Cabinet approves creation of ‘Mera Yuva Bharat’ autonomous body

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved establishment of an autonomous body ‘Mera Yuva Bharat’ (MY Bharat) to serve as an overarching enabling mechanism powered by technology for youth development and youth-led development, Union minister Anurag Thakur said.

The body will provide equitable access to youth to actualise their aspirations and build a developed India across the entire spectrum of the government.

Briefing reporters on the decisions taken by the Cabinet, Thakur said the primary objective of ‘Mera Yuva Bharat’ is to make it a “whole of government platform for youth development.

The body will be dedicated to the nation on October 31, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, he said.

The cabinet also approved royalty rates of 3 per cent each for lithium and niobium and 1 percent for Rare Earth Elements (REEs).

The royalty rate approval by the Cabinet will enable the Centre to auction lithium, niobium and REEs blocks for the first time in the country, it said. “The Union Cabinet… approved amendment of Second Schedule of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) for specifying rate of royalty in respect of 3 critical and strategic minerals, namely, lithium, niobium and Rare Earth Elements,” the Ministry of Mines said in a statement.