opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 5253 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: UNSC Membership
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: RATTAN LAL KATARIA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 5253 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2017

## UNSC MEMBERSHIP

## 5253. SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether India and other G4 nations have offered to initially forgo veto power as permanent members of UNSC;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  inter-Governmental  negotiations  on  UN  Security Council reforms are in progress;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether  G4  Group  have  rejected  suggestions  to  create  a category of longer  term for elected members of UNSC as a play to block adding new permanent members;
- (f) if so, the details thereof;
- (g) whether a clause in the agreement that offer to give up veto power initially will be discussed during a review of the UNSC meeting; and
- (h) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI M.J. AKBAR)

- (a) to (h) Government  is  of the view that India has all the credentials to be a permanent member of a reformed and expanded Security Council that reflects contemporary global realities.

A series of initiatives, through both the bilateral and multilateral platforms  continue  to  be  taken  in  pursuance  of  our  permanent membership in a reformed and expanded Security Council. India has been working alongside other reform oriented countries and groupings  including  the  G-4  (India,  Japan,  Brazil  and  Germany) towards this end. The  UN  General  Assembly,  under  its  agenda  on  'Question  of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Security Council' has been debating and discussing the issue of UNSC reforms in the Inter-governmental Negotiations (IGN) process.  In a submission to the IGN, the G-4 has proposed an expansion in both the permanent and  non-permanent  membership  of  a  reformed  and  expanded  UN Security Council. The G4 has been underlining the principle of nondiscrimination between current and new permanent members in an expanded  Security  Council.  The  G-4,  has  also  proposed  that  new permanent members would as a principle have all the responsibilities,  obligations  as  well  as  prerogatives  of  the  current permanent members.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5252 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Development Aid
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: JYOTIRADITYA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA, GAURAV GOGOI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5252 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2017

## DEVELOPMENT AID

5252. SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA: SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government of India extends/provide 'Development  Aid'  to  some  of  the  neighbouring  countries annually;

- (b) if so, the details of the development aid extended to neighbouring countries during the years 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17;

- (c) whether  due  to  cut  in  development  aid  to  some  of  the neighbouring  countries  particularly  Nepal,  the  relations  with them have strained; and

- (d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to create good relations with Nepal?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Yes, Government of India provide 'Development Aid' to neighbouring countries.

- (b) The  amount  of  aid  India  provided  to  neighbouring  countries annually in 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 is enclosed at Annexure.

- (c) There  is  no  cut  in  development  aid.  However  the  actual disbursement varies from year to year as per progress/actual need basis of various projects in the relevant year.

- (d) Not applicable.

*****

## ANNEXURE

## Details of Aid (Grants) provided by India to neighbouring countries

## (in Rs. Crore)

| S.No.   | Country     |   2014-15 |   2015-16 |   2016-17 (1 st April'16 -27 th March'17) |
|---------|-------------|-----------|-----------|-------------------------------------------|
| 1.      | Bangladesh  |    197.84 |    155.68 |                                     68.61 |
| 2.      | Bhutan      |   4395.17 |   5368.46 |                                   2148.73 |
| 3.      | Nepal       |    303.26 |    309.94 |                                    311.36 |
| 4.      | Sri Lanka   |    499.7  |    403.8  |                                     73.89 |
| 5.      | Maldives    |     26.08 |     55.04 |                                     60.9  |
| 6.      | Myanmar     |    104.34 |    117.07 |                                    100.83 |
| 7.      | Afghanistan |    723.52 |    880.44 |                                    221.1  |
|         | Grand Total |   6249.91 |   7290.43 |                                   2985.42 |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5251 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Quick Dispute Resolution
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: PARVESH SAHIB SINGH

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5251

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 5 TH  APRIL, 2017

## Quick Dispute Resolution

## 5251. SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH:

Will  the  Minister  of  LAW  AND  JUSTICE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Ministry has made any suggestion to the judiciary for the sake of improving the ease of doing business in India since dispute resolution is a major factor in the same ; and
- (b) if so, the details regarding the same?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI P. P. CHAUDHARY)

(a) & (b) : Ministry of Law and Justice has recently requested Chief  Justice  of  India  and  Chief  Justices  of  Delhi  and Bombay High Courts to provide the necessary leadership for the  proper  implementation  of  the  existing  provisions  in  the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 relating to grant of adjournments, adherence to timelines,  electronic filing and electronic  service  of  summons  in  City  Courts  of  Delhi  and Mumbai  immediately  with  a  view  to  providing  timely  and effective 'enforcement of contracts' for improving the ease of doing business in India.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 5250 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Holiday in Courts
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: PRATAPRAO GANPATRAO JADHAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5250

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 5 th  APRIL, 2017

## Holiday in Courts

+ 5250.    SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a)    whether  the  Government  plans  to  discontinue  the  system  of  summer  and winter vacations in the courts;
- (b)    if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)    the efforts made by the Government to remove that mentality in courts which is continuing  since  British  period  so  that  democratic  system  can  be  evolved  in courts and the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE & ELECTRONICS AND

## INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY)

(a)  to (c) :  The duration of vacations is governed by the Rules/Regulations framed by  the  concerned  High  Courts  and  the  Supreme  Court.  The  vacation/working days/working  hours  in  the  District  /Subordinate  Courts  are  regulated  by  the respective High Court and the Government has no role in it.

The Supreme Court has notified the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 on 27 th May, 2014 wherein, inter-alia, it is provided that the period of summer vacation shall not exceed seven weeks.  It is further provided that the length of the summer vacation and the number of holidays for the Court and the offices of the Court shall be such as may be fixed by the Chief Justice and notified in the official Gazette so as not to exceed one hundred and three days, excluding Sundays not falling in the vacation and during Court holidays.

Government does not have under its consideration any proposal to abolish/curtail the practice of summer vacation in the Courts.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5248 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Cross Subsidy
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: MALLIKARJUN  KHARGE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5248 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2017

## CROSS SUBSIDY

5248. SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the current level of cross subsidy which persists in Indian  Railways  due  to  compensation  for  passenger  fares  by  higher freight tariffs;
- (b) the details of the impact of this cross subsidy on the competitiveness  of  railway  freight  services  as  compared  to  road freight transport services;
- (c) whether the Government  is considering the creation of an independent railway tariff authority for  setting passenger and freight fares; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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. 5248 BY SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE TO BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  05.04.2017  REGARDING  CROSS SUBSIDY

- (a) Traditionally, the losses on the Passenger side have been compensated by Freight rates. During the year 2015-16 (latest available), the overall losses in Passenger (Suburban and Non-Suburban) and other coaching services was ₹ 35918.39 crore.
- (b) The  tariff  policy  on  Indian  Railways  has  been  to  keep  passenger fares  low  especially  in  the  lower  classes  so  that  even  the  poorest segment of the people can travel by rail. On the other hand the freight rates have been increased periodically. Increase in freight rate on regular basis,  compromised  the  competitiveness  of  Railways  with  the  other modes of transport particularly road sector. Though the tariff structures in respect of freight transportation by road vis-à-vis rail are not comparable,  various  steps  have  been  taken  to  progressively  upgrade Railway's competitive edge over other modes of transport which include inter-alia  the  implementation  of  differential  tariff  regime  for  specifically addressing  situations  arising  out  of  skewed  demand  during  different periods of the year as well as across different regions of the country.
- (c) & (d) In the Rail Budget 2015-16, setting up of a mechanism for making regulations, setting performance standards, determining tariffs and dispute  resolution  was  announced.  The  proposed  Rail  Development Authority is envisaged to undertake functions such as tariff determination,  ensuring  fair  play  and  level  playing  field  for  private investments, setting efficiency and performance standards and dissemination  of  information.  The  role  of  Rail  Development  Authority  is envisaged  to be advisory that is laying down  principles for tariff determination.  No  time  frame  has  been  fixed  for  setting  up  the  Rail Development Authority.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5246 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Reduction in Revenue
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAM KUMAR SHARMA KUSHWAHA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5246 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2017

## REDUCTION IN REVENUE

† 5246. SHRI RAM KUMAR SHARMA :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Railways revenue is likely to fall short of the target set during the year 2016-17;
- (b) if so, the facts in this regard and the extent to which the revenue is likely to fall short;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  identified  the  reasons  behind  the reduction in revenue; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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. 5246 BY SHRI RAM KUMAR SHARMA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 05.04.2017 REGARDING REDUCTION IN REVENUE

- (a) Yes, Madam. Anticipating a shortfall, total traffic earnings of Railways have been reduced to ` 1,72,000  crore  in  the  Revised  Estimates  from ` 1,84,720 crore fixed in the Budget Estimates 2016-17.
- (b) Thus the  total  traffic  earnings  in  2016-17  have  been  reduced  by ` 12,720 crore in the Revised Estimates vis-à-vis the Budget Estimates.
- (c) & (d) Yes, Madam. The reduction in traffic earnings estimates are mainly due to  negative  growth  in  freight  loading,  drop  in  average  freight  lead  and negative growth in non-suburban (non-PRS) passengers.

During the current year (to end of February 2017), Railways have confronted a  negative  growth  of  0.27%  in  loading.  Average  freight  lead  to  end  of February 2017 has also dropped to 562 km from 598 km achieved during the corresponding  period  last  year.  Coal  which  constitutes  about  50%  of Railways'  loading  has  reported  a  drop  of  19.91  million  tonne  to  end  of February 2017 over corresponding period last year. The poor loading in coal has been due to over capacities in power sector and operation of new power plants near coal mines. Leads all across the commodity baskets have been decreasing  as  production  centres  have  come  closer  to  the  places  of consumption (also with pit-head plants, merit order system, reducing cost of power transmission, etc).

To  end  of  February  2017,  though  passengers  booked  has  indicated  an overall growth of 0.7%, non-suburban(non-PRS) passengers show a negative growth of 2.05% to end of February 2017. This is mainly due to migration of passengers to the road sector in short lead segment.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5243 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Wi-Fi Hotspot
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5243 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH   APRIL, 2017

## Wi-Fi HOTSPOT

## 5243. SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the ASSOCHAM-Deloitte joint study wherein it has been claimed that the country needs over 80 lakh hotspots to reach the global level of Wi-Fi hotspot penetration;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) the number of operational hotspot in the country as against the requirement; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to install the required number of hotspots in the country?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (d) As  per  ASSOCHAM  (The  Associated  Chambers  of  Commerce  & Industry of India) - Deloitte joint study report, India needs over 80 lakh hotspots as against the availability of about 31,000 hotspots with a view to reach the global level of one Wi-Fi hotspot penetration for every 150 people.

Wi-Fi  hotspots  are  proposed  to  be  set  up  in  all  the  Gram  Panchayats  (Approx. 2,50,000) in the country, leveraging the infrastructure of BharatNet for provision of services to citizens in rural areas, with funding from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).

The following schemes have also been approved from USOF:

- (i) Scheme for setting up of 25,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots at rural telephone exchanges of BSNL.
- (ii) Wi-Fi  Choupals  proposed  to  be  set  up  by  Common  Service  CentreSpecial  Purpose  Vehicle  at  5,000  Gram  Panchayats  using  BharatNet infrastructure.
- (iii) Pilot Projects for Wi-Fi services.

In addition to the above, the Government has decided to provide Wi-Fi facility at 100 tourist places in the country.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5241 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Energy Consumption
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: V. SATHYABAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5241 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2017

## ENERGY CONSUMPTION

## 5241.  SHRIMATI V. SATHYA BAMA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways proposes to change its energy consumption mix;
- (b) if so, the details and its objectives thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Railways  is  considering  to  run  90  per  cent  of  its trains on electricity in the next 6-7 years from the present 70 per cent; and
- (d)
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a)  &  (b)  Yes,  Madam.  As  per  Vision  2020  document,  it  was envisaged  that  Indian  Railways  (IR)  shall  procure  about  10%  of  its energy from renewable  sources. Accordingly, in order to  reduce dependence  on  fossil  fuels,  IR  proposes  to  harness  1000  Mega  Watt (MW) solar power as part of IR's solar mission by setting up about 500 MW solar plants on rooftop of Railway buildings and about 500 MW on land based system for meeting its Traction & Non-Traction requirements,  mostly  through    Power  Purchase  Agreements  (PPAs). Further, IR also plans to harness about 200 MW of wind power in next five years based on techno-commercial assessment. Accordingly, IR till date has set up about 55 MW solar & wind power plants.

(c) & (d) To electrify about 90% of Broad Gauge railway lines,   IR has prepared an Action Plan to electrify 24400 route kilometers   by 202021.

During  the  last  three  years  (2014-2017)  and  for  2017-18,  total number  of  93  railway  electrification  projects  consisting  16815  route kilometer at an estimated cost of ₹ 17165 crore have been included in Railway  Budget  and  pace  of  electrification  has  been  increased  from present  average  of  1300  RKM/annum  to  2000  RKM/annum  which  will further be increased to 4000 RKM in 2017-18.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5240 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Indicators for Sustainable Development Goals
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: NINONG ERING, GAURAV GOGOI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5240 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2017

## INDICATORS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

## 5240. SHRI NINONG ERING SHRI GAURAV GOGOI

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- a) whether the Government has developed various indicators for the targets under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its monitoring framework and if so, the details and the progress thereof;
- b) whether  all  the  Ministries  have  initiated  the  process  of  development  of  the  said  indicators  in convergence with the Central Sector Schemes and if so, the details thereof;
- c) whether  the  Government  has  involved  various  stakeholders  such  as  civil  societies,  women organisations etc. in the development of the said indicators and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefore; and
- d) whether the Government has asked the State Governments to align their respective State schemes with the SDGs and if so, the details thereof and the progress made by the State Governments in this regard, State/UT-wise and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND MINISTRY OF HOUSING &URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION

## (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a) &  (b)  An  initial  set  of  draft  Indicator  Framework  for  monitoring  the  progress  of  Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the national level has been developed in consultation with the concerned administrative Central Ministries/Departments and the State Governments/UT Administrations.
- (c) This initial set of draft indicator framework has since been uploaded on the weblink:http://www.mospi.gov.in/sites/default/files/announcements/SDG\_DraftNational\_Indicators8m ar17.pdf  for  open  consultation  with  the  general  public,  academia,  researchers,  research  institutions, experts, Civil Society Organizations, NGOs, etc.
- (d) Yes Madam, NITI Aayog has carried out mapping of all Sustainable Development Goals on the Central Ministries, Centrally-Sponsored Schemes, and major Government initiatives. NITI Aayog has circulated  the  draft  mapping  to  all  State  and  Union  Territory  Governments  and  requested  them  to similarly map out State schemes. National Indicators being evolved by MOSPI would inter alia facilitate to assess progress being made by States/UTs.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5239 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Regulation of Private Courier Services
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: HEMANT TUKARAM GODSE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5239 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH   APRIL, 2017

## REGULATION OF PRIVATE COURIER SERVICES

5239. SHRI GODSE HEMANT TUKARAM: Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state: (a) whether there is no Government regulation on private courier services in the country; (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; (c) whether  the  Government  has  received  any  complaints  against  the  private  courier service providers; (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  during  the  last  three  years and the current year, year-wise; and (e) the action taken by the Government against the erring courier service providers?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) The Department of Posts does not regulate the private courier services. (c) No, Madam. (d) & (e) Does not arise in view of (c)  above.

## *************************
Lok Sabha Question No. 5238 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Model Code of Conduct
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5238

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 05 th  APRIL, 2017

## MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT

† 5238. SHRI SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  any  review  has  been  conducted  regarding  tampering  of  EVMs,  violation  of Model Code of Conduct and the funds spent by the candidates during the recently conducted elections in the country;
- (b)  if  so,  whether  the  Government  and  the  Election  Commission  have  received  complaints about tampering of EVMs and violation of model code of conduct by various political parties and over spending by the candidate during the elections; (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the details of the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI P.P.CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (d): The information is being collected and will be laid on the Table of the House.

*****