opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3204 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-05
Subject: Natural Gas Discovery in KG Basin
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVNTHI)

:

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3204 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 th  DECEMBER, 2016

## Natural Gas Discovery in KG Basin

## 3204:  SHRI MUTHAMSETTI  SRINIVASA RAO (AVANTHI):

## पेट्रोलियम एवं प्राक ृ तिक गैस मंत्री

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

- (a)  whether huge natural gas reserves have been discovered in the Krishna Godavari (KG) Basin in Bay of Bengal following a joint exploration by India and the United States;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Andhra Pradesh Government has insisted on a share of royalty from the off shore exploration of  oil and gas reserves from the KG Basin if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## पेट्रोलियम एवं प्राक ृ तिक गैस मंत्रािय में राज्य मंत्री ( स्विंत्र प्रभार ) ( धमेन्द्र प्रधान )

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE  MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN):

- (a) & (b) No natural gas reserves have been discovered in the Krishna Godavari (KG) Basin in  Bay  of  Bengal  following  a  joint  exploration  by  India  and  the  United  States.    However, huge  Gas  Hydrate  deposits  have  been  located  in  KG  basin  (Offshore)  through  expedition carried  out  in  technical  collaboration  with  USA  and  Japan  under  an  MoU.      In  India,  Gas Hydrate research and exploratory activities are being carried out under National Gas Hydrate Program (NGHP) steered by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. NGHP-Expedition-02 carried  out  in  2015  drilled  42  wells  at  25  sites  in  Krishna  Godavari  and  Mahanadi  area  in sand  reservoirs  for  gas  hydrates  and  has  discovered  gas-hydrate-bearing  sand  reservoir system in the Krishna Godavari area.
- (c) Government of India received the request of the Andhra Pradesh Government for sharing of  offshore  mining  royalties  with  the  State  Government.    Under  Article  297  of  the Constitution, Petroleum in its natural State in the Territorial Waters and the Continental Shelf is  vested in the Union of India.  Section 6A of the Oil (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948  and  Rule  14  of  the  Petroleum  and  Natural  Gas  Rules,  1959  provide  that  lessee  of offshore leases pay royalty to the Central Government.  Therefore, the royalty from offshore mining lease areas accrue to the Union of India and the extant statutory  provisions do not provide for sharing of offshore mining royalties with the State Government.  The views of the Government of India, considering above provisions, were communicated to the Government of Andhra Pradesh.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3201 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-05
Subject: Affordable Housing Scheme under EPFO
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: SATYA PAL SINGH, RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE, BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB, SANJAY SHAMRAO DHOTRE

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3201 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5.12.2016

AFFORDABLE HOUSING SCHEME UNDER EPFO

## 3201. DR. SATYAPAL SINGH:

SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE:

SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE:

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

- (a)whether the Government has provided/proposes to provide affordable houses to the subscribers of the schemes framed under Employees' Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  time  by  which  such subscribers  are  likely  to  be  provided  affordable  houses,  State/UTwise;
- (b)whether the Committee constituted by the Government to consider the issue of affordable houses to the said subscribers has submitted its report, if so, the details thereof along with the main recommendations of  the  report  and  the  follow-up  action  taken  by the Government thereon;
- (c)whether the Government has sought public/private sector participation to provide houses to the said subscribers across the country,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  response  of public/private sector thereto; and
- (d)the other steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE(IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a):          As  per  the  extant  provisions  of  Employees'  Provident  Funds (EPF)  Scheme,  1952,  members  can  withdraw  from  the  fund  for purchase  of  dwelling  house/flat.  Besides  monthly  installments  for repayment  of  loans  from  the  amounts  standing  to  the  credit  of  the member may also be paid on behalf of the member to the Government or housing agency concerned.

(b)  to  (d):    The  Expert  Committee  constituted  by  the  Government  on facilitating housing to the subscribers of the Employees' Pension Fund has submitted its Report on 14 th July, 2015. The  Committee recommended  a  Scheme  which,  inter  alia,    includes  that  a  member purchases  dwelling  units  with  loans  from  banks  or  housing  finance companies;  advance  from  Provident  Fund  (PF)  accumulation  made available  to  Employees'  Provident  Fund  (EPF)  member;    tripartite agreement  with  member,  bank/housing  agency  and  EPF  for  pledging future PF contribution as Equated Monthly Instalment (EMI) payment; hypothecation of property in favour of bank/housing finance company; and benefits under Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA)  Scheme  can  also  be  extended  to  such  members,  etc.  No decision has been taken in this regard.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3198 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-05
Subject: Ban on Indian Agricultural Products
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: MALLIKARJUN  KHARGE, P. KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3198 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 th  DECEMBER, 2016

## BAN ON INDIAN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

## 3198.   SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE: SHRI P. KUMAR:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाͨणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंğी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  some  countries  have  imposed  a  ban  on  the  import  of  various  agricultural products from India;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor, product and country-wise indicating the time period of the ban;
- (c) the details of losses incurred by Indian farmers as a result thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to launch a new agricultural export policy aiming to boost overseas shipment of agricultural products from India; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof along with the time by which it is likely to be implemented?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx jkT; ea=h ¼Jherh fueZyk lhrkje.k½ ¼Lora= izHkkj½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) Yes, Madam.
- (b) The European Union had placed an import restriction on five fruits and vegetables species from India viz. Mangifera (Mango), Momordica (Bitter gourd), Trichosanthes (Snake gourd), Solanum melongena (egg plant) and Colocasia leaves (taro) with effect from May, 2014.

This step was taken due to interceptions of export consignment originating from India that were not compliant with EU Phytosanitary regulations.

As  a  result  of  efforts  made  by  the  Indian  Government,  EU  lifted  ban  on  import  of  Indian mangoes in February, 2015. EU has now recognized India's efforts for effective plant health control  system  with  improved  level  of  compliance  for  consignment  of  fresh  fruits  and vegetables exported to EU and has decided not to prolong the ban imposed on the import of four vegetables (Bitter gourd, snake gourd, brinjal and colocasia) beyond 31.12.2016.

- (c) It is not feasible to quantify the losses suffered by the farmers due to  such bans as alternative avenues for marketing of the produce, both domestic and international, are always available.
- (d) The Government is not contemplating any new agricultural export policy at this stage.
- (e) Does not arise in view of (d) above.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3197 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-05
Subject: ILO Comment on Labour Problem
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: M. B. RAJESH, (ADV.) JOICE GEORGE

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3197 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5.12.2016 ILO COMMENT ON LABOUR PROBLEM

3197. SHRI M.B. RAJESH:

ADV. JOICE GEORGE:

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

(a)whether the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has commented on

- 'labour problem' in the country recently and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether the Government has refused to ratify four of the eight core ILO Conventions against forced labour and minimum wage fixing convention; and

(c)if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the ILO thereto?

## MINISTER OF STATE(IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## ANSWER (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

- (a): The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has not commented on any specific 'labour problem' in the country.
- (b) & (c): India as a sovereign country takes its own decisions vis-a-vis ratification  of  Conventions.  India  has  ratified  four  out  of  the  eight core/fundamental ILO Conventions, including Forced Labour Convention, 1930  (No.  29),  Abolition  of  Forced  Labour  Convention,  1957  (No.  105), Equal  Remuneration  Convention,  1951  (No.  100)  and  Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111).

Minimum Wage Fixing Convention, 1970 (No. 131) of the ILO is not classified as one of the eight core Conventions. India has not ratified Minimum  Wage  Fixing  Convention  (No.  131).    Ratification  of  an  ILO Convention is a voluntary process.  In India we ratify an ILO Convention only when  the  national laws  and  practices are brought fully into conformity with the provisions of the Convention in question.

ILO  has  opined  that  it  provides  technical  assistance  on various issues, as requested by Member States, including on Conventions.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3194 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-05
Subject: Advisory on Junk Food
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: T. RADHAKRISHNAN, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, SUDHEER GUPTA, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, VEENA DEVI, SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, K. ASHOK KUMAR, BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3194 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.12.2016

## Advisory on Junk Food

3194.  SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRIMATI VEENA DEVI:

DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

SHRI K. ASHOK KUMAR:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

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

- (a) whether  the  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  has  issued  advisory recently, asking colleges and higher educational institutions to stop serving junk food in their canteens;
- (b) whether the UGC has defined junk food in their advisory and has also asked colleges  to  display  information  on  markers  like  Body  Mass  Index  (BMI)  waist-hipratio etc;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the response of the colleges thereto; and
- (d) the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  create  awareness  in colleges about healthy eating habits?

## A N S W E R

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

- (a) to (d): University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  has  issued  a  letter  on  10 th November, 2016 on the advice of Ministry of Women and Child Development, to the Vice-Chancellors  of  all the  Universities  to  consider  withdrawal  of  carbonated beverages and junk food from college canteens as it adversely affects the mental and  physical  growth  of  students.  Banning  junk  food  and  carbonated  drinks  in colleges would set new standards for healthy food and make the students feel better, and learn better. This letter is also available on the UGC Website: www.ugc.ac.in.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3193 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-05
Subject: Digital Libraries
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: MANSHANKAR NINAMA, RAMESH POKHRIYAL NISHANK, BHARAT SINGH

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †3193 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.12.2016

## Digital Libraries

†3193. SHRI MANSHANKAR NINAMA: DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL "NISHANK": SHRI BHARAT SINGH:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken any appropriate steps to strengthen the digital libraries to preserve traditional knowledge;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the appropriate steps taken by the Government to empower the digital libraries;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  include  "intellectual  property"  as  a  subject  in  the curriculum of schools and colleges; and
- (e) if so, whether any action plan to connect intellectual property to scholarship and promotion in carrer has been formulated and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) The Ministry of Human Resource Development under National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT) initiated the National Digital Library (NDL) Pilot Project (NDL Phase-I) in April, 2015 with project cost of Rs. 39.8 Crores. The  National  Digital  Library  Project  is  coordinated  by  the  Indian  Institute  of  Technology, Kharagpur.

NDL Phase-I  covers  setting  up  24X7  infrastructure,   providing  single-window  search and browse facility for e-Learning resources to users, including e-Contents that are available in  various  institutions  of  the  country  by  integrating  Institutional  Digital  Repository  (IDR) of respective institutions and registering users from Participating Institutions. The alpha version of the NDL Phase-I Portal has been made operational on February, 2016, which is available at https://ndl.iitkgp.ac.in.

- (d)  &  (e)  NCERT has included components of intellectual property rights in its textbooks of Business Studies and Biology for class XII at relevant places.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3188 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-05
Subject: Reservations in IIMs
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, BHARATENDRA SINGH, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3188 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.12.2016

## Reservations in IIMs

## 3188.  DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN: DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT: SHRI SATAV RAJEEV: SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE: KUNWAR BHARATENDRA: SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

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

(a) whether  a  number  of  Indian  Institutes  of  Management  (IIMs)  are  facing  difficulties  in getting quality faculty and are unable to fill quota seats for reserved candidates;

(b) if  so,  whether  the  Government  had  a  meeting  with  Chairmen  and  Directors  of  IIMs  to discuss the issue;

(c) if so, the outcome of the discussion and the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard; and

(d) the other steps taken by the Government to provide reservations in teacher's appointment in IIMs?

## A N S W E R

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

(a) to (d) : Some  of  the  Indian  Institutes  of  Management  (IIMs)  have  stated  that  they  are facing  difficulties  having  adequate  number  of  applicants  who  meet  the  expected  standards  of research  and  teaching  for  filling  up  the  posts.      The  IIMs  are  expected  to  follow  government guidelines  with  regard  to  reservation  for  faculty  posts  while  following  an  elaborate  system  of recruitment to maintain quality.  The Government has advised the IIMs through letter dated 4 th February, 2013 and reminders dated 5 th April, 2016 and 3 rd June, 2016 to review the position of implementation  of  reservation  policy.    In  the  interaction  of  the  Minister  of  Human  Resource Development with Chairpersons and Directors of IIMs on 20 th September,  2016  in  Shillong,  it was emphasized that while creating the faculty pool, principles of social equity and justice should be followed.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3186 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-05
Subject: Compulsory Test in Hindi
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: BHARATENDRA SINGH, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3186 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.12.2016

## Compulsory Test in Hindi

## 3186. KUNWAR BHARATENDRA:

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

DR. HEENA VIJAY KUMAR GAVIT:

SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

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

- (a)   whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  students  of  Delhi  University  (DU)  colleges  are subjected to pass the Compulsory Test in Hindi (CTH) to get their graduation degrees and if so, the details thereof including the rationale behind the decision;
- (b)   whether the Government is aware that the Hindi Department of DU has asked colleges to start teaching a Hindi Course to all Indian students who have not studied Hindi till class VIII so that they can clear the (CTH) and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)   whether it would not affect the students from various States/regions of the country where students are not been taught Hindi and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)   whether  students  from  North-East,  Jammu  and  Kashmir  and  foreign  students  have  demanded exemption from clearing the CTH and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)   whether such students have been granted exemption from clearing the CTH and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e) University of Delhi has reported that as per the Ordinance V(2-A) of the Ordinances of the University of Delhi, the students of the courses of study for the Degrees as mentioned in this ordinance shall be required to pursue a course of study and to pass an examination in Hindi. Hindi Department of the University has made a request to the Principals of all the Colleges of the University  to  start  teaching  of  the  course/syllabi  approved  by  the  Academic  Council  for  the Compulsory Test in Hindi (CTH) under the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) for such Indian under graduate level students who have not passed Hindi subject till Class VIII. The University has  received  representation  from  North-East  Students  Society  Delhi  University  and  National Students Union of India in this regard. However, no exemption from clearing the CTH has been granted as yet.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3185 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-05
Subject: Exams Conducted by CBSE
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, BHARATENDRA SINGH, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3185 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.12.2016

## Exams Conducted by CBSE

3185.   SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

KUNWAR BHARATENDRA:

DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

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

(a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  Central  Board  of  Secondary  Education  (CBSE)  has  been holding various examinations ranging from entrance to undergraduate courses to recruitments for institutions like Kendriya Vidyalayas to UGC-NET;

(b) if so, whether this has stretched CBSE's resources and affect its overall functioning;

(c) if so, the details thereof; and

(d)  whether  the  CBSE  has  written  to  the  Ministry  saying  that  such  practice  of  conducting various examinations is creating an extraneous burden on it and if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto?

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

(a) to (d) : Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is an Examination conducting Body which conducts board examinations of classes X and XII for its affiliated schools.  CBSE also conducts the following entrance and recruitment tests -

1. National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) for admission in MBBS/BDS
2. Joint  Entrance  Examination  Main  (JEE  Main)  for  admission  in  BE/B.Tech/Architecture Courses
3. Central Teachers Eligibility Test (CTET)
4. UGC - National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET)
5. Admission Test for Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Schools
6. Recruitment Test for teachers of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangthan and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti

Conduct  of  entrance  and  recruitment  tests  have  stretched  CBSE  resources  being  an additional burden as a result the core functioning affects.  CBSE has been conducting these examinations as entrusted to it by the Government.  CBSE has shared with Government its concern and difficulties in conducting entrance and recruitment tests.

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