The Cabinet has approved an amendment to an anti hijacking Act of 1982 under which death penalty has also been included as a punishment for the conspirators as well as hijackers.<br/><br/>Earlier, the maximum sentence was life imprisonment. This was disclosed by the Information and Broadcasting Minister Mrs. Ambika Soni while briefing media about the decisions taken by the Cabinet at its meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.<br/><br/>The Cabinet gave nod for an additional eight per cent Dearness Allowance for Central Government Emlpoyees with effect from 1st of January. This will cost the exchequer 6969 crore rupees per annum. The Cabinet also gave green signal for the introduction of three bills in Parliament in the education sector. They include the bill providing for the prohibition for unfair practices in the technical institutions and universities. Under this charging capitation fee has been made a congnizable offence.<br/><br/>The Cabinet approved a scheme for the creation of National Population Register for usual residents of the country. The project will cover an estimated 1.2 billion residents at the cost of over 3539 crore rupees.