opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1399 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Hike in Railway Fare
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: M. UDHAYAKUMAR

- (a) No, Madam.
- (b) Does not arise.
- (c) Evaluation  of  various  alternatives  relating  to  rationalization of passenger fare is an on-going process. At present, there is no such proposal.
- (d) Does not arise.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1399 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## HIKE IN RAILWAY FARE

1399.   ADV. M. UDHAYAKUMAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether it is true that the Government has given its sanction for a hike in the Railway fares;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether it is also true that the increase in passenger fares may be implemented some time later this year; and
- (d)  if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1398 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Availability of Arms
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1398

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27 TH  DECEMBER, 2017

## AVAILABILITY  OF  ARMS

1398.  SHRIMATI  SUPRIYA  SULE:

DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

DR. HEENA  VIJAYKUMAR  GAVIT:

SHRI  MOHITE  PATIL  VIJAYSINH  SHANKARRAO:

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

- (a) the details of types of arms and their number available with the army at present;
- (b) whether the army does not have ammunition reserve to last for more than 10 days in the situation of war and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) the details of the progress in manufacturing arms and ammunition under Make in India programme;
- (d) whether  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU)  has  been  signed  with  various countries for import of latest technology in arms and ammunition and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the other steps taken / being taken by the Government to overcome the shortage?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)

र  ा रा य मं ी

(डा. सुभाष भामरे)

(a) & (b): Armament  systems  in  Indian  Army  are  categorized  as  Small Arms, Mortars, Field Guns, Medium  Guns,  Howitzers,  Armoured Platform based Armament, Missiles and other long range vectors.  These categories are based on parameters such as calibre, range desired / achieved etc.  The authorization and holding of arms and ammunition is as per the operational requirement of the Indian Army.  Adequate reserves have been authorized

:  2  :

to  cater  for  contingencies.  There  are  adequate  stocks  of  arms  and ammunition with the Indian Army and it is well equipped for meeting any operational requirement. (c) The  Government  has  approved  a  proposal  for  manufacturing  of ammunition  for  Indian  Army  by  Indian  Industry.    Request  For  Proposal (RFP) under Open Tender Enquiry for the said proposal has been issued on 25 th & 27 th March 2017. (d) While no formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for transfer of latest  technology  in  arms  and  ammunition  have  been  signed  with  any country,  the  issue  of  access  to  modern  defence  technologies  is  an important aspect of our defence cooperation with foreign countries. (e) Making  up  of  stocks  of  arms  and  ammunition  to  desired  level  is a  continuous process, the requirements for which are identified every year and procurements are undertaken accordingly.  Some of the measures to ensure adequate availability of ammunition include placing of a Five-Year Roll on Indent on OFB, finalization of Ammunition Road Map in respect of certain identified ammunition and procurements thereof.  Further, financial power has been delegated to the Army to meet any emergent requirement and to enable them to maintain military preparedness at all times.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1396 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Increase in Frequency of Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: DEVJI MANSINGRAM PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1396 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## INCREASE IN FREQUENCY OF TRAINS

† 1396 .  SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

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

- (a) whether the frequency of Bikaner-Dadar superfast train No.12489/12490 that runs bi-weekly is to be increased as per popular demand as it yields revenue and the frequency is not commensurate with the passenger traffic;
- (b) if so, the details of the revenue earning from this train;
- (c) whether demands for increase in its frequency for 7 days a week has been made on several occasions and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government is contemplating to operate said train on all the seven days of the week; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) and  (b)  No,  Madam.  During  the  current  Financial  Year  2017-18  (April, 2017 to November, 2017) the overall occupancy of train No. 12489/12490 is more than 100%  and earning is approximately ` 14.34 crore.
- (c) to (e) Demand for increase in frequency of  12489/12490 Bikaner-Dadar Express from bi-weekly to daily has been received but not found feasible at present, due to operational and resource constraints including path constraints  on  several  sections  enroute  and  terminal  constraints  at Dadar.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1395 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Girls in Sainik Schools
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: R. GOPALAKRISHNAN, CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1395

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27 TH  DECEMBER, 2017

## GIRLS IN SAINIK SCHOOLS

1395.  SHRI  R. GOPALAKRISHNAN: SHRI  CHANDRA  PRAKASH  JOSHI:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government proposes  to  increase  the  number  of  sainik  schools  for admitting girls and their entry into NDA;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  students  of  sainik  schools  are  recruited  to  NDA  and  other  defence services; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the number of sainik school students entering into  defence services  in  comparison  to non-sainik  school  students during the last  three years and the current year?

## 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) & (b): Admission  of  girl  children  has  been  approved  in  respect  of Sainik School, Chhingchhip, Mizoram from academic session 2018-19 on a pilot basis.
- (c) Yes, Madam.
- (d) The  details  of  number  of  Sainik  School  students  entering  into defence services in comparison to non-Sainik School students during the last three years and the current year is enclosed as Annexure-'A'.

******

ANNEXURE  'A'  REFERRED  IN  THE  REPLY  GIVEN  IN  PART  (d)  OF  LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1395 FOR ANSWER ON 27.12.2017

NUMBER  OF  SAINIK  SCHOOL  STUDENTS  ENTERING  INTO  DEFENCE SERVICES:

|   Year |   Total NDA intake |   Sainik School Students in NDA |   Total Indian Naval Academy (INA) intake |   Sainik School Students in INA |   Total Officers Training Academy (OTA) intake |   Sainik School Students in OTA |
|--------|--------------------|---------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
|   2014 |                614 |                             129 |                                       865 |                              63 |                                            834 |                              24 |
|   2015 |                602 |                             144 |                                       677 |                              47 |                                            804 |                               9 |
|   2016 |                542 |                             159 |                                       688 |                              44 |                                            817 |                              20 |
|   2017 |                302 |                              58 |                                       651 |                              62 |                                            763 |                              27 |

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1394 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Separate High Court for States
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: MEKAPATI RAJAMOHAN REDDY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1394

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 27.12.2017

## Separate High Court for States

1394. SHRI. M. RAJA MOHAN REDDY:

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

- a) whether Government has agreed in principle to have a separate High Court for each fullfledged State;
- b) the name of States which do not have a separate bench of High Court so far; and
- c) the steps taken by the Government to set up a separate High Court for each State?

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

(a)  to  (c)  :  Article  214  of  the  Constitution  of  India  provides  that  there  shall  be  a  High Court for each State. Accordingly, every State is entitled to have its own High Court.  All the States have either High Court or a bench of High Court except the States of Punjab and Haryana and  the  States  of  Andhra  Pradesh  and  Telangana  which  have  common  High  Courts  at Chandigarh and Hyderabad respectively.

The  States  are  required  to  create  and  provide  all  the  necessary  infrastructure  facilities such as, Court Buildings, Quarters for the Judges, court officials and staffs. The State also has to meet all the expenditure for setting up and running of the High Court.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1393 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Maintenance of Tracks
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: JAYADEV GALLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1393 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## MAINTENANCE OF TRACKS

1393.  SHRI JAYADEV GALLA:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that the trackmen who have been recruited in the recent past are highly qualified and they do not want to do this job as it involves manual labour like patrolling tracks day and night in all weather conditions, look for faults in tracks and rectify them with tools and if so, the details thereof:
- (b)  whether  this  is  one  of  the  factors  for  poor  maintenance  of  tracks resulting in accidents in the recent past; and
- (c)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  corrective  steps  taken  by  the Railways in this regard?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) Some of the Track Maintainers recruited in the recent past on Indian Railways possess higher qualification than minimum prescribed for the post. Some of these highly qualified Track Maintainers show reluctance to perform manual works required to be carried out by them. However, the number of such Track Maintainers cannot be assessed.

(b)  &  (c)  No,  Madam.  However,  Ministry  of  Railways  has  revised  the minimum qualifications required for recruitment as Track Maintainer to deal with the matter.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1392 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Concession to Senior Citizens
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: RAGHAV LAKHANPAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1392 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 TH      DECEMBER, 2017

## CONCESSION TO SENIOR CITIZENS

1392.  SHRI RAGHAV LAKHANPAL:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of concessions in rent bills of landline telephones provided to senior citizens  by  Bharat  Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL);
- (b) whether concessions provided by MTNL to senior citizens are not being provided by BSNL in their service areas; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the action taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (c) Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has reported that   Senior citizens of the age of 65 years and above are exempted from payment  of  registration charges for  Landline  Telephone  Connection.  Mahanagar  Telephone  Nigam  Limited  (MTNL) provides  concession  of  25%  in  installation/activation  charge  and  monthly  rental  for Landline connection under Plan-250 in senior citizen category for persons who are more than 65 years old.

BSNL and MTNL are different Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) having different managements and Board of Directors.  Both PSUs take their decision based on their commercial  considerations.  While  Government  would  prefer  the  PSUs  to  provide greater concessions to senior citizens, it adheres to providing autonomy of the PSUs in taking commercial decisions.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 1391 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Empanelment of Advocates
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SHASHI THAROOR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1391 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## EMPANELMENT OF ADVOCATES

## 1391. DR.SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways has currently empanelled 414 advocates for  longer  than  5  years,    who  have    been  unable  to  conclude litigations  for  cases  as  old  as  15  years  ago  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) the specific steps that the Railways proposes to take to ensure the  advocates  who  are  empanelled  by  the  Ministry  are  ones  of experience and repute;
- (c) whether the Railways will conduct an audit on the performance of  the  present set of advocates empanelled based on the aforesaid Report of the Standing Committee on Railways and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps  proposed  to  be taken  in consideration of the recommendation of the Standing Committee to revise the procedure for appointment of advocates, in order to ensure that extensions for a term beyond 3 years is only undertaken in exceptional situations?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) Empanelment  of  advocates  for  conducting  Railway  Litigation before  High  Courts  and  Central  Administrative  Tribunals  is  an ongoing process.  As such this data keeps changing.

- (b) As a practice, advocates having experience and reputation are taken  on  the  panel  of  Railways  after  holding  personal  talks  with them. The names of the advocates in the selected panels are duly approved  by  Hon'ble  Minister  of  Railways  and  Minister  of  Law  & Justice.

(c) & (d) Recommendation  No.7  pertaining to 'issue of empanelled  lawyers  with  Railways'  in    the  report  of  the Standing  Committee  on  Railways  has  not  been  accepted. However, still, Zonal Railways are being asked to undertake an audit  on  the  performance  of  the  present  empanelled  Railway Advocates.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1390 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Lateral Entry of Officers
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: HARIOM SINGH RATHORE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1390

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27 TH  DECEMBER, 2017

## LATERAL ENTRY OF OFFICERS

1390.  SHRI  HARIOM  SINGH  RATHORE:

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

- (a) the reasons for stalling the procedure of lateral entry of Armed Forces officers into Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS);
- (b) the measures taken / being taken to reinitiate the lateral entry system;
- (c) whether lateral entry system is a better option in plugging the shortage of officers especially in IAS and IPS; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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) to (d): Lateral entry of Armed  Forces  officers was  restricted to Emergency  Commissioned  Officers  and  Short  Service  Commissioned Officers,  who  were  commissioned on  or after  the 1 st November  1962 but before 10 th January 1968; or who had joined any pre-commission training before 10 th January 1968 but were commissioned on or after that date.  This arrangement stands discontinued.

To  mitigate  the  shortage  in  Indian  Police  Service  (IPS),  the  Limited Competitive Examination  (LCE) was  introduced as a third  mode  of recruitment of IPS Officers in the year 2009.  However, the matter is subjudice in the Hon'ble Supreme Court.

Presently,  there  is  no  provision  for  lateral  entry  of  Armed  Forces Officers into Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS).

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1389 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: EMU from Rourkela
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: LAXMAN GILUWA

- (a)  Yes, Madam.
- (b)  &  (c)    Introduction  of  EMU  trains  between  Rourkela  and Tatanagar  stations  via  Chakradharpur  is  not  feasible,  at  present, due to operational and resource constraints.     Besides, Tatanagar is presently connected to Rourkela by 24 pairs of mail/express/passenger  trains  which  are  considered  adequate  for the present level of traffic.

*****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1389 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## EMU FROM ROURKELA

†1389. SHRI LAXMAN GILUWA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is a long standing demand to provide an EMU train between  Rourkela  and  TATA  Nagar  via  Chakradharpur  in  South Eastern Railway;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  the  time  by  which  the  said  EMU  train  service  is  likely  to  be introduced?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)
Lok Sabha Question No. 1388 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Establishment of Lokpal
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: ANTO  ANTONY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1388

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017)

## ESTABLISHMENT OF LOKPAL

## 1388.   SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the present status of establishment of Lokpal in the country;
- (b) whether there is a long delay in setting up of Lokpal;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government has any plan to set up Lokpal immediately; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the action taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a)to(e):  The  Lokpal  and  Lokayuktas  Act,  2013  came  into  force  w.e.f.  16.01.2014.  The Government initiated the process for appointment by convening the Selection Committee meeting on 03.02.2014. The Selection Committee under section 4(1) of the Act, also constituted an eight Member Search Committee on 21.02.2014 in terms of section 4(3) of the Act. Two members of the  Search  Committee  declined  the  offer  of  appointment.  Looking  into  such  difficulties experienced and to remove certain difficulties in the operationalisation of the Act including issues relating to appointment of Chairperson and Members of Lokpal, etc. in the absence of a Leader of Opposition  recognized  as  such  in  the  Lok  Sabha,  the  Government  introduced  the  Lokpal  and Lokayuktas and other related law (Amendment) Bill, 2014 in Lok Sabha on 18.12.2014. The Bill was referred to the Department -related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievance, Law and Justice for examination and report. The said Committee has submitted its report  in  the  Parliament  on  07.12.2015.  The  recommendations  of  the  said  Committee  were presented before an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) comprising seven Union Ministers. The recommendations of the IMC are under consideration of the Government.

*********
Lok Sabha Question No. 1385 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Special Category Status
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: YERRAM VENKATA SUBBAREDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK   SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1385 TO BE ANSWERED ON  27.12.2017

## SPECIAL CATEGORY STATUS

## 1385.    SHRI: Y.V. SUBBA REDDY

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government of Andhra Pradesh has made requests in writing to the Central Government for grant of special category status to Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and whether the NITI Aayog has prepared a  report in this regard;
- (c) if so, the details and the outcome thereof; and
- (d) the action taken/ proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (RAO INDERJIT SINGH )

- (a) to (d):   The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh has in June 2014 requested for grant of special category status to Andhra Pradesh.  No report on special category status to Andhra Pradesh has been prepared by NITI Aayog.

However, in order to address the commitment made to the State of Andhra Pradesh under the statement of the then Prime Minister on 20.02.2014 in the Rajya Sabha, the Central Government has agreed to give a special assistance measure for Government of Andhra Pradesh for five years, which would make up for the additional Central share the State might have received during these years i.e, 2015-16 to 2019-20. This will be in the form of Central Government funding for externally aided projects for the state of Andhra Pradesh signed and disbursed during these years.

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