opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2195 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-15
Subject: Line Doubling and Capacity Expansion
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK, JAYADEV GALLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2195 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2017

## LINE DOUBLING AND CAPACITY EXPANSION

## 2195.  SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

SHRI VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK:

SHRI JAYADEV GALLA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Indian  Railways  has  set  a  daily  target  of  laying  9.5  km  of tracks to complete its ambitious line doubling and capacity expansion projects  earmarked  for  the  next  financial  year  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is importing US made track laying machines that can lay around 1.5 km of tracks per day as against the 100 meters of tracks the Railways lays manually on an average;
- (c) if so, the funds allocated for this purpose;
- (d) the total track laying target fixed for the next financial year; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  wind  up  the  long  pending projects on priority basis and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) to (e):   A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2195 BY SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO, DR. HEENA  VIJAYKUMAR  GAVIT,  DR.  J.  JAYAVARDHAN,  SHRI  DHANANJAY MAHADIK, SHRI VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK AND SHRI JAYADEV GALLA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 15.03.2017 REGARDING LINE DOUBLING AND CAPACITY EXPANSION (a):      Indian  Railways has fixed the target of commissioning of 3500 Km of New Line/Gauge Conversion/Doubling during 2017-18 which works out to be 9.59 Km per day. (b)  &  (c):    Presently,  Indian  Railways  do  not  have  any  plan  to  import  track laying  machine  that  can  lay  around  1.5  km  of  tracks  per  day,  from  United States of America. However, Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL)  has  awarded  Design  Build  Lump-sum  Contract  for  Civil,  Structure and Track Works Contracts.  In these contracts, HARSCO Rail USA is one of the specialized sub-contractors for Mechanized Track Laying.  HARSCO Rail is  bringing  NTC  (New  Track  Construction)  Machine  for  Mechanized  Track Laying which is capable of track laying approx. 1.5 km per day.  DFCCIL itself is not procuring any NTC on date. (d): Indian Railways has fixed the target of commissioning of 3500 Km of New Line/Gauge Conversion/Doubling during 2017-18. (e):    Presently,  Indian  Railways  have  no  such  plan  to  wind  up  any  long pending project.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2187 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-15
Subject: Provision for Postal Ballot
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: SONA RAM CHOUDHARY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2187

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 15 TH MARCH, 2017

## PROVISION FOR POSTAL BALLOT

## 2187. COL. SONARAM CHOUDHARY:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

(a)  the  main characteristics  of the  Representation of  the  People Act  regarding postal/proxy voting;

(b)  whether  there  is  a  provision  that  the  soldiers  and  employees  of  the  State  and  Central Government may cast their votes through postal ballot or authorise any other person for that purpose;

(c) whether it is still binding for non-resident Indians to appear personally to exercise their franchise, if so, the reasons therefor;

(d)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  make  any  provision  for  non-resident  Indians  to allow them to exercise their franchise through postal ballot or through proxies;

(e) if so, the time by which such provision is likely to be made; and

(f) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI P.P.CHAUDHARY)

(a) and (b): As per the provisions of the Representation of People Act, 1951 and rules made thereunder,  the  following  categories  of  electors  are  entitled  to  vote  by  postal  ballot  at elections to Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies -

- (a) special  voters  [as referred  to  in  sub-section  (4)  of  section  20  of  Representation  of People Act, 1950],
- (b) service  voters  [as  referred to  in  sub-section  (8)  of  section  20  of  Representation  of People Act, 1950],
- (c) electors on election duty, and
- (d) electors subjected to preventive detention.

The service voters belonging to armed forces and the forces to which provisions of the Army Act, 1950 have been made applicable, have been given the facility of voting through proxy also as an alternative voting option.

(c) to (f): At present, overseas electors have the facility of voting in person only. However, a proposal for providing the alternative facility of voting through proxy or postal ballot paper is under consideration  of the  Government.  Since the proposal  is  required  to be  considered  at various levels, no specific time frame can be indicated for its finalization.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2185 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-15
Subject: Accessibility of Public Toilets
Ministry: URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: NARANBHAI KACHHADIA

O.I.H.

No. 2185

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2185

TO BE ANSWERED ON March 15, 2017

## ACCESSIBILITY OF PUBLIC TOILETS

SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

Will  the  Minister  of  URBAN  DEVELOPMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) the details of efforts made/being made to make public toilets, Reverse  Machine  Vending-equipped  toilets  more  accessible  to  the
- people in urban areas;
- (b) whether Google Toilet Locator app has been launched in the National Capital Region (NCR) and is likely to be introduced in other States; and
- (c) if so, the names of such States and the time by which the app is likely to be introduced?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT

(RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a): Under Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), States and Urban Local Bodies  (ULB)  need  to  ensure  that  a  sufficient  number  of  public toilets  are  constructed  in  each  city.    As  per  the  protocol  for declaring a city/ward Open Defecation Free (ODF), as defined by the Ministry,  all  commercial  areas  should  have  public  toilets  within  a distance  of  1  kilometre.  Reverse  Vending  Machine  which  receives plastic  bottles  and  tin  cans,  provides  coupon  as  gift  to  the  waste

disposer is a new concept in India.  These machines are presently imported in small numbers by entrepreneurs and are designed only to receive specific waste such as empty plastic bottles and tin cans of  beverages  bearing  a  barcode.    Few  of  such  machines  are installed  in  New  Delhi  Municipal  Corporation  (NDMC)  area  and  in Mumbai.

(b) & (c): Google Toilet Locator, an android application, to locate public toilets was  launched  by Government  of India on 22 nd December, 2016.  This was developed in collaboration with Google with  the  view  that  access  and  usage  of  public  toilets  would  be greatly facilitated for citizens.  Presently this application has been used by the citizens of cities namely, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida, Indore, Bhopal and Delhi also.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2183 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-15
Subject: Complaints Dealt by National Commission for Minorities
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: KAVITHA KALVAKUNTLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2183 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15-03-2017

## Complaints Dealt by National Commission for Minorities

## 2183. SHRIMATI KAVITHA KALVAKUNTLA :

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  National  Commission  for  Minorities  has  looked  into  specific  complaints regarding deprivation of rights and safeguards of the interests of Minorities;
- (b)   if so, the details thereof;
- (c)   the number of complaints/hearings dealt and successfully disposed off since constitution of the present commission;
- (d)   the status of disposed and pending cases from the State of Telangana; and
- (e)  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government for  timely  disposal  of  the    complaints received?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS(INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)

- (a)& (b)    The duties, functions and responsibilities of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) are elaborated in the NCM Act, 1992.   As mandated under Section 9 of the NCM Act, 1992, the Commission has been taking up cases regarding deprivation of rights and safeguards of the minorities, as and when they are brought to the notice of  NCM,  with  the  concerned  authorities  in  the  State  Governments  and  Central Government. Commission also takes suo-moto cognizance of cases of any violence against the minorities including visits to the affected areas. The NCM is committed to  various  constitutional  and  statutory  provisions  relating  to  safeguarding  the interest of minorities in India. Further, the Commission send its recommendations to the State and Central Government with regard to the protection of educational and economic  upliftment  of  the  notified  minorities  namely  Muslims,  Christians,  Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains in the country.
- (c)            5,741  complaints  were  dealt  and  15  hearings  were  held  by  NCM    since  the constitution  of  the  present  Commission.  5647  cases  have  been  disposed  off  till 06.03.2017.
- (d)           84 complaints were received and dealt and total 82 complaints have been disposed off from the State of Telangana as on 06.03.2017.
- (e)              NCM  takes  up  the  pending  issues  with  concerned  agencies/  Governments    and monitor cases at regular intervals for timely disposal of complaints.

*********
Lok Sabha Question No. 2182 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-15
Subject: Bullet Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: KURUPPASSERY VARKEY THOMAS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2182 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2017

## BULLET TRAINS

2182.   PROF. K.V. THOMAS:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is any proposal to start bullet trains in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the sectors identified for this purpose?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a)  to  (c):  Yes,  Madam. Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail project has been sanctioned with financial and technical assistance from Government  of  Japan.  National  High  Speed  Rail  Corporation  Limited (NHSRC)  has  been  incorporated  to  implement  this  project.  General Consultant  has  been  appointed  by  JICA  to  prepare  Design  documents, bidding  documents  and  technical  standards  &  specifications.  Work  on final  location  survey  including  Geotechnical  investigations  has  been taken on hand.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2181 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-15
Subject: Rail Mitra Sewa
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Adhikari Dibyendu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2181 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2017

## RAIL MITRA SEWA

## 2181.  SHRI DIBYENDU ADHIKARI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  the  stations  in  the  country  that  are  facilitating  Rail Mitra Sewa for elderly people;
- (b) whether Rail Mitra Sewa project has not been successful;
- (c) if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (d)  the  proposal  of  the  IRCTC  to  develop  old  age-friendly  services  at stations and trains?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a):  Wheel  Chairs  have  been  provided  at  all  railway  stations  on  Indian Railways  for  convenience  of  the  passengers  requiring  assistance  viz. physically  challenged,  ailing  and  old  aged  persons.  In  addition,  the facility of Yatri Mitra Sewa has been provided to book wheelchair cum porter services. Yatri Mitra Sewa   is being provided through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). Passenger can book e-wheel chairs on line through IRCTC portal www.irctc.co.in. The facility is  presently  available  at  22  stations  i.e.  Ahmedabad  ,  Agra  Cantt., Vadodara,  Varanasi,  Bhusaval,  Vijayawada,  Kanpur  Central,  Mumbai CST, Mumbai  Central, Howrah, Indore, Jhansi, Jaipur,  Lucknow

Junction, Lucknow, New Delhi, Nagpur, Pathankot Cantt., Pune, Bengaluru City, Secunderabad and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra.

The passengers can book cab/ coach and porter service online through IRCTC  portal  www.irctc.co.in.  The  facility  is  presently  available  at Chandigarh,  Gaya,  Guntur,  Howrah,  Jaipur,  Lucknow,  Lucknow  Jn., Madurai, New Delhi, Delhi Junction, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Delhi Safdarjung,  Anand  Vihar,  Delhi  Cantt.,  Delhi  Sarai  Rohilla,  Tirupati  and Vijayawada

(b): No, Madam.

(c): Does not arise.

(d):  The  following  services  have  been  provided  by    IRCTC  for  enabling passengers  viz.  differently-abled,  ailing  and  old  aged  persons  to  book wheelchair services cum porter services.

- (i)  IRCTC  has  provided  26  battery  cabs  /  golf  carts  to  railways  at  19 locations under CSR. The stations are New Delhi, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Varanasi,  Hazrat  Nizamuddin,  Haridwar,  Amritsar,  Ambala,  Ghazipur, Chandigarh,  Ayodhya,  Agra,  Patna,  Rajendra  Nagar,  Muzaffarpur,  Gaya, Mugalsarai, Darbhanga and Dhanbad.
- (ii) The facility of e-wheel chair is available at 22 stations as mentioned in part (a) of the question.

(iii)  The  passengers  can  book  cab/  coach  and  porter  service  online through IRCTC  portal www.irctc.co.in. The  facility is available at Chandigarh,  Gaya,  Guntur,  Howrah,  Jaipur,  Lucknow,  Lucknow  Jn., Madurai, New Delhi, Delhi Junction, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Delhi Safdarjung,  Anand  Vihar,  Delhi  Cant.,  Delhi  Sarai  Rohilla,  Tirupati  and Vijaywada.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 2180 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-15
Subject: Electoral Bribery as Cognisable Offence
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: JOSE K. MANI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2180

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 15 TH MARCH, 2017

## ELECTORAL BRIBERY AS COGNISABLE OFFENCE

2180. SHRI JOSE K. MANI:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Chief  Election  Commissioner  has  reiterated  Election  Commission's  longstanding demand to make electoral bribery a cognisable offence under the code of Criminal Procedure and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Centre had  drawn  up a  draft  Amendment Bill  to the  effect in  consultation with the Law Ministry and also sought comments from States as criminal law and criminal procedure are in the Concurrent List; and
- (c) if so, the status of the Centre's efforts in this direction?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI P.P.CHAUDHARY)

- (a):  The  proposal  of  the  Election  Commission  for  making  electoral  bribery  a  cognizable offence  under  section  171B  of  the  Indian  Penal  Code  is  under  consideration  of  the Government.
- (b): Yes, Madam.
- (c): The draft formulation drawn up in this regard has been circulated to all stake-holders for their final vetting.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2179 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-15
Subject: Punishment for Adulteration
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: MEKAPATI RAJAMOHAN REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW & JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL AFFAIRS

*****

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2179 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2017

## Punishment for Adulteration

## 2179. SHRI M. RAJA MOHAN REDDY:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Law  Commission  has  considered  changes  in  the  Indian  Penal  Code  prescribing imprisonment of life term for adulteration of food and drink items; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY)

- (a)  and  (b)  :  Yes  Madam.  The  Law  Commission  of  India  submitted  its  report  no.  264  titled  'The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (Provisions dealing with Food Adulteration)' on 17 th January, 2017, wherein it has suggested certain amendments in Section 272 and 273 of the Indian Penal Code. The said report is available on the website of Law Commission of India i.e. www.lawcommissionofindia.nic.in.

**********
Lok Sabha Question No. 2175 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-15
Subject: Income Inequality
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: OM BIRLA, CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI, CHANDU LAL SAHU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2175 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2017

## INCOME INEQUALITY

2175. SHRI OM BIRLA: SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI: SHRI CHANDU LAL SAHU:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the report of Oxfam which says that the richest one per cent in India owns 58 per cent of the country's wealth;
- (b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to bridge the income inequality gap?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND MINISTRY OF HOUSING & URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION

(RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a) & (b): Yes, Madam. As per the policy brief titled 'Tackling Extreme Inequality in India' released by Oxfam India in January 2017 'the richest 1 per cent of Indians have 58 percent of total Indian wealth'. In the study, the data used for estimating the distribution of wealth in the country is from a private source i.e., Credit Suisse Global Wealth Data book. Detailed methodology adopted for the estimation in the study has not been explicitly stated. Therefore, it is difficult to comment upon the above mentioned study.
- (c):  Reduction  of  economic  inequalities  has  always  been  the  priority  of  the  Government's development  policy.  The  strategy  has  been  to  generate  employment  opportunities,  develop infrastructure, provi0de better access to health, education, drinking water, sanitation, etc. in order to bring a tangible improvement in standard of living and quality of life of the masses. The Government has initiated various measures to improve the quality of life of the people and to benefit the people at the lower end of the income distribution in the country through direct intervention by implementing various  welfare  schemes  such  as  Mahatma  Gandhi  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme (MGNREGS), Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA),  Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana  (PMJDY),  Deen  Dayal  Antayodaya  Yojana  National  Rural  Livelihoods  Mission  (DAYNRLM),  Deendayal  Antyodaya  Yojana-National  Urban  Livelihoods  Mission  (DAY-NULM), National  Health  Mission  (NHM),  National  Social  Assistance  Programme  (NSAP)  and  Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) etc. These interventions are expected to yield better results over time in terms of reduction in income inequality and overall balanced development in the country.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2174 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-15
Subject: Extension of Parole
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: RAMA DEVI, CHANDRAKANT BHAURAO KHAIRE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW & JUSTICE (DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE)

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2174

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 15 th MARCH, 2017

## Extension of Parole

+2174. SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI: SHRI CHANDRAKANT KHAIRE:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether many industrialists and directors  of  companies serving jail  terms  for  fraud  done  in  their  companies  are granted parole/extended parole;
- (b) if  so,  the  names of  such industrialists and the directors with names of their companies;
- (c) the reasons put forward before courts to reject parole/extension  of  paroles  to  such  persons  serving  jail terms;
- (d) the reaction of the Government to granting parole/extension  of  parole  despite  putting  forward  the above reasons; and
- (e) the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI P.P.CHAUDHARY)

(a)to (e): The  information  is  being  collected  and  the  same will be laid on the Table of the House.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2173 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-15
Subject: Charge on Digital Transactions
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: LALLU SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2173

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 15.03.2017

## CHARGE ON DIGITAL TRANSACTIONS

## 2173 SHRI  LALLU SINGH:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state: -

- (a) whether the Government is promoting cashless transactions due to decline in use of currency in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the cashless transaction is likely to lead to a situation where common man will have to pay commission on transactions; and
- (d) if so, the facts in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI P. P. CHAUDHARY)

(a) and (b):    Government  is  promoting  cashless  transactions  to  improve  transparency  and reduce the cost of handling cash in the economy.

(c)  and  (d):    Reserve  Bank  of  India  (RBI)  has  deregulated  the  service  charges  for transactions.  In  respect  of  debit  card  transactions  on  PoS  devices,  between  1.1.2017  and 31.3.2017, Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) has been capped at 0.25% for transaction value upto Rs. 1,000, and for debit card transactions value between Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 2,000, MDR has been capped at 0.5%.

Reserve  Bank  of  India  has  decided  that  till  31.3.2017,  banks  and  prepaid  payment instrument issuers shall not levy any charges on customers for transactions up to Rs. 1,000 settled  on  Immediate  Payment Service  (IMPS),  Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) and Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Further, Government has issued a direction in  public  interest  to  all  public  sector  banks  not  to  charge  fees  for  transactions  settled  on IMPS and UPI in excess of rates charged for National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) for transactions above  Rs.  1,000, with service tax  being  charged at  actual;  for  USSD transactions till 31.3.2017 above Rs. 1,000, a further 50 paise discount is provided.

NPCI  has  waived  switching  fees  for  RuPay  Card  transactions  (both  for  PoS  and  ecommerce), IMPS, UPI, National Unified USSD Platform (NUUP) and AEPS, with effect from 1.1.2017 till 31.3.2017.

Credit  card,  debit  card,  charge  card  and  other  payment  card  services  by  banks  have  been exempted from payment of service tax for transactions of up to Rs. 2,000.

In terms of Office of Controller General of  Accounts  Office  Memorandum  dated 14.12.2016,  the  applicable  Merchant  Discount  Rate  (MDR)  charges  on  debit  cards  for payment up to Rs. 1 Lakh shall be absorbed by the Government. In terms of Department of

Public Enterprises letter dated 9.12.2016, all Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) are required  to  ensure  that  transaction  fees,  MDR  charges  associated  with  payment  through digital means shall not be passed on to the consumers and all such expenses shall be borne by CPSEs.

*******