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Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday announced several key decisions made during the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, focusing on technological advancements, infrastructure development, and support for farmers, students, and entrepreneurs.
Speaking about the PAN card upgrade, Vaishnaw said, "The PAN card is an integral part of our lives, especially for the middle class and small businesses. It has undergone significant upgrades, and PAN 2.0 has been approved today. The existing system will be enhanced, and a robust digital backbone will be introduced." The upgraded PAN card system is set to offer notable advancements. According to the minister, "We will explore whether it can serve as a common business identifier. A unified portal will be established, which will be entirely paperless and online, with a strong focus on grievance redressal." The Cabinet also approved three major railway projects aimed at improving connectivity and operational efficiency. Vaishnaw stated, "Three significant railway projects were approved in today's Cabinet meeting. The Manmad-Jalgaon fourth line, spanning 160 km, will save 8 crore litres of diesel annually." He further elaborated, "The second project involves the Bhusawal-Khandwa section, covering both the third and fourth lines. This initiative will enhance capacity between Purvanchal and Mumbai. It is an estimated Rs 8,000 crore project that will generate employment and benefit farmers and small industries." Additionally, the Cabinet approved Atal Innovation Mission 2.0, designed to foster entrepreneurship and innovation among youth. Vaishnaw explained, "The Atal Innovation Mission was launched to empower youth in innovation and entrepreneurship. Today, the Union Cabinet has approved Atal Innovation Mission 2.0 at an estimated cost of Rs 2,750 crore." Addressing feedback from students, he added, "We received feedback that the absence of vernacular language support in its earlier version posed challenges for students. To address this, 30 innovation centres will now operate in vernacular languages." Another notable decision was the introduction of the 'One Nation, One Subscription' initiative, aimed at making high-quality research materials accessible to students and researchers nationwide. Vaishnaw said, "For students and researchers, one of the most significant decisions taken today is 'One Nation, One Subscription'. High-quality publications necessary for research are often expensive. PM Modi has transformed this by ensuring that universities will now share resources collectively." This Rs 6,000 crore initiative will provide access to world-renowned journals for educational institutions across India. In a move to promote sustainable agriculture, the Cabinet approved the National Mission on Natural Farming. Vaishnaw remarked, "The PM Modi-led NDA government is committed to farmers' welfare. Today, a landmark decision was taken--the National Mission on Natural Farming. This is a crucial step towards maintaining chemical-free soil." With an estimated cost of Rs 2,481 crore, the mission aims to encourage chemical-free farming and improve soil health. (ANI)
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