Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on June 2, 2021 has approved the following,
- Model Tenancy Act to unlock vacant houses for rental purposes
- Signed & Ratified Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Mass Media with SCO Members
- MoC between India & Japan in the field of sustainable urban development
- MoU between India and Argentine Republic in the field of Mineral Resources
- MoU between India and Maldives in the field of sustainable urban development
Cabinet Approves Model Tenancy Act to unlock vacant houses for rental purposes:
On June 2, 2021, Cabinet Approves the Model Tenancy Act.It will provide the much-required boost to Rental Housing in India.The Act was approved for circulation to all States / Union Territories for adaptation by way of enacting fresh legislation or amending existing rental laws suitably.
Objective – It aims at creating a vibrant, sustainable and inclusive rental housing market in the country. It will enable creation of adequate rental housing stock for all the income groups thereby addressing the issue of homelessness.
Background:
In 2019, Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, drafted the model tenancy bill. It proposed to establish an independent authority in every state and UT for registration of tenancy agreements and even a separate court to take up tenancy related disputes.
Key Points:
i.It proposed to establish an independent authority in every state and UT for registration of tenancy agreements and even a separate court to take up tenancy related disputes.
ii.It will help address the high number of vacant residential units in India, which is over 11 million houses.
iii.The Act will apply to premises let out for residential, commercial or educational use, but not for industrial use. It also won’t cover hotels, lodging houses, inns, etc. This model law will be applied prospectively and will not affect existing tenancies.
iv.Before increasing the rent of the house, the owner have to give notice in writing to the tenant, three months before the revised rent comes into effect.
Cabinet Signed & Ratified Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Mass Media with SCO Members:
Union Cabinet had Signed & Ratified Agreement on “Cooperation in the field of Mass Media” between all the Member States of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Objective – To share the best practices and new innovations in the field of mass media.
Main Areas of Cooperation:
i.Creation of favourable conditions for wide and mutual distribution of information through the Mass Media.
ii.Enhancing the cooperation among the relevant Ministries, Agencies, Professionals & Organizations working.
About Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO):
Member Countries — 8 Countries (viz) India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Headquarter – Beijing, China.
Cabinet Approval with Foreign Countries:
Cabinet Approves the MoC between India & Japan in the field of sustainable urban development:
Cabinet Approved the signing of Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Government of India and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Government of Japan in the field of Sustainable Urban Development inline with the existing MoU of 2007 on Urban Development.
Validity – The MoC is valid for the 5 years & it may extend for the next 5 Years.
Objective – To create employment opportunities in the areas of sustainable urban development, including Urban Planning, Smart Cities Development, Affordable Housing, (including rental housing), Urban Flood Management, Sewerage and Waste Water Management, Urban Transport (including Intelligent Transport Management System, Transit-Oriented Development and Multimodal Integration) and Disaster Resilient development.
Key Points:
A Joint Working Group (JWG) will be constituted to strategize and implement programmes on cooperation under the framework of the MoC & the meeting will be held once in year alternatively in India & Japan.
India’s Contribution:
While presenting, Union Budget 2021–22, total funds earmarked for the urban development has also gone up from Rs 50,040 crore in FY 2020–21 to Rs 54,581 crore in FY 2021–22, an overall increase of 9.07 percent.
Cabinet Approves MoU between India and Argentine Republic in the field of Mineral Resources:
Cabinet approves the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to be signed between the Ministry of Mines, Government of India and the Secretariat of Mining Policy of the Ministry of Productive Development of the Argentine Republic in the field of Mineral Resource Cooperation.
Objective – To enhance the cooperation between the two countries in the field of Mineral Resources.
Benefit of the MoU:
- To strengthen the activities involved like cooperation for encouraging minerals exploration and development, including extraction, mining and beneficiation of lithium;
- Possibilities of forming joint venture in the field of base metals, critical and strategic minerals for mutual benefit;
- Exchange of technical and scientific information and interchange of ideas and knowledge; training and capacity building;
- Promotion of investment and development in the area of mining activities, would serve the objective of innovation.
Cabinet Approves MoU between India and Maldives in the field of sustainable urban development:
Union Cabinet approves the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India and Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Government of Maldives on cooperation in the field of Sustainable Urban Development.
Objective – To create employment in the areas of sustainable urban development.
Background:
MoU comes into effect on the date of signing by the two contracting parties i.e. 20th February, 2021 and will remain in force for indefinite period.
Key Points:
A Joint Working Group (JWG) will be constituted to strategize and implement programmes on cooperation under the framework of the MoU & the meeting will be held once in year alternatively in India & Maldives.
Benefits:
It will create employment in areas including, Urban Planning, Smart Cities Development, Solid waste management, Affordable housing, Urban Green Mobility, Urban Mass Rapid Transport, Smart Cities Development.
About Maldives:
Capital – Malé
Currency – Maldivian rufiyaa
President – Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
About Japan:
Capital – Tokyo
Currency – Japanese yen
Prime Minister – Yoshihide Suga
About Argentine Republic:
Capital – Buenos Aires
President – Alberto Fernández
