<br/>The cabinet has given its nod for amending the existing New Delhi Municipal Council Act. The bill in this regard will be introduced in the next session of Parliament. It proposes to reduce the number of MLAs whose constituency fall in New Delhi area from 3 to 2.<br/> <br/>The member of parliament who in the existing law is the special invitee at the council meetings will now have voting rights as well. <br/> <br/>In another proposed amendment the meeting of the council will be presided by the Chief Minister if she or he represents the constituency in the New Delhi council area. <br/> <br/>Briefing media on the decisions taken by the cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, the Information and Broadcasting Minister Mrs. Ambika Soni said that other options have also been suggested for presiding such meetings.<br/> <br/>Mrs. Soni further added, out of the 12 members of the council, the number of nominated members are proposed to be raised from 2 to 4. Out of 12 members, three will be women and two will be from the scheduled castes. <br/> <br/>The Minister said, these proposals will ensure greater participation of weaker sections of the society and the people's representatives in the decision meeting of NDMC.<br/> <br/>In another significant decision, the cabinet gave its go ahead for amendments to Central Educational Institutions reservation in admission act, aimed at safe gaurding the interests of the tribal population in far flung areas of north-eastern states. <br/> <br/>The amendment will ensure equity, inclusiveness and meet the regional aspirations. The Minister said, the amendments have been proposed as these Central Educational Institutions are facing practical difficulties in implementing the provision of the act.<br/> <br/>All the Central Educational Institutions at present are required to reserve 27 per cent seats for the OBCs including the creamy layer, 15 per cent seats are also reserved for the SCs and 7.5 per cent seats for the STs over a period of three years. <br/> <br/>In another decision, the cabinet give its green signal for the setting up of and Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research. A bill on setting of Academy will be introduced in the up coming session of the Parliament. <br/> <br/>The Academy will mainly focus on research and giving training in the areas which are not ordinarly covered by the existing universities in the country. The objective is to create professionals of highest quality in cross disciplinary areas. <br/> <br/>AIR correspondent says that Academy will be of world class institution of national importance and will meet the shortage of research scholars in the country. <br/> <br/>Mrs. Ambika Soni said that while only eight thousand four hundred and twenty Doctorates were awarded in 2006 in India, the number of such scholars was almost three fold in China whereas in the US it was more than thirty thousand. <br/>