Collaboration Agreement to support the Belmont Forum Secretariat approved

Cabinet approves Collaboration Agreement to support the Belmont Forum Secretariat

Question: Which year was the Belmont Forum founded?
(a) Year 2005
(b) Year 2008
(c) Year 2009
(d) Year 2011
Ans: (c)
Related facts:-

  • On April 5, 2017, the Union Cabinet approved the signing of a cooperation agreement with the French National Research Agency, France to support the Belmont Forum Secretariat.
  • Under this agreement, India will provide financial support to the Belmont Forum Secretariat on the expenditure of 40,000 Euros (total estimated expenditure) from January 2015 to December 2017.
  • Apart from this, the Cabinet has also been granted approval to continue financial assistance to the Secretariat after 2017.
  • The Belmont Forum was founded in year 2009.
  • This forum is a major high-level group of the world providing financial assistance to global climate change research and international science councils.
  • It provides opportunities for identification and study of international environmental research priorities for society through international research cooperation and alignment of international resources between natural and social scientists.
  • Members of the Belmont Forum include Australia, Brazil, Canada, European Commission, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, South Africa, Britain, America, India etc.
  • Since 2012, the Ministry of Earth Sciences is representing India in the Belmont forum.
  • From January 2015 to January 2017, the secretariat is hosted by ANR, France.
  • The expenditure for hosting the secretariat is borne by the member countries of the Belmont Forum as an item or cash aid.
  • This agreement will help in maintaining consistency in the conduct of the forum and to coordinate the activities of this forum smoothly.
  • India is already a partner in four collaborative research initiatives

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