The Cabinet also approved the implementation of a joint venture programme on affordable Healthcare. The Department of Biotechnology and the Wellcome Trust, London, U.K., one of the world’s largest bio-medical research charities, propose to establish a joint funding initiative called R&D for Affordable Healthcare in India.

The programme will support translational and innovative research projects at Indian institutions potentially leading to safe, efficacious and affordable healthcare products such as drugs, vaccines, bio-equipment products etc.

Other decisions of the Cabinet include the approval for the acquisition of 205 acres of land at villages Binola and Bilaspur in Gurgaon, Haryana for setting up Indian National Defence University and nod to the proposal of the Ministry of Mines for bidding for hosting the 36th International Geological Congress 2020.