The government Friday gave in-principle approval to the Rs.100 crore Swami Vivekananda Values Education Project aimed at encouraging research on religion.

'The National Implementation Committee in a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has approved in principle Swami Vivekananda Values Education Project worth Rs.100 crore,' an official statement said.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni, Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal, representatives of the Ramakrishna Mission and Ramakrishna Math, Mrinal Miri and Jawhar Sircar.

The project's objective is to emphasise on inculcation of Swami Vivekanada's values among the students of different schools and colleges all over the country.

Besides, publishing Swami Vivekananda's complete works in different languages and emphasising on his ideals in colleges and universities, the project aims to set up chairs in his name in different universities and centers.