Cabinet approves ₹25,473 crore package across four sectors

The Union cabinet approved four major schemes with a combined outlay of ₹25,473 crore. They address renewable-energy storage, domestic critical-mineral processing, faster sexual-offence trials and modernization of official statistics. The cabinet also approved a two-year Second Tour of Duty for eligible Agniveers, but the article does not assign it a separate amount.

Energy storage receives ₹14,500 crore through viability gap funding. Critical-mineral processing receives ₹2,814 crore in capital-expenditure support, mainly for lithium and nickel. Fast Track Special Courts receive ₹3,788.04 crore, while VISTAR receives ₹4,371.10 crore for FY27-FY31.

Together, the schemes target infrastructure, justice and policymaking. The storage plan aims for 92 GWh of capacity. The courts scheme will expand the network to 850 courts across 29 states and union territories. VISTAR will strengthen statistical operations, state capacity and the Economic Census.

Viability gap funding, or VGF, is public financial support for projects whose wider benefits matter but whose commercial returns may initially be insufficient. It helps close the gap between project costs and the revenue investors can reasonably expect. This can make essential infrastructure financially workable.

The cabinet approved ₹14,500 crore in VGF for grid-scale storage over FY27-FY31. The support will help develop 92 GWh of new capacity. It covers pumped storage projects, battery systems and emerging technologies. By reducing financial risk, the scheme can lower the levelised cost of clean storage.

The government expects storage to reduce renewable-energy curtailment and provide power during peak consumption hours. That matters because storage can hold electricity when supply is available and release it when demand rises. The article presents VGF as a way to encourage investment while supporting wider grid goals.

The planned expansion totals 92 GWh of new energy-storage capacity across India. The cabinet approved support for this build-out through a ₹14,500 crore viability gap funding scheme operating over FY27-FY31. The capacity is intended to help integrate large-scale renewable generation into the national grid.

Pumped storage projects account for 60 GWh, making them the largest component. Battery energy storage systems contribute 30 GWh. Emerging storage technologies make up the remaining 2 GWh. These figures show a portfolio approach rather than reliance on one storage method.

The government says financial de-risking will reduce the levelised cost of clean storage. It also expects the capacity to curb renewable curtailment and supply electricity during peak consumption hours. If implementation progresses as planned, the storage mix could provide the grid with more flexibility as renewable generation expands.

Storage can change when renewable electricity is used. Instead of losing some generation when supply exceeds immediate demand, the grid can store it and release it later. The cabinet’s scheme is designed to add 92 GWh of storage and integrate large-scale renewable generation into the national grid.

The government specifically expects financial de-risking to curb renewable curtailment and deliver round-the-clock power during peak consumption hours. Pumped storage, batteries and emerging technologies would provide the planned capacity. Their combined role is to make clean electricity available beyond the moment it is generated.

The immediate implication is better use of renewable output and more support during periods of high demand. The article does not quantify the resulting electricity supply or emissions reduction. It does state that the capacity is intended to strengthen grid integration and help meet peak consumption needs as renewable generation expands.

In the article’s policy context, lithium and nickel are critical because they are required for electric vehicles, batteries and advanced manufacturing ecosystems. Their processing is therefore linked to technologies India is seeking to expand. The article also describes critical-mineral processing as capital-intensive, with long gestation periods.

The cabinet approved ₹2,814 crore in capital-expenditure support over five years, from FY27 to FY31. The scheme will offer capital subsidies on eligible investments, mainly for lithium and nickel processing and refining. This mechanism is designed to lower the entry barriers that have deterred Indian companies.

Domestic processing could keep more value addition within India and reduce dependence on imported processed material. The government also expects an uninterrupted mineral pipeline and a resilient value chain. Industry leaders said the scheme could encourage private investment, technology partnerships and collaborative ventures.

Fast Track Special Courts are designed to expedite cases involving sexual offences, especially those involving women and children. The cabinet extended the centrally sponsored scheme from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031, with an outlay of ₹3,788.04 crore. Exclusive courts under the POCSO Act are included.

The network will grow from 779 functional courts, including 399 exclusive POCSO courts, to 850 courts across 29 states and union territories. Each court will have a dedicated judicial officer, special public prosecutor and six support staff. These resources are intended to support quicker case disposal.

The scheme also provides vulnerable witness deposition centres and child-friendly court spaces. These facilities aim to help witnesses testify in a safe, supportive environment. By combining dedicated personnel, specialized courts and tailored facilities, the programme seeks to reduce delays while making proceedings more suitable for women and children.

Electricity grids need storage because renewable generation must be integrated with demand across time. Storage can help hold available power, reduce renewable curtailment and deliver electricity during peak consumption hours. The cabinet’s plan targets 92 GWh for this purpose. Reliable statistics matter because public policy depends on timely, detailed and compatible information.

The VISTAR scheme will strengthen statistical operations, build capacity in states and conduct the nationwide Economic Census. Its stated goals include improving data timeliness and granularity, harmonizing datasets and creating AI-ready statistical repositories. These features support a clearer view of economic and social conditions.

Together, the schemes address two kinds of system capacity. Energy storage makes electricity supply more flexible. Statistical modernization makes information more useful for policymaking. The cabinet approved ₹14,500 crore for storage and ₹4,371.10 crore for VISTAR over FY27-FY31, pointing to parallel investment in infrastructure and evidence.