In a good news for Central Government Employees, the Cabinet today gave nod for an additional eight per cent Dearness Allowance with effect from 1st of January. The employees are already getting 27 per cent of basic pay or pension as Dearness Allowance. Briefing media about the decisions taken by the Cabinet at its meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh this morning, the Information and Broadcasting Minister Mrs. Ambika Soni said that this will cost the exchequer 6969 crore rupees per annum. However, it will mean a financial burden over 8131 crore rupees in the financial year 2010-11 as it covers the period of 14 months.<br/><br/>In an another major decision, the Cabinet today 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. Earlier, the maximum sentence was life imprisonment.<br/><br/>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. The second bill relates to mandatory accreditation of higher education institutes under a regulatory authority. The third one provides for the setting up of educational tribunals.<br/><br/>The Cabinet gave approval to 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. The compilation of the data will be undertaken from April this year and will be completed by September.<br/><br/>The CCEA at its meeting approved the award of 33 Oil Exploration Blocks under the eighth bid of New Exploration Licensing Policy.