In order to increase the supply of pulses in the domestic market, the government today extended the ban on exports and continuation of import duty exemption till March-2010.
"The decision today is to extend zero duty on import of pulses for one more year beyond March 31, 2009," Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters after the Cabinet meeting. The Union Cabinet has also decided to extend the ban on exporting all varieties of pulses except kabuli chana for one more year, effective from April 1, 2009, to March 31, 2010.
The government is hoping to control the prices of pulses through the combination of duty-free import and ban on export. As per latest numbers, inflation rate for pulses were at 13.09 per cent for the week ended February 28 this year, even as overall inflation has dropped below 3 per cent level.
A decision was also taken to distribute imported pulses through the public distribution system for six more months in the Cabinet meeting today chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Among other decisions, the government gave its approval for issuing notifications for the commencement of general elections to the Lok Sabha, which would take place in five phases starting from April 16.
The notifications would be issued on March 23, March 28, April 2, April 7 and April 17, Chidambaram told reporters. The Election Commission had announced the schedule for General Elections as well as to the Legislative Assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Sikkim to be held on April 16, April 23, April 30, May 7 and May 13.
The Cabinet approved the proposal to continue India's participation in the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) beyond April 2008.BOBP-IGO has been functioning in India since April 2003 to develop fisheries in the Bay of Bengal region with its head office in Chennai. The other members of BOBP-IGO are - Bangadesh, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka. India would continue to contribute US $ 60,000 for this
A decision to impose the President's Rule in Meghalaya was also taken in the Cabinet meeting. The Centre had received a report from Governor R S Moosahary about breakdown of the Constitutional machinery in the state and recommended President's rule. "After taking note of what happened in the Meghalaya state assembly yesterday, the governor has reported that there is a breakdown of Constitutional machinery and recommended imposition of President's Rule and keeping the assembly in suspended animation," Home Minister P Chidambaram said and added that the governor's report was accepted by the Cabinet and a suitable recommendation was being sent to the President.