The Union Cabinet has approved introduction of the bill in the ongoing Budget Session to amend the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 to include registration of marriages as well. Cabinet also approved introduction of the Anand Marriage Act, 1909 to provide for registration of marriages of Sikhs under the act, fulfilling a long standing demand of the community.

Cabinet also approved the extension of funding support for implementing the Swavalamban scheme under the New Pension System, NPS from present three years to five years for all subscribers. Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said the exit norms of the scheme have been relaxed to enable subscribers under Swavalamban to exit at the age of 50 years instead of 60 years, or a minimum tenure of 20 years which ever is later.

The Cabinet approved Public Procurement Bill 2012 that seeks to regulate public procurement of above 50 lakh rupees and provide fair treatment to bidders. The Bill, likely to be introduced in the ongoing Budget session of Parliament, will not apply to purchases below 50 lakh rupees.