The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval for signing of an agreement between India-Albania on the abolition of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and official/service passports. The agreement will facilitate visa-free travel for diplomatic and official/ service passport holders of one country while entering into, transiting through, exiting or staying for up to 90 days in the territory of the other country.
The Cabinet also gave nod to ratify the ‘Nagoya-Kuala lumpur supplementary protocol on liability and redress to the Cartagena protocol on bio-safety’ by India. The Protocol would promote sound application of biotechnology making it possible to accrue benefits arising from modern biotechnology while minimising the risk to the environment and human health. This will protect the interests of all Indians without distinction or differentiation.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs cleared acquisition of Polar Research Vessel (Ice-breaker, Research cum Supply Vessel) by the Ministry of Earth Sciences at a cost of `1,051.13 crore. This polar research vessel will help sustain two Indian research bases in Antarctica (Maitri and Bharti); dovetail research initiatives in the Southern Ocean domain with those in the proximal regions of the Antarctic continent; widen the thrust on Arctic research disciplines undertaken through Indian Station Himadri, and provide a suitable research platform for other tropical sea programmes. As of now Indian Antarctic expeditions are undertaken by rented ice-class vessels/ice-breakers from international market.
The Cabinet also approved the introduction of School of Planning and Architecture Bill, 2014 and approval for transfer on lease basis of 4.687 acres (instead of earlier approved15.19 acres) of Defence land in perpetuity to the Kendriya Vidyalaya(KVS) for construction of school building and Sohna Road, Gurgaon KV.
The SPA Bill, 2014 provides for bringing all three SPAs under the gambit of Bill which would adhere to Government policies on reservations from time to time. The proposed Act will empower these Schools toward degrees through an Act of Parliament.
This would enable the School of Planning and Architecture to become centres of excellence like IITs, NITs and help fulfill the need of the country for quality manpower in the field of architecture and planning. All the money spent from public exchequer will be accounted for and audited by the CAG and its annual Report and audited accounts to be placed before Parliament.
The Cabinet further gave its approval for transfer on lease basis of 4.687 acres for construction of KV school building and other related infrastructure at KV No. 2 in Gurgaon. The land is to be transferred on lease basis at a nominal rent of `1.00 (Rupee one only) per annum (without any premium) and in terms of existing Government policy on the subject.