opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 4268 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-11
Subject: Incentives on Deposits
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: R.P. MARUTHARAJAA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4268

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11 TH  August 2017/ Shravana 20, 1939 (SAKA)

## Incentives on Deposits

## 4268.   SHRI R.P. MARUTHARAJAA:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  give  any  incentives  on  the  funds deposited as savings in the bank to encourage the common man;

- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a) to (c):  Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has informed that interest rates on savings deposits are  deregulated  vide  their  circular  dated  October  25,  2011  and  are  decided  by  the  banks themselves  subject  to  the  condition  that  there  shall  be  a  comprehensive  policy  on  interest rates on deposits duly approved by the Board of Directors or any committee of the Board to which powers have been delegated.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 4267 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-11
Subject: Unhealthy Competitions in Corporate Sector
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: SAUGATA ROY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4267 ANSWERED ON FRIDAY THE 11TH AUGUST, 2017 [SHRAVANA 20, 1939 (SAKA)]

## UNHEALTHY COMPETITIONS IN CORPORATE SECTOR

## QUESTION

4267.  PROF. SAUGATA ROY:

Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS कारपोरेट कार्य मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  noticed  the  rising  of  unhealthy competitions  in  the  corporate  sector,  especially  in  the  telecom sector to attract more consumers and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether these types of competitions will affect the sector and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  any  mechanism  to  control  such unhealthy competitions in the sector for its overall development and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS   (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL) कारपोरेट कार्य मंत्रालर् में राज्र् मंत्री ( श्री अर्जयन राम मेघवाल )

- (a) to (c) No  rise  of  unhealthy  competition  in  the  telecom  sector  has come to the notice of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.  Information and complaints received by the Competition Commission of India from time to time are processed as per laid down procedure and is an ongoing process. The  Telecom  Regulatory  Authority  of  India  (TRAI)  has  informed  that attracting the customers by adopting illegal offers has not been noticed by TRAI.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 4266 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-11
Subject: Affordable Medicines
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: K. MARAGATHAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4266 TO BE ANSWERED ON   11 TH AUGUST, 2017

## AFFORDABLE MEDICINES

## 4266. SHRIMATI K. MARAGATHAM:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is true that the Government has made 700 medicines affordable for the poor;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is also true that the Government had taken adequate steps to ensure that the doctors prescribe only generic medicines; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

(a) & (b): National  Pharmaceuticals  Pricing  Authority  (NPPA)  under  the  Department  of Pharmaceuticals has reduced the prices of 776 medicines under Revised Schedule I to the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO) which is based on National List of Essential Medicin es (NLEM), 2015. The slab - wise reduction in the prices is as under:

| Slabwise Percentage reduction with respect to Maximum   |   Number of formulations |
|---------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------|
| 0- 5%                                                   |                      194 |
| 5- 10%                                                  |                      129 |
| 10- 15%                                                 |                       94 |
| 15- 20%                                                 |                       90 |
| 20- 25%                                                 |                       82 |
| 25- 30%                                                 |                       62 |
| 30- 35%                                                 |                       43 |
| 35- 40%                                                 |                       24 |
| Above 40%                                               |                       58 |
| Total                                                   |                      776 |

- (c) & (d): Medical  Council  of  India  (MCI)  has  notified  an  amendment  in  Clause  1.5  of Indian  Medical  Council  (Professional  Conduct,  Etiquette  and  Ethics)  Regulations,  2002 notification dated 21.09.2016, which stipulates that 'Every physicia n should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly  and preferably in  capital  letters and he/she shall  ensure that rational  prescription  and  use  of  drugs'.  MCI  has  further  issued  a  circular  on  21.04.2017  vide which all the Registered Medical Pra ctitioners (RMP) under the Indian Medical Council (IMC) Act have been directed to comply with the aforesaid provisions.
Lok Sabha Question No. 4265 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-11
Subject: Population Control Policy
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: UDAY PRATAP SINGH, DODDAALAHALLI KEMPEGOWDA SURESH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4265 TO BE ANSWERED ON   11 TH AUGUST, 2017

## POPULATION CONTROL P OLICY

## 4265. SHRI UDAY PRATAP SINGH:

## SHRI D.K. SURESH:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)whether the population of India is expected to take the top positio n byovertaking Ch ina by 2050, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is planning to study the various aspects of it by setting up an expert group, if so, the response of the Government thereon; and
- (c) whether the Government is considering a population control policy along the line s of that which is in effect in China, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL )

- (a): As  per  Registrar  General  of  India  the  projected  population  for  India  is  availabl 2026 on the basis of Census 2001. The report states that the projected population of Ind 2026 will be 139.98 Crores.
- (b) : No, the Government does not have any such proposal.
- ( c): No, The Government does not have any such proposal since India is a signatory to the ICPD declaration of 1994 which unequivocally advocates target free approach and honouring reproductive rights of couples to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing o children.
Lok Sabha Question No. 4264 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-11
Subject: Donation to Political Parties
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: AJAY (TENI) MISRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4264 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 11 TH   AUGUST, 2017 20, SHRAVANA, 1939 (SAKA)

## DONATION TO POLITICAL PARTIES

## 4264. SHRI AJAY MISRA TENI:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the amendments made by the Government in Finance Bill is likely to check the cash transactions, black money and bring transparency in election related donation;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  manner  in  which  the  political  parties  are  likely  to  accept donation;
- (c) whether the political parties accepting donation and the donor will be entitled to the benefits under section 80 of Income Tax; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a)&(b) As per section 29B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951  (the RP Act), every political party may accept any amount of contribution voluntarily offered to it by any person or company other than a Government company, subject to certain other conditions specified therein.  Further, Finance Act, 2017, inter alia, amended section 13A of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (the Act) to provide that no donation exceeding two thousand rupees shall be received by political parties otherwise than by  an account payee cheque drawn on a bank or an account payee bank draft or use of electronic clearing system through a bank account or through electoral bond and that the Political party furnishes a return of income on or before the due date.

Further, section 29C of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 requires political parties to submit contribution  reports  relating  to  receipt  of  Rs.  20,000  or  above  to  the  Election  Commission  in  the prescribed manner and by the specified date, failing which tax exemption as available under section 139 of the Act would be forfeited.

(c)  &  (d)  Madam,  there  is  no  deduction  available  to  political  party  under  section  80  of  the  Act  for donation given to them.

However, section 80GGB of the Act provides that an Indian company is eligible for deduction of the amount contributed by it, in the previous year to any political party or an electoral trust.

Further, section 80GGC of the Act provides that an assessee, being any person, except local authority and every artificial juridical person wholly or partly funded by the Government shall be eligible for deduction of any amount of contribution made by him, in the previous year, to a political party or an electoral trust.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 4263 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-11
Subject: Action against Non-Filers of Income Tax
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: RAYAPATI SAMBASIVA RAO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4263

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY THE 11 th  August, 2017 20, SHRAVANA 1939 (SAKA)

## ACTION AGAINST NON-FILERS OF INCOME TAX

## 4263: SHRI RAYAPATI SAMBASIVA RAO:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to State:

- a) The existing laws in place to deal with the IT defaulters;
- b) Whether the Government is planning to take severe punitive measures against those who fail to file IT returns;
- c) If so, the details thereof, if not, the reasons therefor;
- d) Whether the Government is contemplating to formulate new laws to stop this trend of failure of filing IT returns; and
- e) If so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE: (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a) Some of the important provisions under the Income Tax Act, 1961 ('Act') to deal with non-filers of Return of Income (RoI) include levy of interest under section 234A, penalty of Rs. 5,000/- leviable under section 271F for failure to furnish RoI, prosecution proceedings under 276CC for wilful failure to furnish RoI,  bringing  to  tax  the  income  which  has  escaped  assessment  under  section  147  and  notice  under section 142(1) for filing RoI. Apart from above, recourse to provisions such as search, survey, enquiry is taken in appropriate cases.

(b) &  (c)  The  mechanism  to  deal  with  non-filers  of  RoI  are  already  in  place.  Besides  the  measures indicated at (a) above, a new provision under section 234F vide Finance Act, 2017 has been introduced with  effect  from  assessment  year  2018-19  which  prescribes  mandatory  levy  of  fee  for  non-filing  RoI within the due date. Further, scope of section 139(4C) which prescribes mandatory filing of RoI by certain exempt  entities  has  also  been  enlarged  vide  Finance  Act,  2017.  Besides  these  statutory  measures, Income Tax Department keeps track on non-filers through Non-Filer Monitoring System (NMS).

- (d)  & (e) No further new proposal is under consideration as of now in view of (b) above.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 4262 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-11
Subject: Fastest Growing Economy
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: MIDHUN REDDY

- (a) whether the Government has noted that India has lost its fastest growing major economy tag;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (c)  the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a) and (b): As per the data released by Central Statistics Office on 31 st May 2017, the growth rate of Gross Domestic Product at constant prices was 7.1 per cent in 2016-17. As per  the  information  available  from  the  World  Economic  Outlook  Update  (July  2017)  of International Monetary Fund (IMF), India's growth rate in 2016 was the highest among the major  economies  of  the  world.  International  Agencies,  like  IMF,  World  Bank  etc.  have projected that India's growth in 2017 will be the highest among the major economies of the world.

(c): The Government of India has taken various steps to boost the GDP growth which, inter alia, include; fillip to manufacturing and infrastructure and concrete measures for transport and  power  sectors,  as  well  as,  other  urban  and  rural  infrastructure  and  comprehensive reforms  in  the  policy  for  foreign  direct  investment.  Government  has  also  announced various measures in the Budget 2017-18 to promote growth in the economy which, among others,  include  push  to  infrastructure  development  by  giving  infrastructure  status  to affordable  housing,  higher  allocation  to  highway  construction  and  focus  on  coastal connectivity.  The  other  growth  promotion  measures  include:  lower  income  tax  for companies with annual turnover up to Rs 50 crore; further measures to improve the ease of  doing  business;  and,  a  major  push  to  digital  economy.  The  Budget  also  targeted  to provide higher agricultural credit and to increase employment significantly. The introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has provided a significant opportunity to  improve  growth  momentum  by  removing  barriers  to  trade,  business  and  related economic activities.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4259 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-11
Subject: Incentives to Farmers for Cultivation of Medicinal Plants
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: MANSHANKAR NINAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH)

LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 4259 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH AUGUST , 2017

## INCENTIVES TO FARMER S FOR CULTIVATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS

## 4259. SHRI MANSHANKAR NINAMA:

Will  the  Minister of AYURVEDA,  YOGA  AND  NATUROPATHY,  UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH) be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  providing  any  incentive  to  the  farmers  to  encourage cultivation of herbs/ me dicinal plants in the country; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State/UTwise?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

(a) & (b): Yes,  the  Ministry  of Ayurveda,  Yoga  &  Naturopathy,  Unani,  Siddha  and Homoeopathy  (AYUSH),  Government  of  India  under  its  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of National  AYUSH  Mission  (NAM)  is  providing  financial  assistance  as  subsidy  to  farmer s  to encourage cultivation of herbs/medicinal plants throughout the country.

Under  NAM  scheme,  there  is  a  component  on  'Medicinal  Plants'  which  is  primarily aimed  at  supporting  cultivation  of  herbs/medicinal  plants  on  farmer's  land  with  backward linkages through establishment of nurseries for supply of quality planting material, and f linkages  for  post - harvest  management.    Presently,  140  medicinal  plants  species  have  been prioritized for supporting cultivation throughout the country for which the su bsidy is provided to farmers in following pattern:

- (i) 75% subsidy for cultivation of medicinal plants which are highly endangered.
- (ii) 50% subsidy for cultivation of medicinal plants where sources of supply are cr declining.
- (iii) 30% subsidy fo r cultivation of other medicinal plants species which need support.

The cultivation programme is implemented through the identified implementing agency of  concerned  state  (generally  State  Agriculture  /  Horticulture  Departments)  and  the  fi assistance is provided as per the State Annual Action Plan approved for concerned State. scheme guidelines, the financial assistance to North Eastern and hilly State of Himachal P Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir is provided in the ratio of 90:10, where as in other state shared in the ratio of 60:40 between Central and State Government.

………………………
Lok Sabha Question No. 4256 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-11
Subject: Development of Indigenous Weapons
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: RAVNEET SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEFENCE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4256

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11 TH  AUGUST, 2017

## DEVELOPMENT OF INDIGENOUS WEAPONS

4256.  SHRI  RAVNEET SINGH:

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

- (a) whether the Government is running a programme for developing indigenous weapons and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the amount allocated and spent during the last three years against the said programme;
- (c) whether private parties are also involved in the aforementioned programme; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                                  (SHRI ARUN JAITLEY)

j{kk ea=h

¼Jh v#.k tsVyh½

- (a) Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), a Research and Development  (R&D)  wing  of  Ministry  of  Defence,  is  primarily  mandated  for indigenization of Weapons / Technologies for defence & accordingly, is involved in design and development of strategic, complex and security sensitive systems in  the  fields  of  missiles,  unmanned  aerial  vehicles,  radars,  electronic  warfare systems,  sonars  combat  vehicles,  combat  aircraft,  sensors,  etc  for  the  Armed Forces as per their specific Qualitative Requirements for enhancing the national security  of  the  country.  Value  of  systems/products/technologies  developed/ upgraded by DRDO and inducted into the Services or in the process of induction stands over Rs 2.56 lakh Cr. This figure does not include Strategic Systems.
- (b) Details of funds allocated to the DRDO during the last three years are given below:-
- (c) & (d):    DRDO has a well-built partnership with more than 1000 private sector industries. DRDO has been involving academia and private industries right from the inception of project.

| Year                       |   Allocation of funds (Rs. in crore) |
|----------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| 2014-15                    |                              13716.1 |
| 2015-16                    |                              13540.1 |
| 2016-17                    |                              13501   |
| 2017-18 (Budget Estimates) |                              14818.7 |

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 4255 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-11
Subject: Adding Cancer in Notifiable Diseases’ List
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: BHARAT SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4255 TO BE ANSWERED ON   11 TH AUGUST, 2017

## ADDING CANCER IN NOTIFIABLE DISEASES' LIST

## 4255. SHRI BHARAT SINGH:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  proposes to  declare  cancer  a  notifiable  disease  similar to tuberculosis;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d)  the appropriate  steps  being  taken by  the  Government  to  check  the  increasing number  of cancer patients?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL )

- (a) to (c) : The  Government  of  India  does  not  propose  to  declare  Cancer  as  a  notifiab disease. The National Cancer Registry Programme is already implemented by National Cent for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR), Bengaluru, under the aegis of Indian Counci of Medical Research. The data made available is sufficient for the programme and policy rela Cancer prevention and control in the country.
- (d): Central  Government  supplements  the  efforts  of  the  State  Government  for  improvin healthcare including pre vention, diagnosis and treatment of Cancer. The objectives of Nation Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Str (NPCDCS)  being  implemented  under  National  Health  Mission  (NHM)  for  interventions  upto distri ct level include awareness generation for Cancer prevention, screening, early detecti referral to an appropriate level institution for treatment. The focus is on three type namely  breast,  cervical  and  oral  cancer.  Operational  guidelines  fo r  implementing  population level screening for diabetes, hypertension & common cancer viz.  oral, breast and cervi been released to State Governments. The guidelines include screening for risk factors of among common Non - Communicable Diseases ( NCDs).

The Government of India is implementing 'Tertiary Care Cancer Centre' Scheme under NPCDCS to assist to establish/set up State Cancer Institutes (SCI) and Tertiary Care Centres(TCCC) in different parts of the country. Oncology in its various aspects has fo case of new AIIMS and many upgraded institutions under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY). Setting up of National Cancer Institute at Jhajjar (Haryana) and 2nd campus of Chittranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata has also been approved. All these will the capacity for prevention and treatment of cancer in the country.
Lok Sabha Question No. 4252 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-11
Subject: Salaries and Benefits of Nurses
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: ANTO  ANTONY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4252 TO BE ANSWERED ON   11 TH AUGUST, 2017

## SALARIES AND BENEFIT S OF NURSES

## 4252. SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has recently issued any guidelines to various State Governments regarding the salaries and benefits of nurses working in private hospitals;
- (b) if so, the deta ils and major directives thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has received any report from any State Government regarding the steps taken by them to comply with the aforesaid guidelines; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

- (a) & (b): In compliance of Hon'ble Supreme Court's Judgement dated 29 th January, 2016 in WP(C) No. 527/2011, the recommendation of the committee constituted by this Ministry, has been  sent  to  States/UTs  for  making  guidelines/rules  accordingly.  Recommendations  of Committee is at Annexure.
- (c) & (d): Health being a State subject, it is the responsibility of the State /UTs to take action on  it .  Reports  from State  Governments  of  Tamil  Nadu,  Tripura,  Kerala,  Chhattisgarh,  Bihar Chandigarh, Daman & Diu intimating action taken towards implementation on the recommendations have been received.