The Cabinet has approved the setting up of a regulatory authority for coal sector. It also approved the introduction of Coal Regulatory Authority Bill, 2013, in Parliament. The decision aimed at regulating and conserving coal resources and protecting the interest of all stakeholders, was taken at a Cabinet meeting .

Briefing the media,Finance Minister Mr Chidambaram said, the government will issue an Executive Order to set up the regulator, pending the passage of the Bill. Replying to a question, he said, the allotment of coal blocks does not fall within the purview of the regulator.

The Finance Minister said, the Cabinet also approved a draft affidavit on the autonomy of the CBI, to be filed before the Supreme Court before the 3rd of July 2013. He said, the affidavit will be vetted by the Law Ministry before submitting it to the apex court. Mr Chidambaram refused to disclose the details of the affidavit, saying it is a legal matter. He, however, made it clear that the proposed framework for CBI autonomy does not conflict with any provision of the law.

He explained that the proposal to set up a panel of retired judges to oversee the investigations of CBI to insulate it from political interference is in conformity with existing legal provisions. He said Cabinet has given its approval for the construction of a 33.5 km-long metro corridor in Mumbai which would run from Colaba to Santacruz Electronics Export Processing Zone (SEEPZ) via Bandra.

The total completion cost of the project is estimated at 23,136 crore rupees and the line through its total length of 33.5 kms ill be underground.

The Cabinet has also given its nod to launch two satellites over the next two years to augment transponder capacity and make contingency arrangements to support services like VSAT, television, strategic and emergency communications.

Finance Minister said building of GSAT-15 is part of the Indian Research Organisation's (ISRO) efforts towards in-orbit spare capacity to meet contingency and to protect the services of existing users.

Mr. Chidambarm said GSAT-16 will meet contingency requirements, protect services of existing users and will augment and support existing telecommunication, television, VSAT and other satellite-based services in the country.