In a series of significant decisions, the Union Cabinet on Friday approved multiple policy reforms spanning trade, employment, insurance, nuclear energy, coal allocation and India’s upcoming digital census. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the 2027 Census, billed as the world’s largest administrative exercise, has been allocated a budget of ₹11,718 crore.

The 2027 Census will be fully digital, offering citizens the option to self-enumerate through a mobile application. Vaishnaw said this digital model, termed “Census as a Service,” will make data collection faster, more efficient and easily accessible to government departments for planning and policy-making. He added that only aggregated data will be published, while individual-level information will remain confidential in accordance with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act. Respondents will also have the option to skip caste disclosure, ensuring both privacy and flexibility during the data collection process.

Alongside the census announcement, the Cabinet cleared a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and Oman. The agreement aims to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries and open new avenues for investment and market access. Officials said the FTA will help diversify trade opportunities and deepen India’s economic presence in the Gulf region.

The Cabinet also approved a major change to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The scheme will now be renamed Pujya Bapu Gramin Rozgar Yojana, and the guaranteed employment under it will be increased from 100 days to 125 days. The minimum wage for workers has been revised to ₹240 per day. The government described these changes as part of its continued efforts to enhance rural employment, strengthen livelihood security and improve wage standards for rural households.

In a key economic reform, the Cabinet approved a bill allowing 100 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the insurance sector. The move is expected to boost competition, attract global capital, improve insurance penetration and modernise the sector through better technology and global best practices. Officials added that the reform will help expand insurance reach in underserved regions while increasing financial stability within the industry.

Another major development came in the atomic energy sector, where the Cabinet gave its approval to the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI Bill) under the Atomic Energy Act. The bill seeks to expand private participation in the nuclear power sector, marking a significant shift in India’s long-standing policy. The initiative is aimed at modernising the country’s nuclear energy infrastructure, accelerating capacity expansion and encouraging technological innovation with industry collaboration.

The government also announced wider participation rules under the Seamless, Efficient and Transparent Utilisation (Coal SETU) scheme. Under the revised norms, any user except traders will be allowed to participate without restrictions on the end use of coal. Existing linkage holders will now be permitted to export up to 50 per cent of their capacity, though the export of coking coal will remain prohibited. Vaishnaw said the changes are designed to increase competition, widen access and streamline coal distribution across multiple industries.

From a digital census and expanded employment provisions to higher FDI limits and modernised energy regulations, the Cabinet’s announcements mark an important step toward strengthening India’s administrative, economic and industrial landscape.