i.Extension of Rs 300 targeted subsidy to Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) consumers.
iiApproval of IndiaAI mission to strengthen the AI innovation ecosystem.
iii.Approval of Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization Scheme, 2024.
iv.Release of additional installment DA and Dearness Relief to Central Government employees.
v.Introduction of the Readjustment of Representation of ST’s in assembly constituencies of the state Goa Bill, 2024.
vi.The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Raw Jute for 2024-2025.
Cabinet approves Targeted Subsidy to PMUY consumers
On 7th March, 2024, Cabinet approved the extension of targeted subsidy of Rs 300 per 14.2 kg cylinder to the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) for Financial year 2024-2025 (FY25).
Features
i.The beneficiaries of PMUY are eligible for up to 12 refills per annum. The subsidy is credited directly to the bank accounts of beneficiaries.
ii.The estimated budget for the scheme is Rs 12,000 crore for FY (2024-2025) and is expected to benefit approximately 10 crore families.
iii.The primary objective of providing targeted subsidy to PMUY beneficiaries is to protect them from the impact of LPG price fluctuations in international market.
Key Points:
i.As per the Government data, average LPG(Liquefied Petroleum Natural Gas) consumption of PMUY consumers has increased from 3.01 refills in 2019-20 to 3.87 refills in 2024 (as of January, 2024)
- Thus, Average LPG consumption of PMUY consumers has increased by 29% from 2019 to 2024.
ii.As on 1st March, 2024, there are more than 10.27 crore PMUY beneficiaries.
Background:
In 2022, the Government started a targeted subsidy of Rs 200, later in 2023, it increased the target subsidy to Rs 300.
About Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana(PMUY):
PM Ujjwala Yojana was launched by PM Narendra Modi in May,2016 at Ballia district, Uttar Pradesh. The scheme is monitored and implemented by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG).
Aim: It’s main objective is to provide free LPG connections to women of rural and deprived households.
Features:
i.As per Socio-Economic Census (2011), People living Below Poverty Line (BPL) are eligible for PMUY.
ii.The beneficiaries receive free LPG connection. Also, it provides financial assistance of Rs1600 on per LPG connection.
iii.Applicant must be woman above the age of 18 years and citizen of India.
Objectives:
i.Empowering women and protecting their health.
ii.Reducing the serious health hazards associated with traditional cooking methods such as: fire woods, cow dung, coal etc.
Ujjwala2.0 was introduced in the Union Budget for FY (2021-22). It was launched with the objective of providing additional 1 crore LPG connections to eligible households by March, 2022.
Key Points:
i.Initially, the Government has set the target of providing 5 crore free LPG connections which was later increased to 8 crore.
- The target of providing 8 crore LPG connection was achieved on 7th September, 2019(7 months ahead of the set target).
ii.In 2023, Government announced to provide 75 lakh LPG connections under PM Ujjwala Yojana for period of 3 years (i.e. from 2023-2024 to 2025-2026). It allocated the budget of Rs 1650 crore.
Cabinet approves Mission IndiaAI
The Union Cabinet has approved ambitious IndiaAI mission to strengthen the Artificial intelligence (AI) innovation ecosystem. It has allocated the budget outlay of Rs 10,371.92 crore. It will be implemented by “IndiaAI” Independent Business Division (IBD) under Digital India Corporation (DIC).
Significance: IndiaAI mission will set up a comprehensive ecosystem which will give boost to AI innovation in India through strategic programs and collaborations across the public and private sectors.
IndiaAI mission has following components:
i.IndiaAI Compute Capacity: This component will help to build a high-end scalable AI computing system which will address the increasing demands from AI start-ups and research ecosystem in India.
Features:
- It will consist of AI Compute infrastructure of 10,000 or more Graphic Processing Units (GPUs) and will be developed through public-private partnership.
- An AI marketplace will be designed to offer AI as a service and pre-trained models to AI innovators.
- It will act as one-stop solution for resources critical for AI solution.
ii.IndiaAI Innovation Centre: This centre will facilitate the development and deployment of indigenous Large Multimodal Models (LMMs) and domain-specific foundational models in critical sectors.
iii.IndiaAI Datasets Platform: It will simplify access to non-personal datasets for AI innovation. Also, a unified data platform will be developed to provide access to non-personal datasets to Indian startups and researchers.
iv.IndiaAI Application Development initiative: It will promote the AI applications in critical sectors for the problem statements sourced from central ministries, state departments, and other institutions. The main objective of the initiative is to develop and promote best and impactful AI solutions which have potential to bring significant socio-economic transformation.
v.IndiaAI Future Skills: It is conceptualized to alleviate barriers to get enrolled in AI programs and will increase AI courses in undergraduate, master-level and Ph.D programs.
- Under IndiaAI mission, Data and AI Labs will be establish in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities across the country to impart foundational level courses in AI.
vi.IndiaAI Startup Financing: is conceptualized to support and accelerate deep-tech AI startups and provide them streamlined access to funding in order to support and promote futuristic AI projects.
vii.Safe and Trusted AI-Recognising AI: This component will ensure the implementation of responsible AI projects which includes: the development of indigenous tools and frameworks, self-assessment checklists for innovators, and other guidelines and governance frameworks.
Cabinet Committee approves UNNATI scheme, 2024
The Union Cabinet has approved the Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization (UNNATI) Scheme,2024 for a period of 10 years from the date of notification along with 8 years for committed liabilities at a total cost of Rs 10,037 crore.
Aim: The primary objective of UNNATI scheme is to generate better employment opportunities which further leads to overall socio-economic development of the North-East(N-E) region.
Target: The proposed scheme is expected to receive approximately 2,180 applications and to generate 83,000 direct employment opportunities along with significant number of indirect jobs.
Key Features:
i.It is a central scheme (i.e. 100% funding will be given by Central Government). It is set to be effective from the date of notification and will run until March 31, 2034 (inclusive of 8 years of committed liabilities).
ii.The proposed scheme is divided into two parts: Part A for allocation of incentive to eligible units (Rs 9,737 crore) and Part B for implementation and institutional arrangements (Rs300 crore).
iii.Industrial units can apply for registration from the date of notification until March 31, 2026.
iv.All registration applications are to be processed by March 31, 2027.
v.Eligible industrial units must commence its production or operation within 4 years from registration.
vi.Districts are classified into two zones: Zone A (Industrially Advanced Districts) and Zone B(Industrially Backward Districts).
vii.60% of budget outlay of PartA has been allocated for 8 North-East states and remaining 40% will be allocated on a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) basis.
Implementation Agency:
The scheme will be implemented by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) (works under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry) in cooperation with states.
Incentive Structure:
i.Capital Investment Incentive
GST is applicable
- Zone A: 30% of eligible value of investment with asset limit of Rs 5 crore.
- Zone B: 50% of eligible value of investment with asset limit of Rs 7.5 crore.
GST is not application
- Zone A: 30% of eligible value of investment with asset limit of Rs10 crore.
- Zone B: 50% of eligible value of investment with asset limit of Rs10 crore.
ii.Central Capital Interest Subvention: Interest rate is same whether GST is applicable or not
- Zone A: 3% interest subvention for 7 years
- Zone B: 5% interest subvention for 7 years
iii.Manufacturing and Services Linked Incentive(For New units only): GST is mandatory
- Zone A: 75% of eligible value of investment in P&M
- Zone A: 100% of eligible value of investment in P&M
Cabinet approves the increase of 4 % Dearness Allowance (DA) of Central Government Employees and Dearness Relief of Pensioners
The Union Cabinet has approved the release of an additional installment of Dearness Allowance(DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief(DR) to pensioners with effect from 1st January, 2024.
Key Points:
i.The additional installment would bring DA from 46% to 50% of basic pay/pension. This saw an overall increase of 4% in DA over the existing rate.
ii.The DA and DR would have a combined impact of Rs 12,868.72 crore annually. The burden on exchequer for current year (from January, 2024 to February, 2025) would be Rs 15, 014 crore.
iii.This will benefit around 49.28 lakh central government employees and 67.95 lakh pensioners.
iv.Apart from increase in DA, transport allowance, canteen allowance and deputation allowance has been increased by 25%.
v.The increase in DA and DR is based on the accepted formula recommended by 7th Central Pay Commission.
Cabinet approves the bill for reservation of seats for STs in Goa Assembly
The Cabinet approves the introduction the “Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024” in Parliament. The Bill is proposed by Ministry of Law and Justice.
Features:
i.The bill will empower the Census commissioner to ascertain and determine the population of Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Goa.
ii.Based on the findings of Census Commissioner, the Election Commission (EC) will amend the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies Order, 2008. This will facilitate ST reservation in Goa assembly.
iii.The Bill empowers the EC to lay down its own procedure for the purpose of readjustment of Legislative Assembly constituencies and will have certain powers of civil court.
CCEA approves MSP of Raw Jute for 2024-2025 season
CCEA has approved the hike in Minimum Support Price (MSP) of raw jute for (2024-2025) season.
i.During the 2024-2025 season, the MSP for raw jute (TDN3 equivalent to TD-5 grade) has been fixed at Rs 5, 335 per quintal. It was 5,050 per quintal (2023-2024) and its shows an overall increase of 5.6%.
ii.MSP for raw jute would ensure a return of 64.8% over the all India weighted average cost of production.
Significance:
i.The MSP for raw jute set for 2024-2025 season is in accordance with the principle of fixing the MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production, which was announced by Central Government in Union Budget (2018-2019).
ii.Government has procured amount of more than 6.24 lakh bales of raw jute at cost Rs 524.32 crore through Jute Corporation of India (JCI) for current season 2023-2024. So far, it has benefitted around 1.65 lakh farmers.
iii.The decision is based on recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
- JCI will act as central government nodal agency to undertake price support operations and the losses incurred, if any, will be fully reimbursed by the central government.
Note: MSP for raw jute saw the growth of 122% in last 10 years.
About Ministry of Law and Justice:
Union Minister(Independent charge): Arjun Ram Meghwal (Lok Sabha constituency: Bikaner, Rajasthan)
