opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1487 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: VVPAT
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: RAJAN BABURAO  VICHARE

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1487

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 27 TH  DECEMBER, 2017

## VVPAT

## 1487. SHRI RAJAN VICHARE:

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

(a)  the  total  number  of  Voter  Verifiable  Paper  Audit  Trail  (VVPAT)  machines  Election Commission of India has in its stock at present;

(b) whether some more VVPAT machines are required by the Election Commission to hold hundred per cent paper trail based assembly polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh and if so, the details thereof; and

- (c) the time by which the required numbers of VVPAT machines will be procured by ECI along with the cost likely to be incurred thereon?

## ANSWER

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

(a):  The  Election  Commission  has  informed  that  the  Commission  has  1,17,500  Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units in its stock at present.

(b)&(c): The elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh have already been completed with 100% VVPAT coverage.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1482 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Internet Speed
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: SHOBHA KARANDLAJE, PRATHAP SIMHA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1482 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 TH      DECEMBER, 2017

## INTERNET SPEED

1482.   KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE: SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a reported global survey based on internet speed test has ranked India at 119th position out of 189 countries and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (b) whether  the  internet  users  across  the  country  are  reportedly  experiencing  slow  and erratic  internet  speed  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons  therefor  along  with  the remedial steps taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to provide minimum two mbps internet speed to the internet users across the country to boost the digital economy?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) As per the worldwide country rankings released by cable.co.uk, India has been ranked 119 th  out of 189 countries. However, as per Akamai's (an international agency) Quarter1, 2017 report  on  'The  State  of  Internet',  India  has  a  global  rank  of  89  in  terms  of  average  internet connection  speed.  India  was  having  a  global  rank  of  114,  as  per  Akamai's  Quarter1,  2016 report. As per these reports of Akamai, the global rank of India has improved during last one year.
- (b) & (c) Internet  speed  depends  on  various  parameters  such  as  technology  deployed, network  coverage,  number  of  simultaneous  users  accessing  the  internet,  connectivity  to  the website being accessed etc. The speed of mobile internet is further dependent on a number of factors  such  as  distance  from  Base  Transceiver  Station  (BTS)  serving  the  customer,  the number of simultaneous users being served by the BTS, the traffic handled by the BTS etc. As such, the mobile users may experience different speeds at different location and time of usage.

Government  has  planned  the  BharatNet  project  to  provide  100  Mbps  broadband connectivity to  all Gram Panchayats (approx. 2.5 lakh) in the country by using an optimal mix of underground fibre, fibre  over  power  lines,  radio  and  satellite  media.  Under  first  phase  of  the project, 1 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) are to be connected. Under Phase-II, to be completed by March 2019, connectivity will be provided to remaining 1.5 lakh GPs.

In  addition  to  above,  Government  has  allocated  965  Megahertz  spectrum  through auction  in  October  2016  to  various  telecom  service  providers  for  access  services.  Telecom Service Providers are continuously rolling out their networks using this spectrum resulting into the increase in internet connectivity and speed in the country.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1481 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Performance of Sainik Schools
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1481

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27 TH  DECEMBER, 2017

## PERFORMANCE  OF  SAINIK  SCHOOLS

1481.  SHRI  CHANDRA  PRAKASH  JOSHI:

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

- (a) whether  performance  of  sainik  schools  have  been  dropping  gradually  in  recent years  specifically  in  terms  of  the  intake  in  NDA  in  comparison  to  Rashtriya  Military School and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  review  the  composition  of  Board  of Directors of sainik schools to improve the dwindling performance and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether dropout  rate  of  students  in  sainik  schools  is  increasing  considerably  in recent years; and
- (d) if so, the details of the drop out during the last three years and the current year so far and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## 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) National Defence Academy (NDA) intake from both Sainik School as well as Rashtriya Military School has increased over the last three years. Details attached at Annexure-A.
- (b) There is no proposal to review the composition of Board  of Governors of Sainik Schools.
- (c) & (d): The details are attached at Annexure-B.

******

ANNEXURE-A  REFERRED  IN  THE  REPLY  GIVEN  IN  PART  (a)  OF  LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1481 FOR ANSWER ON 27.12.2017

NDA  INTAKE  FROM  SAINIK  SCHOOLS  AND  RASHTRIYA  MILITARY SCHOOLS:

|   Year |   Total NDA Cadets |   Sainik Schools |   RMS |
|--------|--------------------|------------------|-------|
|   2014 |                614 |              129 |    22 |
|   2015 |                602 |              144 |    23 |
|   2016 |                542 |              159 |    31 |

******

ANNEXURE-B  REFERRED  IN  THE  REPLY  GIVEN  IN  PARTS  (c)  &  (d)  OF LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  1481  FOR  ANSWER  ON 27.12.2017

DROP OUT RATE OF STUDENTS IN SAINIK SCHOOLS:

| Academic Year                      |   Total Drop out |
|------------------------------------|------------------|
| 2014-15                            |             1081 |
| 2015-16                            |             1014 |
| 2016-17                            |              971 |
| 2017-18 (Till 30 th November 2017) |              536 |

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1480 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Exempting Infants for Passport
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: G. HARI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1480

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## EXEMPTING INFANTS FOR PASSPORT

1480.    SHRI G. HARI:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is considering to bring about a change in passport laws to exempt infants to be physically present for biometric finger print;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has received any representations in this regard; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

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

- (a) & (b) The  Ministry   has   exempted   infants/   minor   children upto the age of 5 years from giving biometrics (10 fingerprints) to the Passport Issuing Authority for processing their applications related to passport services. The infant/ minor children upto the age of 5 years are, however, required to be physically present at the Passport Seva Kendra for capturing their photograph to be printed on the passport.
- (c) & (d) Yes.   The   Ministry   of   External   Affairs   received   a representation   requesting   for   reconsidering   the   policy   that requires the physical presence of newborns at the Passport Seva Kendra for biometric finger print for issue of passports.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1479 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Demand of Coaches and Rakes
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: DILIP PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1479

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## DEMAND OF COACHES AND RAKES

## 1479. SHRI DILIP PATEL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  measures  taken  to  fulfill  the  required  demand  of railway  passenger  coaches  and  rakes  for  trains  and  status  thereof; and
- (b) whether a large number of coaches of trains are still in operation even after expiry of their life span and if so, the number thereof and the measures taken for their replacement?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a)  Requirement  of  coaches  in  Indian  Railways  is  determined  on  the basis of requirement for new train services, augmentation of existing services, over-aged arising of coaches etc. The acquisition against the requirement is made through in-house production of Coach Production Units  and  also  from  other  Coach  manufacturing  industries  through trade.
- (b)  There are no over-aged coaches running in passenger services on Indian Railway Trains. Coaches are withdrawn from passenger services after completion of codal life.

However,  regarding  EMU  coaches  and  Kolkata  Metro  coaches, as  on  date  121  EMU  coaches  and  67  Kolkata  Metro  coaches  have completed their codal life. As per codal provision, the prescribed life is only for the purpose of general guidance to make broad assessments for  planning  and  replacement,  coaches  however  are  condemned  and withdrawn from service only on the basis of condition and intensity of utilization.  These  coaches  are  in  operation  by  maintaining  them  in good fettle during periodic schedule.

These coaches are planned to be replaced on age cum condition basis on the receipt of newly built coaches from Railway production unit & trade for which three year production program for year 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 has been issued.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1477 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Joint Working Group on Fishermen
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: P. KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1477 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## JOINT WORKING GROUP ON FISHERMEN

1477. SHRI P. KUMAR:

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

- (a) whether India and Sri Lanka have reached on an agreement on establishing a joint working group on fisheries to resolve the disputes between fishermen of both the countries; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

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

(a) & (b) The launch of the 2+2 initiative in November 2016, when the Foreign and Fisheries Ministers of the two countries met in New Delhi, marked the setting up of a bilateral Joint Working Group (JWG) mechanism to address the fishermen issues in a comprehensive manner. During the meeting, it was also agreed that Ministers for Fisheries of the two countries meet every six months to review the progress. So far three rounds of the JWG meeting have been held. The 3 rd  meeting of the JWG and the 2 nd Ministerial   meeting   held   on   13   October   and   14   October   2017 respectively in New Delhi took stock of the measures taken by both sides to address the fishermen issues pending a permanent solution.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1476 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Voluntary Retirement Scheme
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: PARASURAMAN K.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1476 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## Voluntary Retirement Scheme

## 1476 .   SHRI  K. PARASURAMAN:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the nine-member committee of Coal India Ltd. has formulated the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) for its employees; and
- (b) if so, the details and the outcome thereof?

## A N S W E R

## MINISTER OF COAL IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL AND RAILWAYS

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a)  &  (b)  A  committee  has  been  constituted  to  deliberate  and  formulate  the  Draft  Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) for the employees of CIL.  However, the committee is yet to formulate the VRS.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1474 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Population Specific Requirement and Data Collection
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: GAURAV GOGOI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1474

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 27 TH  DECEMBER, 2017

POPULATION SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT AND DATA COLLECTION

1474. SHRI GAURAV GOGOI

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

- (a) whether  there  is  any  report  has  been  submitted  by  any committee duly appointed by the Government which aimed to address inadequacies in addressing population-specific requirements and data collection; and
- (b) if so, the details of recommendations thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME  IMPLEMENTATION  AND  MINSTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS [SHRI VIJAY GOEL]

- (a)  &  (b):  The  Government  of  India  has  set  up  a  National  Statistical Commission (NSC) to identify the core statistics, which are of national importance and are critical to the development of the economy.  The mandate  of  NSC,  inter-alia,  includes  recommendations  to  address inadequacies  in  statistics,  statistical  systems,  etc.  As  and  when required,  the  NSC  also  constitutes  various  professional  Committees/ Working Groups to assist the Commission on various technical issues. These Committees / Working Groups submit their reports to the NSC for further follow-up action and recommendations.  For each financial year, an Annual Report on the activities of the NSC containing, interalia,  the Action Taken Report on its recommendations is laid in both Houses of Parliament.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1472 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: School and College Dropouts among Minorities
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: KIRRON KHER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1472 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## SCHOOL AND COLLEGE DROPOUTS AMONG MINORITIES

## 1472.  SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of school and college dropout rates of minorities in the past two years;
- (b) the measures or schemes the Government has in place to combat dropouts of minorities and their extent of effectiveness; and
- (c) the  record  of  dropout  rates  of  minorities  maintained  in  schools  and colleges, both public and private?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): As per information received from the Ministry of  Human Resource Development,  the  annual  average  dropout  rates  of  Muslims  at  secondary  and higher secondary levels in respect of all Government, aided and private schools, at secondary and higher secondary levels for the years 2013-14 and 2014-15, are as under:

|                        | 2013-14 (Figures in percent)   | 2013-14 (Figures in percent)   | 2013-14 (Figures in percent)   | 2014-15 (Figures in percent)   | 2014-15 (Figures in percent)   | 2014-15 (Figures in percent)   |
|------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|                        | Boys                           | Girls                          | Total                          | Boys                           | Girls                          | Total                          |
| Secondary Level        | 24.06                          | 23.27                          | 23.66                          | 24.71                          | 23.58                          | 24.12                          |
| Higher Secondary Level | 6.40                           | 4.00                           | 5.19                           | 8.55                           | 6.29                           | 7.40                           |

Note:

Dropout data is not available in respect of other five minority communities

The  Government  has  undertaken  various  measures  /  initiatives  to  promote enhancement  of  education  of  minorities  and  to  discourage  school  dropouts namely, creation of adequate educational infrastructure such as, primary schools, upper  primary  schools,  additional  classrooms,  senior  secondary  schools,  model degree  colleges,  etc.  in  the  areas  of  minority  concentration,  Mid-day  Meal scheme,  etc.  Besides,  several  scholarships  including  Begum  Hazrat  Mahal scholarships  for  meritorious  girls  by  Maulana  Azad  Education  Foundation  and other educational empowerment schemes are being implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1471 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Delay in Issuance of Passports
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAM TAHAL CHOUDHARY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1471 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## DELAY IN ISSUANCE OF PASSPORTS

## 1471.     SHRI RAM TAHAL CHAUDHARY:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether unnecessary delay is being caused in issuance of passport in Ranchi (Jharkhand) and passports are not being issued within stipulated time period;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the number of applications regading issuance of passports received during the previous year along with the number of passports issued within the stipulated time period;
- (d) the number of such applications which are pending for more than three months at present;
- (e) whether the Government has taken any action against any officer in this regard; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof during the last three years?

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

- (a) to (c) During the previous year 2016, the total number of applications received for passports were 74,899. Out of these, 2188 applications were found to be faulty. The remaining 72,711 applicants   were   issued   passports   within   the   time   of   30   days [excluding Police Verification time] as stipulated in the Citizens' Charter of the Ministry for Issuance and Delivery of Passport Services. There is thus no delay in the issuance of passports by the Passport Office at Ranchi (Jharkhand) during 2016.
- (d) During   the   current   year   2017,   the   total   number   of applications received for passports till 30 November, 2017 were 85,414 out of which 78,812 applications were issued passports within the time of 30 days [excluding Police Verification time] as stipulated in the Citizens' Charter of the Ministry for Issuance and Delivery of Passport Services. 1105 applications were found to be faulty   from   the   remaining   6,602   applications.   Out   of   the remaining 5497 applications, 223 applications are pending for more than 30 days for issue of passport - 208 are pending with the applicants, 11 with the police for verification and 4 with the Passport Office at Ranchi (Jharkhand).

(e) & (f) As   the   passports   have   been   issued   within   the stipulated   time   by   the   Passport   Office   at   Ranchi   (Jharkhand) during 2016, there is no cause for any action.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1470 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Attacks on African Nationals
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: ELUMALAI VELLAIGOUNDER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1470 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## ATTACKS ON AFRICAN NATIONALS

1470. SHRI V. ELUMALAI:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether African envoys had threatened to go to the United Nations against racial attacks on African Nationals in India;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether India had rejected the charges as all accused had been held for action and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether   the   African   envoys   have   demanded   for   an independent investigation by human rights council as well as other human rights bodies; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

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

- (a) & (d) Yes. A press release was issued by the Dean of the African   Group   Heads   of   Mission   in   New   Delhi,   wherein   this demand was raised.

(b), (c) & (e) The External Affairs Minister held a meeting with all   African   Heads   of   Mission   in   New   Delhi,   and   conveyed   that these were not racial attacks but acts of violence by criminal elements. The External Affairs Minister also assured them that all necessary measures were being taken in conjunction with State Governments to ensure safety and security of African nationals in India.   The   African   Heads   of   Mission   were   satisfied   with   the outcome of their meeting with the External Affairs Minister.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1468 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Hotspots at Railway Stations
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: BHAGWANT MANN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1468

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## HOTSPOTS AT RAILWAY STATIONS

## 1468.  SHRI BHAGWANT MANN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has any proposal to put Hotspots on all small railway stations across the country;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof and the steps taken in this regard;
- (c)  whether  any  agreement  has  been  signed  between  Ministry  of communication and Railways in this regard and if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d)  whether  any  digital  service  centres  will  be  provided  on  different railway  stations  for  providing  information  regarding  internet  to rural youth; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the details of stations selected for the said purpose?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) & (b): Ministry of Communications has approved a Pilot Project for providing  public  Wi-Fi  Hotspots  with  financial  support  from  USOF (Universal  Services  Obligation  Fund)  at  200  railway  stations  lying  in rural areas by RailTel Corporation of India Ltd. (RailTel), a Government

of  India  Undertaking,  under  Ministry  of  Railways.  The  same  is  under progress and based an impact assessment, Ministry of Communications shall decide for provision of public Wi-Fi Hotspot at balance railway stations lying in rural areas with support from USOF.

(c) to (e): Agreement has been signed between RailTel and Ministry of Communications  for  setting  up  Wi-Fi  Hotspots  at  200  rural  railway stations as a Pilot Project.

As per the agreement, Wi-Fi Kiosk shall also be set up at these 200 rural stations. Kiosk shall have two computer terminals along with the Wi-Fi Hotspots for use by rural population

*****