Union Cabinet has approved an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance to central government employees and Dearness Relief to pensioners from January 1, 2022, representing an increase of 3% over the existing rate of 31% of the Basic Pay/Pension.
The Union Cabinet approved a $808 million, or Rs 6,062.45 crore, World Bank-assisted programme called Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP). RAMP would commence in FY h2022-23.It will help improve access to market and credit, strengthen institutions and governance at the centre and state level.
The RAMP program will also seek to scale up implementation capacity and MSME coverage in states. It will address the generic and COVID-related challenges in the MSME sector by way of impact enhancement of existing MSME schemes, especially on the competitiveness front.
The Union Cabinet also extended the time limit for 10 power projects by 36 months to furnish documents required to become certified 'mega' projects so as to avail tax benefits and bid for tenders or supply of electricity.
Projects of capacity of 1000 MW and more, and catering power to more than one state, should be considered as a mega project. Projects which cater power to a single state, irrespective of size, would not come under this category, the Ministry of Power had earlier stated.
The Ministry of Power will also develop an alternative in this period, based on present electricity markets while ensuring that benefits are passed onto consumers in a competitive manner. "The increased liquidity will boost the overall growth of the country and also ensure the revival of various stressed power assets," the Cabinet Committee added.