New Delhi, Mar 22 (PTI) The Union Cabinet is learnt to have cleared a proposal to release certain category of prisoners incarcerated in jails as part of the 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' initiative of the central government.

Sources aware of the decision said identified prisoners will be released on this Independence Day, the next Republic Day and August 15 next year.

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Only a certain category of prisoners will be released for which detailed guidelines will be issued to state governments.

Those convicted of heinous crimes and facing death sentence will not come in the ambit of the programme, the sources said.

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'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' is an initiative of the central government to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of Independence.

The programme commenced on March 21, 2021 which started a 75-week countdown to country's 75th anniversary of independence and will end on August 15, 2023.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)