On June 25 2025, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has approved the following proposals/schemes:
i.Approved a proposal to set up the South Asia regional centre of Lima (Peru) based International Potato Centre at Singna, Agra in Uttar Pradesh (UP).
ii.The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the Revised Jharia Master Plan (JMP) worth Rs 5,940.47 crore, to deal with issues related to fire, land subsidence, and the rehabilitation of affected families in the Jharia Coalfield.
iii.Approved the Pune Metro Rail Project Phase-2: Vanaz to Chandani Chowk (Corridor 2A) and Ramwadi to Wagholi/Vitthalwadi (Corridor 2B).
iv.Passed a resolution to mark the 50th anniversary of proclamation of National Emergency as ‘Samvidhan Hatya Divas’.
Cabinet Approved Establishment of International Potato Centre (CIP)’s South Asia Regional Centre in Agra, UP
The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal from the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DoA&FW) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), to set up the (CIP)’s South Asia Regional Centre (CSARC) of Lima (Peru) based International Potato Centre (CIP) at Singna, Agra in UP.
- Also, the Government of India (GoI) will provide financial assistance of Rs 111.5 crore for the establishment of the CSARC.
Key Points:
i.This investment aims to increase food and nutrition security, farmers’ income, and job creation by enhancing potato and sweet potato productivity, post-harvest management and value-addition.
ii.High-yielding, nutrient rich and climate resilient varieties of potato and sweet-potato developed by CSARC will help in accelerating the sustainable development of the potato and sweet potato sectors across the South Asia region (including India) through world-class science and innovation.
CCEA Approved Rs 5,940.47 Crore Jharia Master Plan to deal with Fire, Subsidence & Rehabilitation of Affected Families in Jharia Coalfield
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved the Revised Jharia Master Plan (JMP) worth Rs 5,940.47 crore, to deal with issues related to fire, land subsidence, and the rehabilitation of affected families in the Jharia Coalfield in Jharia, Dhanbad, Jharkhand.
- This newly approved revised master plan emphasizes phase-wise rehabilitation of families living in the most vulnerable locations, alongside efforts to mitigate underground fires and provide long-term infrastructure and livelihood support.
Key Points:
i.Under this revised plan, targeted skill development programmes will be organised and also income-generating opportunities will be created to ensure economic self-reliance of the rehabilitated families.
ii.As per the revised JMP, a livelihood grant of Rs 1 lakh and maximum credit access of Rs 3 lakh will be extended to both Legal Title Holder (LTH) families and Non-Legal Title Holder (Non-LTH) families.
iii.Apart from such facilities, comprehensive infrastructure and essential amenities like: roads, electricity, water supply, sewage, schools, hospitals, skill development centres, community halls, and other common facilities, are to be developed at the resettlement sites.
- All these provisions will be implemented in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee for Implementation of the Revised JMP.
iv.Also, a dedicated Jharia Alternative Livelihoods Rehabilitation Fund will be established to promote livelihood-related activities. Skill development initiatives will be organised in collaboration with various skill development institutes functioning in the region.
Cabinet Approved Rs 3,626.24 Crore Pune Metro Rail Project Phase-2
The Union Cabinet approved the Pune Metro Rail Project Phase-2: Vanaz to Chandani Chowk (Corridor 2A) and Ramwadi to Wagholi/Vitthalwadi (Corridor 2B). Both these corridors are extensions of the existing Vanaz-Ramwadi corridor under Phase-1.
- These corridors will be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 3,626.24 crore, and is expected to be completed within time period of 4 years.
- The project cost will be equally shared by GoI, Government of Maharashtra, and external bilateral/multilateral agencies.
- This project is in alignment with the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP), which envisions a continuous Chandani Chowk to Wagholi Metro corridor to bolster East-West mass transit in Pune, Maharashtra.
Key Points:
i.These elevated corridors will span over an area of 12.75 kilometer (km), covering 13 stations such as: Chandani Chowk, Bavdhan, Kothrud, Kharadi, and Wagholi.
- The Vanaz to Chandani Chowk stretch will span over an area of 1.12 km, covering 2 stations while Ramwadi to Wagholi route will span 11.63 km, covering 11 stattions.
ii.The new corridors will also integrate at the District Court Interchange Station with Line-1 (Nigdi-Katraj) and Line-3 (Hinjewadi-District Court), enabling seamless multimodal urban travel.
iii.Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha-Metro) is entrusted with the responsibility to monitor the execution of all civil, electro-mechanical, and related works.
Cabinet Passed Resolution Marking 50 Years of Proclamation of National Emergency
The Union Cabinet passed a resolution to mark the 50th anniversary of proclamation of National Emergency as ‘Samvidhan Hatya Divas’.
- The resolution commemorated the sacrifices of countless individuals who valiantly resisted the Emergency and its attempt at subversion of the spirit of Indian Constitution.
Background:
i.On June 25 1975, then President of India, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed issued the Emergency Proclamation under Article 352 of the Indian Constitution, based on the threats from internal disturbance, during the Indira Gandhi government.
ii.The Emergency remained in place for 21 months till its withdrawal on March 21, 1977.
iii.During Emergency, then Indira Gandhi-led government introduced 38th Amendment Act, 1975, which exempted the declaration of a national emergency from judicial review.
- However, this act was later removed by the 44th Amendment Act, 1978.
Point to Note: The President of India has the authority to declare National Emergency in India under Article 352 based on the grounds of war, external aggression or internal disturbance.
- Later, the phrase ‘internal disturbance’ was replaced by the ‘Armed Rebellion’ by the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1978.
Recent Related News:
In April 2025, the union cabinet of India has approved Rs 1,600 crore new sub-scheme named ‘Modernisation of Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM)’ under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for the period 2025-2026.
- The scheme aims to modernize the irrigation water supply network, supplying irrigation water from existing canals or other sources in a designated cluster.
