Cabinet nod to expand infra academic capacity of five IITs

The Union Cabinet has approved the expansion of academic and infrastructure capacity of five Indian Institutes of Technology in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, and Kerala to facilitate over 6500 students to study there, create 130 faculty posts and build five new state-of-the-art research parks to strengthen industry-academia linkage.A Rs11,828.79-crore expansion plan for these five established Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) has been allocated.These five new IlTs had been established in the States/UT of Andhra Pradesh (IIT Tirupati), Kerala (IIT Palakkad), Chhattisgarh (IIT Bhilai), Jammu & Kashmir (IIT Jammu) and Karnataka (IIT Dharwad). The academic session of IlTs at Palakkad and Tirupati started in 2015-16 and that of remaining three in 2016-17 from their temporary campuses. These IITs are now functioning from their permanent campuses.
In a significant step towards revamping vocational education and addressing the rising demand for skilled workforce, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the National Scheme for Upgradation of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and the establishment of five National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs) for Skilling, according to an official statement released on Wednesday. The initiative will be implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a total outlay of Rs.60,000 crore over five years. The funding will include Rs. 30,000 crore from the Centre, Rs. 20,000 crore from State Governments, and Rs. 10,000 crore from industry partners. Additionally, 50% of the central share will be co-financed equally by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved fresh coal linkages under the revised ‘SHAKTI’ (Scheme for Harnessing and Allocating Koyala Transparently in India) policy.According to an official statement, the revised policy simplifies coal allocation through two mechanisms—Window-I and Window-II—streamlining the existing eight allocation categories to promote ease of doing business.
Under Window-I, coal linkages will continue to be granted at notified prices to Central and State Government-owned thermal power projects, including joint ventures and subsidiaries. States may use these linkages for their own generating companies or Independent Power Producers (IPPs) selected through Tariff-Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) or with existing Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) under Section 62 of the Electricity Act.
Window-II allows all thermal power producers—including domestic coal-based and imported coal-based plants—to acquire coal through auctions at a premium above the notified price. These linkages will be available for durations ranging from 12 months to 25 years, and power generated using such coal can be sold without the requirement of a PPA, offering producers greater market flexibility. Coal India Limited (CIL) and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) will be directed to implement the revised policy, and all relevant ministries, state governments, and regulatory bodies will be informed for further dissemination.