New Delhi:

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to hold a third batch of ascending e-auctions for 730 channels in 234 new cities under the Private FM Radio Phase III Policy.

The estimated reserve price has been pegged at Rs 784.87 crore.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said here that the Cabinet also approved a proposal to charge an annual license fee (ALF) for the FM channel as four per cent of gross revenue excluding GST. This will be applicable to 234 new cities/towns.

The private FM radio rollout in 234 new cities and towns will fulfil the unmet demand for FM radio in these areas which still remain uncovered by private FM radio broadcasting and bring new and local content in the mother tongue, an official statement said.

It will lead to the creation of new employment opportunities, boost local dialect and culture and ‘vocal for local’ initiatives, it underlined.

Many of the approved towns are in aspirational districts and left-wing-affected areas.

Setting up of private FM radio in these areas will further strengthen government outreach in these areas, the statement said.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

The government has seased FDI norms in the space sector to increase the participation of the private sector in this space. Picture for representation.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union Cabinet on Wednesday took a series of key decisions, which included the approval for amendments to the existing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy on space sector.

“Under the amended FDI policy, 100% FDI is allowed in space sector. The liberalised entry routes under the amended policy are aimed to attract potential investors to invest in Indian companies in space,” said Union Minister Anurag Thakur.

The amended policy extends the facility of up to 74% FDI under the automatic route for satellite manufacturing and operation, satellite data products and ground/user segment. Beyond 74%, these activities are under government route.

Up to 49% FDI under the automatic route will be allowed for launch vehicles and associated systems or subsystems, and creation of spaceports for launching and receiving spacecraft. Beyond 49%, these activities will be under government route. Mr. Thakur said up to 100% FDI under the automatic route would be permitted for manufacturing of components and systems/sub-systems for satellites, ground segment and user segment.

“This increased private sector participation would help to generate employment, enable modern technology absorption and make the sector self-reliant. It is expected to integrate Indian companies into global value chains. With this, companies will be able to set up their manufacturing facilities within the country…,” he said.

The satellites sub-sector has been divided into three different activities with defined limits for foreign investment in each such sector. As per the existing FDI policy, foreign investment is allowed in establishment and operation of satellites via government-approval route only.

Flood management

Another decision is related to the continuation of Flood Management and Border Areas Programme scheme with ₹4,100-crore outlay for five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26. Under its flood management component with an outlay of ₹2,940 crore, Central assistance will be provided to States.

The pattern of funding to be followed is 90% (Centre): 10% (State) for special category States (eight north-eastern States and hilly States of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and union territory of Jammu and Kashmir) and 60% (Centre): 40% (State) for general/ non-special category States. The River Management and Border Areas component has an outlay of ₹1,160 crore.

The Union Cabinet also approved the Ministry of Home Affairs’ proposal for continuation of the implementation of “Safety of Women” umbrella scheme at ₹1,179.72 crore for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26. It will include scaling up of 112 helpline; setting up of six cyber forensic science labs in Pune, Kamrup (Assam), Bhopal, Chandigarh, Kolkata and Delhi; and a National Forensic Data Centre. Every year, about 5,000 personnel will be trained to prevent crimes against women and children.