Page 2 - Cabinet

Best of BS Opinion: Investing for the future, Import dependence and more

Here is the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

Cabinet nod to Rs 6,456 cr multi-tracking project, two new lines across IR

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved three railway projects with a total estimated cost of Rs 6,456 crore, a statement from the Ministry of Railways said. According to the ministry, the approved projects will improve logistical efficiency by connecting the unconnected areas, increase the existing line capacity and enhance the transportation networks, resulting in streamlined supply chains and accelerated economic growth. The new line proposals will provide direct connectivity and improve mobility, providing enhanced efficiency and service reliability for the Indian Railways. The multi-tracking proposal will ease operations and reduce congestion, providing the much-required infrastructural development on the busiest sections across the Indian Railways, the ministry said. The projects are in line with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji's vision of a New India which will make people of the region 'Atmanirbhar' by way of ...

Cabinet may approve 12 new industrial cities to boost manufacturing

The Union cabinet is expected to approve this week 12 new industrial cities in different states on the lines of Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, and Dholera in Gujarat to boost domestic manufacturing, an official said. Out of the 12 industrial cities, two are coming up in Andhra Pradesh and one in Bihar, the official said. The government in the Budget has announced the development of 'plug and play' industrial parks in or near 100 cities in partnership with states and the private sector to boost manufacturing. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh earlier told PTI that eight such cities are already under different stages of implementation. Trunk infrastructure has been created in four cities - Dholera (Gujarat), Auric (Maharashtra), Vikram Udyogpuri (Madhya Pradesh) and Krishnapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and allotment of land plots is underway for the industry. Similarly, in the other four, the government's special purpose vehicl

Govt gives nod to BioE3 policy, Vigyan Dhara scheme to foster R&D

The Union Cabinet on Saturday approved the 'BioE3' (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) policy for fostering high-performance biomanufacturing of the Department of Biotechnology. According to Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the BioE3 policy seeks to include innovation-driven support for research and development and entrepreneurship across thematic sectors. This will accelerate technology development and commercialisation by establishing biomanufacturing and bio-AI hubs and biofoundry, he said. Along with prioritising regenerative bioeconomy models of green growth, this policy will facilitate the expansion of India's skilled workforce and provide a surge in job creation. An official statement said, the policy will further strengthen the government's initiatives such as a Net Zero' carbon economy and Lifestyle for Environment' and will steer India on the path of accelerated Green Growth' by promoting a Circular Bioeconomy'. "The BioE3 Polic

TN Cabinet reshuffle: I have received no such information, says CM Stalin

Amidst a strong buzz about a possible reshuffle of the cabinet led by him later on Thursday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said he has not received any such information. "I have not received" was the cryptic reply from the CM, accompanied with a smile when reporters asked him about "some information" being received about a possible shake-up of his cabinet. Media circles were abuzz on Thursday that the cabinet might be reshuffled to drop a few names and accommodate a few fresh ones, ahead of the CM's US tour next week to garner investments to the state. Talks have also been on over the possible elevation of Stalin's son and Youth Welfare and Sports Development Minister Udhayanidhi as deputy CM, although the chief minister had recently said the time was not yet ripe for the move. There has been a growing chorus in the ruling DMK for Udhayanidhi's elevation, ahead of the next Assembly polls in the state, scheduled for 2026. To a question on Union Minister L Murugan's contentio

Cabinet approves construction of 20 million new houses in rural areas

These would be at the existing per unit assistance levels of Rs 120,000 in the plains and Rs 130,000 in the hills

Cabinet approves Rs 1,765 cr clean plant programme to boost horticulture

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday approved the Clean Plant Programme (CPP) with an outlay of Rs 1,766 crore to revolutionize India's horticulture sector. The programme, proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, aims to enhance the quality and productivity of fruit crops across the nation. It was earlier announced in the Budget speech by finance minister in February 2023. Briefing the media after the meeting, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the CPP will address virus infections in horticultural crops, affecting both productivity and quality. Key components of the programme include: establishment of nine world-class Clean Plant Centres (CPCs) across India, equipped with advanced diagnostic therapeutics and tissue culture labs; and implementation of a robust certification system under the Seeds Act 1966. It also includes infrastructure support to large-scale nurseries for efficient multiplication of clean planting ...

Rajasthan Cabinet approves setting up four joint ventures in energy sector

The Rajasthan Cabinet on Saturday approved a proposal for the setting up of four joint venture companies in the energy sector, which will work on projects related to renewable and thermal power generation and transmission. The state Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma also approved the development of metro rail projects in the state. Apart from setting up joint ventures for renewable and thermal power projects and power transmission projects, the Cabinet also cleared the formation of an infrastructure investment trust, according to an official statement. Deputy Chief Minister Premchand Bairwa, Industry and Commerce Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel informed about the decisions, the statement said. Bairwa said that as per the Metro Rail Policy 2017, the proposal for the formation of a joint venture company between the central government and the state was approved. This joint venture will be for the development, operat

Lack of Muslim representation in Modi govt undemocratic: Sudhakaran

KPCC chief K Sudhakaran on Tuesday criticised the lack of Muslim representation in the third government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and claimed that this was "extremely undemocratic". In a statement, the senior Congress leader said, "It was extremely undemocratic that the country's Muslim population was completely excluded when the third Modi government came to power, with not a single MP from the BJP being from that community." Criticising Modi, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president said representation for all is a common thing in a democratic system. Referring to Modi's controversial remarks during the LS poll campaign, the Lok Sabha member from Kannur alleged that he came to power by making hate speeches. Stating that today there is a strong opposition in the country, Sudhakaran further said that the INDIA Front and the Congress, which is leading it, will move forward by bringing together all people.

Highlights of the day: Centre releases Rs 1.39 trn installment of tax devolution to states

Latest news updates: Earlier, the Supreme Court had asked AAP to vacate its office by June 15. Catch all the news updates from around the world here

BJP leader Suresh Gopi denies rumours of resigning from Modi's Cabinet

Shortly after being sworn into Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new government, actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi says he has no interest in a ministerial role

Who are the 30 Cabinet ministers in Modi's 71-strong council of ministers?

PM Modi along with 71 ministers, including 30 cabinet ministers, 5 ministers of state (Independent charge) and 36 Ministers of State (MoS) were sworn in on Sunday

JP Nadda sworn in as Cabinet Minister; who will be BJP's next president?

Modi Government 3.0: Previously speculated candidates including Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Bhupender Yadav, and CR Paatil also joined Modi's Cabinet. Here are some probable candidates for the position

Ajit Pawar's NCP faction excluded from Cabinet in Modi government 3.0

Ajit Pawar's NCP was offered one MoS Independent Charge post by the BJP government, which party leader Praful Patel called a 'demotion'

Delhi metro: Govt approves Inderlok-Indraprastha, Lajpat Nagar-Saket links

At an estimated cost of Rs 8,399 crore, these two new metro lines will add a network covering more than 20km for commuters and is anticipated to be complete by March 2026

Pak PM Sharif recommends 19 member list to Prez Zardari for his new cabinet

Pakistan's newly elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has recommended 19 names to President Asif Ali Zardari to be inducted into the federal cabinet, and if approved the ministers would take oath on Monday, according to media reports. The 19 names, which were sent to newly elected President Zardari as part of a letter, include 12 Members of the National Assembly and 3 senators as federal ministers among others and came a day after Prime Minister Sharif held a marathon meeting, which continued late into the night, to finalise the names, the Dawn newspaper reported. Pakistan Muslim League President Shehbaz Sharif was sworn in as the 24th Prime Minister of Pakistan on February 4. "Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has suggested newly elected President Asif Ali Zardari to appoint a 19-member cabinet. According to a letter written by the premier to Zardari, the cabinet includes 12 MNAs and 3 senators as federal ministers, as well as Shaza Fatima Khawaja as a minister of state," the report .

Punjab cabinet clears excise policy, aims at over Rs 10,000 cr collections

The Punjab cabinet gave its nod on Saturday to the excise policy for 2024-25, which is aimed at garnering revenue to the tune of more than Rs 10,000 crore from the sale of liquor. A decision to this effect was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann here. Addressing reporters here after the meeting, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the cabinet has approved the new excise policy -- the third such policy of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. "For the first time, more than Rs 10,000 crore will be generated from it," Cheema said. He said during the previous Congress regime, the revenue from liquor sale was merely Rs 6,151 crore. The new excise policy envisages allotment of liquor vends through a draw of lots, the minister said, adding that instead of 172 groups, 232 groups have been formed this time. "Liquor vends will be allotted through a draw of lots," he said. In another decision, the cabinet also gave its approval for allowing colonisers t

10K GPUs under IndiaAI mission to be in place over 18-24 months: IT secy

The graphics processing units approved under the IndiaAI Mission will be made available in the next 18-24 months, a top government official said on Friday. Speaking on the sidelines of Tie-Con Delhi-NCR, Electronics and IT Secretary S Krishnan said that the government will invite bids from the industry under the mission and provide viability gap funding for GPU-based computing infrastructure. Our target is that the GPUs under the AI machine should be available between 18 and 24 months and will not be directly available under this mission, Krishnan said. The Cabinet has approved the India AI Mission with an outlay of Rs 10,372 crore for five years to encourage AI development in the country. Under the mission. supercomputing capacity, comprising over 10,000 GPUs (graphics processing units), will be made available to various stakeholders for creating an AI ecosystem. The demand for GPU-based servers has increased as they can process data at a higher speed compared to CPU-based ...

Cabinet nod for India AI mission with Rs 10,372 crore outlay for 5 years

Under India AI Mission, a key focus area is to develop high-end compute capacity within the country, for which the government will facilitate the setting up of more than 10,000 GPUs under PPP model

India's free trade agreement with EFTA likely to be signed on March 10

The Union Cabinet on Thursday discussed the proposed free trade agreement between India and four European nation bloc EFTA and the pact is likely to be inked on Sunday, said sources. The negotiations for the pact with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members -- Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland -- have concluded. The pact is expected to be signed on Sunday here, sources added. India and EFTA have been negotiating the pact, officially dubbed as Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), since January 2008 to boost economic ties. The agreement has several chapters including trade in goods, rules of origin, intellectual property rights (IPRs), trade in services, investment promotion and cooperation, trade and sustainable development, and trade facilitation. EFTA has 29 free trade agreements (FTAs) with 40 partner countries, including Canada, Chile, China, Mexico, and Korea. Under free trade pacts, two trading partners significantly reduce or eliminate .