opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3170 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Shifting Base Year of Indicator
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: KALYAN BANERJEE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  3170

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 14 TH  MARCH, 2018

## SHIFTING BASE YEAR OF INDICATOR

3170. SHRI KALYAN BANERJEE:

Will the Minister of STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  Government  proposes  to  shift  the base year of indicator as 2018;
- (b) if so, what is the present base year taken for calculation of the last ten years economic scenario;
- (c) the details of the last five years GDP,  index  of industrial production,  inflation  with  consumer  index  when  compared  to base year 2000; and
- (d) the  benefits  likely  to  accrue  to  the  Government  as  well  as country  to  meet  the  data  requirements  in  shifting  of  the  base year?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  STATISTICS  AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI VIJAY GOEL)

- (a) &(b): Government proposes to shift the base year for calculation of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 2017-18. The present base year for GDP is 2011-12 and the previous one was 2004-05.

(c): Details are given below:

|                                                                                                    |       2012-13 |       2013-14 |       2014-15 |       2015-16 |      2016-17 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|--------------|
| GDP at Constant (2011-12) Prices (Rs. in Crores)                                                   |   9.21302e+06 |   9.80137e+06 |   1.05277e+07 |   1.13861e+07 |   1.2196e+07 |
| Annual Index of Industrial Production with base year 2011-12                                       | 103.3         | 106.7         | 111           | 114.7         | 120          |
| Inflation percentage on the basis of Consumer Price Index (Industrial Workers) with base year 2000 |  10.26        |   9.79        |   6.34        |   5.58        |   4.17       |

(d):  In  the  base  revision  exercise,  new  data  sources  and  updated data  in  respect  of  existing  sources,  which  reflect  the  structural changes  in the economy,  are identified alongwith appropriate methodological improvements in line with the relevant international standards.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3168 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Contract Workers
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: VISHNU DAYAL RAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3168 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2018

## CONTRACT WORKERS

- † 3168. SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state.

- (a)  whether a large number of contract workers are working in the Railways;
- (b) if so, the total number thereof as on date, zone-wise;
- (c)  whether  wages  are  paid  to  these  workers  and  facilities  are being provided as per rules; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ASNWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3168 BY SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  14.03.2018  REGARDING  CONTRACT WORKERS.

- (a): Yes, Madam.
- (b): Contract labourers are engaged  by contractors themselves directly  depending  upon  nature  and  quantum  of  outsourced  work. Approximate number of contract labourers is given below, zone-wise:-
- (c): Yes, Madam.
- (d): Railways as principal employer ensures that the contract labourers are provided facilities by the contractor as per the provisions of Labour Laws including the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970 and minimum wages as notified by the Central/State  Governments  under  the  Minimum  Wages  Act,  1948. Suitable  instructions  have  been  issued  to  the  Zonal  Railways  that cases  of  violation  of  the  above  laws,  if  any,  should  be  dealt  with strictly in accordance with the extant provisions.

| Zonal Railway      | No. of contract labourers   | Zonal Railway      | No. of contract labourers   |
|--------------------|-----------------------------|--------------------|-----------------------------|
| Central            | 14732                       | North Western      | 942                         |
| Eastern            | 6971                        | Southern           | 6125                        |
| East Central       | 4550                        | South Central      | 9043                        |
| East Coast         | 4218                        | South Eastern      | 8000                        |
| Northern           | 8406                        | South East Central | 9339                        |
| North Central      | 1836                        | South Western      | 5319                        |
| North Eastern      | 459                         | Western            | 7328                        |
| Northeast Frontier | 1429                        | West Central       | 5468                        |
| Total              | Total                       | Total              | 94,165                      |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3167 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Task Force on Employment Data
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: M. B. RAJESH

## 3167. SHRI M.B. RAJESH:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has set up a task force on employment data and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the task force has submitted its report;

(c) if so, the major recommendations made in the report;

(d) whether the Government has accepted all the recommendations; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the present status of the said recommendations?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS

## (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

(a) The Government of India appointed a Task Force on Improving Employment Data on May 11, 2017 under the Chairmanship of Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog.  The Task Force was tasked to assess the existing data systems and sources that provide information on jobs and job creation; identify alternate sources that could provide data on jobs and job creation and recommend mechanism (s) for capturing information on jobs and job creation on  a regular basis for both informal and formal sector and making recommendations on changes to existing schemes, legislation and rules to facilitate exchange of information on jobs/employment across platforms and strengthening of the available infrastructure.

(b)  & (c) The Taskforce has since submitted its report. The major recommendations of the report include conducting annual Monthly Household Surveys on employment and unemployment; time-use survey, migrant workers'  survey  and  Enterprise  Survey  using  Goods  and  Services  Tax  Network  framework.  The  report recommends use of administrative datasets  from Employee Provident Fund Organisation, Employee State Insurance Corporation, National Pension System etc. for tracking progress on formalisation of workforce and use of data on Government Schemes involving public investment in infrastructure, loans etc. The report also recommends enhanced use of technology in surveys, the setting-up of a Central Server for all Government Data, eliminating duplication in surveys and harmonisation of reports.

(d) & (e) The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has initiated the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). MoSPI is also undertaking a preliminary exercise for estimating employment generation through Government schemes and setting up a National Data Warehouse on Official Statistics. Labour Bureau, Ministry  of  Labour  and  Employment  proposes  to  conduct  a  survey  on  MUDRA  Scheme  for  estimating employment generation.

------

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3167 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2018

## TASK FORCE ON EMPLOYMENT DATA
Lok Sabha Question No. 3165 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Mango Rake Points
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: B. SREERAMULU, ANJU BALA, Tejpratap Singh,Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3165

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2018

## MANGO RAKE POINTS

3165. SHRI B. SRIRAMULU: SHRIMATI ANJU BALA: SHRI TEJ PRATAP SINGH YADAV:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  there  is  a  need  for  strengthening  the  infrastructure  on  existing mango  rake  points  in  the  country  including  world  famous  Malihabad, Lucknow;
- (b)  if so, the locations at which the establishment of the mango rake points has become necessary, State-wise including Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka;
- (c)  whether any time limit has been set for establishing these rake points, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d)  whether there is an acute shortage of rakes for transportation of mangoes from  Malihabad,  Lucknow  to  Delhi  and  other  States  leading  to  loss  to mango  growers  in  the  State,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons therefor; and
- (e)  whether  the  export  of  mango  has  been  affected  badly  due  to  lack  of transportation  facilities  in  the  State,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the corrective steps proposed to be taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a)  to  (c):  No,  Madam.  Existing  rake  points  are  well  serving  the  needs  of mango  traffic.  Improvement  of  infrastructure  at  rake  points  is  an  ongoing continuous process.

(d)  &  (e):  No,  Madam.  Sufficient  rakes  are  available  for  transportation  of mangoes  and  the  existing rail transportation facilities are adequately catering to mango movement.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3163 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Chinese Warships in Indian Territory
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: NAGARAJAN P.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3163

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 14 TH  MARCH, 2018

## CHINESE WARSHIPS IN INDIAN TERRITORY

3163.  SHRI  P. NAGARAJAN:

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

- (a) whether Chinese Warships have recently patrolled / stationed in country's region of Indian Ocean;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Union Government has taken any step to defend Indian territory from Chinese aggression; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## 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) to (d): Government keeps a close  watch on  all  developments  having a  bearing  on  our  national  security  and  takes  necessary  measures  to safeguard  it.    Further,  appropriate  steps  are  taken  to  ensure  that  the security  concerns  are  adequately  addressed  through  various  measures including capability building and infrastructural development.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3162 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Fund for Space Technology
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: DIPSINH SHANKARSINH RATHOD, PARESH RAWAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3162

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2018

## FUND FOR SPACE TECHNOLOGY

3162.   SHRI D.S. RATHOD:

SHRI PARESH RAVAL:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state the details of the allocation of funds made  for the development of space technology during the last four years, year-wise?

## ANSWER

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

(DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a) The  details  of  the  allocation  of  funds  made  under  the  Head 'Space Technology' during the last four years and the current year are as given below:

| Financial Year         |   Allocation (RE) ( ` in crores) |
|------------------------|----------------------------------|
| 2013-14                |                          2822.06 |
| 2014-15                |                          3268.26 |
| 2015-16                |                          4150.83 |
| 2016-17                |                          4586.05 |
| 2017-18 (current year) |                          5984.42 |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3161 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Minority Status to Certain National Community
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, SUDHEER GUPTA, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, ANWHAR RAAJHAA, NARANBHAI KACHHADIA, BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, VIJAY KUMAR S.R.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3161 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14-03-2018

## Minority Status to Certain National Community

3161. SHRI KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH: SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA: SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN: SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN: SHRI GAJANAN  KIRTIKAR:  SHRI  A.  ANWHAR  RAAJHAA:  SHRI  NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA: SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO: SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS  be pleased to state:

- (a)   the  norms  adopted  by  the  Government  to  provide  minority  status  to  a  certain national community;
- (b)   the number of communities identified as minorities at national level at present;
- (c) whether the Government has received some proposal from State Governments, people's representatives and different communities to extend minority status to certain communities;
- (d)   if so, the details thereof and the response of the Union Government thereto; and
- (e)   the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  amend  the  provisions  of National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 to include some more communities as a minority community?

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

- (a)  &  (b) : As  per  Section  2(c)  of  National  Commission for Minorities (NCM) Act,  1992,  'Minority''  means  a  community  notified  as  such  by  the  Central Government.    Central  Government  has  so  far  notified  six  communities  viz. Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, Christians, Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jains as 'Minority communities' in the context of India as a whole under Section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
- (c) to (e) : Several proposals from various castes and communities requesting for according minority status were received in this Ministry and disposed off.  Such proposals  for  notifying  a  community  as  minority  community  by  the  Central Government involve consultations with various stakeholders.  It does not require an amendment to the provisions of National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3160 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Studies on Artificial Intelligence
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: KINJARAPU RAM MOHAN NAIDU

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

(a)  the studies undertaken/proposed to be undertaken by the Government to understand the implications of artificial intelligence on Information Technology;

(b)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  the  strides  made  in  the  field  of  machine learning and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and (c) whether the Government proposes to take any action to meet the challenges posed by such disruptive technologies?

## ANSWER

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

(a):  A  Task  Force  on  AI  for  India's  economic  transformation  was  constituted  by  DIPP  on 24.8.2017.  The  Committee  has  submitted  its  recommendations  to  the  DIPP.  In  order  to develop a policy framework for AI, four committees have been constituted with representatives  from  Government,  Industry  and  Academia  in  February,  2018  and  these committees  are  presently  deliberating  on  issues  such  as  data  for  AI,  applications  of  AI, skilling and cyber security/legal, ethical issues.

(a) and (c): Technology relating to AI such as Machine Learning, Data Analytics etc. are fastly 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.  A  committee  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.

Another committee is looking at aspects  pertaining  to  skilling  and  reskilling,  R&D  etc.  as there is need to skill the people to meet the demand for skilled manpower that is necessitated by  development  in  machine  learning  and  some  people  may  also  need  reskilling  due  to automation of their existing tasks by development in machine learning etc.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3155 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Chandrayaan-II
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: BALKA SUMAN

- (a) Yes Madam.
- (b) This  mission  involves  many  complex  elements  like  soft-landing, Rover separation and movement on the lunar surface, in addition to  operations  of  Orbiter.  Several  new  technology  elements  have been developed indigenously and tests are being carried out for validation.  Orbiter  has  completed  Thermo-vacuum  test  which  is one of the major milestones. Lander Sensors and Actuators are tested on ground to validate the performance and the results are satisfactory. Rover flight model is under assembly.  Payloads are in various stages of delivery for Spacecraft integration.

*****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3155

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

## CHANDRAYAAN-II

## 3155.   SHRI SUMAN BALKA:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning  to  launch  Chandrayaan-II  Mission  around  April  this year; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the achieved milestones in the recent years?

## ANSWER

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

(DR. JITENDRA SINGH):
Lok Sabha Question No. 3154 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Ties with Africa
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAYAPATI SAMBASIVA RAO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3154 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2018

## TIES WITH AFRICA

3154.  SHRI RAYAPATI SAMBASIVA RAO:

Will the Minister of External Affairs be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is fact that the Government has failed to transform India's ties with Africa;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of specific steps initiated post- 2015 India-Africa forum Summit to strengthen our relationship with African countries;
- (d) whether any benefits were accrued out of that Summit; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) In the recent past India's engagement with African countries have become more extensive and fruitful. India has declared Africa as a top priority in its   foreign   and   economic   policy   and   has   taken   several   initiatives   to   further strengthen its economic, commercial, cultural and political relations with African countries. (c)   to   (e)   Continuing   with   the   inclusive   and   continental   approach   that   was followed  for   hosting   of   IAFS-III,   we   have   significantly   enhanced   our   political engagement with African countries. A total of 18 African countries have been visited at the level of President, Vice President and Prime Minister. There is no country in Africa which has not been visited at least at the Ministerial level during

- the last 3 years.

In May 2017, we hosted the meeting of African Development Bank on the Indian soil for the first time. We have also had 12 incoming official visits by African HOS/HOGs since IAFS-III. A record 41 HOS/HOGs had participated in IAFSIII.

The   scope   and   reach   of   India's   development   assistance   has   seen considerable expansion in the last few years. We have set up new capacity building institutions and supplemented the on-going training programmes with new PPP initiatives.

Our trade with Africa has multiplied and diversified. India has become the 5 th largest investor in Africa with cumulative investments estimated at 54 billion dollars. 34 countries from Africa now enjoy the benefit of DFTP scheme.

To increase people-to-people interaction and mobility, Electronic T ourist Visa facility has been expanded to cover more than 25 countries in Africa.

Our   robust   and   pro-active   Africa   policy   has   reinvigorated   India-Africa partnership.   T remendous   support   is   received   from   Africa   in   multilateral   fora including on India's candidature in ICJ, ITLOS, UNESCO Executive Board and IMO. African countries overwhelmingly joined the Indo-French initiative International Solar Alliance (ISA).  Over half of the countries that have joined ISA so far are from Africa.

- *****