NEW DELHI: Information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in a cabinet press briefing on Wednesday announced a series of major announcements including Sugarcane FRP , Caste Census and greenfield high-speed corridor linking Mawlyngkhung in Meghalaya to Panchgram in Assam.
Here are some highlights from the meeting.
Shillong to Silchar high-speed corridor
The Union Cabinet in a infrastructure boost for the Northeast approved the construction of a greenfield high-speed corridor linking Mawlyngkhung in Meghalaya to Panchgram in Assam. The 166.80 km project, falling under National Highway-6, is expected to enhance connectivity between Shillong and Silchar.
The new corridor, developed on hybrid annuity mode, will span 144.80 km in Meghalaya and 22 km in Assam, with a total capital cost pegged at Rs 22,864 crore. Once completed, it is expected to cut down travel time between the two key cities and improve access to several major routes, including NH-27, NH-106, NH-206, and NH-37.
Key features
The Cabinet also approved a hike in the fair and remunerative price (FRP) of sugarcane to Rs 355 per quintal from At present Rs 340 per quintal.
Every sugar season the FRP of sugarcanes is fixed by the Center on the basis of recommendations of commission for agricultural costs and prices (CACP.) This calculation is done on the basis of overall production of all sugarcane producing states. The factors to consider while fixing the FRP include costs of production, availability of sugar to consumers and market price.
Key features
Caste census
The IB minister also approved the inclusion of caste enumeration in the upcoming national census. Vaishnaw said the move fell under the Centre’s jurisdiction, as per Article 246 of the Constitution.
He also slammed past Congress governments for not implementing a full caste census, noting that in 2010, despite widespread political support, the then UPA government only conducted a caste survey under the SECC (socio-economic and caste census).
The minister said that this move will strengthen the social and economic structure of the society while the nation continues to progress.
"Under the leadership of PM Modi, the cabinet committee of political affairs has decided today that Caste enumeration should be included in the forthcoming census. This demonstrates that the government is committed to the values and interests of the society and the country," he said.
Here are some highlights from the meeting.
Shillong to Silchar high-speed corridor
The Union Cabinet in a infrastructure boost for the Northeast approved the construction of a greenfield high-speed corridor linking Mawlyngkhung in Meghalaya to Panchgram in Assam. The 166.80 km project, falling under National Highway-6, is expected to enhance connectivity between Shillong and Silchar.
The new corridor, developed on hybrid annuity mode, will span 144.80 km in Meghalaya and 22 km in Assam, with a total capital cost pegged at Rs 22,864 crore. Once completed, it is expected to cut down travel time between the two key cities and improve access to several major routes, including NH-27, NH-106, NH-206, and NH-37.
Key features
- The project is expected to enhance travel efficiency and service quality for traffic moving between Guwahati and Silchar with its 4 lane structure.
- Better connectivity to nearby sister cities of Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and the Barak valley area of Assam.
- Help in boosting the national logistics efficiency.
- Ramp up economic growth, including developing industrial sector in Meghalaya
- Promote tourism and tourist attraction in the North-East
The Cabinet also approved a hike in the fair and remunerative price (FRP) of sugarcane to Rs 355 per quintal from At present Rs 340 per quintal.
Every sugar season the FRP of sugarcanes is fixed by the Center on the basis of recommendations of commission for agricultural costs and prices (CACP.) This calculation is done on the basis of overall production of all sugarcane producing states. The factors to consider while fixing the FRP include costs of production, availability of sugar to consumers and market price.
Key features
- For the 2025–26 season starting this October, farmers will receive Rs 355 per quintal for sugarcane — an increase of Rs 15 or 4.41% from the previous rate.
- FRP is the minimum price mandated by the government that sugar mills are legally supposed to pay to the farmers in exchange for their produce.
- The government has also announced that sugar mills with a recovery rate below 9.5 per cent will not face any deductions. Farmers supplying these mills will receive Rs 329.05 per quintal for sugarcane in the upcoming 2025–26 season, the IB minister said.
Caste census
The IB minister also approved the inclusion of caste enumeration in the upcoming national census. Vaishnaw said the move fell under the Centre’s jurisdiction, as per Article 246 of the Constitution.
He also slammed past Congress governments for not implementing a full caste census, noting that in 2010, despite widespread political support, the then UPA government only conducted a caste survey under the SECC (socio-economic and caste census).
The minister said that this move will strengthen the social and economic structure of the society while the nation continues to progress.
"Under the leadership of PM Modi, the cabinet committee of political affairs has decided today that Caste enumeration should be included in the forthcoming census. This demonstrates that the government is committed to the values and interests of the society and the country," he said.
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