Govt approves PM-Surya Ghar

The Government has approved PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana for installing rooftop solar system in one crore households with a total outlay of 75,021 crore rupees. Briefing media after the Cabinet meeting in New Delhi on Thursday, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur said one crore houses will get 300 units of free electricity and beneficiaries will be able to earn an income of 15,000 rupees. 

Through this scheme, the households will be able to save electricity bills as well as earn additional income through the sale of surplus power to DISCOMs. The proposed scheme will result in the addition of 30 GW of solar capacity through rooftop solar system in the residential sector. The scheme will create around 17 lakh direct jobs in manufacturing, logistics, supply chain, sales, installation, and other services.

The Centre has also approved Nutrient-Based Subsidy rates for Kharif Season 2024 on Phosphatic and Potassic fertilisers and the inclusion of three new fertiliser grades under the NBS scheme. The tentative budgetary requirement for Kharif season 2024 would be approximately 24,420 crore rupees. Under this, the availability of fertilisers to farmers at subsidized, affordable and reasonable prices will be ensured.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, which has been approved by the Cabinet, is going to be a game changer for bringing sustainable energy solutions to every home. In a social media post, Mr Modi said, harnessing solar power, this initiative promises to light up lives without burdening pockets, ensuring a brighter, greener future for all. 

Mr Thakur said the Government has also given its nod to the establishment of the International Big Cat Alliance with headquarters in India. It has approved one-time budgetary support of 150 crore rupees for five years till 2027-28. The International Big Cat Alliance has been conceived as



a multi-country, multi-agency coalition of 96 big cat range countries, non-range countries interested in big cat conservation, conservation partners and scientific organizations working in the field of big cat conservation. Seven big cats include Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Puma, Jaguar and the Cheetah. Out of these, five big cats - Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard and Cheetah, are found in India.

Briefing media, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Prime Minister has approved the establishment of three Semiconductor units under ‘Development of Semiconductors and Display Manufacturing Ecosystems in India.  All three units will start construction within the next 100 days. The Programme for Development of Semiconductors and Display Manufacturing Ecosystem in India was notified on the 21st of December 2021 with a total outlay of 76 thousand crore rupees. Tata Electronics Private Limited will set up a Semiconductor Fab in partnership with Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp, Taiwan in Dholera, Gujarat. Northeast will get its first semiconductor unit in Assam in which 48 million chips will be manufactured per day. CG Power, in partnership with Renesas Electronics Corporation, Japan and Stars Microelectronics, Thailand will set up a Semiconductor unit in Sanand, Gujarat.

The Cabinet also approved the creation of the post of Director of the National Institute of One Health, Nagpur at the level of Scientist 'H' to spearhead the National One Health Mission for integrated disease control and pandemic preparedness.

Besides, the Government also approved the amendment of the Second Schedule to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 for specifying the rate of royalty for 12 critical and strategic minerals. These are Beryllium, Cadmium, Cobalt, Gallium, Indium, Rhenium, Selenium, Tantalum, Tellurium, Titanium, Tungsten and Vanadium.