opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1752 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-10
Subject: NRE Accounts
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: FEROZE VARUN GANDHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1752

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 10 th  MARCH, 2017 PHALGUNA, 19, 1938 (SAKA)

## NRE ACCOUNTS

1752. SHRI FEROZE VARUN GANDHI: Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- a) whether the Government is aware of increasing cases of non-resident Indians for parking  funds  in  Non-Resident  External  (NRE)  bank  accounts  and  buying properties in order to evade taxes;
- b) if  so,  the  number  of  cases  of  such  tax  evasion  have  been  instituted  by  the Enforcement Directorate during the last three years and the current year; and
- c) the steps undertaken to combat this problem?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a) to (b): Yes Madam. During the last three years, the Directorate of Enforcement has taken up investigations in 15 cases relating to Non-resident Indians for parking funds  in  Non-resident  external  (NRE)  bank  accounts  and  buying  immovable properties. (c) The Government has taken several steps to combat tax evasion, both by way of policy initiatives as well as through more effective enforcement action on the ground, to more effectively tackle the issue of evasion of taxes. These steps include putting in  place  robust  legislative  and  administrative  frame  works,  systems  and processes with  due  focus  on  capacity  building  and  integration  of  information  and  its  mining through increasing use of information technology.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1750 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-10
Subject: Gold Monetisation Scheme
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: KAVITHA KALVAKUNTLA

I

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION No. 1750 TO BE ANSWERED  ON: Friday, March 10,2OL7/Phatguna  19, 1938 (Saka)

## Gold Monetisation  Scheme

## OUESTION

## 175O. by SHRIMATI KAVITHA I(ALVAKUNTLA:

Will the Minister of FINANCE  be pleased  to state:

- (a) the major achievements  of the gold monetisation scheme since its inception;
- (b) whether the gold monetisation scheme seek to replace the present gold deposit and the gold metal loan schemes;
- (c) if so, the details  thereof;
- (d) whether the sovereign gold bond scheme aim to become an alternative  to purchasing  gold and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal)

- (a)  to (c) Government launched  Gold Monetisation  Scheme in November. 2015. The Gold Monetization Scheme  provides different options to the people  to monetize the gold,  by modifying  the existing two schemes,  namely, the Gold Deposit  Scheme and the Gold Metal Loan scheme. The details of the scheme are available on the website i.e. httos: / /rbi.orq.in

The scheme intends to mobilize  the idle gold held by households  and institutions in the country and to put this gold into productive  use and in the long-run, to reduce the current account deficit by reducing the country's reliance  on the imports  of gold to meet the domestic  demand.  Til 1^B/2/2O17, 6410 kilograms  of gold have been mobilized under this Scheme.

- (d) & (e) Government  launched Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme  in November, 2015, as an alternative to purchasing metal gold. The scheme intends  to reduce the demand for physical gold. The details of this scheme are available on the website i.e. htto: / /finmin. nic.in /swarnabharat/sovereion-oold-bond.html

So far 7 Tranches  of Sovereign  Gold Bond have been issued.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1748 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-10
Subject: Insurance Agents
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: PONGULETI SRINIVASA REDDY

## Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Financial Services Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1748

Friday, March 10,2017/Phalguna 19, 1938 (Saka)

## Insurance Agents

## 1748. SHRI PONGULETI SRINIVASA REDDY:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether according to ASSOCHAM survey the insurance agents are not properly explaining the pros and cons/benefits of the policy to the customers and customers are not happy with the agents;
- are not following due  procedure   while appointing agents; and
- (c) if s0, corrective measures   taken by the Government to boost the confidence of customers?

## Answer Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance

(Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar)

(a) to (c): As per Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India; the ASSOCHAM survey report does not categorically say sO\_ It only says that & group of respondents had this view. The survey appears to lack independence and impartiality.

Agency Channel is an established channel of   selling   insurance and there is no large scale dissatisfaction  from the agents  Insurance Companies follow the due procedure for appointment of agents in their companies.

Further, IRDAI has taken various steps for insurance awareness through all possible channels including insurance related information the public. to
Lok Sabha Question No. 1747 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-10
Subject: Inadequate Budget Allocation
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: JOSE K. MANI

## Government of India Ministry of Women and Child Development

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.1747

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.3.2017

## INADEQUATE BUDGET ALLOCATION

## 1747.  SHRI  JOSE K. MANI

Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:-

- (a) Whether  the  budget  allocation  for  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  is  a mere one per cent of total outlay and gender budgeting across Ministries is stagnant at 5 per cent of total outlay as it was 10 years ago in 2005:
- (b)     If so, whether this inadequate resource allocation has made an adverse impact on the rolling out and implementation of many women and child welfare related schemes: and
- (c)    If so, the reaction of the Government to enhance the budget allocation?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI KRISHNA RAJ)

- (a) to (c) :  The Ministry of Women and Child Development has been consistently promoting gender budgeting across the country as a pathway to ensure gender mainstreaming at all levels and stages of the budgetary process. Gender Budget Statement was introduced as a part  of  the  Union  Budget  in  2005-06.  To  facilitate  integration  of  gender  analysis  in policies,  programmes  and  schemes,  the  Ministry  of  Finance  in  consultation  with  the Ministry of Women and Child Development had issued a Gender Budget Charter on 8 th March,  2007  outlining  the  composition  and  functions  of  the  Gender  Budgeting  Cells (GBCs). The most important milestone in this regard has been the institutionalization of the progress through formation of GBCs in various Ministries and Departments.  As of now, 57 Central Ministries /Departments have set up GBCs. Another important progress made in the Gender Budgeting system is inclusion of a column on gender impact in the Expenditure  Finance  Committee  (EFC)  document  with  effect  from  1 st April,  2014  for inclusion  of  women's  concerns  at  the  planning  stage  and  inclusion  of  a  gender perspective  in  the  Outcome  Budget  Process.  The  magnitude  of  Gender  Budget  as reflected in the GB Statement shows allocations made for women by different Ministries / Departments has increased from Rs. 14,378.68 crores in 2005-06 to Rs. 90,624.76 crores in 2016-17.
- (b) In order to strengthen the process of gender budgeting, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has been undertaking various capacity building measures for the officials of the State Government by organizing training programmes/workshops on Gender Budgeting regularly. The training programmes are focused on increasing awareness about the need and importance of Gender Responsive Budgeting along with the framework and tools  to  undertake  Gender  Budgeting.  A  Gender  Budgeting Plan Scheme was launched during the year 2007- 08 to this effect.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1745 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-10
Subject: Impact of Demonetisation on Tax Collection
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: SRINIVAS KESINENI

## Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Revenue

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  1745

TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2017 PHALGUNA 19, 1938 (SAKA)

## IMPACT OF DEMONETISATION ON TAX COLLECTION

1745: SHRI   KESINENI NANI:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details on Direct and Indirect Tax collection during the last three years and the current year;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  assessed  the  impact  of  demonetisation  on  the  aforesaid  tax collection; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the outcome thereon?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a)  The details of Direct and Indirect Tax collection during the last three years and the current year is as under:

## (Amount in Rs. Crore)

| Financial Year   | Total Direct Tax Collection   | Total Indirect Tax Collection   |
|------------------|-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| 2013-14          | 6,38,596                      | 4,97,060                        |
| 2014-15          | 6,95,792                      | 5,44,772                        |
| 2015-16          | 7,41,944                      | 7,09,825                        |
| 2016-17*         | 6,17,551**                    | 7,03,841@                       |

*Provisional  ** Unaudited up to February, 2017  @ Up to January, 2017

(b) & (c )

## Direct Tax

During  the  period  between  November,  2016  and  February,  2017,  the  growth  rate  in  gross collection  of  direct  taxes  has  increased  from  14.4%  to  15.0%.  Similarly,  during  the  same  period, advance tax collections, which are better indicator of the performance of the economy, have also shown an increase in growth rate from 12.6% to 14.4%.

Though there is an increase in the overall gross collections as well as advance tax collections since  demonetisation,  both  in  terms  of  absolute  numbers  and  growth  rate,  it  is  not  feasible  to comment as to the extent to which the increase is attributable to the policy of demonetisation. As 3035 percent of the annual tax collections are received in the last quarter, it is premature to estimate the  impact  of  demonetisation  on  revenue  collections.  Moreover,  investigation  into  the  amount  of cash deposited in bank accounts since announcement of demonetisation will take some time to be completed, so its impact on tax collections will be staggered over a few quarters from now.

## Indirect Tax

The growth in indirect tax revenue during April-January 2016-17 (Year on Year) was about 23.9%. *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1742 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-10
Subject: CGHS Facility
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Adhikari Dibyendu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1742 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 th MARCH, 2017

## CGHS FACILITY

## 1742. SHRI DIBYENDU ADHIKARI:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government issues CGHS cards to all Central Government employees including the persons working on contractual and or co - terminus basis and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the Government is not gi ving CGHS pensioner facilities to the person or families at the end of contract and termination of employment therefor;
- (c) if not, the reasons behind thereof;
- (d)  the  total  number  of  cards  that  have been  issued  to  the  contractual  and  the coterminous emp loyees drawing salary from the central exchequer during the last three years th rein; and
- (e) the proposal of the Government to facilitate them with one time/whole life CGHS pensioner cards therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE ( SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

- (a): CGHS Cards are issued to Central Government employees and employees on co - terminus basis  who  are  residing  in  CGHS  covered  areas.  CGHS  facilities  are  not provided  to  persons working on contractual basis.
- (b) & (c): CGHS  facilities  are  not  provided  to  the  employees  on  the  termination employment  on  co - terminus  basis  since  CGHS  facilities  are  primarily  meant  for  Centr Government Employees/Pensioners draw ing salary/pension from Central Civil Estimates.
- (d): No separate category is maintained regarding co -terminus employees and therefore, this information cannot be provided.
- ( e): There is no such proposal.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1741 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-10
Subject: Public Sector Asset Rehabilitation Agency
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: NINONG ERING, JYOTIRADITYA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA

- (a) whether the Government has decided to set up centralised Public Sector Asset Rehabilitation Agency (PARA) to take charge of the cases of bad loans in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the extent to which the PARA is going to help public sector banks to reducing NonPerforming Assets?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER STATE FOR FINANCE (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

- (a)  The  Government  has  not  decided  to  set  up  Public  Sector  Asset  Rehabilitation Agency.
- (b) to (c): Does not arise.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1740 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-10
Subject: Defence Procurement Organisation
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: VINOD KUMAR BOIANAPALLI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1740

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH  MARCH, 2017

## DEFENCE PROCUREMENT ORGANISATION

1740. SHRI  B. VINOD  KUMAR:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  set  up  a  Defence  Procurement Organisation (DPO) to integrate, streamline and simplify the purchase procedure;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether    the  Dr.  Pritam  Singh  Committee  has  submitted  its  report  on modalities of setting up of the DPO; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                      (SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)

j{kk ea=h

¼Jh euksgj ijhZdj½

(a) & (b): In  order  to  study  the  setting  up  of  a  defence  procurement organization, the Ministry of Defence in April 2016 constituted a Committee under the chairmanship of Dr. Pritam Singh, Management Expert. (c) & (d): The  Committee  submitted  its  Report  in  February  2017.    The Committee  has  recommended  the  creation  of  a  central,  autonomous, empowered  professional  organization to build up indigenous  defence

- capability as a strategic imperative for long term self-reliance.
- ******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1739 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-10
Subject: Organic Food Products
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: GAURAV GOGOI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1739 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 th MARCH, 2017

## ORGANIC FOOD PRODUCT S

## 1739. SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that a large number of companies are selling normal food in  the  name  of  'organic'  ones and looting the consumers by charging exorbitantly across the country;
- (b) if so, whether the a pex food regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has any mechanism in place to regulate organic food products which adds to adulteration in food items and causing serious threat on health standards; and
- (c) if so, the details in thi s regard and the steps Government proposes to take to ensure that ordinary food products are not sold in the name of 'organic' and also to ensure that food products available in the markets across the country are free from adulteration?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE ( SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

(a) to (c): Currently, there is no mechanism with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)  to regulate organic foods . The Ministry of the Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers  Welfare  has,  however,  formulated  the  Organic  Agricultural  Produce  Grading  an Marking  Rules,  2009  under  the  Agricultural  Produce  (Grading  and  Marking)  Act,  1937.  Th standards  prescribed  under  thes e  Rules  are  voluntary  in  nature.  Under  the  Participatory Guarantee  System  of  the  Ministry  of  the  Agriculture,  Cooperation  and  Farmers  Welfare, farmers  can  get  their  organic  produce  certified.  Further,  the  Agricultural  Produce Development Authori ty, under the Department of Commerce is also implementing a National Programme for Organic Production, under which agricultural commodities including food can certified  as  'organic'.    28  accredited  certification  bodies  attend  to  the  certification  of  org anic produce and their products.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1738 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-10
Subject: Shortage of Pilots in IAF
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: APARUPA PODDAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1738

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH  MARCH, 2017

## SHORTAGE OF PILOTS IN IAF

1738. SHRIMATI  APARUPA  PODDAR:

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

- (a) whether the Indian Air Force (IAF) is having shortage of pilots for its fighter planes and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether IAF already had allowed pilots who were earlier declared unfit to fly fighter planes;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to include all experienced pilots for the fighter planes of IAF irrespective of medical conditions of the pilots and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has any plan to generate a new cadre of pilots for IAF  by  introducing  higher  packages  for  new  and  young  entrants  instead  of reinstating physically doubtful pilots and if so, the details thereof?

## 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) No, Madam.  The available strength of pilots in Air Force is sufficient to meet the current operational requirements of the Indian Air Force (IAF). (b) to (d): Pilots  who  are  Temporarily  or permanently  medically unfit  are not permitted to fly any aircraft including fighter planes.
- (e) There is no plan to generate a new cadre of pilots for IAF.
- ******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1737 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-10
Subject: Knee Replacement Surgeries
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: P. C. MOHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1737 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 th MARCH, 2017

## KNEE REPLACEMENT SUR GERIES

## 1737. SHRI P.C. MOHAN:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  have  any details  of  the  failure  of  knee - replacementsurgeries reported by the Karnataka Government;
- (b) if so, please furnish full details of the cases pertaining to Government hospitals and private hospitals; and
- (c)  what  are  the  steps  taken  by  the Government  to  provide  special  package  of providing necessary infrastructure under National Health Mission to Karnataka S te?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## ( SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

- (a) & (b): As per information received from the State Government of Karnataka, there a no cases of failure of knee - replacement surgeries reported to the Department of the Health & Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka.
- (c): Public Health and hospitals being a State subject, the primary responsibility of pr health care and hospital services to its citizens is that of the State Governments. under National Health Mission (NHM), financial and t echnical support is provided to the State Governments/UTs to strengthen their health care system including strengthening health fac upto  the  level  of  District  hospitals  to  Indian  Public  Health  Standards  (IPHS),  based requirements posed by the States/UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs).
Lok Sabha Question No. 1732 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-10
Subject: Tax On Air Services
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: LAXMI NARAYAN YADAV, RAMA DEVI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE *****

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1732

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY THE 10 TH  MARCH, 2017 PHALGUNA 19, 1938 (SAKA)

## TAX ON AIR SERVICES

## 1732. SHRILAXMI NARAYAN YADAV: SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whetherthe data of the tax levied on air services are not maintained centrally;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) the manner in which the tax policies regarding air services are formulated by the Government in the absence of such data;
- (d) the reaction of the Government in this regard; and
- (e) the remedial measures taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a):No, Madam. The data of Service Tax collected on transportation of goods and passengers by air are maintained centrally.

(b),(c),(d) and (e):  Does not arise in view of reply to part (a) above.

- ******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1731 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-10
Subject: Strikes by Doctors
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: E. T. MOHAMMED BASHEER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1731 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 th MARCH, 2017

## STRIKES BY DOCTORS

## 1731. SHRI E.T. MOHAMMED BASHEER:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware that  spontaneous  strikes  done  by  the doctors  in Government and private hospitals causes irreparable loss and threat to life and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) the stringent steps taken by the Government not to allow such agitation?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE ( SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

- (a) & (b): Health  is  a  State  subject  and  no  such  information  is  maintained  centra However, as far as three Central Government Hospitals in Delhi viz. Safdarjung Hospital RML Hospital and Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated Hospitals, are concerned, there are some instances of strikes by the Resident Doctors, which normally affects the functioning of the Hospitals. However, there has been no report of loss of life due to these Hospitals. The steps taken to avoid such strike in these Hospitals include preparation of contingency  plan  increase  in  security  personnel  to  avoid  violence  against  the  doctors patients and their relatives, installation of CCTV cameras, regular interaction between the Hospital and Heads of Departm ents, regular interaction between the head of the Hospital and  Resident  Doctors  Association  (RDA)  and  attempting  redressal  of  their  genuine  deman from time to time, etc.