Union Cabinet and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved several key schemes, including Samudra Manthan, PM Surya Sarovar Yojana, PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, and Khelo India. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the decisions during the Cabinet briefing.
Vaishnaw said the Cabinet approved the Samudra Manthan mission, a major initiative aimed at boosting domestic oil and gas exploration and production. The government has allocated ₹84,084 crore for the scheme, which he described as a potential game-changer in meeting India’s growing energy demand.
He also announced that the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme has been extended for another five years, from FY2026-27 to FY2030-31, with a budget allocation of ₹3.15 lakh crore.
Approval for solar power generation
Vaishnaw said one of the Cabinet’s biggest decisions was the approval of the PM Surya Sarovar Yojana, under which the surface of water bodies will be used to generate solar power.
India has the potential to generate 102 GW (1,02,000 MW) of solar power through floating solar installations on water bodies.
The scheme aims to create 5,000 MW of floating solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity across the country. To support the project, the government will provide financial assistance of ₹1 crore per MW over a period of five years.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav addressed the cabinet briefing after the meeting.
₹29,000 crore allocated for Khelo India
In another major decision, the Cabinet approved a significant expansion of the Khelo India programme to strengthen India’s sporting culture and infrastructure.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the government has allocated ₹29,000 crore for the scheme over the next five years.
He said the policy decisions taken over the past decade to promote sports have helped India win a growing number of medals at the Olympics, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games.
The enhanced allocation is aimed at providing world-class training and infrastructure for Indian athletes preparing for future Olympics, Paralympics, and especially the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which India is set to host.
CCS reviews safety of Indian seafarers
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) also held an important meeting to review the current security situation in West Asia.
During the meeting, the government stressed that the safety of Indian seafarers would not be compromised under any circumstances.
It also made it clear that any untoward incident involving Indian seafarers would be raised strongly at the international level.
