Cabinet approves One Nation One Election proposal

September 19, 2024

1 Cabinet approves One Nation One Election proposal

The One Nation One Election proposal has been approved by the Cabinet on 18 September . According to the report, the bill will be introduced in the winter session . Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised One National One Election in 2014. The committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, formed to consider One Nation One Election, submitted its report to President Draupadi Murmu on 14 March . This report is of 18,626 pages. The panel was constituted on 2 September 2023. This report is the result of 191 days of research after discussions with stakeholders-experts. The committee has suggested to extend the tenure of all assemblies till 2029. 5 suggestions of the panel –

The tenure of all state assemblies should be extended till the next Lok Sabha elections i.e. 2029.
In case of a hung assembly (no one has a majority) or a no-confidence motion, fresh elections can be held for the remaining term of 5 years.
In the first phase, Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections can be held together. After that, in the second phase, local body elections can be held within 100 days.
The Election Commission will prepare single voter list and voter ID card in consultation with state election officers for Lok Sabha, Assembly, local body elections.
The Kovind panel has recommended advance planning of equipment, manpower and security forces to hold simultaneous elections.

An 8-member committee headed by former President Kovind was formed on 2 September last year. The first meeting of the One Nation One Election Committee was held on 23 September 2023 at Jodhpur Officers Hostel in Delhi . It has 8 members including former President Ram Nath Kovind, Home Minister Amit Shah and former MP Ghulam Nabi Azad. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has been made a special member of the committee.

2 Union Cabinet approves continuation of Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-ASHA) schemes

The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) schemes to provide remunerative prices to farmers and control price volatility of essential commodities for consumers. It will entail a total financial outlay of Rs 35,000 crore during the 15th Finance Commission period up to 2025-26. PM-AASHA will not only help in providing remunerative prices to farmers for their produce but also control price volatility of essential commodities. The government has integrated Price Support Scheme (PSS) and Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) schemes into PM ASHA to serve farmers and consumers more efficiently.

3 Cabinet approves Pradhan Mantri Janjati Unnat Gram Abhiyan worth Rs 79,156 crore for tribal welfare

The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi has approved the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Unnat Gram Abhiyan Yojana to bring about a comprehensive improvement in the lives of India’s tribal communities . A budget of Rs 79,156 crore (Central share: Rs 56,333 crore and State share: Rs 22,823 crore) has been set for this scheme. The main objective of this scheme is to improve the lives of more than five crore tribal people in 63,000 villages across 30 states and union territories in the next five years . This scheme will focus on tribal-dominated villages and aspiring districts. This initiative will be implemented in a coordinated manner through 17 ministries, so that the lives of these communities can be improved comprehensively. This scheme focuses on four main goals which include development of infrastructure, promotion of economic empowerment, universal access to education and improvement in health. Under this scheme, basic facilities like concrete houses, clean water, electricity, skill development programs and health services will be provided to tribal families.

4 Extension of Chandrayaan-4 mission gets approval from the Centre

The Union Cabinet on September 18 approved the extension of the Chandrayaan-4 mission . This also includes preparatory measures for the manned lunar mission . Apart from this, the Cabinet also approved the expansion of Venus Orbiter Mission and Gaganyaan . The Union Cabinet also approved the development of India’s first space station and next-gen launch vehicles . The objective of the upcoming Chandrayaan-4 mission is to collect rocks and soil from the surface of the moon and bring them back safely to Earth. Earlier on August 23, on the occasion of National Space Day, ISRO Chairman S. Somnath had said that the space agency has completed the design for the next phase of lunar missions – Chandrayaan 4 and 5. India will launch Chandrayaan-4 in 2027. Chandrayaan-4 will bring 3-5 kg of soil and rock samples from the surface of the moon to Earth. This spacecraft will have five different modules. At the same time, Chandrayaan-3, sent to the Moon in 2023, had three modules – propulsion module (engine), lander and rover. The first module of the Indian Space Station will be launched in 2028, in which only robots will be sent. A total of five modules will be sent into space in this station one by one.

5. Indian Space Centre (BAS): Our own space centre for scientific research will be established with the launch of its first module in the year 2028

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved expanding the scope of the Gaganyaan programme and building the first unit of the Indian Space Station . The mission to develop the first module of the Indian Space Station (BAS-1) and demonstrate and validate various technologies for building and operating the Indian Space Station (BAS) has been approved by the Union Cabinet. Now the human space flight program of technology development and demonstration is to be completed by launching the first unit of the Indian Space Station (BAS-1) by December 2028 through eight missions.

6 After Moon and Mars, India’s eyes are on Venus, Cabinet approves ‘Venus Orbit Mission’

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved several important Space related proposals including ‘ Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM) ’. The total fund sanctioned for “Venus Orbiter Mission” (VOM) is Rs. 1236 crore, out of which Rs. 824.00 crore will be spent on spacecraft. The cost includes development and fabrication of spacecraft, including its specific payloads and technology elements, global ground station support costs for navigation and networks as well as launch vehicle cost. The objective of Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM) is to carry out scientific exploration, better understand the atmosphere, geology of Venus and collect large amount of scientific data by probing its dense atmosphere.

7 National Disaster Management Authority and Army’s Southern Command organised two-day national seminar in Chennai

A two day National Seminar of National Disaster Management Authority and Army’s Southern Command – ACY is being organized in Chennai . Its main objective is to promote disaster preparedness and strengthen cooperation among key stakeholders. Representatives from Railways, Transport, Civil Aviation, Health, Environment and Climate Change Departments and State and National Disaster Management Authorities and Indian Army will participate in the seminar. Officials from Meteorological Department, National Remote Sensing Centre, Central Water Commission and Forest Survey of India will also participate in it. The seminar will review the natural calamities like tsunami, landslides, floods, forest fires and cyclones and recent disasters and discuss ways to prevent such challenging situations.

8 Indian Army signs MoU with Tricolor Mountain Rescue (TMR)

The Indian Army signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tricolor Mountain Rescue (TMR) at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) in Delhi Cantt . Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi was also present on the occasion. The agreement is a significant step towards enhancing the relief and rescue operations of the Indian Army in mountainous terrain. The MoU provides that TMR will collaborate with the Indian Army in conducting customized training programs for Army instructors aimed at improving their ability to train soldiers in avalanche rescue and evacuation skills.

9 Squadron Leader Mohana Singh became the first woman fighter pilot of LCA Tejas

Indian Air Force Squadron Leader Mohana Singh has become the first woman fighter pilot to fly the LCA Tejas . On September 18, she joined the ’18 Flying Bullets ‘ squadron operating the LCA Tejas. The LCA Tejas is completely indigenous and has been manufactured under the ‘ Made in India ‘ initiative. Mohana Singh became the first woman fighter pilot to join the fighter squadron about 8 years ago. She was part of the initial trio of women fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force along with Squadron Leader Bhavana Kanth and Avani Chaturvedi . Currently Bhavana Kanth and Avani Chaturvedi are flying Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter jets in the western desert . Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Air Force, above Flight Lieutenant and just below Wing Commander. The Vice Chiefs of the Indian Air Force, Army and Navy flew the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas during the ‘ Tarang Shakti 2024 ‘ air exercise held in Jodhpur . LCA Tejas has been built by ‘ Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) ‘. This aircraft is a powerful aircraft for aerial warfare and offensive air support missions. With its help, military survey of any place and anti-ship operations can also be conducted.