The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the following:
Cabinet approved hike in MSP for Copra by more than Rs.2000 per quintal for 2019 season
On December 28, 2018, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the hike of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Fair Average Quality (FAQ) of “Milling Copra” by more than Rs. 2000 for 2019 season.
i. According to the approval,
1.”Milling Copra” has been increased to Rs.9521/- per quintal for 2019 season from Rs. 7511/-per quintal in 2018 and
2.The MSP of “Ball Copra” has been increased to Rs.9920/- per quintal for 2019 season from Rs. 7750/- per quintal in 2018.
ii. The approval is based on recommendations of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
iii. The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumer Federation of India Limited (NCCF) would continue to act as Central Nodal Agencies to undertake price support operations at the Minimum Support Prices
Cabinet approved listing of 7 unlisted CPSEs on Stock Exchange
On December 28, 2018, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the listing ofseven Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE) on the Stock Exchange through Initial Public Offering (IPO) /Further Public Offer (FPO).
i.The 7 companies are:
1.Telecommunication Consultants (India) Ltd.[TCIL]- IPO
2.RailTel Corporation India Ltd. – IPO
3.National Seed Corporation India Ltd. (NSC) – IPO
4.Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited (THDC) – IPO
5.Water & Power Consultancy Services (India) Limited [WAPCOS Ltd.] – IPO
6.FCI Aravali Gypsum and Minerals (India) Limited [FAGMIL]- IPO
7.Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL) – FPO
ii. Furthermore, alternative mechanism comprising of the Finance Minister, Minister of Road Transport & Shipping and the Minster of concerned administrative ministry has been empowered to decide on extent, mode of disinvestment, pricing, time etc. of listed CPSEs (including CPSEs to be listed in future).
Cabinet approved Indian Human Spaceflight Initiative: Gaganyaan Programme; first phase to cost Rs. 9023 crores
On December 28, 2018, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the Indian Human Spacefilght Initiative: Gaganyaan Programme.
i. The initiative consists of demonstration of Indian Human Spaceflight capability to low earth orbit for a mission duration ranging from one orbital period to a maximum of seven days.
ii. This will have a 3-member crew who will be carried by the human rated GSLV Mk-lll developed by ISRO.
iii. The space suit has been designed by DEBEL, a unit of the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
iv. The crew would be trained by Indian Army and Russia.
v. The 1st phase of the expenditure accounts to a cost of Rs. 9023 crores.
vi. First human space flight demonstration is targeted to be completed within 40 months from the date of sanction.
ISRO:
♦ Headquarters: Bengaluru.
♦ Chairman and Secretary, Dept of Space: K. Sivan
Cabinet approved Amendment in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012
On December 28, 2018, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the proposal for amendment in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
i. Amendments were made in Section-4, Section-5, Section-6, Section-9, Section-14, Section-15 and Section-42 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
ii. Amendments in Section-4, Section-5 and Section-6 aims to provide option of stringent punishment, including death penalty, for committing aggravated penetrative sexual assault crime on a child to protect the children from sexual abuse.
iii. Amendments in section-9 to protect children from sexual offences in times of natural calamities and disasters and in cases where children are administered, in any way, any hormone or any chemical substance, to attains early sexual maturity for the purpose of penetrative sexual assault.
iv. Amendments of Section-14 and Section-15 aims to address the menace of the child pornography by levying fine further penalizing the perpetrator with jail term or fine or both.
Ministry of Women and Child Development:
♦ Union Minister: Smt Maneka Gandhi.
♦ Minister of State: Dr. Virendra Kumar.
♦ Secretary: Shri Rakesh Srivastava.
Cabinet approved the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification 2018
On December 28, 2018, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the amendments of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2018.
i. It deals with management and conservation of marine and coastal eco-systems, development in coastal areas, eco-tourism, livelihood option and sustainable development of coastal communities etc.
ii. Following are the features of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2018:
1.de-freezing and permitting Floor Space Index (FSI) for construction projects, as prevailing on the date of the new Notification.
2.Densely populated rural areas with a population density of 2161 per square kilometre will have No Development Zone (NDZ) of 50 meters from the HTL as against 200 meters from the High Tide Line
3.Rural areas with population density of below 2161 per square kilometre to have an NDZ of 200 meters from the HTL.
4.Tourism Infrastructure will be built at a minimum distance of 10 m from HTL for densely populated areas.
5.Only such projects/activities, which are located in the CRZ-I (Ecologically Sensitive Areas) and CRZ IV (area covered between Low Tide Line and 12 Nautical Miles seaward) shall be dealt with for CRZ clearance by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
6.A No Development Zone (NDZ) of 20 meters has been stipulated for all Islands:
7.All Ecologically Sensitive Areas have been accorded special importance
8.Pollution abatement has been accorded special focus
9.Defence and strategic projects have been accorded necessary dispensation.
iii.The Coastal Regulation Zone Notification was notified in 1991 by Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change, was last revised in2011.
>Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change
♦ Union Minister: Dr. Harsh Vardhan.
♦ Minister of State: Dr. Mahesh Sharma.
Cabinet approved setting up of the National Commission for Homeopathy Bill, 2018
On December 28, 2018, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the draft National Commission for Homoeopathy, Bill, 2018.
i. According to the proposed bill, the existing regulator Central Council for Homoeopathy (CCH) will be replaced by a new body.
ii. A National Commission with three autonomous boards would be set up for conducting overall education of Homoeopathy by Homoeopathy Education Board.
iii. Also a common entrance exam and an exit exam which all graduates will have to clear to get practicing licenses have been proposed.
iv. Further, a teacher’s eligibility test has been proposed to assess the standard of teachers before appointment and promotions.
v. This move aims at bringing reforms in the medical education of Homoeopathy in lines with the National Medical Commission proposed for setting up for Allopathy system of medicine.
Cabinet approved setting up of the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCIM) Bill, 2018
On December 28, 2018, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the draft of National Commission for Indian Systems of Medicine (NCIM) Bill, 2018.
i. Under this, the existing regulator, the Central Council for Indian Medicine (CCIM), would be replaced with a new body to ensure transparency and accountability.
ii. The draft bill provides for the constitution of a National Commission with four autonomous boards entrusted with conducting overall education of Ayurveda under the Board of Ayurveda and Unani, Siddha and Sowarigpa
iii. The NCIM will promote availability of affordable healthcare services in all parts of the country.
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare:
♦ Union Minister: Shri. Jagat Prakash Nadda.
♦ Minister of State: Shri. Ashwini kumar Choubey, Shri. Anupriya Patel.