Tag: Union Cabinet

Cabinet approves policy for use of land acquired under Coal Bearing Areas Act

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a policy for utilisation of non-minable land for development and setting up of infrastructure relating to coal and energy.

The approved policy provides a clear policy framework for utilisation of lands that are no longer suitable or economically viable for coal mining activities; or lands from which coal has been mined out/de-coaled and has been reclaimed.

“With the objectives of facilitating utilisation of lands which are mined out or are practically unsuitable for coal mining and for increasing investment and job creation in the coal sector, the Union Cabinet… has approved the policy for use of land acquired under the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition & Development) Act, 1957 (CBA Act),” the coal ministry said in a statement.

The government coal companies, such as Coal India Ltd (CIL) and its subsidiaries shall remain owners of these lands acquired under the CBA Act and the policy allows only leasing of the land for the specified purposes given in the policy.

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The government coal PSUs can deploy private capital in joint projects for coal and energy-related infrastructure development activities, the statement said. The government company which owns the land would lease it for a specific period given under the policy and the entities for leasing will be selected through a transparent, fair and competitive bid process and mechanism in order to achieve optimal value.

The lands will be considered for activities such as setting up washeries, coal gasification and coal-to-chemical plants and to set up or provide for energy related infrastructure.

Under the approved policy, establishment of various coal and energy related infrastructure, without transfer of ownership from government companies, would lead to generation of a large number of direct and indirect employment opportunities, the statement said.

This unlocking of non-minable land for other purposes will also help Coal India to reduce its cost of operations and set up coal-related infrastructure and other projects, it added. The proposal to utilise land for rehabilitation purposes would ensure proper utilisation of land and would eliminate wastage of all-important land resource, avoid acquisition of fresh chunks of land for rehabilitation of project-affected families, eliminate loading of additional financial burden on the projects and increase profit.

Also Read: Coal India allays supply shortfall fears; making efforts to meet projected coal demand

It will also address the demand of the displaced families as they always prefer to stay as close as possible to their original residential places. It will help in obtaining local support for coal projects and also providing land to the state government for afforestation in lieu of forest land diverted to coal mining, the statement said. The policy will help in realizing the goal of self-reliant India by encouraging domestic manufacturing, reducing import dependence and job creation among others.

The policy will unlock land for various coal and energy infrastructure development activities that would encourage investment in backward areas of the country. Utilisation of already acquired land would also prevent fresh acquisition of land and related displacement and would promote local manufacturing and industries, the statement said.

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Cabinet approves scheme to distribute fortified rice under govt programmes

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Union Cabinet on Friday approved a scheme to distribute fortified rice under government programmes in three phases, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said. FCI and state agencies have already procured 88.65 LMT of fortified rice for supply and distribution.

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Giving details to media after the Cabinet meeting, Thakur said in the first phase, fortified rice is being distributed under ICDS and PM Poshan programmes. The second phase will cover targeted public distribution system (TPDS) and other welfare schemes in all aspirational and high-burden stunting districts by March 2023.

In the final phase, all remaining districts will be covered by March 2024. The entire cost of rice fortification of about Rs 2,700 crore per annum and would be borne by the central government.

Also read: Kejriwal reviews progress of Delhi Budget, to provide 20 lakh jobs in five years

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Cabinet approves 3% DA hike for central government employees

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved a hike of 3 percent in the Dearness Allowance or DA for the central government employees and Dearness Relief or DR for pensioners.

With the latest increase effective from January 2022, the DA and the DR now stand at 34 percent.

Dearness Allowance is a component of salary of central government employees particularly aimed at giving them relief from the impact of inflation. Dearness Relief is what is given to pensioners.

“This increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission,” said the government.

The decision is likely to benefit about 47.68 lakh central government employees and 68.62 lakh pensioners amid rising fuel and oil prices and inflation.

The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be Rs 9,544.50 crore per annum.

The government revises DA and DR twice every year — in January and July. However, they differ from person to person based on where they are — urban sector, semi-urban sector or the rural sector.

The government hiked the DA and DR for the central government employees and pensioners to 28 percent from 17 percent in July 2021 after keeping them unchanged for more than one-and-half years owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. In October 2021, the DA and DR again saw a jump of 3 percent.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Cabinet approves setting up National Land Monetisation Corporation; amendment in MMDR Act to fix royalty rates

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved setting up National Land Monetisation Corporation for central public sector enterprises (CPSE) asset monetisation. The Cabinet also approved a proposal to amend the Second Schedule to the MMDR Act to specify the royalty rates of certain minerals, including potash, emerald and platinum group of metals.

The National Land Monetisation Corporation (NLMC) will be set up as a wholly-owned Government of India company with an initial authorised share capital of Rs 5,000 crore and paid-up share capital of Rs 150 crore. It will undertake the monetisation of surplus land and building assets of CPSEs.

“At present, CPSEs hold considerable surplus, unused and underused non-core assets in the nature of land and buildings. For CPSEs undergoing strategic disinvestment or closure, monetisation of these surplus land and non-core assets is important to unlock their value. NLMC will support and undertake monetisation of these assets,” the statement said.

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NLMC will hire professionals from the private sector just as in the case of similar specialised government companies like the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) and Invest India, the statement said, adding that this was considering that real estate monetisation requires specialised skills and expertise in areas such as market research, legal due diligence, valuation, master planning, investment banking and land management.

The approval to amend the MMDR Act would ensure auction of mineral blocks in respect of glauconite, potash, emerald, platinum group of metals, andalusite and molybdenum thereby reducing imports of these minerals, an official release said.

It will also help generate empowerment opportunities in the mining sector as well as the manufacturing sector which will further help in ensuring inclusive growth of a large section of the society.

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The Mines Ministry had proposed reasonable rates of royalty in order to encourage better participation in the auction of mines. Without sharing any figure, it said the rates have been fixed after extensive consultations with the state governments and various ministries/departments of the central government.

The Ministry of Mines will provide a methodology for the calculation of the average sale price (ASP) of these minerals required for enabling the auction of these mineral blocks. The statement further said more than 146 blocks have been put up for auction in the financial year 2021-22. Of this, 34 blocks have been successfully auctioned in the financial year.

Specification of royalty and ASP for the minerals like glauconite/potash, emerald, platinum group of metals (PGM), andalusite and molybdenum would increase the number of blocks for auction.

(With inputs from PTI)

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Union Cabinet approves Rs 1,300 cr incentive scheme to promote UPI, RuPay debit card transactions

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved Rs 1,300 crore incentive scheme to promote digital transactions using UPI and RuPay debit cards. Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the government will reimburse transaction charges levied on digital payments made by persons to the merchant as part of the merchant discount rate (MDR).

“In the coming one year…the government will invest around Rs 1,300 crore so that more and more people move towards digital payments,” Vaishnaw said. He also said that 423 crore digital transactions valued at Rs 7.56 lakh crore took place in November. The approved scheme will cover reimbursement on digital transactions of up to Rs 2,000, using RuPay debit cards and BHIM-UPI.

Under the scheme, the acquiring banks will be incentivised by the Government, by way of paying percentage of value of transactions (P2M) done through RuPay Debit cards and low-value BHIM-UPI modes of payments, at an estimated financial outlay of Rs 1,300 crore for a period of one year with effective from April 1, 2021.

This scheme will facilitate acquiring Banks in building a robust digital payment ecosystem and promoting RuPay Debit card and BHIM-UPI digital transactions, across all sectors and segments of the population and further deepening of digital payments in the country.

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It will also help in making accessible digital modes of payments to unbanked and marginalised populations, who are outside of the formal banking and financial system.

The scheme will further spur research and development and innovation in the fintech space and will help the government in further deepening digital payments in various parts of countries.

The scheme was formulated in compliance with the Budget announcements (FY2021-22) by the government to give a further boost to digital transactions in the country.

(With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Cabinet nod to extension of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (Rural) for three years

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (Rural) for another three years, Union minister Anurag Thakur said. He told a media briefing on Cabinet decisions that the extension has been granted beyond March 2021 and till March 2024.

The scheme will ensure housing for all in rural areas, he said. A government spokesperson said the extension of the scheme will help in the construction of the remaining 155.75 lakh houses. It will help achieve the target of 2.95 crore ‘pucca’ houses.

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The total financial implication for the remaining construction stands at Rs 1,98,581 crore, the spokesperson said on Twitter.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Union Cabinet extends Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana till March 2022

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Cabinet on Wednesday extended the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) to provide relief to ration cardholders. The 5 kg free foodgrains supply will continue till March 2022.

The scheme was initially launched for three months from April 2020 to provide relief to poor people amid the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the nationwide lockdown. It has been extended several times since then. The 5 kg foodgrain per person per month is being provided over and above the normal quota under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) to more than 80 crore beneficiaries.

The PMGKAY has been extended by four months till March 2022, informed I&B Minister Anurag Singh Thakur after the Cabinet meeting. This will cost an additional Rs 53,344 crore to the exchequer, he said, adding that the total cost of PMGKAY would reach about Rs 2.6 lakh crore, including this extension.

The PMGKAY was provided for three months (April-June 2020) to ameliorate distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, with the crisis continuing, the programme was extended for another five months (July-November 2020). After the onset of the second wave of the pandemic, the PMGKAY was once again rolled out for two months (May-June 2021) and was further extended for five months (July-November 2021).

(With inputs from PTI)

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Cabinet clears bill to withdraw 3 farm laws; to be tabled in winter session

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The union cabinet has cleared the way for Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021 to be introduced and passed during winter session of Parliament.

The winter session of Parliament would commence from November 29.

Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced on the occasion of Gurupurab the government’s intention to withdraw the laws in the interest of the nation.

“I have come to tell you that we have decided to repeal the three farm laws. In the upcoming Parliament session starting at the end of this month, we will complete the constitutional process to repeal the three farm laws,” Modi had said on November 19.

PM Modi appealed to protesting farmers to call off their agitation against these reform measures and return home as he called for a new beginning. However, farmers have maintained that they will not call off their protests at Delhi border until the laws are formally repealed in Parliament. Also, they said that the protests will continue until the government makes a law on minimum support price (MSP) and removes Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra.

Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh under the aegis of various farmers unions have been protesting at the borders of the national capital since November 26 last year to demand repeal of the three farm laws. The farmers’ body said that nearly 700 farmers have been martyred in this struggle.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Farm laws repeal: Union cabinet approval likely today, bill to be introduced in winter session

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Union Cabinet is likely to give its nod for the withdrawal of three farm laws today. These bills shall then be introduced in the forthcoming session of Parliament, according to various reports available online.

The winter session of Parliament would commence from November 29.

On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced on the occasion of Gurupurab the government’s intention to withdraw the laws in the interest of the nation.

“I have come to tell you that we have decided to repeal the three farm laws. In the upcoming Parliament session starting at the end of this month, we will complete the constitutional process to repeal the three farm laws,” Modi had said on November 19.

PM Modi appealed to protesting farmers to call off their agitation against these reform measures and return home as he called for a new beginning. However, farmers have maintained that they will not call off their protests at Delhi border until the laws are formally repealed in Parliament. Also, they said that the protests will continue until the government makes a law on minimum support price (MSP) and removes Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra.

Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh under the aegis of various farmers unions have been protesting at the borders of the national capital since November 26 last year to demand repeal of the three farm laws. The farmers’ body said that nearly 700 farmers have been martyred in this struggle.

–With PTI inputs

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Union Cabinet to approve bills for withdrawal of farm laws on November 24

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Union Cabinet is likely to take up for approval the bills for withdrawal of the three farm laws on Wednesday (November 24), sources in the government said. These bills shall then be introduced in the forthcoming session of Parliament, they added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Friday announced on the occasion of Gurupurab the government’s intention to withdraw the laws in the interest of the nation. “I have come to tell you that we have decided to repeal the three farm laws. In the upcoming Parliament session starting at the end of this month, we will complete the constitutional process to repeal the three farm laws,” Modi had said on November 19.

The winter session of Parliament would commence from November 29.

Demanding the withdrawal of the laws, agitating farmers sitting at three sites on Delhi’s borders since November last year have said they will stay put till Parliament repeals these three farm laws. The government will now bring bills for the withdrawal of the three farm laws in Parliament following the prime minister’s announcement.

Also, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions, will be holding a mahapanchayat in Lucknow on Monday in a show of strength days after Modi’s announcement of repealing the three farm laws. The gathering scheduled to be held at Eco Garden in the city was planned several months before Friday’s announcement.

Farmer leaders said the protests will continue until the government makes a law on minimum support price (MSP) and removes Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra. In a tweet in Hindi on Sunday, Bhartiya Kisan Union national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said, “Chalo Lucknow Chalo Lucknow (lets go to Lucknow) for MSP Adhikaar Kisaan Mahapanchayat. The agriculture reforms being talked about are fake and cosmetic. The farm reforms are not going to stop the plight of the farmers. The biggest reform for the farmers and agriculture will be to make a law pertaining to the MSP.”

Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh under the aegis of various farmers unions have been protesting at the borders of the national capital since November 26 last year to demand repeal of the three farm laws. The farmers’ body said that nearly 700 farmers have been martyred in this struggle.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow