opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 296 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Financial Assistance for Development of Classical Languages
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 296 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2018

## FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF CLASSICAL LANGUAGES

296: SHRIMATI P.K. SREEMATHI TEACHER:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  had  declared  Malayalam  as  classical  language  and  has allotted  financial  assistance  to  the  State  of  Kerala  for  upliftment  of  Malayalam language and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has any proposal to give financial support to the State of Kerala for further development of the classical language Malayalam; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with financial support given to the State Governments for development of classical languages during the years 2016-17 and 2017-18?

## MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR CULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST & CLIMATE CHANGE

(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

## ANSWER

- (a):  Malayalam  has  been  declared  as  a  classical  language  by  the  Government  on  8 th August, 2013. The following benefits are provided to classical languages:
- (i) Two  major  annual  international  awards  for  scholar  of  eminence  in  that Classical Language
- (ii) Opening of a certain number of Professional Chairs, to start with at least in the Central Universities.
- (iii) A Centre of Excellence of Studies in classical languages to be set up.

As regards Item No. (i) above, a decision was taken to confer these awards from the  year  2016.  A  Selection  Committee  constituted  for  the  purpose  has  given  its recommendations and the recommendations are under process. As regards item No. (ii), UGC  was  requested  to  open  the  Professional  Chairs,  and  UGC  in  its  meeting  dated 4.2.2016  approved  the  proposal.  As  regards  Item  No.  (iii),  in  2014,  the  then  Chief Minister of Kerala requested the then Minister of Human Resource Development to open the Centre at Thiruvananthapuram. The then Minister of Human Resource Development requested them to allot suitable land for the purpose. Thus, the matter is taken up in consolation with State Government of Kerala.

There  is  no  provision  to  allocate  funds  to  the  State  Governments  for  the development  of  a  classical  language.  The  development  works  on  these  classical languages  are  usually  carried  by  constituting  a  Centre  (as  in  (iii)  above)  under  the Central Government. After constitution of such a Centre, the funds are allocated to them.

(b) & (c): Under the above Scheme, no funds are allocated to State Governments.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 295 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Funds for Institutions
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 295 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2018

## Funds for Institutions

## 295 . SHRI PRABHAKAR REDDY KOTHA:

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

- (a) whether the Government has received any request from the State Government of Telangana to expedite the release of necessary funds to the central institutions established in the State for construction of their own buildings and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Ministry has taken any decision for early release of funds for the purpose and if so, the details thereof, institution -wise;
- (c) whether the Government has made any other initiatives in this regard and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps being taken by the Ministry for early release of funds?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a) to (d) : No Madam. This Ministry has not received any request from the State Government of Telangana to expedite the release of necessary funds to the Central Institutions established in the State. The release of funds are made based on the actual expenditure/ utilization of funds in previous quarters and the unspent/ deficit balance available with the individual Institutions. However, an amount of Rs 77.78 Crore and Rs. 321.39 Crore have already been released to NIT Warangal and IIT Hyderabad respectively, during the current financial year i.e 2017 -18.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 294 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Funds Allocated for Development of Chitrakoot Dham
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†294 ANSWERED ON 05.02.2018

FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR DEVELOPMENT OF CHITRAKOOT DHAM

†294. SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  released  any  funds  for  tourism related development in Kalinjar and Chitrakoot dham in Banda and Chitrakoot districts of Uttar Pradesh;
- (b)
- (c)

if so, the details thereof; and the time by which the said work is likely to be started?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI K.J. ALPHONS)

(a): Yes, Madam.

(b): The  projects  sanctioned  by  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  to  the State  of  Uttar  Pradesh  under  the  Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme  for Development of Chitrakoot and Banda are given at ANNEXURE.

(c): All the above projects are at different stages of implementation.

*******

ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.†294  ANSWERED  ON  05.02.2018  REGARDING  FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR DEVELOPMENT OF CHITRAKOOT DHAM

The  projects  sanctioned  by  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  to  the  State  of Uttar Pradesh under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme for Development of Chitrakoot and Banda are as below:

(Rs. in crore)

| Sl. No.   | Thematic Circuit   | Name of the Project                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   Amt. Sanctioned |
|-----------|--------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
| 1         | Ramayana Circuit   | Development of Chitrakoot and Shringverpur as Ramayana Circuit in Uttar Pradesh.                                                                                                                                                   |             69.45 |
| 2         | Spiritual Circuit  | Development of Spiritual Circuit - II(Bijnor- Meerut- Kanpur- Kanpur Dehat- Banda- Ghazipur- Salempur- Ghosi- Balia- Ambedkar Nagar- Aligarh- Fatehpur- Deoria- Mahoba- Sonbhadra- Chandauli- Mishrikh- Bhadohi) in Uttar Pradesh. |             62.96 |
| 3         | Heritage Circuit   | Development of Heritage Circuit(Kalinjar Fort (Banda)- MarharDham (SantKabir Nagar)- ChauriChaura, Shaheed Sthal (Fatehpur)- MavaharSthal (Ghosi)- Shaheed Smarak (Meerut).                                                        |             41.51 |
|           |                    | Total                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |            173.92 |

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 293 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Multi-Skilling Institutes in Tribal Districts
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: A.T. (NANA) PATIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 293

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2018

## MULTI-SKILLING INSTITUTES IN TRIBAL DISTRICTS

## 293 SHRI A.T. NANA PATIL:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  plans  to  set  up  multi-skilling  institutes  in  tribal  concentrated districts;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise and specially in Maharashtra State; and
- (c) the steps taken by Government to build a framework suited to the various skill needs and requirements of tribal people?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI JASWANTSINH BHABHOR)

(a) to (c): There is no plan of Ministry of Tribal Affairs to setup multi-skilling institutes meant only for tribal concentrated districts. However, Ministry of Skill Development and Enterprise has planned to set up 1500 Pradhan Mantri-Multi-Skilled Industrial Training Institutes in unserved blocks/underserved  areas  with  active  participation  of  Industry/Private  partners.  The  proposed institutes  are  planned  in  unserved  blocks/underserved  areas  across  country  including  tribal concentrated areas. The scheme has been formulated in consultation with all ministries including the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and is under the process of Government approval in Ministry of Skill Development and Enterprise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 292 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Deployment of Tourist Police
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: ABHISHEK SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.292 ANSWERED ON 05.02.2018

## DEPLOYMENT OF TOURIST POLICE

## 292.  SHRI ABHISHEK SINGH:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  reviewed  the  existing  security and safety mechanisms at various renowned tourist destinations of the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  create  a  dedicated security force or tourist  police  to  check  crimes  against tourists especially foreign tourists;
- (c)
- if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  identified/proposes  to  identify the most vulnerable tourist spots where such incidents happen more frequently; and
- (e) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  steps  taken  in  this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI K.J. ALPHONS)

(a) to (e): The safety and security of the tourists both domestic and foreign is the primary responsibility of the concerned State Governments and Union Territory Administrations.

Identification  of  vulnerable  spots  in  various  States  and  Union Territories  from  the  safety  point  of  view  of  tourists  also  is  the responsibility of the concerned State Governments/UT Administrations.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 291 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Cultural Events at Tourist Places
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: RODMAL NAGAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†291 ANSWERED ON 05.02.2018

## CULTURAL EVENTS AT TOURIST PLACES

## †291. SHRI NAGAR RODMAL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any steps to make tourist places more attractive and to promote them;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  contemplating  to  formulate  a scheme  through  which  cultural  events  and  programmes  like band-baja  and  dance  may  be  organized  in  the  evening  at tourist places and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI K.J. ALPHONS)

(a) to (c): To make tourist places more attractive, the Government has formulated many schemes including extending Central Financial Assistance to States/UTs for:

- 1) Organising Fairs and Festivals and Tourism events scheme.
2. related
- 2) Shopping  Festivals  inter-connected  with  Rural  Tourism and Handicrafts scheme.

Under  the  Fairs  and  Festivals  and  Tourist  related  Events Scheme, fairs, festivals and events should be selected by States/UTs based on their tourism potential.  States are extended Central Financial Assistance for a maximum ceiling of Rs.50.00 lakh per  year  and  UTs  Rs.30.00  lakh  per  year.    Central  Financial Assistance is provided only for the following items:-

- i)
- Creation of semi permanent structures.
- ii) Production of posters, pamphlets, advertisement in newspaper and production of films.
- iii) Remuneration of artists.
- iv) Sitting arrangements, lighting, sound, board and lodging, transportation, hiring of space and other similar activities.

Central Financial Assistance up to a maximum of Rs.30.00 lakh per  host  state  per  year  is  extended  to  States/UTs  for  Shopping Festivals interconnected with Rural Tourist and Handicrafts with an aim to create a large platform for showcasing the cultural heritage and tourism products of the country. The host state will coordinate/collaborate with other State Governments, Handicrafts & Handloom Commissioners, the Ministry of Culture and the stakeholders from the private sector for participation.  The cultural presentation should be coordinated through zonal cultural centres. Central  Financial  Assistance  is  for  development  of  Mela  Ground (Erection of stalls, pathway, landscaping, open air theatre, sound & light, gates, public convenience, etc.).

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Lok Sabha Question No. 289 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Permanent Campuses of IITs
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: R. GOPALAKRISHNAN

## GOVERNM  ENT OF INDIA M  INISTRY OF HUM  AN RESOURCE DEVELOP  M  ENT DEP  ARTM  ENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 289 TO BE ANSW  ERED ON 05.02.2018

## P  ermanent Campuses of IITs

## 289. SHRI R. GOPALAKRISHNAN:

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

- (a) whether  it  is a fact  that  the  newly  set  up  Indian  Institutes  of Technology(IITs) do not have permanent campuses and suffering with inadequate infrastructure;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any initiative to make these new IITs at par with the old IITs in all respects; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a) to (d): Pursuant to Budget Announcements 2014-15 and 2015-16, 6 new IITs  in  Tiputati  (Andhra  Pradesh),  Palakkad  (Kerala),  Jammu  (J&K),  Goa (Goa), Bhilai (Chhattisgarh) and Dharwad (Karnataka) have been established. The academic session of IIT-Tirupati and  IIT-Palakkad started in 2015-16 and that of remaining four IITs from 2016-17. Although all these IITs  are  presently  operating  from  temporary  campuses,  they  are  provided with  adequate  infrastructure  such  as  classrooms,  labs,  equipment  and hostels.  Further,  Government  on  24.10.2017  has  approved  projects  for construction  of  their  Permanent  Campuses  at  a  total  cost  of  Rs.7002.42 crore  over  a  period  of  three  years  from  2017-18  to  2019-20.  Adequate provision has been made in the budgets for this purpose.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 288 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Regulations for e-Commerce
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL POLICY & PROMOTION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 288. TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE 5 TH  FEBRUARY,  2018.

## REGULATIONS FOR e-COMMERCE

## 288.   SHRIMATI DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state:

वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether the Government has any specific guidelines/regulations for business through  e-commerce,  mobile  commerce,  teleshopping  and  online  business module and if so, the details thereof, segmentwise; and
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  any  specific  data  about  business  through e-commerce, mobile commerce, teleshopping and through online, if  so,  the details thereof during each of the last three years, segment-wise?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज् यमंत्री (श्री सी.आर. चौधरी) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI C.R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a): Information Technology Act 2000 provides legal recognition for the transactions  carried  out  by  means  of  electronic  data  interchange  and  other means  of  electronic  communication,  commonly  referred  to  as  "Electronic Commerce", which involve the use of alternatives to paper based methods of communication and storage of information. The e-commerce companies have to comply with the Companies Act and other applicable laws of the country. Such companies with FDI can operate only in activities which are specifically permitted  as  per  the  'Consolidated  FDI  Policy  Circular  of  2017',  which  is available at the website of Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion at www.dipp.nic.in. Further, activities of e-commerce  companies  inter  alia involve compliance of Shops and Establishment Act of the State concerned.

Furthermore,  Consumer  Protection  Act,  1986,  has  been  enacted  to  better protect the interests of the consumers. It covers all goods and services and all mode of transactions including e-commerce. Under the provision of said Act, a  three  tier  quasi-judicial  mechanism,  called  Consumer  Disputes  Redressal Commission/ Forum, has been set up at the district, State and National levels to provide simple, quick and inexpensive redressal to consumer disputes.

- (b): No specific data about business through e-commerce is centrally maintained. However, data on FDI equity inflows in e-commerce sector for three financial year wise is as under:

| Sl. No   | Year            |   FDI in US$ million |
|----------|-----------------|----------------------|
| 1        | 2015-16         |                 0.13 |
| 2        | 2016-17         |                 0.76 |
| 3        | 2017-18 Apr-Oct |                 7.95 |
|          | Grand Total     |                 8.84 |

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 286 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: PF Contribution
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: RAM CHARITRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 286 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2018

## PF CONTRIBUTION

286. SHRI RAM CHARITRA NISHAD:

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

- (a)whether the Board of Trustees of Employees Provident Fund Organization is  considering a proposal to reduce the share of mandatory contribution by employers' to 10 per cent each from 12 per cent of the income as of
- now and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether  the  three  trade  unions  have  opposed  the  said  proposal  on  the
- grounds that this will dilute these social security schemes;
- (c)if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto;
- (d)whether  the  EPFO  is  also  considering  to  raise  the  investment  limit  in Exchange Traded Funds to 15 per cent from 10 per cent; and
- (e)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a) to (c): An  agenda  item  for  lowering  the  rate  of  contribution  under Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions (EPF & MP) Act, 1952 from the present 12 per cent to 10 per cent was deliberated in the 218th meeting of the Central Board of Trustees (CBT), Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) held on 27.05.2017.
- The employees', employers' and State Government representatives were against reducing the rate of contribution from 12 per cent  to  10  per  cent.  Thereafter,  no  further  action  has  been  taken  in  the matter.
- (d) & (e): The investment limit in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) has been raised from 10 per cent to 15 per cent by the CBT, EPF in its 218th meeting held on 27.05.2017.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 284 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Crude Oil Production
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: M. UDHAYAKUMAR

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 284 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 th  February, 2018

## Crude Oil Production

## 284. ADV. M. UDHAYAKUMAR:

## पैट्रोलियम व प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्री

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

- (a) whether crude oil production has gone down by 0.6 per cent to 2.93 million tonnes in April, 2017 and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken to produce more crude oil in the country and encourage domestic production; and

(b)  whether oil companies have shut down some wells and if so, the details thereof and  the  reasons  therefor  along  with  number  of  oil  rigs  exploring  oil  and  gas  in  the country, company/oil blocks-wise;

## ANSWER

## पेट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्री ( श्री धमेन्द्र प्रधान )

## MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARAMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a). Domestic crude oil production for the month of April 2017 was 2939 Thousand Metric  Tons  (TMT).  Crude  oil  production  by  Oil  &  Natural  Gas  Corporation  Ltd. (ONGC) during April, 2017 was 1847.16 TMT which is 2.51% higher when compared with  April,  2016.  Crude  oil  production  by  Oil  India  Ltd.  (OIL)  during  April,  2017  was 273.24 TMT which is 4.53% higher than production in April, 2016. Crude oil production by Pvt/JVs during April, 2017 was 818.45 TMT which is 8.44% lower than April, 2016.

Government,  inter-alia,  has  taken  following  Policy  initiative  to  enhance  domestic production of oil and gas:-

- i.  Policy  for  Relaxations,  Extensions  and  clarifications  under  Production  Sharing Contract (PSC) regime for early monetization of hydrocarbon Discoveries, 2014.
- ii.  Policy on Testing Requirements, 2015.
- iii.  Discovered Small Field Policy, 2015.
- iv.  Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy, 2016.
- v.  Policy for Extension of Production Sharing Contracts, 2016.
- vi.  Setting up of National Data Repository, 2017.
- vii.  Appraisal of Unappraised area in Sedimentary Basin.
- viii.  Re-assessment of Hydrocarbon Resources.
- ix.  Policy for early monetization of Coal Bed Methane (CBM)

(b). During  the  life  of  the  well,  production  from  an  oil  well  may  cease  for  various reasons,  such  as  natural  decline  in  reservoir  pressure,  water/sand  ingress  and wellbore mechanical problems etc. Such  sick wells are revived through well workover/intervention jobs, if economically viable. ONGC has deployed 71 rigs for onland fields and 38 rigs for offshore fields. OIL has deployed 19 rigs in its onland fields. The rigs deployed by Cairn India Ltd., Mercator and Focus Energy Ltd. are 2, 1 and 6 rigs respectively.

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