The Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval to official amendments in the Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts Bill 2015. Under the amendment the words, Commercial Appellate Division will be substituted by the words, Commercial Division. It would reduce burden on the Division Bench. The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha this evening.<br/><br/>The Cabinet has given its nod for certain amendments in the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order- 1950 to modify the list of Scheduled Castes in Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Kerala, Odisha and West Bengal. It has also approved amendments in the Central List of Other Backward Classes in Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Kerala due to inclusion of certain castes or parts thereof in the lists of Scheduled Castes. The members of 17 different communities of these states will be included in the list of Scheduled Castes and they will be able to derive benefits under the existing schemes meant for the SCs. <br/><br/>The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today gave its approval to methodology for fixing upfront payment and reserve price for allotment of coal mines and blocks for sale to PSUs. A decision in this regard was taken this evening. This will enhance domestic production of coal to meet the demand of national economy thereby reducing import. The coal bearing States will be getting additional revenue from such coal mines. The demand for coal in the country is much higher than the current level of production. The gap between consumption and domestic supply is met through imports . <br/><br/>Cabinet has also approved a policy framework for development of Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) in coal and lignite bearing areas in the country. UCG is a method of extraction of energy from coal and lignite resources. A policy on the lines broadly similar to the existing policy for Coal Bed Methane development on revenue sharing basis will be adopted for offering the blocks through competitive bidding. <br/><br/>Development of UCG is envisaged to provide for energy security. Coal Ministry may engage a consultant for development of the contract document. Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited will be the nodal agency for development of bid documents, work programme, evaluation of bids, monitoring and process protocols. In the next two years, some explored blocks will be identified for offer and subsequently, additional blocks will be identified for offer in the long term.<br/><br/>The Cabinet has approved revised model text for the Bilateral Investment Treaty(BIT). It will be used for re-negotiation of existing BITs and negotiation of future BITs and investment chapters in Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreements, Partnership Agreements and Free Trade Agreements. The new text will provide appropriate protection to foreign investors in India and Indian investors in the foreign countries.<br/><br/>Cabinet has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Spain on cooperation in Port matters. The MoU will provide a cooperation platform for enhancing and stimulating steady growth of maritime traffic, exchange of information necessary for accelerating and facilitating the flow of commercial goods at sea and at ports.

The Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval to official amendments in the Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts Bill 2015. Under the amendment the words, Commercial Appellate Division will be substituted by the words, Commercial Division. It would reduce burden on the Division Bench. The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha this evening.<br/><br/>The Cabinet has given its nod for certain amendments in the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order- 1950 to modify the list of Scheduled Castes in Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Kerala, Odisha and West Bengal. It has also approved amendments in the Central List of Other Backward Classes in Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Kerala due to inclusion of certain castes or parts thereof in the lists of Scheduled Castes. The members of 17 different communities of these states will be included in the list of Scheduled Castes and they will be able to derive benefits under the existing schemes meant for the SCs. <br/><br/>The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today gave its approval to methodology for fixing upfront payment and reserve price for allotment of coal mines and blocks for sale to PSUs. A decision in this regard was taken this evening. This will enhance domestic production of coal to meet the demand of national economy thereby reducing import. The coal bearing States will be getting additional revenue from such coal mines. The demand for coal in the country is much higher than the current level of production. The gap between consumption and domestic supply is met through imports . <br/><br/>Cabinet has also approved a policy framework for development of Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) in coal and lignite bearing areas in the country. UCG is a method of extraction of energy from coal and lignite resources. A policy on the lines broadly similar to the existing policy for Coal Bed Methane development on revenue sharing basis will be adopted for offering the blocks through competitive bidding. <br/><br/>Development of UCG is envisaged to provide for energy security. Coal Ministry may engage a consultant for development of the contract document. Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited will be the nodal agency for development of bid documents, work programme, evaluation of bids, monitoring and process protocols. In the next two years, some explored blocks will be identified for offer and subsequently, additional blocks will be identified for offer in the long term.

The Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval to official amendments in the Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts Bill 2015. Under the amendment the words, Commercial Appellate Division will be substituted by the words, Commercial Division. It would reduce burden on the Division Bench. The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha this evening.