Cabinet Meeting

Cabinet approves ₹1 trn Urban Challenge Fund for market-led urban growth

The Union Cabinet has approved the launch of the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) with a total central assistance of Rs 1 lakh crore, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Saturday. Under the scheme, central assistance will cover 25 per cent of a project's cost, provided that at least 50 per cent of the funding is mobilised from the market. In a statement, the government said the initiative will lead to a total investment of Rs 4 lakh crore in the urban sector over the next five years. The move marks a paradigm shift in India's urban new development approach from grant-based financing to a market-linked, reform-driven and outcome-oriented infrastructure creation, it said. The UCF will leverage market financing, private sector participation and citizen-centric reforms to deliver high-quality urban infrastructure, it said. The fund aims to build resilient, productive, inclusive and climate-responsive cities, positioning them as key drivers of the country's next phase of economic growth,

Cabinet approves three multi-tracking railway projects worth ₹18,509 cr

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved three projects of the Railway Ministry entailing a cost of approximately Rs 18,509 crore. These projects include the construction of third and fourth lines between Kasara-Manmad, Delhi-Ambala, and Ballari-Hosapete. "The increased line capacity will significantly enhance mobility, resulting in improved operational efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways," the government said in a statement on Saturday. "These multi-tracking proposals are poised to streamline operations and alleviate congestion. The projects are in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a New India, which will make people in the region 'Atmanirbhar' through comprehensive development that enhances employment and self-employment opportunities," it added. According to the statement, the projects are planned under the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, with a focus on enhancing multi-modal ...

PM Modi to chair last Cabinet meeting in South Block before PMO shift

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a special meeting of the Union Cabinet at South Block on Friday, the last such gathering at the British-era secretariat building before the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) shifts to its new complex, 'Seva Teerth'. Official sources confirmed this will be the Cabinet's final meeting in the PMO located in the imperial complex designed by British architect Herbert Baker in the early 1900s to meet the requirements of the British Raj. The cabinet meeting, scheduled for 4 pm on Friday, will be followed by the PMO's relocation to 'Seva Teerth'. The move will mark the end of an era, as all government departments vacate the North and South blocks -- the seat of power since 1921. The government plans to convert the iconic buildings into the 'Yuge Yugeen Bharat National Museum', a world-class museum tracing India's civilisational journey. The relocation is part of the government's broader initiative to decolonise India's administrative architecture and ...

Cabinet approves ₹7,280 crore plan to build rare earth magnet capacity

The Cabinet has approved the scheme to develop 6,000 mtpa of integrated rare earth permanent magnet capacity, aiming to strengthen critical minerals supply chain and reduce import reliance

Cabinet clears terms of reference for 8th Pay Commission: Check details

The Union Cabinet approved the terms of reference for the 8th Central Pay Commission and cleared new nutrient-based subsidy rates for fertilisers for the Rabi 2025-26 season

From ministries to markets: Why India needs a sovereign wealth fund

Ministries are designed to set policy, not to run companies or make investment decisions. In today's complex business world, they're simply not equipped to play fund manager

Cabinet approves 3% DA hike for government employees ahead of Diwali

The Cabinet approved 3 per cent DA hike from 55 per cent to 58 per cent, benefiting 4.92 million government employees and 6.87 million pensioners, starting July 1, 2025

Centre launches 'Aatmanirbharta in Pulses' mission with ₹11,440 cr outlay

The Centre has cleared a six-year ₹11,440 crore plan to raise pulses production to 35 million tonnes by 2030-31 with assured procurement and farmer support

Cabinet clears 4-lane highway, rail line projects in poll-bound Bihar

The Cabinet has cleared two big projects in Bihar-doubling of the Bakhtiyarpur-Rajgir-Tilaiya rail line and building a 4-lane Sahebganj-Areraj-Bettiah highway to boost travel and trade

Cabinet announces ₹7,616 cr highway, railway projects in poll-bound Bihar

The Mokama-Munger highway and Bhagalpur-Dumka-Rampurhat rail line doubling will boost connectivity, jobs, and industrial growth across Bihar and adjoining states

Cabinet clears ₹7,332-cr revamp and extension of PM SVANidhi till 2030

The restructured scheme, set to benefit 11.5 mn vendors, raises loan limits, introduces UPI-linked RuPay cards, digital cashback, and capacity-building initiatives

Govt launches 6-year scheme to boost farming in 100 lagging districts

The PM-DDKY scheme to start in FY26, merging 36 existing programmes to boost yields, irrigation, and rural credit in low-performing districts; NITI Aayog to oversee progress

Bihar Cabinet okays ₹882.87 cr for developing temple at Sita's birthplace

The Bihar government on Tuesday approved more than Rs 882 crore for the overall development of 'Punaura Dham Janki Mandir', a Hindu pilgrimage site in Sitamarhi district that is considered the birthplace of Goddess Sita. The state Cabinet decided at a meeting chaired by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar here on Tuesday. "I am extremely delighted to inform that the state Cabinet on Tuesday approved a comprehensive plan, worth Rs 882.87 Crore, for the overall development of Punaura Dham, the birthplace of goddess Sita (Janaki), in Sitamarhi district. The plan includes the construction of a grand temple and other structures," Kumar posted on X soon after the meeting. According to the proposal of the state Tourism department, which was approved by the Cabinet, around Rs 137 crore will be spent on the renovation of the old Punaura Dham Janki Mandir and Rs. 728 crore for the development of tourist infrastructure around the temple. The remaining amount will be spent on the maintenance of t

Cabinet clears ₹6,405 cr railway doubling projects in three states

New multitracking lines covering 318 km in Jharkhand, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh to improve mobility, cut logistics cost and support sustainable rail operations

Cabinet approves Revised SHAKTI policy for coal allocation to power sector

The government has proposed two new coal linkage windows under the Revised SHAKTI policy - one at notified price for central and state power plants and other at a premium above the notified price

PM Modi's super cabinet meeting, Indusind Bank turmoil, Harvard University & more top

Today, PM Modi chaired a second meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security after the Pahalgam terror attack. The Cabinet Committees on Political Affairs—known as the "Super Cabinet"

Union Cabinet to meet tomorrow for the first time since Pahalgam attack

Tensions between India and Pakistan have flared since the Pahalgam attack last week, in which at least 26 people were killed

Cong accuses Mahayuti of spending ₹150 cr on cabinet meet; govt cites error

Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the ruling Mahayuti coalition, accusing it of spending a whopping Rs 150 crore on preparations for a cabinet meeting in Ahilyanagar district. The BJP-led government, however, clarified it had given an advertisement for a tender of works worth Rs 1.5 crore for the proposed cabinet meeting, but the amount was published "incorrectly" as Rs 150 crore. In a post on X, Sapkal attached a tender notice published in newspapers stating that Rs 150 crore will be spent on mandaps (a temporary platform), staging, green rooms, toilets, barricading, sound, air conditioners, electricity, fire brigade and CCTV set up for the meeting. The notice states an e-tender will be floated on April 24. A cabinet meeting is scheduled on April 29 in Chondi, the birthplace of the legendary 18th century Malwa queen Ahilyabai Holkar, whose 300th birth anniversary year is being observed. Last year, the western Maharashtra .

Cabinet clears Rs 22,919 crore PLI scheme for passive electronic components

The Union Cabinet on Friday approved a production-linked incentive scheme for passive or non-semiconductor electronics components with an outlay of Rs 22,919 crore, Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. It is the first scheme that focuses on promoting the manufacturing of passive electronic components. The minister said that the scheme will create direct employment for 91,600 people and attract investment of around Rs 59,350 crore. "Passive components are approved under the Electronics Component PLI scheme. It has a total package of Rs 22,919 crore. This will be over six years," Vaishnaw said. The minister said that that segment will serve the requirements of several sectors, including telecom, consumer electronics, automobile, medical devices, power sector etc. He said that the scheme is expected to lead to production of Rs 4.56 lakh crore. According to electronics component makers body Elcina, non-semiconductor components production in India was around USD 13

Govt nod to over ₹7,500 crore ropeway projects for Kedarnath, Hemkund Sahib

The Union Cabinet has approved two ropeway projects worth ₹7,500 crore-connecting Sonprayag to Kedarnath and Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib Ji-to provide faster, eco-friendly transport for pilgrims