Union Cabinet | DD News

November 12, 2025 10:19 PM

Cabinet approves rationalisation of royalty rates for key minerals critical to green energy transition

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the rationalisation of royalty rates for Graphite, Caesium, Rubidium, and Zirconium — minerals that play a vital role in high-tech applications and India’s green energy transition. As per the decision, the royalty rate for Caesium and Rubidium has been fixed at 2 percent of the average sale price (ASP) of the metal contained in the ore produced. For Zirconium, the rate will be 1 percent of ASP, while for Graphit...

October 28, 2025 4:00 PM

Cabinet approves Terms of Reference for 8th Central Pay Commission

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the 8th Central Pay Commission. The 8th Central Pay Commission will be a temporary body comprising one Chairperson, one Part-Time Member, and one Member-Secretary. The Commission has been mandated to submit its recommendations within 18 months from the date of its constitution. It may also submit interim reports on specific matters as and when its recommendations are finalised. Whil...

October 7, 2025 3:43 PM

Cabinet approves Rs 24,634 crore multitracking projects across four states to boost rail connectivity

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved four major multitracking projects of the Railways Ministry with a total estimated cost of ₹24,634 crore, covering 18 districts across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh. The projects will add approximately 894 kilometres to the existing railway network, significantly enhancing connectivity and operational efficiency. The approved projects include the Wardha-Bhusaw...

October 1, 2025 5:42 PM

Cabinet approves hike in MSP for Rabi crops for marketing season 2026-27

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved an increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Rabi crops for the 2026-27 marketing season, ensuring remunerative prices for farmers and incentivising crop diversification. The sharpest hike has been announced for safflower, with an increase of ₹600 per quintal, followed by lentil (masur) at ₹300 per quintal. The MSP of rapeseed and mustard has been raised by �...

October 1, 2025 5:41 PM

Cabinet approves Rs 11,440 crore mission for ‘aatmanirbharta’ in pulses

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, a landmark initiative aimed at boosting domestic production and reducing India’s dependence on imports. The six-year programme, running from 2025-26 to 2030-31, carries a financial outlay of ₹11,440 crore. India, the world’s largest producer and consumer of pulses, faces a consistent demand-supply gap, with imports rising by 15–20% in recent years. The Mission seeks ...

October 1, 2025 4:32 PM

Cabinet approves Rs 6,957 crore highway expansion project on NH-715 in Assam with wildlife-friendly measures

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the widening and upgradation of the Kalibor–Numaligarh section of NH-715 in Assam to a four-lane highway at a total capital cost of ₹6,957 crore. The project, to be executed on the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode, will cover a total length of 85.675 km and integrate wildlife-friendly measures along the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) stretch. The existing two-l...

October 1, 2025 4:30 PM

Cabinet approves 3% hike in Dearness Allowance for Central Government employees and pensioners

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the release of an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) for Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners, effective from July 1, 2025. The move represents a 3% increase over the existing rate of 55% of Basic Pay/Pension, aimed at offsetting the impact of rising prices. The hike is expected to benefit nearly 49.19 lakh Central Government employees and 68.72 lakh pensioners across th...

October 1, 2025 4:19 PM

Cabinet approves Phase III of Biomedical Research Career Programme

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the continuation of the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP), Phase III, to be implemented between 2025-26 and 2030-31, with an additional six-year support period until 2037-38. The programme, launched in partnership between the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the Wellcome Trust (UK), and the DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance, will have a total outlay of ₹1,500 crore, of which DBT will contribute ₹1,000...

September 24, 2025 3:58 PM

Centre approves Rs 2,192-crore project to double Bakhtiyarpur–Rajgir–Tilaiya railway line in Bihar

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the doubling of the Bakhtiyarpur-Rajgir-Tilaiya single railway line section in Bihar at an estimated cost of Rs 2,192 crore. The project spans four districts of Bihar and will add 104 km to the Indian Railways network. It will significantly improve rail connectivity to major destinations such as Rajgir (home to Shanti Stupa), Nalanda, and Pawapuri, which attract pilgrims and tourists...

August 8, 2025 6:55 PM

Cabinet approves continuation of Targeted Subsidy for Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana consumers for 2025-26 at Rs 12,000 crore

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday approved the continuation of the targeted subsidy of ₹300 per 14.2 kg LPG cylinder - for up to nine refills per year (and proportionately pro-rated for 5 kg cylinders) - for beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) during FY 2025-26. The decision entails an expenditure of ₹12,000 crore. About Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana Launched in May 2016, under the scheme each PMUY beneficiary, adult women from poor...