Cabinet creates a pathway for all Agniveers to be absorbed in Defence Forces
04 NOV 2026 – New Delhi
An objective assessment in terms of organisational requirements and operational efficiency has brought out the outstanding performance of Agniveers in terms of skills, motivation levels, physical fitness and technological prowess. As envisaged earlier, based on merit, 25% of Agniveers will be offered regular employment in the Defence Forces.
Further, for the remaining 75% Agniveers, on the recommendations of the Indian Defence Forces, another engagement period of 2 years has been approved by the Cabinet. After completion of this two-year engagement period, all Agniveers will be offered enrollment as regular soldiers subject to their willingness and their meeting selection criteria.
The introduction of another engagement period of two years for the willing 75% Agniveers has been done after deliberate, reasoned and elaborate evaluation and feedback with the fundamental aim of aligning the aspirations of Agniveers and organisational efficiency.
Achievements of Agnipath Scheme
After four years of implementation of the Agnipath Scheme, detailed feedback about its efficacy and the performance of Agniveers was obtained. Some of the salient achievements of the scheme include:
- Increased footprint of recruitment of Agniveers across districts of the country
- More standardised and transparent recruitment process
- Very high level of physical fitness, morale, motivation, competitive spirit and discipline
- Enhancement of skills, technological adaptability and education in the service
- Opening up of various branches of the Defence Forces for women
Based on these achievements, the Agnipath scheme shall continue. The second engagement period will have higher remuneration, enhanced Seva Nidhi package and seniority benefits.
With the introduction of another engagement period of two years followed by induction of all Agniveers as regular soldiers, the Cabinet has created a pathway for absorption of all Agniveers into Defence Forces.
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Cabinet approves continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) for expeditious trial of cases of rape and POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act for a further period of five years (FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31)
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved the continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including exclusive POCSO Courts, for a further period of five years i.e. from 01.04.2026 to 31.03.2031. The Scheme has a total financial outlay of Rs.3,788.04 crore (Central Share of Rs.2,353.15 crore and State/UT Share of Rs.1,434.89 crore). The Central Share will be funded from the Nirbhaya Fund.
The major features of the approved Scheme are as follows:
- Continuation of the Scheme for five years i.e. from 01.04.2026 to 31.03.2031.
- The Scheme has provision of operationalisation of 850 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including exclusive POCSO Courts, across various participating States/Union Territories.
- Provision of dedicated Judicial Officer, Special Public Prosecutor and 6 support staff to facilitate expeditious disposal of pending cases relating to rape and offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
- Provision of financial assistance to participating States/UTs for meeting the operational expenditure of FTSCs, in accordance with the CSS funding pattern.
Major impact:
The continuation of the Scheme is expected to have the following major impacts:
- Providing Speedy Justice: Ensuring faster trials and timely justice for victims of sexual offences.
- Reducing Pending Cases: Reducing the number of pending cases of Rape and POCSO Act cases.
- Child-Friendly and Victim-Centric Environment: The Scheme encourages establishment of Vulnerable Witness Deposition Centres (VWDCs) and child-friendly court spaces to facilitate victim testimonies without causing further distress.
- Reduced inequality: By prioritizing cases involving vulnerable groups (women and children), the scheme intends to reduce inequalities in access to justice.
Implementation strategy and targets:
The Scheme shall be implemented by the Department of Justice in coordination with the respective State Governments and UT Administrations. The key implementation strategies and targets are as follows:
- Expansion of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs): Provision of expansion of FTSCs from the current 779 to 850 so that the coverage can extend in additional districts. This expansion shall be on the basis of case pendency data across all States and Union Territories.
- Dedicated Legal Support: Introduction of a specialized Special Public Prosecutor assigned exclusively to each FTSC to ensure speedy trials.
- Optimized Court Staffing: Allocation of one Judicial Officer and six support staff per FTSC to streamline administrative workload and facilitate expeditious disposal of old cases.
- Financial assistance: Central assistance shall be provided to participating States/UTs in accordance with the approved funding pattern and prescribed guidelines.
- Monitoring and evaluation: The Department of Justice shall monitor the performance of FTSCs through the FTSC Dashboard, periodic progress reports, Expenditure Statements of the State. The Department shall also hold consultations with High Courts and State Governments and take their feedback for effective implementation of the Scheme.
- Performance targets: The Scheme aims to improve the rate of disposal of pending rape and POCSO Act cases, reduce case pendency and facilitate time-bound trials.
The primary beneficiaries of the Scheme are women and children who are victims of rape and offences under the POCSO Act, 2012.
The Scheme is proposed to be expanded to cover up to 850 FTSCs. This expansion is intended to include additional districts, which shall be identified on the basis of the pendency of rape and POCSO Act cases.
Background:
This Scheme has been operational since 02.10.2019. It has undergone successive extensions to ensure continuity of dedicated fast track courts for the expeditious disposal of rape and POCSO Act cases. The status of the Scheme is as follows:
| Particulars | |
| Date of launch | 02.10.2019 |
| Participating States/UTs | 29 |
| Total functional FTSCs including exclusive POCSO Courts | 779 including 399 exclusive POCSO Courts |
| Total cases disposed of since inception of the Scheme | 4,02,457 |
| Proposed number of FTSCs under the extended Scheme | 850 |
| Approved continuation period |
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The Scheme has contributed to strengthening the judicial response to the crime of sexual offences by providing dedicated courts for the disposal of rape and POCSO Act cases. The Department of Justice regularly monitors the functioning of FTSCs through the FTSC Dashboard, periodic data collection from High Courts and review meetings with concerned stakeholders. The continuation of the Scheme for another five years is expected to further strengthen the institutional capacity of the judiciary, reduce pendency of sexual offence cases and ensure timely justice to victims, particularly women and children.
The Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Fast Track Special Courts was launched on 02.10.2019 in pursuance of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018, and in compliance to the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India dated 25.07.2019 in Suo Motu Writ (Criminal) No. 1/2019. The Hon’ble Supreme Court had directed for establishment of exclusive Special Courts in districts having more than 100 pending cases under the POCSO Act, 2012.
Accordingly, the Central Government launched the Scheme for establishing dedicated FTSCs, including exclusive POCSO Courts. The emphasis was on the time-bound disposal of pending cases relating to rape and offences under the POCSO Act, 2012.
The Scheme was initially launched for a period of one year and was subsequently extended up to 31.03.2026. The present approval ensures continuation of the Scheme for a further period of five years, i.e. up to 31.03.2031.
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Cabinet approves ‘Viksit Bharat Initiative for Statistical Transformation, Analytics & Research (VISTAR)’, a central sector scheme for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today approved the ‘Viksit Bharat Initiative for Statistical Transformation, Analytics & Research (VISTAR)’ Scheme for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31 with an outlay of Rs.4,371.10 crore.
Aligned with the central objective of Viksit Bharat 2047, the VISTAR Scheme is designed to establish a dynamic, real-time and future-ready official statistical architecture for enhanced timeliness, data granularity, interoperability with harmonised and AI ready datasets.
The VISTAR scheme will provide the strategic flexibility to dynamically allocate resources based on immediate policy needs, fostering a holistic approach to large-scale survey execution, methodological research, digital transformation, and national data governance. VISTAR Scheme will encompass all statistical and data management activities of MoSPI and it will play a crucial role for upgrading the official statistical system of the country. The three components of the VISTAR scheme are as follows:
- Component 1: Comprehensive Statistical Operations and Strengthening of Ecosystem
- Component 2: Support for Statistical Strengthening (SSS)
- Component 3: Economic Census (EC)
Under the Comprehensive Statistical Operations and Strengthening of Ecosystem component, MoSPI proposes conducting 59 surveys during the 16th FC cycle, as compared to 43 major surveys conducted previously, potentially filling up critical data gaps in various sectors, thereby, improving decision-making and enabling timely and targeted policy interventions. In addition, building on recent digital transformations in technology enabled data collection and user-centric dissemination, MoSPI will focus on the end-to-end digitalization of statistical processes and embedding Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning into regular workflows, primarily for data processing, validation, and analysis.
MoSPI is planning to release new metrices, including the Headline Index of Services Production, the Index of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises. MoSPI will build upon the foundational pillars of data harmonisation such as data cataloguing, machine readability, interoperability, sharing protocols, and privacy by design etc. to dismantle silos and improve programme targeting, reduce duplication, and pave the way for AI-driven decision-making across government levels. By mainstreaming alternate sources—like mobile phone, scanner, and e-commerce data—MoSPI will aim to complement traditional surveys, reduce respondent burden, fill data gaps, and strengthen evidence-based policymaking. Furthermore, MoSPI will ensure capacity building and enhanced opportunities for youth and researchers through Internship Scheme for students and research proposals from academic & research institutions.
Under the Support for Statistical Strengthening (SSS) component, funds are to be provided to State/UT Governments for transforming the statistical capabilities of States and Union Territories through a redesigned, deliverable-linked framework (SSS 2.0). The vision focuses on building state-level capacity to generate high-quality, granular data at the district and other disaggregated levels, developing indigenous data processing capabilities, and embedding data use cases into localized policymaking. MoSPI will provide technical support to scale up generation of district-level estimates and million-plus city level estimates in flagship national surveys (e.g., PLFS, HCES, ASUSE) as well as in compilation of State/District level GDP and State level IIP.
Under the Economic Census (EC) component, MoSPI will undertake the 8th Economic Census (EC) in collaboration with the States / UTs which will provide granular data and activity details of all the non – farm establishments and workers hired, therein, upto Gram Panchayat and Ward level, providing an assessment of the unorganized sector of the economy and will serve as the baseline for developing National Statistical Business Register (SBR) to facilitate targeted enterprise surveys and strategic interventions. The economic census data will be extremely useful for planners and policy makers at national and sub-national levels, which will pave way for estimating the contribution of unorganized sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
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Cabinet Approves Capex Support Scheme to Promote Critical Mineral Processing with an Outlay of Rs.2,814 Crore for Lithium and Nickel processing
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the ‘Capex Support Scheme to Promote Critical Mineral Processing’ with a financial outlay of Rs.2,814 crore over a period of five years.
Processing of critical minerals remains geographically concentrated in a few global locations. This exposes supply chains to geopolitical disruptions, price volatility, and potential supply restrictions, posing severe threats to supply chain resilience and economic security. This has implications for national security, economic sovereignty, and the timely achievement of decarbonisation targets.
At present, India remains substantially dependent on imports for refined intermediates and high-purity materials, owing to the nascent stage of domestic beneficiation and processing infrastructure for critical minerals, including Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt. Domestic processing capacity for critical minerals remains limited, with commercial-scale projects facing challenges relating to high capital requirements, limited availability of suitable technologies and constrained access to raw materials. Domestic processing capacity is therefore imperative for maximising value addition, achieving import substitution, and establishing resilient end-to-end value chains.
Against this backdrop, the “Capex Support Scheme to Promote Critical Mineral Processing” has been formulated to provide targeted capital expenditure support for the establishment and operationalisation of domestic processing facilities. The scheme aims to develop domestic processing capabilities in India to support value addition within the country, reduce import dependence, and develop value chain. The scheme targets processing of Lithium and Nickel ores/intermediary products into high purity compounds. Cobalt is also expected to be recovered as a by-product of nickel production. This will support critical sectors such as electric mobility, Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), electronics, defence, speciality steel etc.
The proposed scheme envisages a total financial outlay of Rs.2,814 crore. The scheme period is from FY 2026-27 to 2030-31. Under the scheme, capital subsidy of 30% of eligible investment will be provided for setting up four critical mineral processing plants, comprising two lithium processing plants (with a minimum capacity of 30 kt each) and two nickel processing plants (with a minimum capacity of 50 kt each). The maximum capital support will be capped at Rs.500 crore per lithium beneficiary and Rs.900 crore per nickel beneficiary, respectively.
The selection of beneficiaries shall be carried out through a two-stage process. In the first stage, applications shall be assessed for technical qualification, and only technically qualified applicants shall be eligible to participate in the second stage of financial bidding. For each mineral, two beneficiaries shall be selected based on the least-cost criterion, i.e., the lowest CAPEX support sought by the bidders under the Scheme. The incentives will be disbursed in three tranches linked to the achievement of specified milestones.
The Scheme is an important step towards advancing the objectives of Atmanirbhar Bharat by supporting the development of resilient domestic processing infrastructure and strengthening India’s capabilities across the critical mineral value chain.
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Cabinet approves Rs.14,500 crore Viability Gap Funding Scheme for development of 92 GWh Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems
Mandatory domestic content requirement for BESS to promote indigenous manufacturing and reduce import dependence
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Development of Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems, with a total financial support of Rs.14,500 crore for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. The scheme aims to support the development of 92 GWh of, yet to be commissioned; energy storage capacity across the country. The scheme will support creation of new capacities equivalent to 170% of the present-day Grid Scale Energy Storage System capacity in the country and help meet the required Grid Scale ESS capacity of 411 GWh by 2031-32.
The scheme marks a significant step towards strengthening India’s power sector infrastructure, facilitating large-scale integration of renewable energy and ensuring reliable, affordable and round-the-clock power supply. It will also provide an impetus to domestic manufacturing of battery energy storage systems, reduce import dependence and enhance the country’s long-term energy security.
The scheme envisages the development of 60 GWh of Hydro Pumped Storage Plant (PSP) capacity, 30 GWh of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity and 2 GWh of capacity through alternative energy storage technologies, with a total estimated investment of Rs.97,600 crore. The VGF support will help improve the financial viability of these projects and accelerate the deployment of large-scale energy storage infrastructure in the country.
Energy storage capacity will be allocated through a tariff-based competitive bidding process. Public and private sector electricity distribution companies will be eligible for VGF support for BESS and Hydro PSP projects, while projects based on alternative energy storage technologies will be implemented by public and private sector entities.
A key objective of the scheme is to strengthen India’s domestic energy storage manufacturing ecosystem through demand-side financial support and reduce dependence on imported components. To promote indigenous manufacturing, BESS projects will be subject to a minimum Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) of 40%. The requirement will encourage domestic manufacturing, create opportunities for Indian industry and complement existing supply-side incentives for battery manufacturing.
The scheme represents an important intervention towards building a flexible, resilient and future-ready electricity system. By accelerating the deployment of grid-scale energy storage, it will facilitate greater utilisation of renewable energy, address the variability of renewable energy generation and reduce dependence on conventional generation for meeting balancing round-the clock power supply. The initiative will strengthen grid stability, improve renewable energy integration, encourage domestic manufacturing and enhance India’s energy security, while advancing the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat.
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