Top Cabinet Approvals: 24 October 2018

Cabinet approves MoU among BRICS Nations on environmental cooperation

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed among the BRICS Nations on Environmental Cooperation. The MoU was signed during the 10th BRICS Summit in July, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
• The agreement aims to expand cooperation in areas including air quality, water, biodiversity, climate change and waste management.
• It also aims to enhance cooperation in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals.
• The MoU will enable establishment and promotion of closer and long-term, cooperation between the BRICS countries in the field of environment protection and management of natural resources on the basis of equity, reciprocity and mutual benefits, taking into account the applicable Jaws find legal provisions in each country.

Cabinet approves MoU between India, Singapore on setting up of joint working group

• The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Singapore in June, 2018 on the constitution of a Joint Working Group (JWG) on FinTech.
• The Joint Working Group has been constituted for cooperation in the area of finance technology between the two countries.
• The collaboration will benefit both the nations and push them to excel in the fields of Development of Application Programming Interfaces (APls), Regulatory Sandbox, Security in payment and digital cash flow, integration of RuPay-Network for Electronic Transfers (NETS), UPI-FAST payment link, AADHAR Stack and e-KYC in ASEAN region.
• It will enable exchange of best practices, promote experience sharing on policies and regulations related to finance technology and encourage the creation of standards related to the use of data in a non-discriminatory manner by FinTech firms and entities.
• It will also initiate capacity building of relevant officials in regulatory institutions, including in a world of new threats around cyber-security and financial fraud.

Cabinet approves scheme to set up Indian Institute of Skills in PPP mode

• The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the setting up of Indian Institute of Skills (IISs) at different locations across the country in Public Private Partnership (PPP).
• The setting up of IISs is expected to augment the global competitiveness of key sectors of Indian economy by providing high quality skill training, applied research education and a direct and meaningful connection with industry.
• It will provide opportunity to the aspiring youth across the country to have access to highly skilled training and enhance the scope of accountability through its linkage with industry and global competitiveness across sectors.

Cabinet approves establishment of Appellate Tribunal under Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988

• The Union Cabinet has approved the appointment of Adjudicating Authority and establishment of Appellate Tribunal under Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act(PBPT), 1988.
• The Adjudicating Authority and Appellate Tribunal shall sit in the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCTD).
• The move will result in effective and better administration of cases referred to the Adjudicating Authority and speedy disposal of appeals filed against the order of the Adjudicating Authority before the Appellate Tribunal.
• The appointment of the Adjudicating Authority would provide first stage review of administrative action under the PBPT Act and the establishment of the proposed Appellate Tribunal would provide an appellate mechanism for the order passed by the Adjudicating Authority under the PBPT Act.

Cabinet approves MoU amongst BRICS nations regarding cooperation in social, labour sphere

• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among Brazil, Russian Federation, India, China and South Africa, regarding cooperation in the social and labour sphere.
• The MoU was signed on August 3, 2018 during BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers (LEM) Meeting.
• Under the agreement, the parties including India have agreed to cooperate and hold mutual events in the prominent areas namely labour legislation and enforcement, protection of workers' rights with focus on vulnerable groups, employment and labour market policies, professional education, skills and training and social protection.
• The member countries may utilise the BRICS Network of Labour Research Institutes and BRICS Social Security Cooperation Framework for cooperation on social security and other labour issues.
• The MoU provides a mechanism for cooperation, collaboration and maximum synergy amongst BRICS member countries with the common objective of inclusive growth and shared prosperity in the new industrial revolution.

Cabinet approves MoU between ICAI, CPA Afghanistan

• The Union Cabinet has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and Certified Professional Accountants Afghanistan (CPA Afghanistan).  
• The MoU will establish mutual co-operation framework in the areas of capacity building of ‘Afghanistan Accountancy Board (AAB)’, strengthening the IT capacity and quality assurance in Afghanistan through facilitating knowledge transfer, students and members exchange programs, conduct of seminars, conferences and joint activities mutually beneficial to both the parties.
• India and Afghanistan share a very strong partnership based on historical and cultural links. In the recent past, the partnership between the two countries has touched new heights when India's Afghanistan policy shifted to a more confident and multi-dimensional approach by opening Investment in Afghanistan's nascent democracy and economy, strengthening Kabul's defence capability and promoting regional connectivity and integration.
• Further, Afghanistan will help India and ICAI to facilitate indirect employment generation for Indian CAs through recognition and acceptability amongst Afghanistan employers.

Union Cabinet approves signing of Extradition Treaty between India, Malawi

• The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the signing and ratification of the extradition treaty between India and Malawi.
• The treaty would provide a legal framework for seeking extradition of terrorists, economic offenders and other criminals from and to Malawi.

Cabinet approves creation of Director Post for each new AIIMS branch

• The Union Cabinet has approved the creation of one post of Director each for new AIIMS at Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh), Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), Bathinda (Punjab), Guwahati (Assam), Bilaspur (Himachal Pradesh) and Deoghar (Jharkhand).
• The post would created with a basic pay of Rs. 2,25,000/- (fixed) plus NPA but not exceeding Rs.2,37,500/-.
• The Director will be the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute and will be in-charge of overall administration of the Institute and allocate duties to the officers and employees of the Institute.

Cabinet approves signing of bilateral investment agreement between India, Taipei

• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the signing of Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) between India Taipei Association (ITA) in Taipei and Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in India.
• The agreement is likely to increase investment flows between the parties. It will provide appropriate protection to investments on a reciprocal basis between ITA and TECC.  
• The agreement is also likely to increase the comfort level and boost the confidence of investors by assuring a level playing field and non-discrimination in matters related to investments, thus providing conducive investment climate to investors.
• It would also help project India as a preferred foreign direct investment (FDI) destination.

Cabinet approves increase in supervisory visit charges for ASHA Facilitators

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the increase in supervisory visit charges for ASHA Facilitators from Rs 250/-per visit to Rs 300/- per visit for 2018-2019 to 2019- 2020 with effect from October 2018 (to be paid in November, 2018).
• The ASHA facilitators will undertake about 20 supervisory visits per month. With the proposed increase, ASHA Facilitators would receive about Rs 6000 per month against Rs 5000 per month that is an increase of Rs 1000/- per month.
• The existing institutional mechanisms for the National Health Mission (NHM) would be utilised to implement the decision.
• The proposal entails an estimated additional expenditure of Rs 46.95 crore comprising of Rs 15.65 crore during 2018-19 (for six months) and Rs 31.30 crore during 2019-20 as central share.

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