opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3126 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Nuclear Cooperation with Canada
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: ANTO  ANTONY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3126

TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2018

## NUCLEAR COOPERATION WITH CANADA

3126.  SHRI  ANTO ANTONY:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has recently signed any Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Canada in the field of nuclear energy cooperation; and
- (b) if so, the details and the salient features thereof?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  PERSONNEL,  PUBLIC  GRIEVANCES  & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (Dr. JITENDRA SINGH) :

- (a) Yes, Sir.  During the visit of Prime Minister of Canada H.E. Mr. Justin Trudeau to India on February 23, 2018, Government of India has signed a Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU)  with  the  Department  of  Natural Resources  of  Canada  concerning  cooperation  in  the  fields  of  science, technology and innovation.
- (b) The  MoU  is  a  broad  framework  arrangement  for  enhancing  cooperation  in research and development activities with Canada. The MoU facilitates mutual consultations on the areas of new material development and testing, design of advanced Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), structural components  of  reactor  systems  including  inspection  and  quality  assurance programs, sharing of operational information, nonpower application of radiation  isotope  technology,  etc.    The  MoU  will  be  valid  for  a  period  of  5 years and can be renewed further through mutual consultations.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3125 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Boeing Inspection Flight Training Centre
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: FAIZAL P.P. MOHAMMED

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3125

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 14 TH  MARCH, 2018

## BOEING INSPECTION FLIGHT TRAINING CENTRE

## 3125.  MOHAMMED FAIZAL:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the present status of construction of proposed Boeing Inspection Flight Training Centre in the State of Kerala;
- (b) the details of the funds allocated and utilized for the purpose; and
- (c) the time by which it is likely to be constructed?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

र  ा रा य मं ी

(DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)

(डा. सुभाष भामरे)

- (a) In  so  far  as  Ministry  of  Defence  is  concerned,  no  such  proposal  is pending.

(b) & (c):

Does not arise.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3123 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Writ Petitions against Universities
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: KONDA VISHWESHWAR REDDY

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3123

TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2018

' Writ Petitions Against Universities'

3123.   SHRI KONDA VISHWESHWAR REDDY:

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

- (a)  the  number  of  writ  petitions  and  PILs  filed  against  the  Central  and  State Universities in the country, University-wise; and
- (b)  the  action  taken  by  the  Government  to  curb  the  rising  number  of  such petitions and PILs?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW & JUSTICE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS

(SH. P.P.Chaudhary)

- (a) & (b) The information  is being collected and will be laid on the Table of the House.

*********
Lok Sabha Question No. 3121 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Funds for Research and Development
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: GEETHA KOTHAPALLI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3121

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 14 TH  MARCH, 2018

## FUNDS  FOR  RESEARCH AND  DEVELOPMENT

## 3121.  SHRIMATI KOTHAPALLI GEETHA:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether China is spending close to 20 per cent of its defence outlay on R&D as compared to a mere 5-6 per cent in India;
- (b) if  so,  whether  Defence  Research  and  Development  Organisation  (DRDO)  has requested for increasing the budget to meet growing defence needs / requirements; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the allocations made and spent in the Eleventh and Twelfth Plan period and future course of action by the Government in this regard?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)

र  ा रा य मं ी

(डा. सुभाष भामरे)

(a) to (c): There  are  no  authentic  reports  regarding  Chinese  defence outlay  on  research  and  development.    Details  of  expenditure  by  Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) are as under:-

| XI Five Year Plan (Rs. in Crore)   | XI Five Year Plan (Rs. in Crore)   |
|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
| Year                               | Actual Expenditure                 |
| 2007-08                            | 6104.55                            |
| 2008-09                            | 7699.05                            |
| 2009-10                            | 8475.38                            |
| 2010-11                            | 10148.92                           |
| 2011-12                            | 9893.84                            |
| Total:                             | 42321.74                           |

:  2  :

| XII Five Year Plan (Rs. in Crore)   | XII Five Year Plan (Rs. in Crore)   |
|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| Year                                | Actual Expenditure                  |
| 2012-13                             | 9794.80                             |
| 2013-14                             | 10868.88                            |
| 2014-15                             | 13257.98                            |
| 2015-16                             | 13317.12                            |
| 2016-17                             | 13382.05                            |
| Total:                              | 60620.83                            |

The  Government  is  fully  seized  of  the  security  concerns  of  the country  and  necessary steps are  undertaken  regarding defence  research and development.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3120 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Commercial Disputes
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: B.N. CHANDRAPPA

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3120

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 14 th  March, 2018

## COMMERCIAL DISPUTES

## 3120. SHRI B.N. CHANDRAPPA:

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

- (a) whether  the  government  is  aware  of  the  fact  that  the  commercial disputes  reportedly  are  not  disposed  of  in  a  time  bound  manner causing negative impact on Ease of Doing Business;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) the  total  number  of  commercial  disputes  pending  in  the  country  in various courts during each of the last three years;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  measures  to  ensure  that commercial  disputes  are  disposed  of  in  a  time  bound  manner  to promote Ease of Doing Business; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE &CORPORATE AFFAIRS (SHRI P. P. CHAUDHARY)

(a), (b), (d) & (e): In order to ensure the  speedy disposal of commercial disputes of specified value of Rupees one crore  and above, the Government has enacted the 'Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate  Division  of  High  Courts  Act,  2015'.  By  the  said  Act,  certain amendments have been made in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 with a view  to  fast  track  and  reduce  delays  in  disposal  of  commercial  cases. Furthermore, the Government endeavors to provide for speedy resolution of commercial  disputes  of  reasonable  value which  may  help  for further improvement in India's rank in the World Bank's Report on Doing Business. The Government  also proposes to introduce the Commercial Courts, Commercial  Division  and  Commercial  Appellate  Division  of  High  Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2018 in the Parliament which inter-alia proposes to bring down the specified value of a commercial dispute to Rs. three lakhs from the present Rs. one crore.

(c) The  information  is  being  collected  and  will  be  laid  on  the  Table  of  the House.

## ****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3118 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Frequency of Train No. 12489/12490
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: DEVJI MANSINGRAM PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3118 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2018

## FREQUENCY OF TRAIN NO. 12489/12490

## †3118. SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the frequency of Bikaner-Dadar Superfast Train No. 12489/12490,  running  twice    a  week,  between  Bikaner  and Dadar is inadequate vis-a-vis its passenger load;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  a  demand  has  also  been  made  in  the  past  to increase its frequency in view of the adequate revenue being collected  by  the  train  from  the  district  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d) whether running the train on daily basis is likely to result in increased revenue  along with relief to passengers from long waiting list and if so, the details thereof;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  run  this  train  daily;
- and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a)  and  (b):  The  demand  pattern  on  Indian  Railways  is  not uniform throughout the year and it varies during the peak and lean seasons. The demand for travel surges especially during the  peak  season  like  during  summer  holidays,  festivals,  etc. During  the  current  Financial  Year  2017-18  (April,  2017  to February, 2018) the overall occupancy of train no. 12489/12490 is more than 100%.

(c)  to  (f):  Demands  including  from  the  Hon'ble  Member  of Parliament  have  been  received  for  increase  in  frequency  of 12489/12490 Bikaner-Dadar Express from bi-weekly to daily.

While running the train on daily basis will generate higher revenue,  this  has  been  examined  but  not  found  feasible  for implementation  at  present,  due  to  operational  and  resource constraints including path constraints on sections enroute and terminal constraints at Dadar.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3117 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Space Applications
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: G. HARI

## 3117.   SHRI G. HARI:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Asia  Pacific  Regional  Space  Agency  Forum  has recommended  that  the  established  space  agencies  in  the region should promote space applications, including rice crop monitoring, global rainfall monitoring, fire hotspot, haze monitoring and disaster management;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of areas the ISRO has been concentrating so far as the above said areas are concerned;
- (d) whether  ISRO  shares  the  information,  it  gathered,  with  other neighbouring countries; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PG & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE

(DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

## (a) & (b)

Space  Applications  Working  Group,  one  of  the  four  Working Groups of Asia Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3117

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2018

## SPACE APPLICATIONS

(APRSAF), has recommended to further promote space applications,  including  rice  crop  monitoring,  global  rainfall monitoring, fire hotspot, haze monitoring and disaster management, at the 24 th  session of APRSAF held at Bengaluru in November 2017.

- (c) Indian  Space  Reseach  Organisation  (ISRO)  is  carrying  out studies in the above said areas.

(d) & (e)

ISRO shares the information with other neighbouring countries, in the event of disasters, through many programmes including Sentinel  Asia  (APRSAF's  initiative  for  disaster  mangament support),  International  Charter  'Space  and  Major  Disasters', United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the  Pacific  (UN-ESCAP),  United  Nations  Platform  for  Space based  Information  for  Disaster  management  and  Emergency Response (UNSPIDER), COSPAS-SARSAT system for search and rescue  operations,  'Severe  Thunderstorms:  Observations  and Regional Modeling (STORM)' programme of SAARC and South Asian Satellite.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3116 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Banking Services in Post Offices
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: LAXMI NARAYAN YADAV, RAKESH SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3116 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 th  MARCH, 2018

## BANKING SERVICES IN POST OFFICES

†3116. SHRI LAXMI NARAYAN YADAV:

SHRI RAKESH SINGH:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to enable post offices of the country to act as a bank and connect the network of post offices with the banking services and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether post offices have been modernised and employees trained to take the digital payment services to rural areas of the country and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (c) the  time  by  which  India  Post  Payment  Bank  services  are  likely  to  be  started across the whole country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) & (c) Yes Madam, Department of Posts has set up the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) as a public limited company with 100% Government of India equity on 17.08.2016 which  aims  to  deliver  basic  financial  products  and  services  through  post  office  access points to unbanked and under-banked regions of the country. RBI had granted licence to carry on Payments Bank activities on 20.01.2017 and since then IPPB has launched 2 pilot  branches  at  Raipur  (Chhattisgarh)  and  Ranchi  (Jharkhand)  on  30.01.2017.  IPPB plans to set up remaining 648 branches in district headquarter post offices, averaging one in each district) by April. 2018. These branches will be linked with approximately 1.55 lakh post offices across the country which will act as access points of the payments bank by the end of 2018.
- (b) Yes Madam, all the 25585 departmental post offices are computerized and all the post offices which are technically feasible are connected through Single WAN network in the  country.  Also  under  'Digital  Advancement  of  Rural  Post    New  India'  (DARPAN) Project, the Department of Posts, in a phased manner, is providing SIM based hand held devices to the Branch Post Offices in the rural areas of the country for carrying out online postal  and  financial  transactions.  58,722  branch  post  offices  have  been  brought  under DARPAN Project as on 07.03.2018.

Inputs  on  Core  Banking,  India  Post  Payments  Bank,  Information  Technology  (IT) Modernization  etc.  have  been  incorporated  in  the  Training  Modules  in  Postal  Training Centres (PTCs) and Rafi Ahmed Kidwai National Postal Academy (RAKNPA) and training is being imparted on the above to the trainees attending PTCs/RAKNPA. Further, Branch Post  Masters  (BPMs)  have  been  trained  for  carrying  out  online  postal  and  financial transactions under the DARPAN project.

*****************
Lok Sabha Question No. 3114 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Legality of Online Transactions
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: BAIJAYANT "JAY" PANDA

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

- (a)       whether there exists a legal status of online cash transactions in the   country;
- (b)       if so, the details thereof;
- (c)       whether the Government considers  the provisions  in acts  like Payment Settlements and Systems Act, 2007 (PSS Act), the information Technology ACT, 2008 and the Indian Penal Code to be sufficient for Protection  of users making digital payments; and
- (d)            if  not,  whether  Government  is  considering  any  plan  to  amend  the  respective legislations to strengthen the security framework for digital transaction/ payments?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR  ELECTRONICS AND  INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI K. J. ALPHONS)

(a) and (b):     Yes, Sir. Electronic funds transfer are covered under Payment Settlements and Systems Act, 2007 (PSS Act 2007).

(c) and (d):     Yes Sir, The PSS Act 2017 facilitates a regulation regime that provide for resolution  of  disputes,  penalties  for  offences  etc.  Besides,  the  RBI  has  issued  circular  on customer  protection  RBI/2017-18/15  DBR.No.Leg.bC.78/09.07.005/2017-18  dated  06  July 2017 which limits the liability of consumers in unauthorised electronic transactions.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 3113 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Compensation to Victims of Robbery
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RODMAL NAGAR, SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI, OM PRAKASH YADAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3113 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2018

## COMPENSATION TO VICTIMS OF ROBBERY

† 3113.  SHRI NAGAR RODMAL:

SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI :

SHRI OM PRAKASH YADAV :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Government has released any guidelines for providing compensation to the robbery victims in the general coaches of the trains;
- (b) if  so,  the  number  of  such  complaints  received  from  Rajasthan, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh so far; and
- (c)
- the steps taken by the Government to settle the complaints?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## ANSWER ( SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN )

- (a) :  Railways' liability for compensation for death or injury of  Railway passengers in untoward incidents (robbery) is laid down in Section 124A  read  with  Section  123  of  Railways  Act,  1989.  The  scale  of compensation  as  specified  in  Railway  Accident  and  Untoward Incidents  (Compensation)  Amendment  Rules,  2016  is ` 8  lakh  for death  and ` 64,000/-  to ` 8  lakh  for  injury,  depending  upon  the gravity of injury.

- (b): Total 04 cases have been received so far.
- (c): Admissibility  of  compensation  is  decided  by  Railway  Claims Tribunal (RCT) on the basis of a claim application filed before them. Railway Administration is liable to pay compensation  to rail passengers only when a decree is awarded by Hon'ble RCT in favour of the claimant.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3110 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Cadre Policy for IAS/IPS and IFS Officers
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL AND TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3110

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2018)

## CADRE POLICY FOR IAS/IPS AND IFS OFFICERS

## 3110. SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  firming  up  a  cadre  policy  for  IAS,  IPS  and  IFS  officers wherein they get to choose a zone instead of the current system of a State as their cadre;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the modalities formulated for the purpose;
- (c) whether it is true that the preference for the zones will remain in the same order and no change is proposed to be permitted; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) & (b):   Yes, Madam. The Central Government has issued revised policy on 05.09.2017for the allocation of cadres to the members of All India Services which will come into effect with the Civil Services Examination - 2017/ Indian Forest Service Examination - 2017. In this policy, all the cadres have been divided into five Zones and a candidate may give preference for these Zones in the order of descending priority as well as preference for cadres within each Zone in descending order. Further, a candidate claiming benefit of reservation under Physically Disabled quota has an additional option to indicate his preference (at the time of indicating preferences for various Zones and Cadres thereunder) for any one state/cadre (other than Home cadre) of his first preferred zone.  In case he is found eligible as a Physically disabled candidate and he could not be allocated to his Home Cadre for want of vacancy, then as per policy, he is allocated to that cadre indicated as additional option.
- (c)& (d):          A  candidate  who  wishes  to  be  considered  for  All  India  Services  are  required  to indicate  in  his  Detailed  Application  Form  (DAF)  for  the  Main  Examination  his  order  of preferences for various Zones and Cadres for which he would like to be considered for allotment in case he is appointed to any of the All India Services and no request for change in preference of Zone and Cadre thereunder once indicated by a candidate is permitted.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 3109 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: SAMEEP Programme
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: JOSE K. MANI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3109

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2018

## SAMEEP PROGRAMME

3109. SHRI JOSE K. MANI:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether   the   Government   has,   as   an   outreach   mission,   the   SAMEEP programme, to get students to take interest in the jobs that the Ministry is engaged in and to familiarise the students about the functioning of the Ministry of External Affairs(MEA); and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the achievements made thereunder?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) & (b) SAMEEP is an outreach initiative of the External Publicity & Public Diplomacy   (XPD)   Division   of   Ministry   of   External   Affairs   (MEA)   launched   in January, 2018 to reach out to the student community in different cities and towns across India. The objective is to familiarise school and college students with the role and functions of MEA, key elements of India's Foreign Policy and success stories and achievements on the foreign policy front. The initiative is undertaken with the help of officers of MEA and involves their visit to schools and colleges in their hometown/states during leave and is voluntary in nature. So far, four such programs have already been organised in Jalandhar, Delhi, Trichy and Sonepat and many more are in the pipeline.

*****