On June 28, 2017, Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved following bilateral agreements and initiatives:
Cabinet approves 7th Pay Commission recommendations with 34 changes, to benefit 48 lakh employees
Union Cabinet has approved the 7th Pay Commission recommendations on allowances for government employees. This decision is expected to benefit nearly 48 lakh employees.
More Details:
- The recommendations will be effective from July 1, 2017.
- The revised allowances will cost the government Rs 30,748 crore per annum, Rs 1,488 crore more than Rs 29,300 crore estimated by the Pay Commission due to modification in recommendations made by the government.
- The Seventh Pay Commission had examined 197 allowances, suggesting abolition of 53 allowances and subsumption of 37 others. The government made 34 modifications, deciding not to do away with 12 allowances.
- 34 lakh current government employees and 14 lakh pensionerswill derive benefits from implementation of these recommendations.
Cabinet approves MoU between India and Israel on National Campaign for Water Conservation in India
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Israel on National Campaign for Water Conservation in India will benefit India in conserving water for future generations. The Ministries of India and Israel have agreed to jointly work on the water conservation campaign to achieve the following objectives:
- Put water conservation on the national agenda in India
- Encouraging every citizen to save water in everyday life
- Generating awareness about water
- Promoting Re-use, Recharge and Recycling of water
- Development of digital tools such as websites, mobile applications on the subject of water conservation
Quick Facts about Israel:
- Capital: Jerusalem
- Currency: Israeli new shekel
- Current Prime Minister: Benjamin Netanyahu
Cabinet approves signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between India and the United States of America on Homeland Security
This Memorandum of Cooperation between India and the United States of America on Homeland Security will strengthen bilateral security relations between India and the USA and will also help in coordination and interactions among the six Sub-Groups that are proposed to be formed under Homeland Security Dialogue between the two countries.
- The Union cabinet’s approval to this Memorandum of Cooperation came hours after the Prime Minister returned from the US where he had his first meeting with President Donald Trump.
- Combating trans-national crime, countering illicit financing, accessing and sharing of data relating to terrorism are among key issues which come under the India-US homeland security dialogue.
Cabinet approves development of six laning of Chakeri-Allahabad section of National Highway (NH) – 2 in Uttar Pradesh
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for development of six laning of Chakeri-Allahabad section of National Highway (NH) – 2 in Uttar Pradesh.
More Details about six laning of Chakeri-Allahabad section of National Highway (NH) – 2:
- The cost is estimated to be Rs.3691.09 crore including cost of land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities.
- The total length of the road to be developed is approximately 145 kms.
- This project on NH-2 is a part of Golden Quadrilateral between Delhi and Kolkata.
Expected Benefits from this Project:
- The project will help in expediting the improvement of infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh and in reducing the time and cost of travel for traffic, particularly heavy traffic, plying between Chakeri and Allahabad.
- The development of this stretch will also improve the socio-economic condition of this region in the State.
- The project would also increase employment potential for local labourers for project activities.
Cabinet gives ‘in principle’ approval for disinvestment of Air India and five of its subsidiaries
Union Cabinet has given ‘in principle’ approval for strategic disinvestment of Air India and five of its subsidiaries based on the recommendations of Core Group of Secretaries on Disinvestment (CGD)
- Air India-specific Alternative Mechanism headed by Minister of Finance including Minister for Civil Aviation and such other Ministers will be formed to guide the process on strategic disinvestment from time to time.
- The alternative mechanism will also decide on Treatment of unsustainable debt of Air India, Hiving off of certain assets to a shell company, demerger and strategic disinvestment of three profit-making subsidiaries, the quantum of disinvestment and the universe of bidders.
