Government has decided to revive 23 unlicensed co-operative banks in different states which were on the verge of closure. The decision was taken by the Union Cabinet in New Delhi this evening. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Union Law Minister Ravishankar Prasad said that of the total, 16 banks are in Uttar Pradesh, three each in Jammu and Kashmir and Maharshtra and one in West Bengal. He said the government will infuse capital in these banks to protect the interest of the poor, whose money is locked.

Mr. Prasad said that the cabinet also approved an agreement with Nigeria, under which Indian sentenced to imprisonment in Nigeria can serve their sentences in India. The Minister said that similarly Nigerians sentenced in India can serve their sentences in their country. He said the country has already such agreement with 34 other nations. The Union Cabinet also gave its nod to an agreement with Australian Narcotics Board for more cooperation in the area of control of narcotic drugs.

The Cabinet also gave its approval to raise the authorized share capital of the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) from 1 000 crore rupees to 6000 crore. An official release said, during the 12th Five Year Plan, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has targeted 30,000 Mega Watt from various renewable energy projects out of which IREDA aims at financing projects of an aggregate capacity of 4800 Mega Watt.

The Cabinet approved an amendments to the Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Bill 2013 for accession to the Anti Fouling Systems (AFS) Convention 2001 of the International Maritime Organization.The AFS Convention aims to protect the environment and human health from adverse effects of anti-fouling systems used in ships.

The Cabinet also gave its nod for withdrawing the Food Safety and Standards (Amendment) Bill, 2014. The decision follows judgements of the Supreme Court, Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court and representations received by the Government. A fresh set of amendments will be finalized by the Health Ministry to bring a new bill.