opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3669 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Indirect Tax Collection
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA, BHOLA SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

*****

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3669

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY THE 16 TH  MARCH, 2018 PHALGUNA 25, 1939 (SAKA)

## INDIRECT TAX COLLECTION

## 3669.  PROF. PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA: SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  present  estimates  indicate  that  the  indirect  tax  collection  may  be lower then the earlier estimates of the Government in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the steps proposed by the Government to meet this deficit?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI SHIV PRATAP SHUKLA)

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. The Revised Estimate (RE) for indirect tax revenue (exclusive of GST-compensation  cess)  is  lower  than  Budget  Estimate  (BE)  for  FY  2017-18, because the GST revenue for March, 2018 will be realised in April, 2018.

(c): As  presented in  the  Union  Budget 2018-19, the Government has proposed to meet the RE 2017-18 of Central Revenue Receipts in the current financial year.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3667 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Reduction in Interest Rate of Savings
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: MD. BADARIDDOZA KHAN, MOHAMMAD SALIM

## Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Financial Services

## LOK SABHA

Unstarred Question No. 3667 To be answered on March 16, 2018/ Phalguna 25, 1939 (Saka) Reduction in Interest Rate of Savings:

SHRI MOHD. SALIM:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the people are shying away from depositing cash with the banks because of continuing reduction in interest rate in saving and small saving schemes and there has been a cash crunch in banks as a result thereof;

- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government is considering to increase the interest rates on saving and small saving schemes, if so, the details thereof and if not; the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI SHIV PRATAP SHUKLA)

(a) to (b): As per information furnished by Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the customer deposits of Scheduled Commercial Banks have increased from Rs.95,43,256 crore as on 31st March; 2016 to Rs.106,39,236 as on March 2017 and to Rs.108,54,341 crore as on 31st October; 2017 . Similarly deposits under Small Savings Schemes not shown decline 31st have

- (c) The interest rates on deposits (other than current account deposits)   have been deregulated by RBI and banks are free to fix the interest rates on deposits with the approval of their respective Boards. The interest rates on Small Saving Schemes are fixed every quarter on the basis of trends in the financial market:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3666 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Utilization of Funds Collected under CAF
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: ANANDRAO  ADSUL, PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, DHARMENDRA YADAV, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, Shrirang Appa Barne

3666.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3666 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2018

## Utilization of Funds Collected under CAF

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL

DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE

SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether there is turf war over green funds collected as Compensatory Afforestation Fund  (CAF)  between  the  Ministry  of  Finance  and  his  Ministry  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether parking this huge fund in the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI) or even routing it through the CFI could open it to possible diversion for Government expenditure other than greening the country and if so; the details thereof;
- (c) the steps taken or proposed to be taken to resolve the issue of parking of Compensatory Afforestation Fund; and
- (d) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  that  funds  collected  under  Compensatory Afforestation Fund is not used for any purpose other than compensatory afforestation?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) to (c) The Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Act provides for establishment of National  Compensatory  Afforestation  Fund  in  the  public  account  of  the  Government  of  India created  under  Article  266  of  the  Constitution.  The  accounting  procedure  for  transfer  of Compensatory Afforestation Fund managed by Ad-hoc Compensatory Afforestation Management & Planning Authority (CAMPA) has been prepared by Ministry of Finance. The Ministry  has  notified  the  draft  Compensatory  Afforestation  Fund  Rule,  2018  on  17 th Febraury, 2018 for public consultation, in which it has been provided that the funds will be utilized for the compensatory afforestation, regeneration of forests, protection and extension of forest, wildlife protection and other forestry and wildlife related ancillary activities as per the provisions of the CAF Act.

(d)  Under  the  CAF  Act  and  CAF  Rules  it  has  been  provided  that  the  funds  collected  under Compensatory Afforestation Fund shall not be used for any purpose other than compensatory afforestation and ancillary forestry and wildlife conservation activities and expenditure related to its management.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 3663 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Technology to Study Climate Change Issues
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: DEVUSINH JESINGBHAI CHAUHAN, DIPSINH SHANKARSINH RATHOD, PARESH RAWAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3663

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2018

## Technology to Study Climate Change Issues

3663. SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN: SHRI D.S. RATHOD: SHRI PARESH RAVAL:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has allotted enough fund for the latest technology to study the climate change issues in the country; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a)  and  (b):    The  study    on  various  aspects  of  climate  change  vis-à-vis  energy,  water, agriculture,  forestry,  human  health,  habitat,  transportation,  etc.  is  embedded  in  respective sectoral schemes of  various Ministries for which allocations are made in annual budget based on the projected requirement from time to time.  Recently, this Ministry has launched two programs,  namely  National  Carbonaceous  Aerosols  Program  (NCAP)  and  Long  Term Ecological  Observatories  (LTEO)  Program  to  study  black  carbon  impact  on  climate  and monitor impact of climate change on flora and fauna respectively by using state of the art technology.    Sufficient  funds  have  been  provided  for  these  projects  under  the  scheme 'Climate Change Action Plan'.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 3662 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Two Thousand Notes
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: (SMT.) RATNA DE(NAG), SANTOSH KUMAR, HARI OM PANDEY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3662

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 th  MARCH, 2018/25 TH  PHALGUNA SAKA, 1939

## Two thousand Notes

## 3662.  DR. RATNA DE (NAG):

SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR:

SHRI HARI OM PANDAY:

## QUESTION

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

(a) whether his Ministry has any plan to stop two thousand notes in near future; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) if not, the reasons therefor and the steps taken by the Government in this regard; and (d) the extent to which this initiative is likely to be beneficial for the growth of business and

- economy  of the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI P. RADHAKRISHNAN)

- (a) to (d) : There is no proposal under consideration of the Government to stop ₹ 2000 note.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3658 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Fund to Farmers
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: CHANDU LAL SAHU, DILIP KUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI

Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Financial Services

## LOK SABHA

Unstarred Question No. †3658

To be answered on Friday, March 16, 2018/Phalguna 25, 1939 (Saka)

## Fund to Farmers

## †3658. SHRI CHANDU LAL SAHU: SHRI DILIPKUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI:

Will  the  Minister  of  FINANCE  be  pleased  to  state  the  funds  allocated  by  the Government for the farmers under various schemes like Kisan Credit Card Gramin Sanrachna, long term finance and cooperative rural loan during the last three years?

## Answer

## The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance (Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla )

In  order  to  provide  hassle  free  agriculture  credit  to  farmers,  the  Government introduced  the  Kisan  Credit  Card  (KCC)  Scheme,  for  issue  of  KCC  to  farmers  for uniform adoption by the banks, so that farmers may use them to readily purchase agriculture inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides etc. and draw cash for their production needs.

In terms of the Master Direction dated 07.07.2016 issued by Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Scheduled Commercial Banks having any shortfall with reference to targets in lending  to  priority  sector  shall  be  allocated  amounts  for  contribution  to  the  Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) established with NABARD and other Funds with  NABARD/NHB/SIDBI/MUDRA Ltd., as decided by RBI from time to time. The interest rates on banks' contribution to RIDF or any other Funds, tenure of deposits, etc. shall be fixed by RBI from time to time.

The details of allocation to various funds in NABARD, out of the shortfall in Priority Sector Lending Targets of Scheduled Commercial Banks during the last three years is as under:

(Amount in Rs. Crore)

| Name of the fund                                      | 2015-16   | 2016-17   | 2017-18   |
|-------------------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF)          | 25,000    | 25,000    | 25,000    |
| Short Term Regional Rural Bank Refinance Fund (STRRB) | 16000     | 10000     | 10000     |
| Short Term Cooperative Rural Credit (STCRC) Fund      | 54000     | 45000     | 45000     |
| Long Term Rural Credit Fund (LTRCF)                   | 15000     | 15000     | 15000     |
Lok Sabha Question No. 3657 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Strengthening of SEBI
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: PR. SENTHILNATHAN, R.K. BHARATHI MOHAN

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

LOK SABHA Unstarred Question No. 3657 Friday; March 16, 2018

## Strengthening of SEBI

3657: SHRI PR. SENTHIL NATHAN SHRI BHARATHI MOHANRK:

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

- (a) whether the SEBI's prime mandate is Development of Securities Market and Protection of Investors interest; if s0, the details thereof;
- (b) the steps taken by SEBI to increase or strengthen its presence to reach out to various intermediaries and investors in   line with its aforesaid mandate along with SEBI's policy and future plans to increase Or strengthen its presence in every Statel UT; and
- (c) whether any representations from Public or elected representatives have been to augment its   physical presence across the country and If so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PON RADHAKRISHNAN)

- (a) Yes , sir: The preamble of Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 ("SEBI Act") states that "An Act to provide for the establishment of a Board t0 protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote the development of; and to regulate the securities market and for matters connected there with or incidental there to Section 11 of the SEBI Act entrusts SEBI with the  duty to   protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote the development of, and to  regulate   the securities market; by such measures as it thinks fit:
- (b) SEBI has opened Iocal offices in 16 cities across India , in addition to its Head Office at Mumbai and four regional offices in New Delhi, Kolkata; Chennai and Ahmedabad. Further; SEBI has decided to open new local offices at Agartala and Vijaywada:
- (c) No such references have been received in the last three years
Lok Sabha Question No. 3655 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Electoral Bond Scheme
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: VIJAY KUMAR S.R., NARANBHAI KACHHADIA, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, SUDHEER GUPTA, BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, ANWHAR RAAJHAA, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN

## Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Economic Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED   QUESTION NO.3655 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, 16 TH   MARCH 2018 PHALGUNA 25, 1939 (SAKA)

## 'ELECTORAL BOND SCHEME'

## Question

3655 .  SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI A. ANWHAR RAAJHAA

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

Will the Minister of FINANCE  ( वित्त मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) The  details  of  banks  that  have  been  authorized  to  issue  and  encash  Electoral Bond under Electoral Bond Scheme (EBS), 2018;
- (b) The response of the first issue of the Scheme along with the quantum of amount collected from sale of such Electoral Bond; and
- (c) The other steps taken/being taken by  the Government to bring more transparency in financial transaction of political parties?

## Answer

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## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI P. RADHAKRISHNAN )

- (a) The  State  Bank  of  India  is  the  only  authorised  bank  to  issue  and  encash  the Electoral Bearer Bonds under the Scheme.
- (b) The  amount  collected  from  sale  of  Electoral  Bond  under  the  first  issue  of  the Scheme is ` 222.00 crore as on 9 th March 2018.
- ( ) Electoral Bond is a step in direction to cleanse the system of political funding in the country with requisite transparency in the financial transaction. No other proposal is currently under consideration in Ministry of Finance.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3652 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Transparent Political Funding System
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: MANOJ RAJORIA

## Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Economic Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED   QUESTION NO.3652 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, 16 TH   MARCH 2018 PHALGUNA 25, 1939 (SAKA)

## 'TRANSPARENT POLITICAL FUNDING SYSTEM'

## Question

3652. DR.  MANOJ RAJORIA

Will the Minister of FINANCE   ( वित्त मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken meticulous steps for establishing a transparent political funding system in the country; and
- (b) if so the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI P. RADHAKRISHNAN)

- (a) & (b):   The Government notified the Electoral Bond Scheme, 2018 on January 02, 2018 to establish  and cleanse the system of political funding in the country. Broad features of the said Scheme are under:
1. Electoral Bond (EB) would be a bearer instrument in the nature of a Promissory Note  and  an  interest  free  banking  instrument.  A  citizen  of  India  or  a  body incorporated in India is eligible to purchase the bond.
2. Electoral  bond  would  be  issued  for  a  certain  value  denominations  from  the specified branches of the State Bank of India (SBI).
3. Tenor  of  the  Electoral  Bonds  is  for  15  days  during  which  it  can  be  used  for making  donation  only  to  the  political  parties  registered  under  section  29A  of  the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951 (43 of 1951) and which have secured not less than one per cent of the votes polled in the last general election to the House of the  People  or  a  Legislative  Assembly.  It  will  not  carry  the  name  of  payee  or  the donor.
4. The bonds under the Scheme shall be available for purchase for a period of 10 days each in the months of January, April, July and October, as may be specified by the Central Government. An additional period of 30 days shall be specified by the Central Government in the year of the General election to the House of People.
5. The scheme of EB is to provide anonymity to the donors but at the same time establish a transparent political funding system. Bonds can be purchased only after making  payment  through  a  KYC  compliant  account.  Further,  the  bond  shall  be encashed by an eligible political party only through a designated bank account with the authorised bank. Electoral Bond  is envisaged  as  an  additional  banking instrument for giving donations to registered political parties.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3651 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Bedaquiline Drug for DR-TB Patients
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: DHARAM VIRA GANDHI

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3651 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 TH MARCH, 2018

## BEDAQUILINE DRUG FOR DR - TB PATIENTS

## 3651. SHRI DHARAM VIRA:

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

- (a) whether the Government has introduced the new drug Bedaquiline for Drug Resistant - TB;
- (b) if so, the details of its availability in the States along with the details of the number of patients who have benefited from the new drug;
- (c) whether it is true that Bedaquiline is not available in all States;
- (d) if so, the steps taken by the Government to ensure that the States provide Bedaquiline to every Drug Resistant - TB patient; and
- (e) whether the Government plans to make available Bedaquiline across the country, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL )

( a)to (e ) : Yes. In the absence of phase 3 clini cal trials,  Drug Controller General (India) has approved use of Bedaquiline (BDQ) under Conditional Access Programme (CAP) based on US FDA & European Medicine Agency approval. Bedaquiline is to be given only to eligible patients as per the criteria laid d own under the Guidelines for Management of Drug Resistant TB  in  India - 2017. Accordingly,  Revised  National  TB  Control  Programme  (RNTCP) introduced Bedaquiline initially in 5 states i.e. Assam, Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra an Nadu. Till the end of Feb , 2018, 1059 patients are on Bedaquiline containing regimen.

In view of availability of enough drug to implement Bedaquiline con taining regimen, rest of the S tates /UTs have been given guidance for expansion of Bedaquiline throughout country in all Nodal Drug Resistant TB (DRTB) Centr es as per aforesaid guidelines.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3650 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Bad Loans of Agriculture
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: MIDHUN REDDY

## Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Financial Services

## LOK SABHA

Unstarred Question No. 3650 To be answered on Friday, March 16, 2018/Phalguna 25, 1939 (Saka)

## Bad Loans of Agriculture

3650. SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  banks  have  during  the  last  couple  of  years  witnessed  rupees thousands  of  crores  spike  in  the  bad  loans  of  agriculture  and  if  so,  the  reasons thereof; and
- (b)  whether  the  agriculture  Non  Performing  Assets  have  also  increased  to  23  per cent in 2017 and if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## Answer

The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance (Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla )

- (a)  to  (b):  The  details  of  total  outstanding  Gross  Non  Performing  Assets  (GNPAs) and  GNPA  ratio  for Agriculture &  Allied Activities, in respect of  Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) for the last three years, as reported by Reserve Bank of India (RBI), are as under :

| Agriculture and Allied Activities - GNPAs (in Rs. Crore)   | Agriculture and Allied Activities - GNPAs (in Rs. Crore)   | Agriculture and Allied Activities - GNPAs (in Rs. Crore)   | Agriculture and Allied Activities - GNPA Ratio (in Per cent)   | Agriculture and Allied Activities - GNPA Ratio (in Per cent)   | Agriculture and Allied Activities - GNPA Ratio (in Per cent)   |
|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
| March 31,2015                                              | March 31, 2016                                             | March 31, 2017                                             | March 31, 2015                                                 | March 31, 2016                                                 | March 31, 2017                                                 |
| 37,726                                                     | 48,845                                                     | 60,161                                                     | 4.5                                                            | 4.7                                                            | 5.4                                                            |