Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its approval for amending the Double Taxation Avoidance Convention, DTAC signed between India and Turkmenistan in 1997 for the avoidance of double taxation and for the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on capital, through a Protocol. The Protocol provides for internationally accepted standards for effective exchange of information on tax matters including bank information and information without domestic tax interest.<br/><br/>In another decision, the cabinet also approved Memorandum of Understanding which has been signed between Indian and Belgian government authorities at the Federal and regional level for energy. The objective of this Memorandum of Understanding is to establish the basis for a cooperative institutional relationship to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable energy issues on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and reciprocity. <br/><br/>India also initiated the process of joining a treaty for transfer of sentenced prisoners with the Council of Europe. The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal to formally request the Council of Europe for India's accession to the Council of Europe Convention on the transfer of Sentenced Persons through a letter.