opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1466 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-05
Subject: Morning Prayers in Schools
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: VASANTHI M.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1466 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5.3.2018

## MORNING PRAYERS  IN SCHOOLS

## 1466. SHRIMATI  VASANTHI  M.:

Will  the  Minister  of  HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that the revised guidelines  of  the  KVs  are  forcing  the students    to    recite    their    morning    prayer  which  are  of  religious  nature compulsorily with folded hands and closed eyes; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) whether it is true that the Supreme Court  has  sought  clarification  from  the Ministry in this regard and if so, the details thereof; and (d) the measures taken/being taken by the  Government  to  solve  the  matter

- immediately?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

(a)       No such guidelines have been issued to the Kendriya Vidyalayas. (b)       Does not arise. (c)       No such clarification has been sought by the Hon'ble Supreme Court on the issue of morning prayers in schools. (d)       Does not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1464 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-05
Subject: Formation of Lakshadweep Tourism Corporation
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: FAIZAL P.P. MOHAMMED

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1464 ANSWERED ON 05.03.2018

## FORMATION OF LAKSHADWEEP TOURISM CORPORATION

1464. MOHAMMED FAIZAL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to form/constitute Lakshadweep  Tourism  Corporation  in  the  Union  Territory  of Lakshadweep; and
- (b)

if so, the details and the present status thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI K.J. ALPHONS)

(a): Yes,  Madam. As per information provided by Lakshadweep it has  proposed  to  establish  Lakshadweep  Tourism  Development Corporation  (LTDC)  as  a  wholly  owned  company  of  Lakshadweep administration with the approval of MHA, Government of India.

(b): Ministry of Home Affairs has conveyed approval of the Ministry vide their letter No.U-13034/30/2013-ANL dated 28.12.2017 for creation of Lakshadweep Tourism Development Corporation.

**********
Lok Sabha Question No. 1463 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-05
Subject: Re-appointment of Faculty Members
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: GOPALAKRISHNAN CHINNARAJ, NAGARAJAN P.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1463 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.03.2018

## Re-appointment of Faculty Members

1463. DR. C. GOPALAKRISHNAN: SHRI P. NAGARAJAN:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)     whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  for  re-appointment  of  faculty members  of  IITs  and  NITs  after  their  retirement  to  address  the  problem  of vacancies and ensure quality education;
- (b) if so, the details thereof including the total number of such retired faculties to be appointed;
- (c)      the  details  of  salary/remuneration  to  be  paid  to  such  reemployed  faculty members; and
- (d)      whether  any  such  appointments  were  made  earlier  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a)  to  (d):   Indian  Institutes  of  Technology  (IITs)  are  governed  by  the  Institute  of Technology Act, 1961 and the Statutes framed thereunder. Statutes provide that the Board may consider re-employment of a Faculty member till the end of the semester or the academic session in which he/she attains the age of superannuation in the interest  of  students  and  for  the  purposes  of  teaching  and/or  guiding  the  students registered for the Ph.D. programme.  It also provides that where it becomes necessary to re-employ any such member, beyond the end of the semester or academic session, the  Board  may,  with  the  previous  approval  of  the  Visitor,  re-employ  any  such member against sanctioned vacant posts for a period upto three years in the first instance  and  upto  two  years  thereafter  and  in  no  case  exceeding  the  end  of  the Academic session in which he/she attains the age of 70 years. The fixation of pay shall  be  as per extant Government of India rules.  IITs also appoint retired faculty members as Visiting Faculty, Distinguished Faculty and Professor Emeritus.

As regards the National Institutes of Technology (NITs), there is no such proposal for re-appointment of Faculty after retirement.  However, NITs appoint retired faculty as Professor Emeritus for limited period of three years against the sanctioned post only.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1462 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-05
Subject: Fixing of Minimum Rates of Wages
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: RANJANBEN BHATT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1462 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.03.2018

## FIXING OF MINIMUM RATES OF WAGES

†1462. SHRIMATI RANJANBEN BHATT:

Will  the  Minister  of  LABOUR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)whether  the  Government  is  seriously  contemplating  to  constitute any Consultative Board to fix minimum wages for various sectors of the country; and
- (b)if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  steps  taken in this regard
- and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a) & (b): As per the provision  contained  under  the  Minimum  Wages Act,  1948,  in  fixing  minimum  rates  of  wages  in  respect  of  any scheduled employment for the first time or in revising minimum rates of wages so fixed, the appropriate Government considers the advice of the  Committees  or  Boards  before  the  appropriate  Government  by notification in the Official Gazette, fix, or revise the minimum rates of wages in respect of each scheduled employment.

Under the Central Sphere, there are two Advisory Committees  commonly  known  as  Advisory  Board  namely  Minimum Wages Advisory Board (MWAB) and the Central Advisory Board (CAB) for  the  purpose  of  advising  the  appropriate  Government  generally  in the  matter  of  fixing  and  revising  minimum  rates  of  wages  These Boards are tripartite bodies.

Contd..2/-

The Minimum Wages Advisory Board (MWAB) under Section 7  of  the  Minimum  Wages  Act,  1948  has  been  reconstituted  vide notification of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India  published  in  the  Gazette  of  India,  S.O.1174  (E),  dated  the  22 nd March, 2016.

In  the  last  meeting  of  MWAB  held  on  29.08.2016  decision was  taken  for  Revision  of  minimum  rates  of  wages  to  the  workers employed in the scheduled employments under Central Sphere, based on which the Central Government has notified the minimum wages for scheduled employment under the Central sphere w. e. f. 19.01.2017.

The  Central  Advisory  Board  (CAB)  under  Section  8  of  the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 was reconstituted vide notification of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India published in the Gazette of India, S.O.3495 (E), dated the 18 th  November, 2016.

Both the Boards have been constituted for the tenure of two years.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1459 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-05
Subject: Gian Yojana
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAKESH SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †1459 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.03.2018

## Gian Yojana

## †1459. SHRI RAKESH SINGH:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  not  able  to  find  quality  faculty  of  the  higher  professional educational institutes in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the  Government endeavours to  make up the shortage of  teachers through  Gian Yojana being run by the Government;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the amount of funds spent on this scheme by the Government?

## A N S W E R MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a) to (d): No,  Madam,  However,  with  an  aim  at  tapping  the  talent  pool  of  scientists  and entrepreneurs internationally to encourage  their engagement  with  the  institutes of higher education in India so as to augment the country's existing academic resources, accelerate the pace of quality reform, and elevate India's scientific and technological capacity to global excellence, the  Global  Initiative  of  Academic  Networks  (GIAN)  programme  was  launched  on  30th November, 2015. Under the GIAN scheme, the international faculty is invited to conduct a very short term course of one or two weeks at an Indian institution. This enables a highly productive interaction of students  and  faculty  with  the  best  academic  and  industry  experts  from  across  the  nations.  This also helps in initiating research collaborations between host institutions and foreign experts and to develop  international  entrepreneurship  programmes  by  making  the  curriculum  more  industry oriented for better employability. (e): So far, a total of Rs. 80 crore has been released under the scheme since its inception during

- the years 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1458 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-05
Subject: World Class Universities
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1458 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.03.2018

## World Class Universities

## † 1458. SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state : (a)  whether  the  Government  had  announced  to  establish  20  World  Class Universities in the country in the Budget for the year 2016; and (b)  if  so,  the  details  of  the  Universities  included  in  this  category  along  with  the

- procedure followed for their selection as World Class University?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a)    Hon'ble  Finance  Minister  in  his  budget  speech  2016  has  announced  the following:

'It  is  our  commitment  to  empower  Higher  Educational  Institutions  to  help  them become  world  class  teaching  and  research  institutions.  An  enabling  regulatory architecture will be provided to ten public and ten private institutions to emerge as world-class Teaching and Research Institutions. This will enhance affordable access to high quality education for ordinary Indians. A detailed scheme will be formulated.'

As per the above announcement, the University Grants Commission (UGC) with the approval of Government has formulated an enabling regulatory architecture for  upgrading  /  setting  up  of  twenty  Higher  Educational  Institutions  as  World Class  Teaching  and  Research  Institutions.    These  Institutions  shall  be  called  as Institutions of  Eminence  (IoE).  Enabling  Regulatory  Architecture  has  been provided  in  the  form  of  'UGC  (Declaration  of  Govt.  Educational  Institutions  as Institutions  of  Eminence)  Guidelines,  2017'  for  public  Institutions  and  UGC (Institutions  of  Eminence  Deemed  to  be  Universities)  Regulations,  2017  for private Institution.

(b) All Higher Educational Institutions in the country and Sponsoring Organisations willing to set up Institutions of Eminence are eligible to apply for IoE  subject  to  the  eligibility  conditions  mentioned  in  the  UGC  Guidelines  and Regulations. The selection of Institutions as IoE shall be made through challenge method by Empowered Expert Committee (EEC) constituted for the purpose. We have received 114 applications which shows desire to excel.

***************
Lok Sabha Question No. 1455 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-05
Subject: Sale of Steel
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: CHANDRAKANT BHAURAO KHAIRE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1455 FOR ANSWER ON 05/03/2018

## SALE OF STEEL

## 1455.  SHRI CHANDRAKANT KHAIRE:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has drawn any comprehensive plan to increase the sale of steel in domestic market in view of the thrust being given on infrastructure, housing and smart city projects in the country;

- (b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the  details  of  project  specific  strategy  that  SAIL  has  adopted/proposes  to adopt to target the construction sector?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR STEEL

(SHRI VISHNU DEO SAI)

(a)&(b):  Government  has  formulated  National  Steel  Policy,  2017  and  Policy  for Providing Preference to Domestically Manufactured  Iron &  Steel products in Government Procurement which were notified on 8 th May, 2017. These policies will facilitate  growth  of  steel  sector  including  its  consumption  in  infrastructure,  housing and smart cities projects.

(c) Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has added capacity of Bars & Rods and Structurals  in  its  current  phase  of  modernization  &  expansion.  These  products  are used  in  construction  sector  in  a  big  way.  Strategy  being  adopted  by  SAIL  for  the construction sector includes, inter-alia, the following:-

1. Increased availability of Re-bars, Structural and Plates required for construction.
2. Production of special grades and new sections suiting specific need of projects like Seismic grade TMT, Special grade plate for Bridges etc.
3. Monitoring the progress of execution of larger projects in order to meet their requirements and coordinate with Project/Construction companies for servicing such requirement.
4. Increased  interaction  with  project  consultants  and  designers  for  efficient design and fast construction.
5. Undertaking a campaign 'SAIL Steelग ांव  की  ओर '  the  theme of which  is  to conduct rural workshops in order to educate rural masses on benefits of steel usage  and  to  create  awareness  about  SAIL  TMT  bars  and  SAIL  JYOTI (Galvanised sheets) among the end users. The workshops are being attended by  different  groups  of  people  involved  in  steel  usage  and  consumption  like masons, local builders, local area contractors, Zila Parishad members, Gram Panchayat members, Block Development officials, dealers etc.
6. Putting  in  place  an  extensive  distributor  and  dealer  network  for  meeting requirements of house builders and other construction related customers.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 1454 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-05
Subject: Global Entrepreneurship Summit
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Y. S. AVINASH REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL POLICY & PROMOTION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1454. TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE 5 TH  MARCH, 2018.

## GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUMMIT

## 1454.  SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state:

## वाणिज् यवव द्योग म त्री

- (a) whether  a  Global  Entrepreneurship  summit  has  taken  place  recently  in Hyderabad and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) the  details  of  the  deliberations  taken  place  in  the  summit  and  the  ideas exchanged by various stake holders of the summit?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् यवव द्योग म त्रालयमेंराज् यम त्री(श्री सी.आर.चौधरी) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI C.R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a) & (b) : Yes  Madam.  NITI  Aayog  in  collaboration  with  State  Government  of Telengana and the Government of United States of America co-hosted the  Global  Entrepreneurship  Summit  (GES)  -2017  at  Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC), Hyderabad from 28th to 30th November,  2017.  The  Summit  was  inaugurated  by  Hon'ble  Prime Minister on 28th November, 2017. Advisor to the President of United States  of  America,  Ms.  Ivanka  Trump  led  the  U.S.  delegation  to  the summit.  The  theme  of  the  summit  was  'Women  First,  Prosperity  for All'. More than 1500 entrepreneurs, investors and speakers from 150 countries  across  the  world  participated  in  the  Summit,  out  of  which, more than 50%  were women. The Summit brought together entrepreneurs,  investors,  educators,  government  officials  and  startup ecosystem supporters on a single platform to share their ideas.

The Summit focused on four innovative  high-growth  industry  sectors viz.  Energy  and  Infrastructure,  Healthcare  and  Life  Sciences,  Digital Economy  and  Financial  and  Media  &  Entertainment.  More  than  50 parallel technical sessions/master classes were held during the Summit  deliberating  on  various  aspects  of  these  four  key  industry sectors. Networking opportunities were also provided to the participants  for  one  to  one  deliberations  among  the  entrepreneurs, investors and mentors for taking their ventures forward.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1452 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-05
Subject: National Achievement Survey
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: G. HARI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1452 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5.3.2018

## National Achievement Survey

## 1452. SHRI G. HARI:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it  is  true  that  the  National  Council  of  Educational  Research  and Training  (NCERT)  had  undertaken  National  Achievement  Survey  2017  of around  3.6  million  children  of  classes  III,  V  and  VIII  from  across  1.20  lakh schools on one day and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is also true that the survey was significant as the National Education Policy  draft  was  under  preparation  and  the  input  of  such  survey  is  likely  to provide the much required information towards the said draft policy and if so, the details thereof along with the salient features proposed in the draft National Education Policy ; and
- (c) the time by which the the said Policy is likely to be implemented?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

- (a):  National  Achievement  Survey  (NAS)  was  conducted  on  13th  November,  2017 through which the learning levels of around 22 lakh students of Classes III, V and VIII  from  1.10  lakh  schools  across  700  districts  in  all  36  States  and  UTs  were assessed. Students of Classes III and V were assessed on Reading Comprehension, Mathematics and Environmental Studies and Class VIII students were assessed on Language, Maths, Science and Social Science. This competency based assessment was  based  on  the  Learning  Outcomes  developed  by  the  National  Council  of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). Along with the test items, questionnaires pertaining to students, teachers and schools were also used. District report cards (provisional) for NAS 2017 have been released and are available on MHRD website.
- (b) & (c): The objective of NAS was to find out the health of the education system in the country and find out learning gaps at the district level. Same is available for each district wherein strategies to improve learning have been suggested.

The  Government  is  formulating  a  New  Education  Policy  for  which  wide  ranging consultations  were  undertaken  at  multiple  levels  of  online,  expert/thematic  and grassroots  from  village  to  State,  Zonal  levels  as  well  as  at  the  National  level. Suggestions  and  inputs  have  also  been  received  from  various  stakeholders  on various  aspects  of  education.  A  Committee  for  Draft  National  Education  Policy under the Chairmanship of Dr. K. Kasturirangan has been constituted to consider and  examine  all  inputs  and  suggestions  and  is  expected  to  submit  its  report shortly.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1451 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-05
Subject: Unclaimed EPF Accounts
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: T.G. VENKATESH BABU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1451 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.03.2018

## UNCLAIMED EPF ACCOUNTS

1451. SHRI VENKATESH BABU T.G.:

Will  the  Minister  of  LABOUR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)the total amount lying unclaimed under EPF account, as on date and its proposed utilisation thereof;
- (b)whether any proposal is under consideration of the Government to implement PF account portability when the employee changes job from one organization to other;
- (c)if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)the time by when the above proposal is likely to be implemented?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- Unclaimed  amount  is  not  defined  in  Employees'  Provident Funds (EPF) Scheme, 1952. However, according to available records of Employees'  Provident  Fund  Organisation  (EPFO),  there  is  Rs.1094.09
- (a): crore in the inoperative accounts.
- (b) to (d):   EPFO has allotted a Universal Account Number (UAN) to its members  for  portability  and  consolidation  of  all  previous  accounts with the following options:
-  Provident Fund (PF) member whose UAN and Aadhaar number is entered and matched by the present employer against the existing details as available against the UAN and whose UAN is activated and mobile number is available, an auto-transfer of PF accumulations would be initiated from previous to the current PF account (with effect from December, 2017).

Contd..2/-

-  A member may also apply online for transfer of PF accumulations from his previous PF accounts to the current account through his UAN Login (with effect from June, 2017).

 A  member  may  also  apply  for  transfer  through  physical  claim Form No. 13.

As such, PF account portability has been implemented.

******