opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 746 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: Educational Institutes
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 746 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.11.2016

## Educational Institutes

## 746. SHRI SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL:

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

- (a) whether the Educational institutions are being set up on the lines of Industries in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the fund has been allotted for this purpose and if so, the details thereof and if not, the the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government and the time by which the programme is likely to be completed?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

- (a) : No Madam.

- (b) & (c) :   Do not arise.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 744 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: Medical Degree Colleges
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SUNIL KUMAR SINGH

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

## LOK  SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 744 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST  NOVEMBER, 2016

## Medical Degree Colleges

†744 . SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH: Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a)  whether the Government has any proposal to establish any institute in the field of education in the State of Jharkhand; (b) ) if so, the time by which it is likely to be done and if not, the reasons therefor; and

- (c) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

(a) to (c): Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has informed that they are administering a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for 'Establishment of New Medical Colleges attached with district/  referral  Hospitals'.  Under  the  Scheme,  three  District  Hospitals  at  Dumka, Hazaribag  and  Palamu  (Daltonganj)  in  Jharkhand  State  have  been  approved  for upgradation  to  new  Medical  Colleges  and  Rs.48  crore  has  been  released  as  Central Share till date. Ministry  of  Human  Resource  Development  is  administering  a  Centrally  Sponsored Scheme,RashtriyaUchchatarShikshaAbhiyan (RUSA) under whichcentral assistance for upgradation  of  Ranchi  college  to  University  and  creation  of  one  new  Professional (Technical) College in East Singhbhum District has been approved by the RUSA Project Approval Board (PAB). 1 st instalment of Central share have been sanctioned to the State to  the  tune  of  Rs.  16.5  crore  for  upgradation  of  Ranchi  college  and  Rs.  7.8  crore  for creation of 1 new professional (technical) college in East Singhbhum district. The Ministry  has  also  established  Indian  Institute  of  Information  Technology  (IIIT),

Ranchi  under  the  Scheme  'Setting  up  of  20  IIITs  in  Not  for  Profit  Public  Private Partnership  (IIIT-N-PPP)  Mode'.    Approval  for  setting  up  this  IIIT  at  Ranchi,  was conveyed on 22.4.2015. An amount of Rs. 97,62,500/- has been released to IIIT Ranchi during 2015-16.  The IIIT Ranchi has started academic session in 2016-2017 with 52 students.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 743 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: Uchchtar Avishkar Yojana
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: DUSHYANT CHAUTALA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 743 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.11.2016

## Uchchtar Avishkar Yojana

743.   SHRI DUSHYANT CHAUTALA:

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

- (a) whether the Government has introduced Uchchtar Avishkar Yojana towards innovative ideas in education in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the financial allocation made by the Government for this purpose; and
- (c) the total number of innovative ideas received by the Government under this programme at present?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

- (a)  &  (b)  :  Yes,  Madam.    With  a  view  to  promoting  research  and  innovation  of  a higher order that directly impacts the needs of the Industry and thereby improves the competitive edge of Indian manufacturing, Government launched the Scheme Uchhatar Avishkar Yojana (UAY) in 2015 with financial outlay of Rs. 475.00 crore for a period of two years beginning from 2016-17.  The project cost under UAY is met to the extent of 25% by the Industry, 50% by the Ministry of Human Resource Development  and  the  remaining  25%  by  the  concerned  Ministry/Department. During 2016-17, an amount of Rs.75.00 crore has been allocated to the Scheme, out of which Rs.37.50 crore has been released for implementation of the approved projects.
- (c)     : Government received (180) project proposals, out of which (92) projects have been approved by the Apex Committee of UAY.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 741 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: Employability of Vocational Courses
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: A.T. (NANA) PATIL

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 741 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.11.2016

Employability of Vocational Courses

741. SHRI A.T. NANA PATIL:

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

- (a) whether the Government has chalked out any format for bringing equivalence in the formal and vocational streams of education in the country ;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the  fresh  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  provide opportunity to the students of vocational courses to move up in the education ladder by pursuing higher education and improving their chances to get better jobs?

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

## (DR MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

*****

- (a) & (b): Yes,  Madam.  A  framework  of  Skills  Assessment  Matrix  for  Vocational Advancement  of  Youth  (SAMVAY)  envisages  for  horizontal  and  vertical  movement between the skills education and the formal education has been issued. The framework provides  equivalence  between  10 th /  12 th   classes  in  formal  system  with  the  skill-based education.
- (c) : Doesn't arise.
- (d) : Apart from the above, the following schemes are being implemented for imparting  employability  skills  in  the  education  and  opportunity  to  pursue  higher education:
- (i) Community College scheme
- (ii) Bachelor in Vocational (B Voc) Programme
- (iii) Deen Dayal Upadhyay Kaushal Kendras in higher educational institutions.
- (iv) Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) by Technical Institutes.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 740 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: Free Education for Martyrs' Children
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. 740 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 st  NOVEMBER, 2016

## Free Education for Martyrs' Children

## 740. SHRIMATI VASANTHI M.:

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

(a)  whether  the  Government proposes to provide free education to martyrs' children in all the schools in the country and if so, the details thereof;

- (b) whether the Government has consulted the families of martyrs' throughout the country and taken any survey about this, if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the time by which the final decision is likely to be taken in this regard?

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

(a) to  (c): The  Right  of  Children  to  Free  and  Compulsory  Education  (RTE)  Act,  2009,  is effective from 1st April 2010, confers a right on every child of the age of six to fourteen years to free  and  compulsory  education  in  a  neighbourhood  school  till  completion  of  elementary education. Accordingly, elementary education is free in all government schools and further all government  aided  schools  have  to  provide  free  education  to  such  proportion  of  children admitted,  as  in  the  proportion  of  the  government  grants  received  to  their  annual  recurring expenses,  subject  to  a  minimum  of  25%.  Further,  all  private  un-aided  schools  shall  admit children  belonging  to  weaker  section  and  disadvantaged  group,  as  notified  by  appropriate Government, in the neighbourhood in class I (or pre-school, as the case may be), to the extent of at  least  25  percent  of  the  strength  of  that  class  and  provide  free  and  compulsory  elementary education to them till its completion. In view of this, there is no proposal in this Department, at present, regarding a separate provision for the children of martyrs.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 739 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: Royalty on Crude Oil
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: BAHADUR SINGH KOLI

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 739

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST  NOVEMBER, 2016

## ROYALTY ON CRUDE OIL

## 739.  SHRI  BAHADUR  SINGH  KOLI:

## isVªksfy;e vkSj izkÑfrd xSl ea=h

## Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited makes payment of royalty on postdiscount prices to the States;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (c) whether the royalty being given to the States is based on pre-discounted prices of crude oil and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## isVªksfy;e vkSj izkÑfrd xSl ea=h ( Lora= izHkkj ) ¼Jh /keZsUnz iz/kku½

## MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a)  to  (c):          At  present  there  is  no  discount  on  sale  of  crude  oil  by  Oil  and  Natural  Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) and royalty is being paid to States on the basis of price realized by ONGC.
Lok Sabha Question No. 737 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: Development of Gandhi Heritage Circuit
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.737 ANSWERED ON 21.11.2016

## DEVELOPMENT OF GANDHI HERITAGE CIRCUIT

## 737.  SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a proposal with revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) has  been  sent  by  Government  of  Gujarat  for  development  of the  Gandhi  Heritage  Circuit  covering  several  components under the Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme  of the Ministry of Tourism;
- (b)
- (c)
- if so, the current status of the proposal; and
- the action taken by the Government thereon?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) to (c): The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  sanctioned  the  project 'Development  of  Heritage  Circuit  in  Ahmedabad-Rajkot-PorbandarBardoli-Dandi  in  Gujarat'  in  2016-17  under  the  Heritage  Circuit Theme  of  Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme  for  an  amount  of  Rs.93.48 crore.  The  major  components  sanctioned  under  the  project  are Projection  mapping  shows,  Audio  Visual  shows,  Exhibition  Hall, Tourist Facilitation Centre, Auditorium cum Interpretation Centres, Wayside Amenities, Signages etc.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 735 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: Teachers Duty in Elections
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 735 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 st  NOVEMBER, 2016

## Teachers Duty in Elections

## 735. SHRIMATI RAKSHATAI KHADSE:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to amend the law for not allotting and involving teachers in the work such as filling of voter cards and deployment in election duties;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

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

(a) to (c): As per Section 27 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, no teacher shall be deployed for any non-educational purposes other than the decennial population census, disaster relief duties or duties relating to elections to the local authority or the State  Legislatures  or  Parliaments,  as  the  case  may  be.  In  this  connection,  the  Department  of School  Education  &  Literacy  has  issued  guidelines  dated  13 th September,  2010  under  Section 35(1) of the RTE Act, 2009. The guidelines clarify that the duties relating to elections under the RTE Act, 2009 involve conduct of elections, the consequent deployment of teachers on the days of  poll  and  counting,  the  time  spent  on  training  imparted  to  them  and  collection  of  election material  for  such  deployment.  All  other  duties  relating  to  electoral  roll  revisions  would  be undertaken on holidays and during non-teaching hours and non-teaching days.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 733 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: Education Cess
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: LADU KISHORE SWAIN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 733 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.11.2016

## EDUCATION CESS

## 733.   SHRI LADU KISHORE SWAIN

Will the Minister of Human Resource Development be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of resources accrued to the Government under Education Cess;
- (b) the details of utilisation of Education Cess for various purposes, State-wise and year-wise during the last three years; and
- (c) the details of funds allocated by the Government for Mid Day Meal Scheme, scheme-wise and year-wise during the last three years?

## ANSWER

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

(a)to (c): The Education Cess comprises of 2% Primary Education Cess and 1% Secondary & Higher  Education  Cess.  The  Primary  Education  Cess  is  credited  to  Prarambhik  Shiksha  Kosh (PSK) and is used to meet part of expenditure on Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) & Mid Day Meal (MDM) Schemes.  Presently there is no separate fund to credit Secondary and Higher Education Cess  and  funds  required  for  secondary  and  higher  education  are  directly  allocated  through budgetary provisions.  The details of  budget allocation for these schemes and utilization of PSK for the same are as follows:

(Rupees in crore)

| Financial Year   | SSA               | SSA                  | MDMScheme         | MDMScheme            |
|------------------|-------------------|----------------------|-------------------|----------------------|
|                  | Budget Allocation | Utilization from PSK | Budget Allocation | Utilization from PSK |
| 2013-14          | 27258.00          | 13575.05             | 13215.00          | 6413.19              |
| 2014-15          | 28258.00          | 15567.67             | 13215.00          | 6755.52              |
| 2015-16          | 22000.00          | 13589.13             | 9236.40           | 5709.03              |

Since Secondary and Higher Education Cess is not credited into any fund, details of utilisation are not maintained by MHRD.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 730 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: Revival of Festival of India Programme
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: SHIVKUMAR CHANABASAPPA UDASI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 730 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST  NOVEMBER, 2016

## REVIVAL OF FESTIVAL OF INDIA PROGRAMME

730. Shri Shivkumar Udasi:  Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
- a) whether the Government proposed to revive the 'Festival of India' programmes at various locations across the world for strengthening international cultural relations;
3. (b) whether  the  majority  of  the  artists  and  artisans  who  participate  in  the  prestigious annual Republic Day parade and allied event reportedly complain of ill treatment; and
4. (c) the remedial steps taken by the government to give recognition to the artists in the interest of art and culture?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE & TOURISM

(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) The Ministry of Culture has already revived the Festival of India Abroad Scheme in 2013 to showcase India's vast cultural heritage to the people across the world.
- (b) Republic Day parade is organized by Ministry of Defence. According to that Ministry no complaint of ill treatment from majority of artists and artisans, who participated in  the  prestigious  annual  Republic  Day  parade  and  allied  events  has  been received.
- (c) Does not arise.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 729 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: Kendriya Vidyalaya in Uttarakhand
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: MAJ. GEN. (RETD) BHUWAN CHANDRA KHANDURI AVSM

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 729 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.11.2016

## KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA IN UTTARAKHAND

## 729. MAJ GEN BC KHANDURI AVSM (RETD.):

- Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a) the  details  of  Kendriya  Vidyalayas  in  Uttarakhand  which  are  running  with necessary infrastructure like building, drinking water, toilets etc.; sary infrastructure KVs in the State; and (c) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  provide  above  infrastructure  to  the  said
- schools?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): Out of 43 Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) in Uttarakhand, 29 are running from their permanent buildings with necessary infrastructure like drinking water, toilets etc. These are at Mukteshwar (IVRI), Dehradun (FRI), Banbasa No.II (NHPC), Dehradun (ONGC), HBK  Dehradun  No.  II,  Dharchula  (NHPC),  Haridwar  (BHEL),  HBK  Dehradun  No.1, Lansdowne, Roorkee No.1, Ranikhet, Pithoragarh, Birpur Dehradun, Raipur Dehradun, Railwala Dehradun, Kashipur, MT Lines Dehradun, Mussoorie, IMA Dehradun, Almora, Uttarkashi, New Tehri Town, ITBP Dehradun, OLF Dehradun, Rookee No.2, Kausani, ITBP Meerthi, Sourkhand & Joshimath. The remaining 14 KVs are functioning from temporary buildings provided by the concerned sponsoring authorities. Construction of permanent buildings for KVs depends upon identification of suitable land, completion of lease formalities in favour of Kendriya Vidyalaya  Sangathan  (KVS)  by  the  sponsoring  authorities  and  availability  of  requisite resources etc. (c) Government provides grant-in-aid to the KVS for creation of capital assets and KVS,  the  matter  is followed up  with

- other related infrastructure required for the schools.  In cases where the requisite extent of  land  for  construction  of  permanent  buildings  has  not  been  transferred  in  favour  of the  concerned  sponsoring  authorities/State Governments.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 728 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: Education through Mother Tongue
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: OM BIRLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 728 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 st   NOVEMBER, 2016

## Education through Mother Tongue

## †728. SHRI OM BIRLA :

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  any  special  action  plan  for  imparting  education  to children in their mother tongue;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  include  Sanskrit,  Hindi  and  Yoga  as compulsory subjects in all the Government schools; and
- (d)  if  so,  the  time-limit  fixed  for  implementing  the  same  and,  the  details  thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b): Section 29(2) (f) of The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 states that 'medium of instructions shall, as far as practicable, be in child's mother tongue'. The National Curriculum Framework (NCF), 2005 emphasises the importance of imparting primary education in the mother tongue of the child. However, the curriculum and evaluation  framework  are  to  be  decided  by  the  State  Governments  and  it  is  up  to  them  to decide  the  medium  of  instruction  in  the  school.  Several  States  have  taken  steps  to  impart education to children in their mother tongue.

(c) & (d): As  education  is  in  the  concurrent  list,  the  curriculum  is  decided  by  the  State Government.  However, The National Curriculum Framework (NCF), 2005 clearly states that the  three-language  formula  is  an  attempt  to  address  the  challenges  and  opportunities  of  the linguistic situation in India. In the non-Hindi-speaking states, children learn Hindi. In the case of Hindi speaking states, children learn a language not spoken in their area. Sanskrit may also be  studied  as  a  Modern  Indian  Language  (MIL)  in  addition  to  these  languages.  Further,  it recommends Yoga as an Integral Part of Health and Physical Education.  All States have either adopted NCF or adapted their curriculum as per NCF.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 727 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: Compulsory Subject
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAJAN BABURAO  VICHARE

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. †727 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.11.2016

## Compulsory Subject

## †727. SHRI RAJAN VICHARE:

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

- (a) whether the Hon'ble Supreme Court has issued an order stating that Environment Science shall be included as compulsory subject in all the schools and colleges;
- (b) whether the Government has taken steps in this regard and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

(a) to (c): Yes, Madam. The Hon'ble Supreme Court, in its judgment dated 22.11.1991, had directed that through the medium of education, awareness of environment and its problem  related  to  pollution  should  be  taught  as  a  Compulsory  subject.  As  per  the directives  of  the  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  of  India,  the  University  Grants  Commission (UGC)  had  prepared  a  six  months  module  syllabus  for  Environmental  Studies  for implementation  at  under  graduate  courses  in  Universities.  The  Universities  are  also reminded to implement the courses of Environmental Studies by UGC from time to time. Further,  the  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  in  its  subsequent  order  dated  16.09.2016

had instructed the Government to establish a Core Committee to implement its earlier directions  in  terms  of  its  order  dated  22.11.1991.  In  compliance  with  the  Hon'ble Supreme  Court's  directions,  the  Government  has  constituted  a  Core  Committee comprising of senior officers of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Ministry of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  and  the  UGC  to  monitor  and  review  the issues related to the implementation of the directions of the Hon'ble Court.

****