The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has approved the following proposals:
i.Mechanism for ethanol procurement by public sector OMCs under EBP programme
ii.Renaming of Itanagar’s Hollongi Airport as Donyi Polo airport
iii.Nutrient Based Subsidy rates for Phosphatic and Potassic fertilizers for Rabi season 2022-23
iv.Signing of a MoU between India and Denmark in the field of Water Resources Development and Management
Cabinet approves mechanism for Ethanol Procurement by public sector OMCs under EBP programme
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by the PM Narendra Modi approved the Mechanism for procurement of ethanol by Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) under Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Program.
It has revised the ethanol price under the EBP programme for supply to Public Sector OMCs for Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2022-23 from 1st December 2022 to 31st October, 2023.
The revisions are on the higher side which is as follows:
| Category | New Price (Rs per litre) | Old Price (Rs per litre) |
|---|---|---|
| Ethanol from C heavy molasses Route | 49.41 | 46.66 |
| Ethanol from B heavy molasses route | 60.73 | 59.08 |
| Ethanol from sugarcane juice/sugar/sugar syrup route | 65.61 | 63.45 |
Additionally, GST (Goods and Service Tax) and transportation charges will also be payable.
Key Points:
i.It has been decided to redefine ESY as a period of ethanol supply from 1st November of a year to 31st October of the following year w.e.f. November 1, 2023.
- This decision has been taken due to the availability of ethanol from the beginning of sugar season due to conversion of sugarcane juice and B heavy molasses to ethanol.
ii.Remunerative price to ethanol suppliers will help in early payment to cane farmers.
iii.The Central Government has been implementing EBP Programme wherein OMCs sell petrol blended with ethanol up to 10%. Since 2o19, this programme has covered whole of India except Union Territories (UTs) of Andaman Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands to promote the use of alternative and environment friendly fuels.
- It also envisages reducing import dependence for energy requirements and giving boost to agriculture sector.
iv.The target of achieving average 10% blending has been achieved in June, 2022, ahead of the target date of November, 2022.
v.The Government has advanced the target of 20% ethanol blending in petrol from earlier 2030 to ESY 2025-26 and a “Roadmap for ethanol blending in India 2020-25” has also been put in public domain.
- It is also enhancing the ethanol distillation capacity to 923 crore litre per annum;
Cabinet approves renaming of Itanagar’s Hollongi Airport as Donyi Polo airport
The Union Cabinet also approved a proposal to rename the newly constructed Hollongi airport as Donyi Polo airport in order to promote Donyi Polo, an indigenous faith practised
by Tani and other Tibeto Burman communities in Arunachal Pradesh (AR). It involves worshipping the Sun (Donyi) and Moon (Polo).
Key Points:
i.The airport is the AR’s first greenfield civilian airport situated near Itanagar. It has been built by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) with an outlay of Rs 646 crore.
ii.It is also AR’s first full fledged airport. It will serve as the primary gateway and will be able to handle Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft with a capacity of 150 to 180 passengers each.
iii.The airport has a 2,300-metre long runway.
Cabinet approves NBS rates for Phosphatic and Potassic fertilizers for Rabi season 2022-23
The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers for per Kilogram rates of Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) for various Nutrients viz. Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potash (K) and Sulphar (S) for Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers for Rabi Season/Winter Planting Season 2022-23 i.e. from October 10, 2022 to March 3, 2022.
- This subsidy will cost Rs 51,875 crore to the Central Government.
- This will enable smooth availability of all P&K fertilizers to the farmers during Rabi 2022-23 at affordable prices.
Following are the subsidized rates:
| Year | Rupees per Kilogram | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N | P | K | S | |
| Rabi 2022-23 | 98.02 | 66.93 | 23.65 | 6.12 |
Cabinet approves signing of a MoU between India and Denmark on cooperation in the field of Water Resources Development and Management
The Union Cabinet approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Denmark on cooperation in the field of Water Resources Development and Management.
- The MoU will also strengthen cooperation in rural water supply; sewage/wastewater treatment through direct collaboration between officials, academics, water sectors and industry.
Areas of Cooperation:
Digitalisation and ease of information access; integrated and smart water resources development and management; aquifer mapping, groundwater modelling; efficient and sustainable water supply at household level; river and water body rejuvenation to enhance liveability, resilience and economic development; circular economy for reuse/recycling of wastewater; climate change mitigation and adaptation, among others.
Background:
On September 28, Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and PM Narendra Modi, co-chaired a virtual summit between India and Denmark where both sides launched a joint statement on establishing green strategic partnership.
Recent Related News:
i.The Union Cabinet has approved India’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to be communicated to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
ii.The Union Cabinet has approved the “Widening access of the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) database to users, besides patent offices.
About Denmark:
Capital– Copenhagen
Currency– Danish Krone
