cost of $8 billion. The United States and India also signed a bilateral Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation in 2005.