The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its following approvals
Approval to Continue Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) till 2025-26
The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) till 2025-26 with an outlay of Rs 1,41,600 crores w.e.f October 1, 2021. It will be regarded as SBM-Urban 2.0 with aim of ‘Garbage Free’ Urban India.
- Out of the total outlay, Central share is Rs 36,465 crores for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26 which is over 2.5 times the financial outlay of Rs 62,009 crores in the last phase of the Mission.
Focus areas of SBM-Urban 2.0:
- Sustainability of Open Defecation Free (ODF) outcomes
- Achieving scientific processing of Solid Waste in all cities
- Managing Wastewater in cities with less than 1 lakh population in Census 2011 [cities not covered under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)].
Fund sharing pattern between Centre and States is as follows:
- Cities with million plus population: 25:75
- Cities with population between 1-10 lakhs: 33:67
- Cities with less than one lakh population: 50:50
- Union territories without legislature: 100:0
- Union territories with legislature: 80:20
Key Features of SBM-U 2.0:
i.The mission will be completely paperless by leveraging digital technology for complete transparency and accountability through GIS (Geographic information system)-mapped waste management infrastructure.
ii.The Mission will focus on ensuring complete access to sanitation facilities to serve additional population migrating from rural to urban areas.
- This will be done through the construction of over 3.5 lakhs individual, community and public toilets.
iii.There will be 100% source segregation of waste along with functional Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in every city.
iv.There will be Setting up of construction & demolition (C&D) waste processing facilities and deployment of mechanical sweepers in National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) cities and in cities with more than 5 lakh population
v.It envisages to make all statutory towns to become at least ODF+; all cities with <1 lakh population to be made ODF++; and all cities to achieve at least 3-star Garbage Free certification.
Approval of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0 till 2025-26
The Union Cabinet also approved the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 (AMRUT 2.0) till 2025-26 with an outlay of Rs 2,77,000 crore. It aims to make cities ‘water secure’ and ‘self-sustainable’ through circular economy of water.
- Out of the total outlay, the central share is Rs 76,760 crore for five years from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26.
- AMRUT is the first focused national water Mission launched in June 2015 to facilitate ease of living to citizens in 500 cities by providing tap connections and sewer connections.
Features of AMRUT 2.0:
i.Mission will be monitored on a robust technology based portal. The projects will be geo-tagged. It will be a paper-less mission.
ii.The target is universal coverage of water supply by providing household tap connections in all 4,378 statutory towns along with 100% coverage of household sewerage in 500 AMRUT cities.
iii.Mission targets to provide 2.68 crore tap connections and 2.64 crore sewer/ septage connections.
iv.It will include Pey Jal Survekshan which will encourage competition among cities for bench marking urban water services.
v.Mission has a reform agenda for water security of ULBs.
- Meeting 20% of water demand through recycled water, reducing non-revenue water to less than 20% and rejuvenation of water bodies are major water related reforms.
Approval of affiliation of 100 Schools in Government and private sector with Sainik School Society
The Union Cabinet cleared the proposal of affiliation of 100 schools, including both private and public, with the Sainik School Society, under the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
- These Schools will function as an exclusive vertical which will be distinct and different from existing Sainik Schools of MoD.
- This decision has been taken in line with the new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Key Points:
i.In the first phase, 100 affiliate partners are proposed to be drawn from States/NGOs (non-government organizations)/Private partners.
- Around 5000 students will be enrolled in class 6th in these 100 schools from the next academic session ie., 2022-23.
ii.Currently, there are 33 Sainik Schools in the country with admission capacity of approximately 3,000 students in class VI.
Approval of Nutrient Based Subsidy rates for Phosphatic & Potassic (P&K) Fertilisers for 2021-22
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers for fixation of Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Rates for P&K Fertilizers for the year 2021-22(from 1st October, 2021 to 31st March, 2022).
- The outlay of rollover for the same will be 28,602 crore.
Following are the rates:
| Per Kg Subsidy rates (in Rs.) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| N (Nitrogen) | P(Phosphorus) | K(Potash) | S(Sulphur) |
| 18.789 | 45.323 | 10.116 | 2.374 |
Key Points:
i.There will be Special one-time package for additional subsidy on Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) at the tentative additional cost of Rs. 5,716 crore.
ii.The CCEA also approved the inclusion of Potash derived from Molasses (0:0:14.5:0) under the NBS Scheme.
iii.Net subsidy required for Rabi 2021-22 after deducting savings will be Rs.28,655 crore.
Recent Related News:
CCEA has approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Rabi crops for Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2022-23. This increase is in line with the Union Budget 2018-19 announcement to fix MSPs at a level of at least 1.5 times of the all India weighted average cost of production, to ensure remunerative prices to the growers for their produce.
