opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3594 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Jan Dhan Accounts
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: A.P. JITHENDER REDDY

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

## LOK SABHA

TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018/PHALGUNA 25,1939 (SAKA)

## UN-STARRED QUESTION No. 3594

## 3594. SHRIA.P. JITHENDER REDDY:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- the number of Jan Dhan Yojana accounts having balance across the country;
- the total number of Jan Dhan accounts having balance of Re. 1 across the country;
- whether the Government has taken cognizance that bank officials have deposited Rs: 1 in the account opened under Jan Dhan Yojana in order to down the number of zero balance accounts and if So, the details thereof; bring
- whether the   Department of  Financial Services has submitted to the Government on zero balance and Re.1 balance in Jan Dhan accounts; if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the corrective measures taken/being taken by the Public Sector Banks in this regard?

## Answer

## The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance (SHRI SHIV PRATAP SHUKLA)

(a) to (e): As per extant guidelines issued by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Basic Savings Bank Deposit (BSBD) accounts including Jan Dhan accounts, are permitted to have zero balance. Depending upon transactions carried out by a Jan Dhan account holder; the balance in any Jan Dhan accounts can vary on day-to-day basis, and may even become zero on a particular Hence, the number of Jan Dhan accounts having zero balance or balance with Re.1 is not monitored. day.

As on 7.3.2018, there are 31.31 crore Jan-Dhan accounts having  deposit balance of Rs.76,117 crore.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3593 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Demonetised Currency Received as Donations
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: MEKAPATI RAJAMOHAN REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3593

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 th  MARCH, 2018/25 TH  PHALGUNA SAKA, 1939

## Demonetized Currency Received as Donations

## 3593.  SHRI M. RAJA MOHAN REDDY:

## QUESTION

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

- (a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  some  religious  temples  including  Tirupati  under  Shri Tirumala Tirupati Venkateshwara Temple, have crores of demonetized currency notes, received as donations;

(b) if so, whether the Government proposes to take back such old notes and replace it with new ones; and (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI P. RADHAKRISHNAN)

(a)  to  (c)  :  The  Tirumala  Tirupati  Devasthanamas  (TTD)  vide  their  letter  dated December 23, 2016 and subsequent dates informed RBI that SBN offered in the Hundi by  pilgrims  had  accumulated  with  them.  Considering  the  Specified  Bank  Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Ordinance, 2016 the temple authorities were advised by RBI that  no  further  window  of  opportunity  to  exchange/deposit  of  banknotes  could  be offered.  GoI  on  March  14,  2017  also  informed  RBI  that  no  more  relaxation  was warranted in all such matters.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3592 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Assessment of Forests
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: M. B. RAJESH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  3592

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2018

## Assessment of Forests

## 3592.    SHRI M.B. RAJESH:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether  forests are recognized as bio-diverse food and nutrition producing habitats;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  provisions  for  assessment  of  forests  as  food  and nutrition sources when diverted for non-forest purposes including monoculture plantations;
- (c) whether the Government has any data base on the food habits of the forest communities and on the nature and extent of their dependence on forests; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) Yes, Madam. Forests are recognized as bio-diverse food and nutrition producing habitats.
- (b) While submitting proposals for diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes under Forest  (Conservation)  Act,  1980,  the  user  agencies  and  forest  departments  submit detailed study on flora and fauna. Based  on  these studies, Biodiversity/Wildlife Management Plans are also prepared
- (c) & (d)       No such information is maintained in the Ministry.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3585 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Old Currency Notes
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: RANGASWAMY DHRUVANARAYANA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3585

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 th  MARCH, 2018/25 TH  PHALGUNA SAKA, 1939

Old Currency Notes

3585.  SHRI R. DHRUVA NARAYANA:

## QUESTION

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

(a) whether after a year of demonetisation the bulk of the old currency notes still continue to be held by various banks as the Reserve Bank of India has limited disposal capacity; and (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI P. RADHAKRISHNAN)

(a) & (b): About 99% of the SBNs received by the banks during demonetization have been lifted from banks / currency chests by RBI.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3581 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Merger of Banks
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: SANTOSH KUMAR, (SMT.) RATNA DE(NAG), MANOJ KUMAR TIWARI, M. UDHAYAKUMAR, HARI OM PANDEY

## GOVERNMENT  OF INDIA

## LOK SABHA

## MINISTRY  OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT  OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3581

TO BE ANSWERED  ON THE 16 TH  MARCH  2018/ PHALGUNA 25, 1939 (SAKA)

## Merger of Banks

3581.   SHRI SANTOSH  KUMAR: SHRI MANOJ  TIWARI: SHRI HARI OM PANDAY:

DR. RATNA  DE (NAG): ADV.  M. UDHAYAKUMAR:

Will  the Minister  of FINANCE  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether   his  Ministry has  any   proposal   to  merge   the  Government   banks   into four/five  big banks  in near  future;
- (b) if so, the details  thereof  and if not,  the reasons  therefor;
- (c) the  manner   in  which   this   initiative will   help   to  grow   the  banking   sector   of  the country;  and
- (d) whether  the Government  is also considering  to privatise  some of the public  sector banks as the Government  is unable  to recapitalise  them  and if so, the details  thereof?

## ANSWER

## The Minister  of State in the Ministry  of Finance (SHRI SHIV PRATAP  SHUKLA)

- (a) to (c): The Banking  Companies  (Acquisition  and Transfer  of Undertakings) Acts of 1970 and 1980 provide  that  the Central  Government,  in consultation  with  the Reserve Bank of India,  may  make  a scheme, inter  alia ,  for  the amalgamation of  any   nationalised bank with  any  other  nationalised  bank  or any  other  banking  institution. With a view  to facilitate   consolidation among   the  nationalised   banks   to  create   strong   and  competitive banks,  Government  has put in place an Alternative Mechanism  as an approval  framework for  proposals   to  amalgamate   public   sector   banks.   No  proposal   is  presently  before  the Alternative  Mechanism  for its consideration.
- (d): Government  has announced  and commenced  recapitalisation of Public  Sector  Banks (PSBs) to the tune of Rs. 2,11,000 crore  over the current  and next  financial  years.  It was stated in the budget  speech for Union  Budget 2016-17 that  the process of transformation of IDBI Bank has started  and that  Government  will  take  it forward  and also consider  the option  of reducing  its stake  to below  50%.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3579 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Disparity in Disbursement of Loan
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: LAXMI NARAYAN YADAV, HARISHCHANDRA DEORAM CHAVAN

(a)

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

## LOK SABHA

## UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 3579

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 16th March; 2018 Phalguna 25, 1939 (SAKA)

'Disparity in Disbursement of Loan'

3579 SHRI LAXMI NARAYAN YADAV:

SHRI HARISHCHANDRA CHAVAN:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state

- (a) whether there is disparity in disbursement of loans by banks due to which benefits are not reaching the small entrepreneurs and farmers and if so, the details thereof
- (c) the corrective measures taken by the Government along with the outcome thereof ?
- (b) the reaction of the Government in this regard; and

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI SHIV PRATAP SHUKLA)

to (c)

Government fixes  targets and Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) loans to small entrepreneurs. These  targets  have been

Government and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have taken several steps to facilitate provision of hassle free loans to small entrepreneurs, which inter-alia include, advise to all Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) to achieve a 20% year-on-year growth in credit to Micro and Small Enterprises   (MSEs) , allocation of 60% of the MSEs advances to the micro enterprise accounts, 10% annual growth in number of micro enterprise accounts; adoption of one cluster, operationalising at least one specialised MSME Branch in every district etc. In addition, a target of 7.5% of Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) has been prescribed for Micro Enterprises.

for agricultural  credit  disbursement consistently met.

In order to simplify the process of sanction of crop loans, Government, RBI and National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD) have taken several steps, which inter-alia include, fixation of sub-target within the target for agriculture for  small and marginal farmers, facility of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme for adequate and timely credit support to farmers, no margin/ collateral for agricultural loans up to Rs.1 lakh, availability of agricultural credit to farmers (including loans taken against KCC) at a reduced rate of interest; interest subvention scheme for short term loans up to Rs.3 lakh, incentive for prompt repayment of loan, loan restructuring on account of natural calamities at subvented rate, finance through Joint Liability Groups (JLG) to landless farmers cultivating land as tenant farmers, oral lessees or share croppers, small and marginal farmers, etc.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3578 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Scrutiny of Accounts by AI
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: DUSHYANT SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3578 ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 16TH MARCH, 2018 [PHALGUNA 25, 1939 (SAKA)]

## SCRUTINY OF ACCOUNTS BY AI

## QUESTION

## 3578. SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH:

## Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any steps to utilize the technology like  Artificial  Intelligence  (AI)  in  scrutiny  of  active  accounts  of  the companies registered with the Registrar of Companies (RoC);
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  preventive  measures  to restrict the transfers of the movable assets and the immovable properties of struck off companies till their restoration; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b): Serious Fraud Investigation office (SFIO) of this Ministry is in the process of developing 'Early Warning System' (EWS) to generate alerts as well as to strengthen its capability for taking stringent action against corporate misconduct.  For this purpose, services of a consulting agency have been engaged to develop the conceptual framework.
- (c) & (d): As per provisions of Section 250 of the Companies Act, 2013, when a company is struck off and dissolved under section 248 of the said Act, it shall, on and from the date mentioned in the notice under Section 248 (5) cease to operate as a company and the Certificate of Incorporation issued to it shall be deemed to have been cancelled from such date except for  the  purpose  of  realizing  the  amount  due  to  the  company  and  for  the payment or discharge of the liabilities or obligations of the company.  In this regard, Ministry of Corporate Affairs has taken up the matter with all the Chief Secretaries/Administrators of the State/Union Territories and Ministry

of Finance (Department of Financial Services) with respect to transfer of movable assets and immovable properties of such struck off companies. *******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3577 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Prevention of Cruelty against Animals
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: JYOTI DHURVE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3577 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2018

## Prevention of Cruelty against Animals

## 3577.   SHRIMATI JYOTI DHURVE:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  consulted  various  stakeholders  to  prevent  cruelty against animals; and
- (b) if so, the details and the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) and (b) Government of India has enacted the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960  and  framed  Rules  under  the  Act  to  prevent  infliction  of  unnecessary  pain  and suffering to the animals.

The Central Government has established the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), an advisory body which advices the State and Central Government on the issues related to  animal  welfare  including  cruelty  meted  out  to  animals.  The  State  authorities  are empowered  to  initiate  appropriate  action  against  the  offenders  meeting  out  cruelty  to animals and to take action as per the law.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3576 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: CGHS Facilities to Sportspersons
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: HARISH CHANDRA MEENA

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3576 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 TH MARCH, 2018

## CGHS FACILITIES TO S PORTSPERSONS

## 3576. SHRI HARISH MEENA:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has any  proposal  to  include  sportspersons who  have  won international medals in the Central Government Health Sc eme (CGHS), if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether there is any pro posal to extend CGHS facilities to those who have won medals at State and National levels too and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

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

(a) & (b):

No.

- (c): Central  Government  Health  Scheme  (CGHS)  is  primarily  meant  for  the  Central Government  Employees  and  Pensioners  receiving  their  salary/pension  from  Central  Civ Estimates.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3575 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Private Investment in Infrastructure Sector
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: AJAY NISHAD, ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE

## Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Economic Affairs

## LOK SABHA

TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018/PHALGUNA 25, 1939 (SAKA)

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3575 PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE SECTOR

## 3575. SHRI AJAY NISHAD SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- a)  whether  the  Government  has  encouraged  investment  by  private  sector  in  basic infrastructure projects like roads, railways, power etc. along with consumer and social sector;
- b)  if  so,  the  details  of  private  sector  investments  during  the  last  three  years  and  the current year;
- c)  whether any policy has been formulated in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
- d)  the details of the sectors in which investment has been made as per the policy; and
- e)  the  estimated  amount  of  funds  required  for  the  development  of  basic  infrastructure projects during the next/ensuing five years?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## (SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)

(a)  to  (e): Yes,  Madam.  The  Government  has  taken  several  steps  to  encourage investment by private sector for development of infrastructure like launching of innovative financial vehicles such as Infrastructure Debt Funds, Infrastructure Investment Trusts/Real Estate Investment Trusts, laying down a framework for issuance of municipal bonds,  relaxation  in  External  Commercial  Borrowing  (ECB)  norms,  mainstreaming  of Public  Private  Partnerships  (PPPs)  across  infrastructure  sectors,  periodical  review  of Harmonized Master List of Infrastructure Sub-sectors, establishment of National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF),  relaxation of norms for Employees' Provident Funds  Organization  (EPFO)/pension  funds  for  infrastructure  sector,  bringing  in  5/25 scheme to extend long tenor loans to infrastructure projects, take-out finance and flexible structuring etc. Further, higher budgetary allocations to infrastructure sectors have been made  in  recent  years.  The  total  outlay  for  infrastructure  in  Budget  2018-19  stands  at Rs.5.97 lakh crore.

As per NITI Aayog, the revised projection for investment in infrastructure that include  electricity,  renewable  energy,  roads  &  bridges,  telecommunications,  railways, mass  rapid  transit  system,  irrigation  (including  watershed),  water  supply  &  sanitation, ports (including inland waterways), airports, storage and oil & gas pipelines sectors, in the  period  2012-17  is  Rs.  38,22,822  crore  at  current  prices,  out  of  which  the  share  of private  investment  is  projected  to  be  about  34%  amounting  to  Rs.  12,81,223  crore  at current prices. As per Budget Speech 2018-19, investment requirement in infrastructure is estimated to be in excess of Rs 50 lakh crore.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3574 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: RoC Disposal of Case
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: PINAKI MISRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3574 ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 16 TH  MARCH, 2018 [PHALGUNA 25, 1939 (SAKA)]

## ROC DISPOSAL OF CASE

## QUESTION

## 3574.  SHRI PINAKI MISRA:

Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  reasons  for  closing  the  case  connected  with  the  Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud forwarded to the Registrar of Companies (RoC) on the 29 th  July, 2016 by the Government;
- (b)  whether  the  RoC  inquired  into  the  complaint  or  called  the complainant for further enquiry in the matter and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the reasons for the RoC closed the case without properly following the  procedure  of  disposing  of  a  complaint  that  too  from  the Government?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  to  (c):          The  Government  has  ordered  investigation  into  the affairs of 107 companies and 7 LLPs under the provisions of Section 212(1)(c)  of  the  Companies  Act,  2013  and  Section  43(3)(c)(i)  of Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 on 17.02.2018 belonging to Mr. Neerav Modi (Firestar Diamond group) and Mr. Mehul Chinubhai Choksi  (Gitanjali  Group)  to  be  carried  out  by  the  Serious  Fraud Investigation  Office  (SFIO)  connected  with  Punjab  National  Bank Fraud wherein all matters in their entirety will be examined. The investigation is under progress.
- *******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3573 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Research on Climate Change
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: VISHNU DAYAL RAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3573

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2018

## Research on Climate Change

## 3573. SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Government is considering to conduct any research on climate change in North Pole;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the expenditure likely to be occurred on the said research;
- (d) whether any agreement has been signed with foreign countries in this regard; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a)  &  (b)  The  National  Centre  for  Antarctic  and  Ocean  Research  (NCAOR),  an  autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences operates a research base at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard (around  1234  Km  to  North  Pole)  since  2008  where  various  research  activities  pertaining  to climate change are carried out.

The Indian Arctic program primarily addresses issues pertaining to change in the Arctic triggered by variations in climatic cycles and the role of Arctic climate in governing the intensity of Indian monsoon. India has initiated major scientific programmes  encompassing  the atmosphere,  cryosphere  and  hydrosphere.  In  this  regard,  Indian  researchers  have  initiated measurement of aerosol properties,  black  carbon  and  precipitation  in  the  Arctic.  Studies  have been undertaken to understand the mass balance of Arctic glaciers in addition to identifying and quantifying  climate  relevant  natural  and  anthropogenic  compounds  and  processes  in  Arctic cryosphere.

Studies  indicate  that  the  Kongsfjorden  system  of  the  Arctic  is  undergoing  a  gradual transformation with enhanced warming and freshening of certain water masses. Observations in the fjord system have yielded information to strategically place the India's Arctic Observatory (IndARC) and  India's  first  sub-surface  mooring  in  polar  waters.  IndARC  is  contributing  data needed to understand the teleconnection between Arctic processes and Indian monsoon.

(c) The budget estimates of the Indian Arctic program for the period (2017-2020) is Rs. 45 crore.

(d) & (e) The Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, through its autonomous institute, NCAOR has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Norwegian Polar Institute for scientific and logistic cooperation in the Arctic.

*****