During a cabinet session led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 16, several noteworthy measures received approval. These encompassed the Vishwakarma Yojana, which was highlighted in the Prime Minister’s Independence Day address from the historic Red Fort’s ramparts. Additionally, the cabinet introduced the PM e-Bus Seva Scheme, allocated substantial funds for Indian Railways projects, and extended the Digital India initiative.
In a comprehensive presentation outlining the outcomes of the Union Cabinet’s discussions, Railway Minister Ashiwini Vaishnaw made notable announcements. He revealed that seven railway projects, collectively valued at ₹325 billion ($3.91 billion), were granted the green light. These projects aim to enhance connectivity and mobility across nine states and have been conceived as part of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which focuses on multi-modal connectivity across states like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. These resolutions received approval during the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) meeting.
PM e-Bus Seva: In a bid to promote eco-friendly transportation, the Union Cabinet endorsed the PM e-Bus Seva initiative, which seeks to strengthen urban bus operations. Through a public-private partnership (PPP) framework, a fleet of 10,000 electric buses will operate in 169 cities. As part of the ‘Green Urban Mobility Initiative,’ the project includes infrastructure enhancements such as multimodal interchange facilities and the implementation of NCMC-based Automated Fare Collection Systems in 181 cities.
The scheme targets cities with populations exceeding 300,000, particularly those lacking organized bus services. The initiative’s total estimated cost is ₹57,613 crore, with the central government contributing ₹20,000 crore.
PM Vishwakarma Scheme: Introduced during PM Modi’s Independence Day speech, the PM Vishwakarma Scheme aims to provide subsidized loans, up to ₹2 lakh, to traditional artisans and skilled craftsmen such as weavers, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, laundry workers, and barbers. The initial phase involves a subsidized loan of ₹1 lakh, followed by an additional ₹2 lakh in the subsequent phase, with concessional interest rates of 5%. The scheme, inaugurated with an initial allocation of ₹13,000 crore on Vishwakarma Jayanti (September 17), aims to empower and support these artisans.
Indian Railways Projects: The Union Cabinet greenlit seven multi-tracking projects presented by the Ministry of Railways, with an estimated financial commitment of ₹32,500 crore, to be funded by the Central government. These projects span 39 districts across nine states and aim to expand the Indian Railways network by 2,339 km, enhance line capacity, streamline operations, ease congestion, and enhance travel convenience.
Expansion of Digital India Programme: The Cabinet approved the extension of the Digital India project with a budget of ₹14,903 crore. This expanded initiative focuses on upskilling and reskilling 6.25 lakh IT professionals, training 2.65 lakh individuals in information security, launching an AI-powered multi-language translation tool named Bhashini, and introducing nine additional supercomputers to the National Super Computer Mission. The scheme also aims to nurture 1,200 startups in Tier 2 and 3 cities, while the government’s DigiLocker platform will benefit Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by allowing them to digitally authenticate documents through a standalone app.
