The Cabinet approved setting up of an Empowered Committee of Secretaries under the Chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary for processing the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission (CPC).
“The Empowered Committee of Secretaries will function as a screening committee to process the recommendations with regard to all relevant factors in the 7th CPC in an expeditious detailed and holistic fashion,” an official statement said.
The 7{+t}{+h} CPC submitted its report in November 2015 and the total financial impact due to the hike in pay and allowances of central government employees would be ₹1,02,100 crore. Of this, ₹73,650 crore will be borne by the General Budget and ₹28,450 crore by the Railway Budget.
The Cabinet also approved India becoming a member country of the International Energy Agency — Ocean Energy Systems by signing the Implementing Agreement.
“The nodal agency for the membership would be Earth System Science Organisation — National Institute of Ocean Technology under the Ministry of Earth Sciences,” an official statement added.
After becoming a member of the IEA-OES, India will have access to advanced research and development teams and technologies across the world. India would also partner developing test protocols with other countries.
Further, the Cabinet also gave an ex-post facto approval for a memorandum of understanding signed between India and Maldives which was signed in January 2014 on cooperation in the field of health.