The Union Cabinet on Monday approved several significant initiatives spanning agriculture, innovation, education, energy, and infrastructure.
These decisions aim to promote sustainable development, boost entrepreneurship, and enhance access to resources across various sectors.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw briefed the media about the key decisions on Monday.
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National Mission on Natural Farming
The Cabinet approved the launch of the National Mission on Natural Farming, a standalone centrally sponsored scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare. With an outlay of Rs 2,481 crore, the mission aims to promote chemical-free agriculture practices, ensuring sustainable and eco-friendly farming methods.
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) 2.0
In a step toward fostering innovation, the Cabinet greenlit AIM 2.0 with a budget of Rs 2,750 crore for implementation until March 31, 2028. The initiative will further strengthen India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by supporting startups, research, and development.
PAN 2.0: Paperless and Online System
The Cabinet also approved PAN 2.0, emphasising a digital and paperless process for Permanent Account Number (PAN) issuance and a grievance redressal mechanism, making the system more efficient and user-friendly.
One Nation One Subscription Scheme
To democratize access to academic resources, the Cabinet launched the One Nation One Subscription Scheme, a central initiative aimed at providing nationwide access to scholarly research articles and journals. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the scheme, with an estimated cost of Rs 6,000 crore, will consolidate subscriptions to globally recognized journals, making them accessible to educational institutions across India. “This decision will greatly benefit students and researchers by providing high-quality resources at no cost,” he said.
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Hydro Electric Project in Arunachal Pradesh
The Cabinet approved an investment proposal for the 240 MW Heo Hydro Electric Project in the Shi Yomi district of Arunachal Pradesh. With an outlay of Rs 1,939 crore and a completion timeline of 50 months, the project aims to enhance power generation capacity in the northeastern region.
Indian Railways Multitracking Projects
To improve connectivity, the Cabinet sanctioned three multitracking railway projects at a combined cost of Rs 7,927 crore.
These projects are expected to ease travel, reduce logistics costs, lower oil imports, and cut CO2 emissions, contributing to a more efficient and environmentally friendly rail network.
