The Union Cabinet has approved amendments to the Pension Fund Regulatory Development Authority, PFRDA Bill 2011 before presenting it in the Winter Session of Parliament.

It also agreed to the proposed 26 per cent foreign investment in the pension sector.

The amendment, however, does not mention providing assured returns to subscribers.

An official spokesperson said the government is of the view that FDI cap in the pension fund should be at 26 per cent at par with the insurance sector.

The Cabinet has also given its approval for notifying changes in the existing Central lists of Other Backward Classes, OBCs.

The National Commission for Backward Classes had advised the Central Government for amendment in the Central list of OBCs in a number of states.

Inclusion of certain castes and communities in the Central list of OBCs will enable them to avail the benefits of reservation in Central Government services and admissions to the Central educational institutions.

In a bid to prevent educational institutions from demanding capitation fee for admissions, the government wants to double the proposed penalty to one crore rupee.

The Union Cabinet approved amendment to the prohibition of unfair practices in technical educational institutions, medical educational institutions and universities bill 2010 as per the recommendations made by the Parliament Standing Committee on Human Resource Development this year.

The name of the bill has also been changed to Higher Educational Institutional Bill 2011.