Page 33 - NIS English 16-30 June,2023

Union cabinet decisions

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for
cooperatives' power to be harnessed in order to make
them successful and vibrant institutions, allowing
the vision of 'Sahkaarita se Samriddhi' to be realised.
The Union Cabinet has approved the constitution and
empowerment of an Inter-Ministerial Committee for
the world’s largest cooperative grain storage scheme.
Simultaneously, decisions have been made in the
interest of farmers to stop the increase in retail fertiliser
prices. Furthermore, the government has approved Cities
2.0 to emphasise sustainability in urban India.

Decision: Approval for the constitution and of Rs 70,000 crore and a diammonium phosphate
empowerment of an Inter-Ministerial Committee (DAP) subsidy of Rs 38,000 crore for the Kharif
(IMC) for "The World's Largest Food Grain Storage season 2023-24. The total subsidy for the Kharif
Scheme in the Cooperative Sector". season is Rs 1.08 lakh crore.
Impact: The guidelines and implementation Impact: This decision will ensure that fertilisers
methods of various schemes of the Ministry of are available to farmers at subsidised, affordable,
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Ministry of and reasonable prices during the Kharif season.
Food Processing Industries, Consumer Affairs, Farmers will benefit from the availability of DAP
Food, and Public Distribution to set up various and other potassium (P&K) fertilisers. Subsidies
agricultural infrastructure like storage houses, for P&K fertilisers will also be rationalised. During
custom hiring centres, processing units, etc. at this time, there will be no change in the maximum
the level of PACS included in the scheme will be retail price of fertiliser.
amended. This will reduce food grain wastage
by increasing storage capacity and modernising Decision: Cabinet nod to Scheme 2.0 for PLI for IT
infrastructure at the PACS level. The country's food hardware such as laptops, servers, all-in-one PCs,
security will be improved. Farmers will be paid more tablets, ultra-small form factor devices, etc.
for their crops. There are approximately 100,000 Impact :
Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) in the • The budgeted outlay of the scheme is Rs 17,000
country, with over 13 crore farmers as members. crore.
• The duration of the scheme is six years.
Decision: Approval for the City Investments to • The estimated output is Rs 3.35 lakh crore.
Innovate, Integrate, and Sustain (CITIIS 2.0) • The estimated investment is Rs 2,430 crore.
programme for integrated urban management • Expected direct employment is 75,000.
Impact: Financial and technical assistance will
be provided for the development of environment- Decision: Following India's agreement with the
friendly projects in 18 smart cities chosen through Universal Postal Union (UPU), the establishment of
a competitive process. Climate resilience and a regional office of the UPU in New Delhi has been
mitigation projects will be developed. Climate approved.
change mitigation will be prioritised in India's Impact: This will expand India's diplomatic ties and
urban areas. help strengthen ties with other countries, especially
in the Asia-Pacific region. This will increase India's
Decision: The Cabinet approved a urea subsidy presence on global postal forums.

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