Death penalty for hijacking
The Union cabinet on Friday cleared the proposal to make the anti-hijacking law more stringent by including death sentence as a punishment.
The Union cabinet on Friday cleared the proposal to make the anti-hijacking law more stringent by including death sentence as a punishment.
The law at present provides for life imprisonment and a fine as punishment for hijacking.
“The cabinet approved a proposal of the civil aviation ministry to amend the anti-hijacking act of 1982,” I&B Minister Ambika Soni said.
The cabinet also approved the scheme for creation of the National Population Register (NPR) of Indian residents. The project will cover an estimated 1.2 billion people and the total cost will be Rs 3,539.24 crore.
The creation of a digital database with identity details of all individuals along with their photographs and finger biometrics will result in the creation of a biometrics-based identity system in the country.
This is expected to enhance efficacy in providing services under government schemes as well as improving security and check identity frauds.
“The data collection will be undertaken along with house listing and housing census starting in April 2010, and will be completed in a phased manner by September 2010,” a government release said.
The collection of particulars of each usual resident will be undertaken by house-to-house enumeration.
The cabinet, however, dropped the proposal for establishment of the National Police University.
The government increased the dearness allowance for central government employees and pensioners by eight percentage points to compensate for price rise.
Education bills
The cabinet also cleared three education bills that have the potential to reform the higher education system in India.
The bills will result in accreditation of higher educational institutions, punishment of unfair practices such as charging capitation fee and establishment of tribunals to settle educational disputes in the country.
The National Authority for Regulation in Accreditation of Higher Educational Institutions Bill will enable the setting up of a National Accreditation Agency.
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