Source: PIB & UN Office of Outer Space Affairs
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister has given its approval for an Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of Mongolia on Cooperation in the Exploration and Uses of Outer Space for Peaceful and Civilian Purposes.
Background
Department of Space (DOS) and the Mongolian Ministry of Infrastructure signed an ‘Agreement for cooperation in space science, technology and applications’ on January 15, 2004.
Key highlights of the agreement
- The Agreement would lead to set up a Joint Working Group, drawing members from Department of Space/ISRO and Communications and Information Technology Authority of the Government of Mongolia(note: the space activities are presently handled by Communication and Information Technology Authority (CITA) of Mongolia.), which will further work out the plan of action including the time-frame and the means of implementing this Agreement.
- The signed Agreement will provide impetus to;
- Explore newer research activities and application possibilities in the field of remote sensing of the earth
- Satellite communication
- Satellite navigation
- Space science and exploration of outer space
Brief about the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS)
- The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) was set up by the General Assembly in 1959 to govern the exploration and use of space for the benefit of all humanity: for peace, security and development.
- The Committee was tasked with reviewing international cooperation in peaceful uses of outer space, studying space-related activities that could be undertaken by the United Nations, encouraging space research programmes, and studying legal problems arising from the exploration of outer space.
- The Committee was instrumental in the creation of the five treaties and five principles of outer space. International cooperation in space exploration and the use of space technology applications to meet global development goals are discussed in the Committee every year.
- The Committee has two subsidiary bodies: the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, and the Legal Subcommittee, both established in 1961. The Committee reports to the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly, which adopts an annual resolution on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.
