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DECISION: Improving school education with DECISION: Rs 3,874 Crore spending on stocking
'STARS'. oil.
BENEFITS: The Union Cabinet has approved the BENEFITS: The Cabinet post-facto approved an
implementation of the Strengthening Teaching- expenditure of Rs 3,874 Crore on stocking low-
Learning and Results for States (STARS) priced crude-oil in three strategic underground
project covering Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, crude oil storages. The Cabinet Committee
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and on Economic Affairs (CCEA) also allowed Abu
Odisha. Of the total project cost of Rs 5,718 Crore, Dhabi National Oil Co, which has hired a part of
the World Bank will contribute Rs 3,700 Crore. the strategic storage, to trade the stocked oil.
Under this project, six states will be supported Taking advantage of the low crude-oil prices in
in developing, implementing, evaluating and the international market, India purchased 16.71
improving interventions with direct linkages to million barrels of crude in April-May 2020 and
improved education outcomes and school to filled all the three Strategic Petroleum Reserves
work transition strategies for improved labour created at Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru and
market outcomes. Padur. It saved over Rs 5,000 Crore on this
The overall focus and components of the STARS account. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural
project are aligned with the objectives of National Gas spent Rs 3,874 Crore on buying such oil.
Education Policy, 2020 of Quality-Based Learning
Outcomes. The project would be implemented
as a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the DECISION: Demerger of Nagarnar Steel Plant
Department of School Education and Literacy, (NSP) from National Minerals Development
Ministry of Education. Corporation (NMDC) Ltd. and strategic
disinvestment of demerged entity.
DECISION: A Rs 520 Crore Special Package for BENEFITS: NSP is a three million ton per annum
10 Lakh women from J&K and Ladakh under Integrated Steel Plant being set up by NMDC at
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Nagarnar, Bastar District, Chhattisgarh in an area
Livelihoods Mission. of 1,980 acres.
BENEFITS: Though the package was approved With demerger, NMDC can focus on its core
in 2013, it could not be fully implemented due to activities of mining. After demerger, NSP shall
various reasons including disturbed conditions be a separate company and the managements
in the state. The Package worth Rs 520 Crore of NMDC and NSP shall be accountable for their
was for a period of five years i.e. till 2023-24. respective operations and financial performance.
It will ensure funding of Deendayal Antyodaya Shareholders of NMDC will also be shareholders
Yojana National Rural Livelihoods Mission in of the demerged company (NSP) in proportion of
Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on a demand their shareholding. After the demerger, investors
driven basis without linking allocation with will have better visibility of the operations and
poverty ratio during this extended period. So cash flow of NMDC and NSP separately. The
far, 6.90 Crore women members of around demerger will also be tax neutral from the point
63 Lakh Self Help Groups across the country of view of capital gains.
have joined the initiative. More than Rs 3 Lakh
Crore of bank credit has been accessed under
the scheme which has been repaid. Around Rs
1 Lakh Crore is still unpaid and the status of
NPA is only 2 per cent. SCAN QR CODE FOR CABINET DECISIONS
New India Samachar 15
