Central government approves mega package of ₹77,101 crore

The Central Government has approved a comprehensive package worth ₹77,101 crore aimed at developing the country's basic infrastructure, strengthening the agricultural sector, and promoting small industries. According to a report by Amar Ujala, these important decisions were taken in a meeting of the Union Cabinet held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister. This package includes various schemes such as urban transport, national heritage, nutrient-based fertilizer subsidy for Rabi crops, and credit guarantees for the MSME sector.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, while providing details of these decisions, stated that this allocation will help in improving urban connectivity, reducing the farming costs of farmers, and boosting entrepreneurship at the local level. This entire package is primarily based on four pillars, which aim to achieve balanced development across various sectors of the country.

The largest portion of this package has been allocated to the agricultural sector. The Cabinet has approved the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for the Rabi marketing season 2026-27, for which a budget of ₹62,370 crore has been set. The main objective behind this decision is to make phosphate and potash fertilizers, including DAP and NPKS grades, available to farmers at cheap and controlled prices. This will ensure that the supply of fertilizer reaches farmers without any hindrance during the upcoming sowing season.

To simplify the loan process for small industries and new entrepreneurs, the government has also approved two credit guarantee funds worth ₹9,111 crore. This step will ensure that micro-units receive necessary capital easily, which will play a significant role in job creation.

As part of strengthening urban transport, the expansion of the Noida-Greater Noida Metro Rail project in the Delhi-NCR region has been approved. An estimated cost of approximately ₹2,390 crore will be incurred for this project. The main objective of this project is to improve public transport facilities between two major industrial and residential hubs, Noida and Greater Noida. Once this facility starts, millions of daily commuters will have the option of fast and convenient travel.

This decision of the Central Government is considered a balanced step towards multi-sectoral development. While projects like the metro and national heritage will create long-term social and economic value, the fertilizer subsidy and credit guarantee funds will provide immediate relief and liquidity to productive sectors in the current financial year. This entire package is an attempt to harmonize the rural economy with the modernization of urban infrastructure.

The Union Cabinet is the highest decision-making body of the Government of India, responsible for the country's policies and administrative decisions. This committee, working under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, includes Cabinet Ministers from various ministries. This institution gives the final seal on important economic, social, and security-related issues of the country.