Published on: December 13, 2025

CABINET CLEARS KEY BILLS

CABINET CLEARS KEY BILLS

NEWS – The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a series of far-reaching policy decisions, including the budget for the upcoming Census, major economic and social sector bills, and reforms spanning education, insurance, nuclear energy and coal allocation.

KEY CABINET DECISIONS

  1. Census 2027: Digital & Inclusive
  • Approved ₹11,718 crore for the 16th Census of India, the first fully digital census.
  • Around 30 lakh enumerators to be deployed; self-enumeration option for citizens.
  • First census since Independence to enumerate all castes.
  • Delayed from 2021 due to Covid-19.
  • Expected to provide a fresh data base for policy planning and welfare targeting in the Amrit Kaal.
  1. Insurance Sector Liberalisation
  • Cleared the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
  • Proposes 100% FDI (from 74%) with condition that premiums are invested domestically.
  • Aims to boost insurance penetration and achieve “Insurance for All by 2047”.
  • Includes safeguards in consultation with IRDAI and ease of doing business reforms.
  1. Rural Employment Guarantee Reforms
  • Proposal to rename MGNREGA as ‘Poojya Bapu Grameen Rozgar Yojana’.
  • Increase guaranteed workdays from 100 to 125 days.
  • Scheme generated 308.7 crore person-days last year, acting as a rural safety net post-Covid.
  1. Higher Education Regulator
  • Approved the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill.
  • Seeks to establish a single regulator replacing UGC, AICTE and NCTE.
  • Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP); medical and law education excluded.
  1. Nuclear & Coal Sector Reforms
  • Cleared SHANTI Bill to allow private participation in nuclear energy; target 100 GW by 2047.
  • Permitted coal exporters under linkages to export up to 50% surplus coal.
  • Approved CoalSETU Policy for transparent auction of coal linkages across industries.

SIGNIFICANCE

Collectively, these decisions signal the government’s push towards structural reforms, data-driven governance, and private sector participation to support long-term growth and welfare delivery.