Cabinet approves changes to Companies Bill 2008

The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for introduction of Companies Bill
2008 to replace the Companies Act 1956.

The Cabinet also accepted the recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee
to make amendments to the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority of India
Bill 2007.  This could enable setting up of Airport Economic Regulatory
Authority which will fix, review and approve tariff structure for
aronautical services and also will monitor pre-set performance standards at
Indian airports.

Approvals for an MoU between India -Norway on cooperation of fisheries and
amendment to the Plantations Labour Act 1951 were also given.

The government has also decided to distribute  "samman patras" to living
freedom fighters who are in receipt of central samman pension. The maximum
number of Samman Patras will initially be limited to 20,000.