opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 6129 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-04
Subject: Rail Radio Service
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: JYOTI DHURVE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6129 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.04.2018

## RAIL RADIO SERVICE

## † 6129. SHRIMATI JYOTI DHURVE:

## Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Government proposes to start rail radio service in mail and express trains;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the number of radio centers likely to be run for this purpose along with the initial and recurring cost per year;
- (d) whether it is likely to include travel and tourism related advertisements; and
- (e)
- if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a)  to  (e)  :  There  is  no  policy  on  'Rail  Radio  Service'  on  Indian  Railways. However, there is a policy of offering 'Content on Demand' services, which envisages providing preloaded entertainment content including audio service  component  for  personal  devices  of  passengers.  The  Service Provider  of  Content  on  Demand  shall  have  the  option  of  providing  Radio offline/online  as  per  feasibility.  The  revenue  shall  be  earned  through advertisement.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 6126 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-04
Subject: Privatization of Coal Sector
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: LAKHAN LAL SAHU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6126

## TO BE ANSWER ON 04.04.2018

## Privatization of Coal Sector

## 6126. SHRI LAKHAN LAL SAHU:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of production of coal during each of the last two years;
- (b) whether there has been any increase in the coal production after allowing private companies in this sector;
- (c) if  so,  the  ratio  of  coal  production  of  Coal  India  Limited  along  with  the details thereof in comparison to coal production of the private sector;
- (d) the manner in which the Government has utilised the coal produced by the private companies and the revenue received therefrom; and
- (e) the  State/Union  Territory-wise  royalty  paid  to  the  Government  by  the above private coal companies?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COAL (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a): As  per  Coal  Controller's  Organization  (CCO),  all  India  coal  production  has increased from 639.23 MT in 2015-16 to 662.79 MT in 2016-17.

(b): Coal  production  by  private  sector  has  increased  from  32.55MT  in  2015-16  to 34.08 MT in 2016-17.

(c) : The details of company-wise coal production are as under:

( in Million Tonnes)

| COMPANY             |   2015-16 |   2016-17 |
|---------------------|-----------|-----------|
| CIL                 |    538.75 |    554.14 |
| SCCL                |     60.38 |     59.53 |
| Other Public Sector |      7.55 |     15.04 |
| Private             |     32.55 |     34.08 |
| All India           |    639.23 |    662.79 |

Coal India Limited (CIL) has produced around 84% of total coal production in 2015-16 & 2016-17.  The ratio  of  production  of  coal  by  private  sector  to  all India coal production was 5.09% in 2015-16 and 5.14% in 2016-17.

(d): In case of coal mines allocated to private companies, coal is produced for captive use only and can be used only in the specified End Use Plants of the allocattee. The revenue generated from these coal mines are deposited with the respective host States where the coal mines are situated and its utilization is being done by the State Governments.

(e): The  information  in  respect  of  royalty  paid  to  the  State/Union  Territory Government by private coal companiesis not maintained by Ministry of Coal.

<><><>
Lok Sabha Question No. 6125 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-04
Subject: Modernisation of Koderma & Hazaribagh Stations
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6125 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.04.2018

## MODERNISATION OF KODERMA & HAZARIBAGH STATIONS

## †6125.  DR. RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Koderma  Station  under  Dhanbad  division  is  deprived  of facilities despite being in 'A' category;
- (b) if so, whether the Government proposes to modernise Koderma and Hazaribagh Road Stations;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether letters in regard to modernisation of  Koderma  and Hazaribagh  Road  Stations  have  been  received  from  Members  of Parliament;
- (e) if so, the action taken in this regard along with the details thereof; and
- (f) the  names  of  five  stations  earning  highest  revenue  in  Dhanbad division?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## ANSWER (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a)  to  (c):    No,  Madam.  Upgradation  of  stations  has  been  undertaken under  various  modernisation  schemes  such  as  Model  Station  Scheme, Modern  Station  Scheme  and  the  Adarsh  Station  Scheme.  Koderma station  has  already  been  developed  under  Model  and  Modern  Station Scheme and Hazaribagh Road station has been developed under Modern Station Scheme.

(d) & (e): Yes, Madam. Representation has been received from Member of Parliament for modernisation of Koderma and Hazaribagh Road stations. Upgradation of stations is a continuous and on-going process and works in this regard are undertaken depending upon need, volume of passenger traffic and inter-se priority of works, subject to availability of funds. (f):  Dhanbad, Koderma, Daltonganj, Singrauli and Gomoh stations given highest coaching revenue in Dhanbad division.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 6124 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-04
Subject: Disability Pension
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE, BHAVANA GAWALI (PATIL)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEPARTMENT OF EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6124

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 4 TH  APRIL, 2018

## DISABILITY   PENSION

6124.  SHRI  KRUPAL  BALAJI  TUMANE: SHRIMATI  BHAVANA  PUNDALIKRAO  GAWALI  PATIL:

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

- (a) whether concerns expressed  by armed  forces before Seventh Central Pay Commission regarding disability pension are being resolved and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the reasons for converting existing percentage based system of disability pension into slab based system;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to rectify the discrepancies that have emerged in disability pension system after Seventh Central Pay Commission;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  bring  disability  pension  of  defence services equivalent to disability pension in civil sector in  Seventh Central  Pay Commission and make a review thereof; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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 (e): The  7 th Central  Pay  Commission  (CPC)  recommended  the following on disability pension:-

The Commission is of the considered view that the regime implemented  post  6 th CPC  needs  to  be  discontinued,  and  recommended a return to the slab based system.  The slab rates for disability element for

## 100 percent disability would be as follows:-

| Ranks                          | Levels       | Rate per month (INR)   |
|--------------------------------|--------------|------------------------|
| Service Officers               | 10 and above | 27000                  |
| Honorary Commissioned Officers | 10 and above | 27000                  |
| Equivalents                    | 6 to 9 17000 | Subedar Majors /       |
| Subedar / Equivalents          | 6 to 9 17000 | Subedar Majors /       |
| Naib Subedar / Equivalents     | 6 to 9 17000 | Subedar Majors /       |
| Havildar / Equivalents         | 5 and below  | 12000                  |
| Naik / Equivalents             | 5 and below  |                        |
| Sepoy / Equivalents            | 5 and below  |                        |

The  above  recommendation  was  accepted  and  Resolution  dated 30.09.2016 issued accordingly.

The 6 th CPC dispensation of the calculation of disability element on percentage  basis,  however,  continued  for  civil  side  which  resulted  in  an anomalous situation.  The issue was accordingly referred to the Anomaly Committee.    The  Anomaly  Committee  recommended  that  parity  with civilians for grant of disability element which  was granted to the Defence Forces Personnel under 6 th   CPC may be maintained which was approved by the Cabinet.  Government order in this regard  has been issued on  4 th September, 2017.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 6123 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-04
Subject: Fake Lawyers
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: RAYAPATI SAMBASIVA RAO

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

*****

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6123 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.04.2018

## Fake Lawyers

## 6123. SHRI RAYAPATI  SAMBASIVA  RAO Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a man without a law degree served as judicial magistrate in Tamil Nadu for 21 years;
- (b) if  so,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  stop  fake  lawyers  and  fake  judicial officers  from practising in different courts of our country;
- (c) whether any committee has been set up in the last three years to look into fake lawyers and fake judicial officers across different courts in the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therfor ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION

## TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a) to (e):  The information is being collected and will be laid on  the Table of the House.
Lok Sabha Question No. 6122 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-04
Subject: Crops and Vegetables developed by BARC
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: MEENAKASHI LEKHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6122

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.04.2018

## CROPS AND VEGETABLES DEVELOPED BY BARC

6122 .  SHRIMATI MEENAKASHI LEKHI:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  crops  and  vegetable  varieties  developed  by  Bhabha  Atomic Research Centre (BARC) during the last three years; and
- (b) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  popularise  the  usage  of  these  crops and vegetable varieties amongst farmers?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) By using radiation  induced  mutagenesis along  with  cross  breeding,  Bhabha Atomic Research  Centre (BARC)  has  developed two mutants of rice {Trombay  Raipur  Rice-1(TRR-1),  Trombay  Konkan  Kolam  (TKKR-13)*}  and one mutant of cowpea {Trombay Cowpea 901 (TC901)*} which are identified for  release.  BARC  has  also  developed  several  mutants  of  groundnut, mustard, cowpea, blackgram, greengram, soybean, rice and wheat which are undergoing  advance  field  trials  in  State  Agricultural  Universities.  The  major desirable  traits  in  these  crops  include  higher  yield,  seed  size,  improved agronomic and quality traits, early maturity and stress tolerance.
- (b) The  BARC  developed  mutant  crop  varieties  have  high  patronage  from  the farming  community  and  are  extensively  grown  in  different  states  of  the country. Popularization is done by linkages established with State Agricultural Universities  (through  kisan  mela,  frontline  demonstrations  /  exhibitions  and awareness programmes).

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Lok Sabha Question No. 6121 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-04
Subject: Promoting Educational Prospects of Muslim Students
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: RANGASWAMY DHRUVANARAYANA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6121 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.04.2018

## PROMOTING EDUCATIONAL PROSPECTS OF MUSLIM STUDENTS

## 6121. SHRI R. DHRUVA NARAYANA:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the low enrolment rate of Muslim students in   higher education, especially women and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to promote the educational prospects of Muslim students?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)

(a)  &  (b):  Yes,  Madam.    In  the  last  several  decades  education  of  minorities  especially Muslim  girls  had  not  been  a  priority  area.  This  educational  backwardness  was  more prominent  in  northern  part  of  the  country.  In  the  last  three  years,  the  Government  has focused  on  educational  empowerment  of  minorities  and  as  a  result,  about  2.45  Crore scholarships under various schemes have been disbursed to minorities in which girls, on average, comprise of 50%. Further, several educational infrastructural assets under Multisectoral Development Programme (MsDP) have been sanctioned in the last 3 years in the minority concentrated areas including 767 schools, 493 hostels, 60 gurukul type residential schools, 10 Degress colleges, 16 Polytechnic,  94  ITIs, and 13,985 additional Classroom. As per 'All India Survey on Higher Education, 2015-16' of the Ministry of Human Resource Development,  the  enrolment  of  minority  women  has  improved  to  11,21,066  in  higher education during 2015-16.

Besides  above,  the  Government  is  also  implementing  the  following  schemes  for  the educational empowerment of six notified minority communities i.e. Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Muslim, Sikh and Zoroastrian (Parsi) across the country:

- (i) Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme (from Class I to X);
- (ii) Post Matric Scholarship Scheme (for Class XI to Ph.D);
- (iii) Merit cum Means based Scholarship Scheme (for Technical and Professional Courses at undergraduate and post graduate levels);
- (iv) Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) (for M.Phil. & Ph.D);
- (v) Padho  Pardesh  -  Scheme  of  Interest  Subsidy  on  Educational  Loans  for Overseas Studies for the Students Belonging to the Minority Communities;
- (vi) Free Coaching and Allied Scheme;
- (vii) Nai Udaan - Support for Students for preparation of Main Examination who clear  Prelims  conducted  by  UPSC/SSC,  State  Public  Service  Commission (PSC) etc.;
- (viii) Schemes of Maulana Azad Education Foundation- (a) Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship for Meritorious girls belonging to minorities (for Class IX to XII) and (b) Grants-in-aid to NGOs  for educational infrastructure development.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 6120 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-04
Subject: Roadmap for Artificial Intelligence
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: BALKA SUMAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6120

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.04.2018

## ROADMAP FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

## 6120.      SHRI SUMAN BALKA :

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

- (a) whether the Ministry has formed four committees to prepare a roadmap for the national artificial  intelligence  programme for citizen centric services, data platforms, skilling, research  and  development,  legal  regulatory  framework  and  cyber  security  measures and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  also  plans  to  implement  technologies  such  as  Artificial Intelligence, 3D printing, blockchain technology and also on developing standards and regulations for them; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a):  Yes, Sir, Technology relating to Artificial Intelligence (AI) such as Machine Learning, Data Analytics etc. is evolving and they can be very useful to improve services delivery in government and private sectors. An  essential requirement for development of such technologies is availability of large volumes of data on which the AI engines can work and thereafter  develop  applications.  The  Government  is  cognizant  of  the  fact  that  data  within government with various departments and data available with the private entities will help development  of  AI  applications.  Four  committees  comprising  of  representatives  from industry, academia and government agencies has been constituted to recommend steps to be taken  to  enable  the  availability  of  data  from  various  sources  for  AI  keeping  in  mind  the requirements of privacy and data protection and other measures to be taken to promote AI initiatives. (c)  A  copy  of  the  constitution  of  committees  for  promoting  AI  is  kept  at Annexure.

(b) and (c): Formulation of Standards comes under the purview of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS),  which  is  working  with  Ministry  of  Electronics  &  IT,  Industry  and  Academia  for formulation of standards for various emerging technologies.

Further, BIS has for formulated the Sectional Committees ie LITD 28 on Block chain and distributed ledger technologies & LITD 30 on Artificial Intelligence so far no standard has been published by these committees.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 6118 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-04
Subject: Chinese Objection on Road
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: JANAK RAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6118

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.04.2018

## CHINESE OBJECTION ON ROAD

† 6118. SHRI JANAK RAM:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether   China   is   opposing   the   efforts   of   the   Government   to construct road and for providing other infrastructural facilities along China-Tibet border on Indian side;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the strategy evolved to resolve this issue harmoniously?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c)Government   gives   careful   and   specific   attention   to   the improvement of infrastructure for the development of border areas in order to facilitate the economic development of these areas as also to meet India's strategic and security requirements. Government does not allow   foreign   governments   to   interfere   with   Government's   right   to undertake such improvement of infrastructure within India's territory.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 6117 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-04
Subject: Broadband Services in Rural Areas
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6117 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  APRIL, 2018

## BROADBAND SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS

†6117. SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) the  percentage  of  broadband  penetration  in  the  rural  areas  vis-a-vis  the  total broadband in the country;

(b) the percentage increase in the rural broadband penetration during the last two years;

(c) whether the broadband services in rural areas has not seen any progress so far despite huge progress in the telecommunication sector and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

(d) the  reaction  of  the  Government  thereto  and  the  corrective  steps  taken  by  the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a) The number of broadband connections in the country as on 31.12.2017 stood at 362.87 million of which the rural broadband connections were 93.04 million, constituting 25.64% of total connections.

(b) The percentage increase in the rural broadband penetration during the last two years are as follows:

## Figures in Millions

|                 |   Number of connections as on 31.12.2015 |   Number of connections as on 31.12.2016 |   % increase in 2016 |   Number of connections as on 31.12.2017 |   % increase in 2017 |
|-----------------|------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|----------------------|------------------------------------------|----------------------|
| Rural Broadband |                                    31.08 |                                    46.65 |                 50.1 |                                    93.04 |                99.44 |

(c) & (d) The broadband  services  in  rural  areas  has  seen  good  progress  on  the back of substantial development  in the telecommunication sector . The Government is implementing the flagship BharatNet project (in two phases), to link each of the 2.5 lakh Gram  Panchayats  of  India  through  optical  fibre  network.    This  is  the  largest  rural connectivity  project  of  its  kind  in  the  world,  and  is  the  first  pillar  of  Digital  India Programme. The first phase of the project has been completed. As on 25.03.2018, a total of 1,04,889 Gram Panchayats(GPs) have been made service ready.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 6116 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-04
Subject: Reduction in Railway Employees
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: LAXMAN GILUWA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6116 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.04.2018

## REDUCTION IN RAILWAY EMPLOYEES

† 6116.   SHRI LAXMAN GILUWA :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :

- (a) whether  a  lot  of  expansion  of  railway  has  taken  place  in  the last  ten  years  but  the  number  of  railway  employees  and labourers has reduced from 17 lakhs to 13 lakhs due to which the operation of Railways is getting adversely affected;
- (b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (c) the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) to (c) The employee strength on Zonal Railways was approximately  12.8  lakhs  over  a  decade  ago  and  presently  it  is approximately 12.46 lakhs.  With the existing manpower, Railway is ensuring  that  its  day  to  day  functions  are  not  adversely  affected. Manpower planning requires continuous review of sanctioned strength and filling  up  of  vacancies  on  a continuous basis and all efforts are undertaken to meet its present and future manpower requirement.

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