Here are the key initiatives that won the Union Cabinet’s endorsement:
Kovind Panel Report on ‘One Nation, One Election’
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday unanimously approved the recommendations of the high-level committee on “One Nation, One Election”.
The committee, headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind, submitted its report before the Lok Sabha elections were announced in March.
The approval of the report is part of the Law Ministry’s 100-day agenda and has been submitted to the Cabinet for consideration. The committee’s main recommendation is to hold simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly elections as a first step, followed by simultaneous local body polls within 100 days.
The group also recommended the establishment of an “implementation group”. The group will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of proposed electoral reforms and ensuring a smooth transition to a “one country, one election” system.
New Moon Mission-Chandrayaan-4
The Indian government has given the green light to the new lunar mission “Chandrayaan-4”, which aims to demonstrate and perfect the technologies required to safely land Indian astronauts on the moon and bring them back to Earth. The mission, approved by India’s federal cabinet on Wednesday, is a key step towards India’s goal of sending astronauts to the lunar surface by 2040.
Chandrayaan-4 will focus on key technologies such as docking, detachment, landing and safe return to Earth. In addition, the mission will involve collecting and analyzing lunar samples to further expand our understanding of the moon’s composition and potential resources.
The estimated cost of this technology demonstration mission is Rs 2,104.06 crore.
Working together with industry partners and academic institutions, the mission is expected to be completed within 36 months of approval.
Subsidy of Rs 24,475 crore for P&K fertilizers during Rabi season
The Union Cabinet has approved a subsidy of Rs 24,474.53 crore for phosphate and potash fertilizers for the 2024-25 rabi season. The decision was taken to ensure farmers have access to crop nutrients at affordable prices. Nutrient Base Subsidy (NBS) rates for P&K Fertilizers for the 2024 rabi season (from October 2024 to March 2025) have been approved.
According to an official statement, the tentative budget requirement for Eid 2024 is approximately Rs 24,475.53 crore. The government aims to ensure that farmers have access to fertilizers at subsidized, affordable and reasonable prices. Through fertilizer manufacturers and importers, the government provides 28 grades of P&K fertilizers to farmers at subsidized prices.
Since April 1, 2010, P&K fertilizer subsidies have been uniformly managed by the National Bureau of Statistics. This recent decision by the government is expected to benefit farmers by ensuring adequate supply of essential crop nutrients at affordable prices during the upcoming Rabi season.
Continue implementation of PM-AASHA to ensure better prices to farmers
The cabinet also approved the extension of PM-AASHA scheme and allocated a budget of Rs 35,000 crore. This measure aims to ensure that farmers get a fair price for their produce while managing price fluctuations of essential commodities for the benefit of consumers. “The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Annadada Aay Samlaxhan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) scheme,” an official said. , providing remunerative prices to farmers and controlling price fluctuations of essential commodities for consumers.
According to the statement, the financial outlay of the scheme is expected to be Rs 35,000 crore during the 15th Finance Commission cycle, which will last till 2025-26. To simplify and optimize the benefits of farmers and consumers, the government has brought Price Support Scheme (PSS) and Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) schemes under the PM-AASHA framework.
Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan
The Union Cabinet has approved the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan, a comprehensive initiative aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of tribal communities across the country. The total outlay of the scheme is Rs 79,156 crore, of which the central share is Rs 56,333 crore and the state share is Rs 22,823 crore, with focus on providing saturation coverage to tribal families living in tribal majority villages and aspirational areas.
Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan will be far-reaching and cover 549 districts and 2,740 blocks in all tribal-majority villages in 30 states and Union Territories.
“Bio-RIDE” program supports biotechnology research and development
The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of two flagship schemes under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). These programs have been merged into a single program called Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (Bio-RIDE), which introduces a new component focused on biofabrication and biocasting.
The Bio-RIDE program aims to accelerate research efforts, facilitate product development and bridge the gap between academic research and industrial applications. By integrating two existing schemes and introducing biomanufacturing and biocasting components, the government aims to create a comprehensive ecosystem to support the growth and advancement of the Indian biotech industry.
