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Boost to farmers, traders, PM scholarship hike: key decisions of first Cabinet meet

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7 years ago

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Boost to farmers, traders, PM scholarship hike: key decisions of first Cabinet meet

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Extending PM-KISAN scheme of Rs 6000 annual income support to all farmers, pension scheme for small and marginal farmers, retailers, traders and the self-employed, and a hike in scholarships to widows and wards of dead or ex-service personnel of armed and paramilitary forces: these were the highlights of a number of decisions taken at the first Cabinet meeting held yesterday (Friday, May 31), just a day after the Narendra Modi government was sworn-in for a second term.

Following the Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a tweet, hailed the decisions taken by the new Cabinet and said that the initiatives will help the hardworking farmers and industrious traders of the country.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Pradhan Mantri KisanSamman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, announced ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in the Interim Budget this February, provided foran annual income support of Rs 6,000 in three instalments of Rs 2,000 each every four months — to small and marginal farmers, who owned 2 hectares or less.

The scheme was introduced – unusually – as a retrospective scheme, starting from December 1, 2018, which the government could use to argue makes it an ongoing scheme. The first instalment was handed over to farmers in February.

The Cabinet decision yesterday will increase the number of beneficiaries to 14.5 crore from 12.5 crore earlier, and will cost the government an additional Rs 12,000 crore. The total cost to the exchequer in 2019-20 under the PM-KISAN scheme is now estimated to be Rs 87,217.50 crore.

Also Read: Rajnath Singh takes charge as Defence Minister

So far, funds have been credited in the bank accounts of 3.11 crore beneficiaries in the first instalment and 2.66 crore beneficiaries in the second instalment, according to data provided by the government, reported The Indian Express (IE).

Announcing the scheme, Union Minister for Agriculture, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Narendra Singh Tomar said the decisions “demonstrate Prime Minister’s commitment towards the farmers”.

Calling them “landmark decisions in the very first meeting of the new Cabinet” Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar said, “Jo wadakiyauskaamalaaj se shuruhua (we have started delivering on the promises made)”.

The cabinet also approved a new central sector scheme called the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Pension Yojana which is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme for small and marginal farmers across the country.

“The central government will contribute to the pension fund in equal amount as contributed by the farmer,” Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar announced after the cabinet meeting.

“The scheme provides income support to small and marginal landholder farmer families with cultivable land holding up to 2 hectare, across the country, by way of Rs. 6,000 per year. The ongoing scheme aims to cover around 12.5 crore SMF families,” he added.

The government will provide Rs 10,774.50 crore over a three-year period towards matching premium contribution (which will depend on the age of each farmer) for 5 crore such farmers. This scheme will ensure pension of Rs 3,000 a month to the farmers after they turn 60.

For example, the premium for an 18-year-old farmer will be around Rs 2 per day, which will increase to Rs 100 per month for a 29-year old and Rs 200 for a farmer who is 40.

A similar scheme was also cleared for small traders, retailers, shopkeepers and self-employed with an annual GST turnover of less than Rs 1.5 crore. They will be able to enrol for the pension scheme through more than 3.25 lakh Common Service Centres spread across the country.

Also Read: New Education Policy, in first 100 days plan,submitted to HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal

The Cabinet also approved a hike in scholarships given to widows and wards of dead or ex-service personnel of armed and paramilitary forces from the National Defence Fund and extended its ambit to include wards of state police officials killed in terror or Maoist attacks.

The scholarship amount has been hiked to Rs 2,500 a month for boys from Rs 2,000 a month and to Rs 3,000 a month for girls from Rs 2,250. “Our government’s first decision is dedicated to those who protect India. Major changes approved in PM’s Scholarship Scheme under the National Defence Fund including enhanced scholarships for wards of police personnel martyred in terror or Maoist attacks,” Modi said in a tweet.

The Cabinet also gave its nod for a vaccination scheme for bovines and other livestock to control Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis to help farmers who depend on livestock for income. The government will earmark Rs 13,343 crore to control and eradicate these diseases over the next five years. The diseases, common among cows, bulls, buffaloes, sheep, goats, pigs etc can lead to up to 100 per cent loss in milk production for months, and can lead to infertility, affecting the farmers who rear them.

 

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PM Modi assures no discrimination in women’s quota, delimitation debate intensifies in Parliament

PM Narendra Modi has assured that women’s reservation will be implemented without discrimination, amid a heated debate over delimitation in Parliament.

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7 hours ago

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April 16, 2026

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PM modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured that there will be no discrimination in the implementation of women’s reservation, as Parliament witnessed a sharp debate over the proposed linkage between the quota and delimitation exercise.

During the ongoing special session, the government reiterated its commitment to ensuring fair representation while addressing concerns raised by opposition parties regarding the timing and structure of the legislation.

The proposed framework aims to reserve 33 percent of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. However, its implementation is tied to a fresh delimitation exercise, which is expected after the next census.

Opposition questions timing and intent

Opposition leaders have raised concerns that linking the women’s quota to delimitation could delay its implementation. They argue that the process of redrawing constituencies may push the actual rollout further into the future.

The issue has triggered a broader political confrontation, with multiple parties questioning whether the move could alter representation across states.

Some critics have also alleged that the delimitation exercise could disproportionately benefit certain regions based on population, a charge the government has rejected.

Government reiterates commitment to fair implementation

Responding to these concerns, the Centre has maintained that the reforms are necessary to ensure accurate and updated representation based on population data.

Leaders from the ruling side have repeatedly emphasized that the process will be carried out transparently and without bias. The assurance that there will be “no discrimination” is aimed at addressing fears among states and opposition parties.

The debate marks a key moment in Parliament, with both sides engaging in intense exchanges over one of the most significant electoral reforms in recent years.

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Give all tickets to Muslim women, Amit Shah says, attacking Akhilesh Yadav on sub-quota demand

A sharp exchange between Amit Shah and Akhilesh Yadav in Parliament over sub-quota for Muslim women highlights key divisions on women’s reservation implementation.

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9 hours ago

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April 16, 2026

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A heated exchange broke out in Parliament during discussions on the women’s reservation framework, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav locking horns over the demand for a sub-quota for Muslim women.

The debate unfolded as the government pushed forward key legislative measures to implement 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

Akhilesh Yadav argued that the proposed reservation must ensure representation for women from marginalised communities, including Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Muslim women. He said that without such provisions, large sections could remain excluded from political participation.

He also questioned the timing of the bill, alleging that the Centre was avoiding a caste census. According to him, a census would lead to renewed demands for caste-based reservations, which the government is reluctant to address.

Government rejects religion-based quota

Responding to the demand, Amit Shah made it clear that reservation based on religion is not permitted under the Constitution.

He stated that any proposal to provide quota to Muslims on religious grounds would be unconstitutional, firmly rejecting the idea of a separate sub-quota for Muslim women within the broader reservation framework.

The government has maintained that the existing framework already includes provisions for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) women within the overall reservation structure.

Wider political divide over implementation

The issue of sub-categorisation within the women’s quota has emerged as a major flashpoint, even as most opposition parties broadly support the idea of women’s reservation.

Samajwadi Party leaders reiterated that their support for the bill depends on inclusion of OBC and minority women, while the government continues to defend its constitutional position.

The debate is part of a broader discussion during the special Parliament session, where multiple bills linked to delimitation and implementation of the women’s quota are being taken up.

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Raghav Chadha’s security withdrawn by Punjab amid AAP rift, Centre steps in with cover

Punjab withdraws Raghav Chadha’s security amid party tensions, Centre offers fresh protection.

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1 day ago

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April 15, 2026

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The Punjab government has withdrawn the Z+ category security cover provided to Raghav Chadha, amid an ongoing rift within the Aam Aadmi Party.

According to sources, the security personnel deployed by Punjab Police have been asked to report back, marking a significant development in the political dispute involving the Rajya Sabha MP.

The move comes shortly after Chadha was removed from his position as deputy leader of the party in the Rajya Sabha, signalling deepening differences between him and the party leadership.

Centre offers fresh security arrangement

Soon after the withdrawal, the Ministry of Home Affairs stepped in to provide security cover to Chadha.

Sources indicate that he will now receive Z-category security in Delhi and Punjab, while a Y-category cover may be provided in other parts of the country.

This shift ensures continued protection for the MP despite the withdrawal of state-provided security.

Fallout linked to political disagreement

The development is part of a broader fallout between Chadha and his party. He was recently replaced as deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, with the party reportedly expressing dissatisfaction over his political approach and conduct in Parliament.

Chadha, however, has denied the allegations, calling them baseless and asserting that his focus has been on raising public issues rather than engaging in political confrontation.

Growing divide within party ranks

Once considered a close associate of Arvind Kejriwal and a prominent face of the party, Chadha’s recent removal from key roles and the withdrawal of his security underline a widening internal divide.

He is among the few leaders in the party who have recently found themselves at odds with the leadership, indicating shifting dynamics within the organisation.

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