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Cabinet clears Rs 1 lakh cr jobs-linked incentive scheme

July 2, 2025, 1:20 am

The Union Cabinet on Monday approved the rollout of the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) scheme, with an out- lay of Rs 99,446 crore, aimed at generating 3.5 crore for- mal jobs between August 1 2025 and July 31 2027.

The ELI scheme is a flag- ship component of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third-term employment agenda, which prioritises large-scale job creation, workforce formalisation and economic inclusion. Senior officials had earlier indicated that the Prime Minister had directed key ministries to align fiscal incentives with measurable employment outcomes.

With Monday’s Cabinet approval, the scheme moves from budgetary promise to full-scale policy execution. The scheme was first announced in the Union Bud- get 2024–25, presented in July 2024 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as part of a Rs 2 lakh crore employment and skilling package for youth.

The scheme is structured in two parts. Under Part A, first-time employees enter- ing the formal workforce will receive a one-time incentive equal to one month of their EPF (Employees’ Provident Fund) contribution, capped at Rs 15,000. This amount will be paid in two tranches—after six months of continuous em- ployment and again after twelve months, contingent on completion of a financial literacy course. Payments will be made through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the employee’s Aadhaar-linked EPF account.

The government estimates that 1.92 crore youth will benefit un- der this component. Under Part B, employers hiring additional workers on their EPF rolls will receive wage subsidies for up to two years. Firms with fewer than 50 employees must hire at least two new workers, while those with 50 or more must add a minimum of five to qualify. The subsidy varies by salary band: Rs 1,000 per month for salaries up to Rs 10,000; Rs 2,000 for salaries be- tween Rs 10,001 and Rs 20,000; and Rs 3,000 for salaries between Rs 20,001 and Rs 1,00,000. No incen- tive is available for salaries above Rs1 lakh per month.

This ensures inclusion of both low-income and mid- income jobs, though the fixed nature of the upper- tier subsidy may reduce proportional benefit for higher-wage hiring. For manufacturing sec- tor employers, the incentive period is extended to four years. The government expects this component to support 2.6 crore new jobs.

Subsidy payments will be credited directly to employers’ PAN-linked bank ac- counts. A central feature of the scheme is its emphasis on workforce formalization. By making EPF registration mandatory for eligibility, and requiring Aadhaar- linked identity verification and digital compliance, the scheme seeks to transition a large number of informal sector workers into the organized economy.

The inclusion of a financial litera- cy requirement is intended to instill savings discipline among first-time jobholders. The scheme’s scale and design make it one of India’s most ambitious job-linked initiatives and its end result will depend on how strictly its implementation is over- seen by the respective ministry. Globally, wage-linked hiring incentives have been deployed in countries like the United States (WOTC), United Kingdom (Kickstart Scheme), and Australia (JobMaker Hiring Credit).

However, most such programmes focus exclusively on employer-side incentives and are limited in scope or duration. India’s ELI scheme is distinctive in combining employee and employer incentives, mandating EPF-based formalisation, and layering benefits with financial literacy and digital compliance frameworks. With a four-year incentive horizon for manufacturing, it is also longer-term than many international counterparts.

The Cabinet’s clearance of the ELI scheme is widely seen as reinforcing the Modi government’s focus on job-intensive growth in its third term. By embedding incentives within formal employment structures, the scheme seeks to deliver not just immediate hiring outcomes, but lasting structural gains in India’s labour market.

PM Modi Tells Cabinet: ‘Operation Sindoor Executed Flawlessly by Armed Forces’

May 7, 2025, 1:12 pm

In a Cabinet meeting convened after the retaliatory attacks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi informed his ministers about Operation Sindoor, the pinpoint strike by Indian Armed Forces on May 7 against terrorist strongholds in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Sources have confirmed that PM Modi said the operation had been carried out ‘flawlessly’ according to previous planning. The ministers once again expressed their backing, saying the country was standing solidly behind the Prime Minister.

Earlier, the Indian Defence Forces had provided a graphic description of Operation Sindoor, which was against nine terror infrastructure, four located in Pakistan, such as Bahawalpur, Muridke, and Sialkot, and five in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The raids were conducted through precision weapons in a highly choreographed operation that included the Indian Army, the Navy, and the Air Force.

The operation was a direct retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 dead, all of whom were primarily tourists. The Ministry of Defence said that these strikes were directed at eliminating terror infrastructure run by outfits such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri characterized the strike as ‘measured, non-escalatory, proportionate, and responsible’, and said that its intention was to ‘deter and to pre-empt’ additional terror attacks. Speaking at a press conference with Col. Sofia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, Misri stated, “Our intelligence surveillance of Pakistan-based terror modules had suggested that additional attacks on India were imminent.”

He also added that there was ‘no demonstrable’ attempt by Islamabad to target terror organizations on its soil or in its controlled territory. He laid stress on urgently holding the perpetrators and masterminds of the April 22 attack accountable.

Cabinet Greenlights ₹3,985 Crore for Third Space Launch Pad at Sriharikota

January 16, 2025, 4:12 pm

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced the approval of a Rs 3,985 crore project to build a third launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, marking a significant step in strengthening India’s space exploration infrastructure. The announcement was made during a cabinet briefing on Thursday, underscoring the government’s commitment to advancing the country’s space capabilities.

The new Third Launch Pad (TLP) will be crucial in supporting the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), facilitating the launch of heavier payloads and significantly boosting the launch capacity of the LVM3 rocket. It will also enhance redundancy for the Gaganyaan missions, especially the planned Indian Crewed Moon Landing mission, and future human spaceflight programs.

Minister Vaishnaw highlighted that the new launch pad would not only address current launch needs but also offer scalable infrastructure for future space missions. The TLP will be co-located with the existing Second Launch Pad (SLP), optimizing the use of current facilities. The project is expected to be completed within 48 months, positioning India to meet the increasing demands of space exploration.

The TLP project will include the development of essential facilities such as a jet deflector, launch tower, and lightning suppression systems. It will also establish propellant storage and servicing facilities for liquid methane and cryogenic fuels, along with range systems and checkout interfaces to ensure efficient launches.

This approval is part of the government’s broader strategy to invest in India’s space sector, with several other significant initiatives receiving approval. These include the Semiconductor Unit under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), the Chandrayaan-4 mission, the Mission to Venus, and the development of next-generation satellite launch vehicles.

Other initiatives such as the Gaganyaan follow-on missions, the National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme, and the Digital Agriculture Mission were also granted approval. In total, the Cabinet has sanctioned an investment of Rs 68,405 crore for various science, technology, and space-related initiatives, demonstrating the government’s focus on bolstering India’s scientific and technological capabilities.

Himachal Cabinet expands BPL list, tackles drugs

January 9, 2025, 10:32 pm

The Himachal Pradesh cabinet on Thursday approved inclusion of families with no adult members between 18 and 59 years, headed by women or whose head has a disability of 50 per cent or more under the Below Poverty Line (BPL) list. Families that worked for at least 100 days under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) in the previous financial year and families whose earning members are suffering from chronic diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, muscular dystrophy, thalassemia or any other condition resulting in permanent disability are also included in the BPL list, a statement issued here said.

The state cabinet, in its meeting presided by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, approved the establishment of a special task force (STF) to combat drug abuse and dismantle drug trafficking and organised crime networks in the state through a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach. Besides, the cabinet has decided to promulgate an ordinance amending Schedule 1A of the Indian Stamp Act, 1899. This amendment will enable the levy of a uniform stamp duty rate of 12 per cent on transfer and lease transactions secured under Section 118(2) (H) of the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972, with prior sanction from the state government.

The cabinet gave its nod to rename the Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) as Dr Manmohan Singh Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration. It also paid tributes to the former prime minister, observed two minutes of silence in his memory and acknowledged his significant contributions to the nation and state’s development. The cabinet noted that several key projects in the state like Atal Tunnel, three medical colleges, ESIC Hospital at Ner Chowk, IIT Mandi, IIIT Una, Central University and National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Kangra were realised due to Singh’s vision and support.

‘I Won’t Invite..’ Trump Drops 2 Key MAGA Figures From Cabinet: Who Are They And Why

November 10, 2024, 8:48 am

Donald Trump, recently re-elected as the 47th President of the United States, announced on Saturday night that former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will not be part of his future administration. In a post on Truth Social, Trump shared that while he appreciated their previous service, he has decided not to include them in his administration-in-formation. “I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our Country,” Trump wrote, reaffirming his commitment to “Make America Great Again.”

The decision not to include Haley and Pompeo is seen as part of Trump’s broader vision for his second term. Trump, who defeated Democratic opponent Kamala Harris on November 5, becomes only the second U.S. president to serve non-consecutive terms, after Grover Cleveland.

HAVE A LOOK AT THE VIRAL POST OF TRUMP:

I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to join the Trump Administration, which is currently in formation. I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to…

— Donald Trump Nation (@DonaldTrumpNat) November 10, 2024

Trump’s Rocky History with Haley and Pompeo

Haley’s exclusion follows a complicated history with Trump. Though she endorsed him just before the election, her prior run against him and occasional criticisms likely contributed to Trump’s decision. During her campaign for the GOP primary, Haley expressed reservations about Trump, though she ultimately declared him “clearly the better choice” over Harris in a Wall Street Journal op-ed.

Pompeo, who endorsed Trump for 2024, also faced skepticism from some MAGA supporters. His perceived lack of strong support for Trump during recent controversies and his endorsement of special counsel Jack Smith’s classified documents investigation garnered mixed reactions. Despite these issues, Pompeo voiced his alignment with Trump’s vision, signing a letter with over 400 other signatories to emphasize concerns about the Biden administration’s policies on national security. The October letter expressed grave concerns about escalating conflicts and security challenges under the current administration.

Trump’s decision appears to mark a shift towards a team that more fully aligns with his vision for the 2025 administration, as he prepares for his unprecedented second term.

Australia’s Prime Minister Announces Cabinet Reshuffle Amid Senior Ministers’ Retirement Plans

July 28, 2024, 4:27 pm

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a cabinet reshuffle on Sunday following the retirement plans of two senior ministers. This marks the first reshuffle since the centre-left Labor Party came to power in May 2022, as Albanese aims to refresh his team ahead of the next general election expected in 2025.

In a televised media conference in Canberra, Albanese stated, “I would expect that this is the team that I will take to the election when it is held sometime in the future.”

Key changes in the reshuffle include Tony Burke, currently arts minister, assuming the significant portfolios of home affairs, immigration and multicultural affairs, and cyber security. Clare O’Neil will shift from home affairs and cyber security to housing and homelessness, remaining in the cabinet. Meanwhile, immigration minister Andrew Giles will move to skills and training, no longer holding a cabinet position.

Northern Territory Senator Malarndirri McCarthy will take over as minister for indigenous Australians.

The reshuffle follows announcements from long-serving Labor ministers Brendan O’Connor and Linda Burney, who declared they would retire at the next election. Albanese praised both O’Connor and Burney for their “extraordinary contribution” to the nation over a long period.

Pakistan: Syed Murad Ali Shah appoints 8 New Ministers

April 17, 2024, 10:31 pm

The Chief Minister of Sindh province in Pakistan, Syed Murad Ali Shah, expanded his cabinet by appointing eight additional ministers, as reported by ARY News. Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori administered the oath to these new ministers at the Governor House.

The recently appointed ministers comprise Jam Ikramullah Khan Dharejo, Muhammad Ali Malkani, Makhdoom Mehboob Zaman, Dost Muhammad Rahimoon, Shahid Abdul Salam Tahim, Riaz Hussain Shah Shirazi, Shahina Sher Ali, and Mir Tariq Ali Talpur.

Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah, CM Advisor Ahsan Mazari, Najmi Alam, Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, along with provincial secretaries, were reportedly in attendance during the ceremony, as per ARY News.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah extended his congratulations to the recently sworn-in ministers. With the addition of eight new ministers, the Sindh cabinet now totals 20 members, following the swearing-in of 12 ministers on March 12.

Azra Fazal Pechuhu, Syed Sardar Shah, Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Jam Khan Shoro, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Saeed Ghani, Ali Hassan Zardari, Sardar Bux Mahar, Zulfikar Shah, Sharjeel Inam Memon, Ahsan Mazari, and Babul are already serving as members of the Sindh cabinet.

According to Dawn, earlier last month, only one woman secured a position in Sindh’s 13-member cabinet, highlighting a significant gender imbalance in the provincial leadership.

In the initial phase, nine members of the 13-member cabinet, many of whom had previously served in Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah’s administration, were sworn in at the Governor House.

Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori presided over the oath-taking ceremony, which was attended by the chief minister and senior bureaucrats. Dawn reported that this time, only one woman was among those appointed to the provincial cabinet.

The recently sworn-in cabinet members include Sharjeel Inam Memon, Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Saeed Ghani, Jam Khan Shoro, Ziaul Hussain Lanjar, Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Mahar, and Ali Hassan Zardari.

Zulfiqar Ali Shah was unable to take the oath as he was reportedly in Islamabad. Nine ministers were sworn in, and three advisers were appointed, with Minister Zulfiqar Shah scheduled to take the oath later.

In addition, the chief minister appointed three advisers: Allah Dino Khan Bhayo, Ehsan ur Rehman Mazari, and Syed Najmi Alam. The portfolios for ministers and advisers were also assigned by the chief minister.

Pakistan: PM Shehbaz Sharif’s Cabinet to Swear In Today

March 11, 2024, 1:30 pm

According to sources cited by Geo News, Pakistan’s federal cabinet is scheduled to be sworn in on Monday after several days of consultations on its composition.

As per sources, the oath-taking event is slated to occur at the President’s House, with newly elected President Asif Ali Zardari overseeing the oath. Initially, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif planned for a compact cabinet; however, additional ministers are set to be inducted in the subsequent phase, the sources disclosed.

According to the sources, former finance minister Ishaq Dar is expected to assume the role of foreign minister in the upcoming cabinet, while Tariq Fatemi will be sworn in as a special assistant to the prime minister on foreign affairs.

Additionally, Aurangzeb Khan is set to oversee the Finance Ministry, while former Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi will take charge of the Interior Ministry, as reported by Geo News. Furthermore, the Ministry of Law is expected to be entrusted to veteran Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Azam Tarar. Attaullah Tarar is slated to become the information minister, and Khawaja Asif will lead the Defense Ministry, according to the sources.

According to the sources, the Petroleum Ministry portfolio will be assigned to Musadik Malik, and Shaza Fatima Khawaja will head the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication. Additionally, Ahad Cheema is set to be appointed as an adviser to the prime minister for the Establishment Division. Former Balochistan CM Jam Kamal and PML-Quaid’s Chaudhry Salik Hussain are also reported to join the federal cabinet, as per Geo News.

IPP leader Abdul Aleem Khan and PML-N politician Amir Muqam are anticipated to be included in the federal cabinet as well.
Furthermore, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) is set to be allocated two ministries in the federal cabinet.

The oath ceremony follows a week after Prime Minister Shehbaz took office as the 24th premier of the country, while President Zardari was sworn in as the head of state just a day earlier.

Chhattisgarh cabinet expansion: Nine BJP MLAs take oath as ministers

December 23, 2023, 5:27 am

Nine ministers were on Friday inducted into the Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai-led cabinet in Chhattisgarh, taking its strength to 12. Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan administered oath of office and secrecy to nine MLAs, including a woman lawmaker, during a function held here at Raj Bhavan.
Two deputy chief ministers – Arun Sao and Vijay Sharma – had earlier taken oath on December 13 when Sai was sworn in as the chief minister.

IAS-turned-politician OP Choudhary, Tank Ram Verma and Laxmi Rajwade, all first-time MLAs, and second-time legislators Shyam Bihari Jaiswal and Lakhanlal Dewangan have also been appointed as ministers.
CM Sai, his predecessor Bhupesh Baghel and assembly speaker Raman Singh were present on the occasion. After this expansion, the cabinet has six members belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBC), three from the Scheduled Tribes, one from the Scheduled Caste and two from the general category. Rajwade is the only woman member in the cabinet. The portfolios of the ministers are yet to be announced.

The Chhattisgarh cabinet can have 13 ministers at most, including the chief minister. The state has 90 assembly seats.
The BJP came back to power in the state by ousting the Congress in the assembly polls held on November 7 and 17, whose results were declared on December 3.

Cabinet approves Garib Kalyan food grain programme for next 5 years

November 29, 2023, 2:13 pm

Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over a union cabinet meeting on Wednesday that approved a five-year extension of the federal government’s public distribution program’s free grain distribution to eligible citizens.
At the onset of the Covid pandemic, the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana was launched, granting ration card holders an extra five kilograms of grains (either rice or wheat, depending on their preference). Additionally, as part of the supplementary food distribution program, chana was also being offered.
Prime Minister Modi himself stated at his election rallies earlier this month that the center intends to prolong the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana.

The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) was launched in April 2020 with the specific purpose of ameliorating the hardships faced by the poor and needy due to economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
Initially, in 2020-21, the PMGKAY scheme was announced only for a period of three months (April- June 2020), however, it was extended until December 2022 in seven consecutive phases.
It benefitted 80 crore beneficiaries.
During an election rally in Durg on November 4, Chhattisgarh the Prime Minister had made the announcement of the decision to extend the free ration scheme.

Cabinet approves highest remunerative price ever for sugarcane farmers

June 28, 2023, 8:10 pm

Union Minister Anurag Thakur said here on Wednesday that the union cabinet has approved a fair and remunerative price for sugarcane farmers of Rs 315 per quintal, the highest ever.

He stated that sugar procurement has increased to Rs 1,13,000 crore, with total procurement totaling Rs 7,86,066 crore from 2014 to 23. Addressing a press conference, the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister said, “PM Modi has always been in support of farmers, that’s why the ministry was named ‘Agriculture and Farmers Welfare’. The cabinet has approved the highest-ever fair and remunerative price of Rs 315/quintal for sugarcane farmers for the sugar season 2023-24.”

“The decision will benefit 5 crore sugarcane farmers and their dependents, as well as 5 lakh workers employed in the sugar mills and related ancillary activities,” he added.

In comparison to previous governments, the Union Minister stated that the BJP government has made timely payments to sugarcane farmers.

“In 2013-14, the rate was Rs 210 per quintal, with a total procurement of around Rs 97,104 crore.” Under the BJP government, it has risen to Rs 1,13,000 crore. The total procurement under the UPA regime was Rs 2,71,204 crore. While procurement of Rs 7,86,066 crore has already been completed for 2014-23. Sugarcane farmers had to block roads and protest for their payments at the time. However, in recent years, all payments have been made on time, and all backlogs have been cleared,” he said.

He went on to say that the scheme of mixing ethanol with crude oil has also proven to be beneficial in a variety of ways.

“Prime Minister Modi has emphasized the importance of blending ethanol with crude oil, as well as gasoline and diesel.” Rs 20,500 crore has been set aside for this purpose. This demonstrates that they now have more cash; previously, they were overstocked and farmers did not receive payments. It has strengthened our Atmanirbharta, reduced the use of foreign exchange, and fueled the growth of the ethanol sector,” Thakur added.

Odisha:Three new members of the CM Naveen Patnaik’s cabinet were sworn in today

May 22, 2023, 11:25 am

Bikram Keshari Arukha, a former speaker of the Odisha Assembly, was one of three new ministers sworn in on Monday to the Naveen Patnaik-led government in Odisha.Governor Ganeshi Lal administered the oath to the new ministers – Arukha and two senior BJD MLAs Sarada Prashad Nayak and Sudam Marandi at the Convention Centre of Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar in the presence of Patnaik. The rejig of the Council of Ministers comes ahead of next year’s Assembly and General Elections.
This will be Patnaik’s second Cabinet reshuffle in his fifth term as the chief minister of Odisha.
The Cabinet reshuffle was necessitated after Odisha Speaker Arukha and two cabinet ministers had resigned from their respective posts earlier this month citing personal reasons.

In addition, one position remained unfilled following the January murder of Health and Family Welfare Minister Naba Kishore Das.
Samir Ranjan Dash and Srikant Sahu, two Cabinet Ministers, also tendered their resignations shortly after the Speaker did.
While Srikant Sahu oversaw the state’s Ministry of Labour, Samir Ranjan Dash served as Minister of State for the Ministry of Schools and Mass Education.

On May 15, the day of her late father’s birthday, Deepali Das, a newly elected MLA of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the daughter of murdered Odisha Minister Naba Kishore Das, took the oath of office. After defeating BJP candidate Tankadhar Tripathy, she won the Jharsuguda by-election.
Deepali was fielded by the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

Cabinet reshuffle: Kiren Rijiju replaced as Union Law Minister by Arjun Ram Meghwal

May 18, 2023, 10:53 am

According to a statement from the President’s Secretariat on Thursday, Arjun Ram Meghwal has taken Kiren Rijiju’s place as the Union and Justice Minister in a significant Cabinet shift.

Meghwal will also get existing portfolios of Rijiju apart from the Law and Justice Ministry as a part of this reshuffle. Kiren Rijijiu has meanwhile been assigned to the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
“The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has been pleased to direct the following reallocation of portfolios among Ministers in the Union Council of Ministers, the portfolio of Ministry of Earth Sciences be assigned to Kiren Rijiju and Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State be assigned the independent charge as Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice in addition to his existing portfolios, in place of Shri Kiren Rijiju,” the communique added.
Rijiju took over as the Law and Justice Minister on July 8, 2021. He had served as the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Youth Affairs and Sports from May 2019 to July 2021.

Nepal PM is planning for the seven cabinet reshuffle since coming to power

March 31, 2023, 3:14 pm

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, aka “Prachanda,” has reached the President’s office with the list of ministers who will be sworn in today, the PM Secretariat sources told. The Prime Minister of the Himalayan nation planned the 7th Cabinet reshuffle after coming to power last December.

Abdul Khan, who was supposed to remain the Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation from the Janamat Party, has now tendered his resignation to Dahal, expressing dissatisfaction over the allocation of ministries in the 7th round of cabinet reshuffle within the last three months.

A new coalition of 10 parties was formed after the PM took the vote of confidence on March 20 and had to expand the cabinet because two other parties deserted the earlier coalition.
Prime Minister Dahal is planning to swear in all the ministers by 3 PM (local time) today, the PM Secretariat sources confirmed.

With swearing-in set for 3 PM (NST), the final name list of the ministers is yet to be ascertained. Till 2 PM (NST), Dahal has planned to induct Purna Bahadur Khadka, Prakash Sharan Mahat, Ramesh Rijal, and Sita Gurung onto the cabinet.

Khadka will be taking the post of Deputy Prime Minister as well as Defence Minister, Mahat as Finance Minister, Rijal as Industry, Trade, and Commerce Minister, and Gurung as Urban Development Minister.

From the Maoist Centre, Narayan Kaji Shrestha will be assigned as Home Minister as well as the Deputy Prime Minister. Shakti Basnet will serve as Energy Minister, while Rekha Sharma will remain in the post as Communications Minister. Likewise, Sudan Kirati will continue as Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Minister, and Amanlal Modi will be assigned to the Ministry of Federal Affairs.

From the CPN- Unified Socialist Party, Beduram Bhusal will be the Agriculture Minister, and Prakash Jwala will become the Physical Infrastructure Minister. Ashok Rai from the Janata Samajbadi party will be education minister, while Sharad Singh Bhandari from the Loktantrik Samajbadi party will be the labour minister.

Ranjita Shrestha from the Nagarik Unmukti Party will be the land reform minister, while Mahindra Raya Yadav will be the minister for women, children, and senior citizens. A week after securing the confidence of the House for the second time, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is still struggling to expand his cabinet.

And it may take a few more days for the prime minister to appoint the ministers if the statements of key leaders of the coalition partners are to be believed, the Kathmandu Post reported. As Dahal has been overseeing 16 ministries on his own, it shows the complexity of power sharing among the coalition partners.

CABINET GIVES NOD TO NEW INDUSTRIAL POLICY, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT POLICY 2022

February 5, 2023, 1:52 pm

After much criticism on Punjab Industrialists’ investment in Uttar Pradesh, the Punjab Cabinet led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday approved the New industrial and Business Development Policy, 2022 (IBDP2022) which shall be effective from 17 October, 2022. A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of the Cabinet held under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister here at his office in Punjab Civil Secretariat. Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the new policy will be applicable for 5 years from 17 October, 2022 and will spur the Industrial Development in the State leading to more employment opportunities to the youth of the State.

As per the new policy, the state will develop 15 Industrial Parks covering general and sector specific requirements of various Industrial Sector and 20 rural clusters across the state and will also allow setting up of dedicated country specific integrated Industrial Township to attract investment by allowing the infrastructure and other norms of the country.

The policy also envisages that Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC) will be strengthened and an online system for all the Estate Management services in a time bound manner shall be developed. The issuance of notification by the Department of Power for the incentive of electricity duty exemption shall be made online and time bound through Invest Punjab Business First Portal (IPBFP).

In order to give a boost to the MSME sector, the state under the new policy will set up a MSME Punjab, as a dedicated wing of the Department of Industries & Commerce with a focus on setting up a common facility and technology centre. For MSMEs, the state will also implement the World Bank assisted GoI scheme namely Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP). Likewise, the state will also strengthen start-up Punjab to promote innovation and startups in the state through Punjab Innovation Mission with a special focus on Women/SC/Other Entrepreneurship.

Policy envisages that variable power tariff shall be freezed for five years @ Rs.5.50 Per KVAH and shall be applicable for manufacturing units/IT/ITeS Unit in the approved Industrial Park/Amusement park/ Adventure Parks developed on minimum area of 50 acres. The policy also provides attractive fiscal incentives for ultra-mega/mega projects, anchor unit, large units, MSMEs and incentives for rehabilitation of Sick Large units /MSMEs, Special Incentives for Units in border zone, Startup/incubators and first two units in border zone in each sector of manufacturing and service.

Anurag Thakur to brief on Cabinet decisions

January 4, 2023, 2:53 pm

Union Minister Shri Anurag Singh Thakur is to brief the press on Cabinet decisions at 3 pm on Wednesday at National Media Centre New Delhi.

Gujarat cabinet likely to expand after Makarsankranti: Sources

January 4, 2023, 10:48 am

Following Makarsankranti, the Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel’s administration will likely to expand. The cabinet will include two cabinet members and three ministers of state, sources said.

CM Nitish Kumar to hold cabinet meeting

December 20, 2022, 9:42 am

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar called a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. The meeting will be held from 4:30 pm in the main secretariat. Meanwhile, all ministers of the Nitish cabinet will be present in the meeting.

Bhupendra Patel will be Gujarat’s chief minister; to take oath on 12 December

December 10, 2022, 9:18 am

Bhupendra Patel has been elected as the leader of the BJP legislative party in Gujarat. Bhupendra Patel will take oath on 12 December.

Meanwhile, for the selection of the new Gujarat chief minister a meeting of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs in Gujarat was going to select a new legislative party leader, at the BJP’s state headquarters ‘Kamalam’.

Earlier after making a historic win in Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party was supposed to hold a meeting on Saturday with all BJP MLAs in Gandhinagar to pick a name for the chief minister’s post.

Earlier on Friday, Bhupendra Patel resigned along with his entire current cabinet ahead of the formation of the new government in the state.

The central observer of the meeting will be Senior BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, BS Yediyurappa, and Arjun Munda.

Moreover, the new leader of the assembly will be elected in the meeting of the legislative party. State President CR Patil sent a letter to all the elected MLAs.

However, the oath-taking ceremony will take place at 2 pm on Monday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah.

Earlier on Thursday BJP gained a majority in the Gujarat Assembly election 2022 by getting 156 seats. Exit polls also predicted a return of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Gujarat by breaking all the records by the ruling party and BJP did that.

The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) leads in 156 seats, Congress in 17 seats, Aam Aadmi Party in 5 seats, and Others in 3 seats. In this election, many new faces were seen such as Rivaba Jadeja, Alpesh Thakur, Shankar Chaudhary, Darshana Shah, Amit Thakkar, and Hardik Patel.

One of the leaders said, “The new cabinet will be a mix of various caste and district representations.”

The party’s chief whip Pankaj Desai said, ‘The governor has accepted the resignation of the chief minister and his cabinet. Till the formation of a new government, Patel will remain the caretaker chief minister.”

The new government oath ceremony will take place on Monday at the Helipad Ground in Gandhinagar.

“The meeting of MLAs will be held at 10 am on Saturday at the party headquarters ‘Kamalam’ in Gandhinagar. The Governor will be informed about the election of a new leader in the afternoon, for which we have sought time from him. The swearing-in of the new chief minister and his cabinet will take place as per the Governor’s instructions,” Desai said.

Since 1995 Bharatiya Janata Party has not lost an election in Gujarat. BJP party has been in power and Narendra Modi is the longest-serving chief minister of the state. In 2017 BJP won 99 seats out of 182 seats.

South Africa seeks cabinet approval for a $8.5 billion climate plan to reduce coal use

October 6, 2022, 11:42 am

In order to secure funding from some of the world’s wealthiest nations, South Africa’s government will seek cabinet approval for a $8.5 billion plan to transition away from the use of coal to generate electricity.

According to Vincent Magwenya, a spokesman for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, a second draught of the investment plan has been completed and is being shared with “key stakeholders” before being submitted to cabinet.

The development is a significant step toward completing the pact with the funding partners – the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, France, and the European Union – that was first announced at the COP26 international climate summit in Glasgow last year.

The plan “outlines the investments required to achieve South Africa’s ambitious climate targets,” Magwenya said in a response to a query. “The objective remains to complete this process by COP27,” which will take place in Egypt in November, he said.

South Africa’s landmark climate finance agreement has been hailed as a model for assisting other coal-dependent developing countries in transitioning to cleaner energy, with Indonesia and Vietnam among the nations set to sign similar agreements. Its fate could have repercussions at COP27, which is expected to focus on the needs of poorer countries adapting to global warming.

The plan outlines how the funds will be spent, with the investment partners focusing on converting coal-fired power plants owned by state utility Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. to produce renewable energy. South Africa is also advocating for funding to support the development of green hydrogen and electric vehicle industries.

People familiar with the discussions previously told Bloomberg News that the plan had been submitted but declined to say what was in it because no public announcement had been made.

The funding talks have stalled in recent weeks, with US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry urging President Ramaphosa to move forward with the agreement and South African Environment Minister Barbara Creecy bemoaning its complexity.

South Africa is the world’s 13th largest source of climate-warming greenhouse gases, relying on coal for more than 80% of its electricity.

Cabinet alters 14 political parties’ land allocation category

September 22, 2022, 2:52 pm

According to a senior official in the Union housing and urban affairs (MoHUA) ministry, the Union cabinet has approved a proposal to change the category of land allotted to political parties for their offices from institutional to central government-to-government. This decision will benefit 14 political parties, including the BJP and the Congress, who owe the Centre between 100 and 150 crore rupees.

The proposal to change the category from institutional to central government-to-government was approved by the cabinet on September 7,” said a MoHUA official.

According to the official, these political parties received land allocations between 2000 and 2017 at institutional land rates from before 2000. The allotment was made with the understanding that the parties would be responsible for covering the difference in land rates once they were updated, an activity that was started in 2017, he continued.

According to another official, various political groups have expressed concerns about an increase in land rates. The land rates will be significantly decreased when the cabinet approves the change in land category, giving relief to these parties.

Union Cabinet approves Pradhan Mantri Schools For Rising India Yojana

September 7, 2022, 4:47 pm

The Union Cabinet has approved the Pradhan Mantri Schools For Rising India (PM-SHRI) Yojana, which will upgrade 14,500 schools across the country to PM-SHRI schools. “Over 14,000 schools, including Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas, will be strengthened to become PM-SHRI schools,” Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education, said on Wednesday.

These schools will be model schools, embodying the spirit of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement on September 5, on the occasion of Teachers’ Day. “Today, on #TeachersDay, I am pleased to announce a new initiative – the development and improvement of 14,500 schools across India through the Pradhan Mantri Schools For Rising India (PM-SHRI) Yojana.” These will become model schools that embody the spirit of the NEP,” PM Modi said in a series of tweets.

According to the Prime Minister, the PM-SHRI schools will take a modern, transformational, and holistic approach to education. “They will emphasise a learning-centred, discovery-oriented approach to teaching.”

“In recent years, the National Education Policy has transformed the education sector. I am certain that the PM-SHRI schools will further benefit lakhs of students across India in the spirit of NEP,” he added.

According to the education ministry, these schools will be equipped with modern infrastructure such as labs, smart classrooms, libraries, sports equipment, and art rooms, among other things, and will be inclusive and accessible. They will also be developed as “green schools,” with water conservation, waste recycling, energy-efficient infrastructure, and the integration of an organic lifestyle into the curriculum.

As per the vision of NEP 2020, they will provide leadership in their respective regions in providing high-quality education in an equitable, inclusive, and joyful school environment that takes care of children’s diverse backgrounds, multilingual needs, and different academic abilities and makes them active participants in their own learning process.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar expands his cabinet; RJD gets major share

August 16, 2022, 6:30 pm

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has divided the ministries after the expansion of the cabinet on Tuesday. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has kept the Home, Surveillance, Election, and General Administration departments with him.

The same Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav has got the Ministry of Health, Road Construction, Rural Development, and Urban Development and Housing.

Meanwhile, Vijay Kumar Choudhary has been given the Ministry of Finance, Commercial Taxes, and Parliamentary Affairs. Vijendra Prasad Yadav has got the Ministry of Power and Planning and Development. Alok Mehta has been given the Ministry of Revenue and Land Reforms.

Lalu Yadav’s elder son Tej Pratap Yadav has been given the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Yadav was the Health Minister in the Mahagathbandhan government formed in 2015.

Moreover, Animal and Fisheries Resources to Mohd. Afaq Alam, Building Construction to Ashok Choudhary, Rural Development to Shravan Kumar, Cooperatives to Surendra Prasad Yadav, Food and Consumer Protection to Lashi Singh, Social Welfare to Madan Sahni, Tourism to Kumar Sarvjeet, Lalit Yadav has been given Public Health Engineering and Santosh Kumar Suman has been given the Ministry of Scheduled Castes/Tribes Welfare.

Furthermore, Sanjay Jha has been made Minister of Water Resources and Ministry of Information and Public Relations. Sheela Kumari has been made Transport Minister, Sameer Kumar as Mahaseth as Industries minister, Chandrashekhar as Education minister, Sumit Kumar Singh as Science and Technology minister, and Sunil Singh as Prohibition, Excise and Registration Minister.

However, Anita Devi has been made Backward Class Welfare Minister, Jitendra Kumar Rai as Art, Culture and Youth Minister, Jayant Raj as Minor Water Resources minister, Sudhakar Singh as Agriculture minister, Jama Khan as Minority Welfare minister, Murari Prasad Gautam as Panchayati Raj minister, Karthik Kumar as Law minister, Shamim Ahmed has been given sugarcane industry, Shahnawaz has been given disaster management, Surendra Ram has been given labor resources and Mo. Israel Ansari as Ministry of Information Technology minister. These ministries are allocated by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

While expanding his cabinet on Tuesday, Nitish Kumar included a total of 31 ministers in his cabinet. Earlier in the day, the 31 ministers took the oath administrated by Bihar Governor Phagu Chauhan at Raj Bhavan.

Rs 1.64 lakh crore revival package for BSNL, approves Cabinet

July 27, 2022, 6:08 pm

The Union Cabinet approved Rs 1.64 lakh crore revival package for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) on Wednesday.

Addressing a media briefing Union Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics, and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “It is a combination of cash support and non-cash support.”

“The attrition of customers has stopped. Revenue which was going down has become stable at Rs 19,000 crore,” Ashwini added.

Earlier in 2019, the package announced by the government helped BSNL stabilize its financial conditions.

Elaborating on the package the minister said the revival package has three elements, to improve services, de-stress the balance sheet, and expansion of fiber network.

Moreover, the proposal to merge Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) with BSNL has been approved by the Union Cabinet. Through this merge, BSNL will get an additional 5.67 lakh kilometers of optical fiber. This has been laid across 1.85 lakh village panchayats in the country using the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).