opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2069 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-28
Subject: Welfare of Domestic Labourers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER, BOORA NARSAIAH GOUD, SADASHIV KISAN LOKHANDE

- (a):

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2069 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.11.2016

## WELFARE OF DOMESTIC LABOURERS

## 2069. SHRIMATI P.K. SREEMATHI TEACHER:

DR. BOORA NARSAIAH GOUD: SHRI SADASHIV LOKHANDE:

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

- (a)whether the Government proposes to amend the Domestic Workers Act and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)the details of schemes and programmes being implemented by the Government  to  protect  the  interests  of  the  domestic  workers particularly women helps who are employed through unrecognized employment  agencies  in  the  country,  scheme-wise  and  State/UTwise;
- (c)the funds allocated, disbursed and spent thereunder along with the beneficiaries  during  the  last  three  years  and  the  current  year, Scheme-wise and State/UT-wise;
- (d)whether the Government has announced any new welfare measures to benefit domestic workers including women domestic helps in the country; and
- (e)if  so,  the  details thereof and the other steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- No. There is no such Domestic Workers Act.
- (b) to (e): Domestic work falls under the purview of state sphere and state  governments  are  empowered  to  enact  legislation  for  domestic workers.

The central Government has not enacted any separate law to  protect  the  interest  of  domestic  workers.  However  the  central Government  has  enacted  the  Unorganized  Workers'  Social  Security Act,  2008  for  providing  social  security  to  all  unorganized  workers including  domestic  workers.  The  Act  provides  formulation  of  social security  schemes  viz  life  and  disability  cover,  health  and  maternity benefits  &  old  age  protection  by  the  central  Government.  The  state Government  are  mandated  under  the  Unorganized  Workers'  Social Security Act, 2008 to formulate suitable welfare schemes for unorganized  sector  workers  including  domestic  workers  relating  to provident fund, employment injury benefits housing, education schemes for children, skill up gradation of workers, financial assistance & old age homes.

Further, no funds have been specifically allotted or disbursed and spent by the Central Government for domestic workers.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 2067 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-28
Subject: Import of GM Canola Oil
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: (ADV.) JOICE GEORGE

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2067 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 th  NOVEMBER, 2016

## IMPORT OF GM CANOLA OIL

## 2067. ADV. JOICE GEORGE:

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

- (a) the  proportion  or  percentage  of  imported  GM  Canola  oil  within  India's  total  oil  consumption,  in terms of value and volume;
- (b) whether  GM  canola  oil  imports  have  been  permitted  by  the  Genetic  Engineering  Appraisal Committee (GEAC) before 2015;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if  not,  the  action  being  taken  against  illegal  imports  of  GM  canola  oil  that  happened  without permission of GEAC?

## ANSWER

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

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

## (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a)  The  information  on import of GM Canola oil is not available separately. However, India's total imports of vegetable oil in terms of value and volume (quantity) are as follows:

| Years                 |   Quantity (Millions Tonnes) |   Value (US$ Millions) |
|-----------------------|------------------------------|------------------------|
| 2015-16               |                         15.6 |                10492.1 |
| 2016-17 (Apr to Aug)* |                          5.6 |                 4207.6 |

Source: Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence & Statistics (* Provisional)

(b) to (d):  Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) has recently approved one application for import of GM Canola Oil derived from herbicide tolerant canola (Event Ms8xRF3).

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 2062 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-28
Subject: Nursery Schools
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2062 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 th  NOVEMBER, 2016

Nursery Schools

## 2062.   SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE: SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK: SHRI SATAV RAJEEV: SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

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

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  plans  to  make  children  join  Government  schools  from  the nursery level and not from class I, if so, the details thereof along with the objective behind the move;

(b)  whether  this  issue  has  been  taken  up  in  the  meeting  of  the  Central  Advisory  Board  of Education, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether a Committee on bringing pre-schooling and secondary education under the Right to Education Act is also in the process of finalizing its report in the matter; and

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the time by which the Committee is likely to submit its report?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## ( SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

(a) to (d): In the 58 th Meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) held on 7th June, 2011, it was felt that every child in the country - irrespective of gender, caste, class or community  to  which  he  or  she  belongs  must  have  the  right  to  at  least  10  years  of  formal schooling.  Accordingly, a Sub-Committee of CABE on the subject of the 'Extension of the Right of  Children  to  Free  and  Compulsory  Education  Act  (RTE),  2009  to  Pre-school  education  and secondary  education'    was  set  up  on  4th  August,  2011  under  the  Chairmanship  of  Dr.  D. Purandeshwari,    the  then    Minister  of  State,    MHRD  with  23  members.      However,  the Committee could not finalize its report.

The  Central  Advisory  Board  of  Education  (CABE)  in  its  63 rd meeting  held  on  19 th August, 2015 decided to reconstitute this Sub-Committee on 'Extension of Right of Children to Free  and  Compulsory  Education  (RTE)  Act,  2009  to  Pre-school  Education  and  Secondary Education'. Accordingly, the Sub-Committee has been reconstituted on the 4 th April, 2016. So far, two meetings of the Sub-Committee have been held. In the meeting held on 19th October, 2016,  after  wide  deliberations  on  various  issues,  it  was  decided  that  further  state  level consultations need to be carried out, so that the outcome of those deliberations could be used in giving  the  final  shape  to  the  recommendations  of  the  Sub-Committee.  The  final  report  of  the Sub-Committee is awaited.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2058 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-28
Subject: e-Commerce Companies
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: SULTAN  AHMED, RAM PRASAD SARMAH, N.K. PREMACHANDRAN, SAUGATA ROY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL POLICY & PROMOTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2058.

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE 28 TH   NOVEMBER,  2016.

## E-COMMERCE COMPANIES

## 2058.  SHRI SULTAN AHMED:

SHRI RAM PRASAD SARMAH:

SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

PROF. SAUGATA ROY:

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

वाणिज् यवव द्यग ं ्री

- (a) whether the e-commerce business has grown big rapidly in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof including the total value of e-commerce trading during each of the last three years and the current year, company-wise;
- (c) whether the Government proposes any scheme to overcome the challenges being faced by the e-commerce companies in the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the time by which it is likely to be implemented; and
- (e) the other steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to promote ecommerce in the country?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् यवव द्यग ााज् यं ्रीस् वतं ््रभााा(स्रींतंरीिरंमलााीरीतंाांि( THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRIMATI NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) & (b): No study in this regard has been undertaken by the Government.

- (c) & (d):

No such scheme is under consideration of the Government.

- (e): Formulation of enabling policies for businesses is a continuous process in  the  Government.  In  order  to  promote  e-commerce  sector  in  the country, the Government has put in place a liberal FDI policy along with guidelines on e-commerce sector. As per the FDI policy on the sector, 100% FDI under the automatic route is permitted in B2B e-commerce activities including in market place model of e-commerce. Further, an

entity  is  permitted  to  undertake  retail  trading  through  e-commerce  in following of the circumstances:

- i) A  manufacturer  is  permitted  to  sell  its  products  manufactured  in India through e-commerce retail.
2. ii) A  single  brand  retail  trading  entity  operating  through  brick  and mortar  stores,  is  permitted  to  undertake  retail  trading  through  ecommerce.
3. iii) An  Indian  manufacturer  is  permitted  to  sell  its  own  single  brand products through e-commerce retail. Indian manufacturer would be the investee company, which is the owner of the Indian brand and which manufactures in India, in terms of value, at least 70% of its products in house,  and sources, at  most 30%  from  Indian manufacturers.
4. iv) An  entity  selling  food  products  manufactured  and/or  produced  in India is permitted to sell its products through e-commerce.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2055 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-28
Subject: Modernisation of IITs
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, BHARATENDRA SINGH, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2055 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.11.2016

## Modernisation of IITs

## 2055.   SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

KUNWAR BHARATENDRA:

DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government has decided to modernise five laboratories each in seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to make them at par with the best in the world;
- (b) if so, the details thereof including the steps taken by the Government;
- (c) the funds required for the said modernisation and the agency through which the required fund would be met and the time by which these IITs would be modernised; and
- (d) whether the Government is also planning to bring the teacher student ratio in the IITs to 1:10 from current 1:15 and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (d):  The  IIT-Council  in  its  50 th   Meeting  held  on  23.08.2016  approved  in principle  the  project  Vishwajeet  which  seeks  specific  interventions  for  overall strengthening of the 7 IITs namely IIT-Delhi, IIT-Bombay, IIT-Madras, IIT-Kanpur, IIT-Kharagpur,  IIT-Roorkee  and  IIT-Guwahati  to  help  them  come  up  into  the  Top 100  World  University  Rankings.  Government  of  India  will  provide  necessary budgetary support to these IITs for the purpose.  As regards student-teacher ratio, a number of initiatives have been taken, such as, appointment of contract, adjunct and  visiting  faculties  in  IITs,  year  round  advertisement  in  international  journals, pay  parity,  mobility  of  faculty  from  one  Central  Educational  Institution  to  other without  affecting  their  pensionary  benefits.    In  addition,  a  scheme  called  Global Initiative  for  Academic  Network  (GIAN)  has  been  launched  which  allows  foreign faculty to teach in Indian Institutions during Summer/ Winter breaks.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2050 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-28
Subject: Report of DISE
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, DHARMENDRA YADAV, Shrirang Appa Barne

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2050 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.11.2016

## Report of DISE

## 2050.   DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE: SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV: SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

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

- (a) whether a large number of the schools in the country do not have a sports ground as per the survey  report  of  the  District  Information  System  for  Education  (DISE)  and  if  so,  the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to take the required steps in this regard;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  direct  assistance  to  District  Collectors  for construction of sports grounds in schools and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the time by which all the schools are likely to have sports grounds?

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

- (a) to (e) As per Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) Flash Statistics 2015-16, out of  a total of 15,22,347 Government, Government Aided and Private schools in the country, 5,89,881 (38.74%) schools do not have playground. The Schedule to Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, inter alia, provides for all-weather school building including playgrounds.  States/ Union Territories have been advised  to  provide  these  facilities  in  convergence  with  other  schemes  and  by  making arrangements with other playgrounds/ municipal park, etc., for enabling children to play outdoor  games  etc.  The  Rashtriya  Madhyamik  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (RMSA),  a  Centrally Sponsored Scheme also envisages that the schools which are not having playground will use  playground  in  neighbourhood  schools  or  the  community  playground  and  also  take support of community such as Panchayat Raj Institutions, Members of Parliament Local Area  Development  or  Members  of  Legislative  Assembly  Local  Area  Development contributions towards their development & maintenance.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2048 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-28
Subject: ‘Kahin Bhi-Kabhai Bhi’ Medical Service
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: T. RADHAKRISHNAN, SUDHEER GUPTA, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2048

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.11.2016

## 'KAHIN BHI-KABHI BHI' MEDICAL SERVICE

## 2048. SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased state:

- (a)whether the Government has launched the 'Kahin Bhi-Kabhi Bhi' medical facilities for ESIC beneficiaries of Delhi;
- (b)if so, the details thereof along with the manner in which the said facility is
- likely to be helpful to ESIC beneficiaries;
- (c)whether  the  Government  proposes  to  extend  this  facility  all  over  the country;
- (d)if so, the details thereof and the time by which it is likely to be done; and
- (e)if not, the reasons therefor and the further steps taken/being taken by the Government  to  improve  the  medical  services  to  ESIC  beneficiaries  and their family members?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b): Yes,  Madam.    The  Employees'  State  Insurance  Corporation (ESIC)  has  launched  the  'Kahin  Bhi-Kabhi  Bhi'  medical  facilities  for  ESI beneficiaries  of  Delhi/Noida  on  a  pilot  basic  w.e.f.  1 st   November,  2016  as detailed below:-
1.  Insured  Persons  and  their  families  residing  in  Delhi/Noida  may  seek primary  medical  care  services  including  consultation  and  medicines  for common routine aliments from any of the ESI Dispensary in Delhi and Noida.
2. Patient may be referred from any ESI Dispensary to any ESI Hospitals in Delhi/Noida for secondary care.

- (c) & (d): Yes. It is being planned from March, 2017.

- (e):

- Does not arise in view of (c) above.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2043 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-28
Subject: Renovation of Monuments
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: GOPAL CHINAYYA SHETTY, RAYAPATI SAMBASIVA RAO, BANSHILAL MAHTO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2039 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.11.2016 AGRAHAYANA 7, 1938 (SAKA)

## HARASSMENT BY GUIDES

## 2039. SHRI  ASHWINI KUMAR:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it  has  come  to  the  notice  of  the  Government  that  many inefficient guides and touts posing as guides harass visitors, especially foreign tourists  at  protected  monuments  under  the  Archaeological Survey of India (ASI);
- (b) whether the Government proposed to appoint qualified licensed guides; and
- (c) if so, the action taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE, CULTURE AND TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) A few incidence of inefficient individuals posing as guides to harass visitors have been reported.
- (b)&(c) Yes, Madam. Archaeological Survey of India has framed Policy for Guides  as  per  directions  of  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  of  India  for appointment of Archaeological Survey of India guides to make the system transparent.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2039 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-28
Subject: Harassment by Guides
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: ASHWINI KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2039 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.11.2016 AGRAHAYANA 7, 1938 (SAKA)

## HARASSMENT BY GUIDES

## 2039. SHRI  ASHWINI KUMAR:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it  has  come  to  the  notice  of  the  Government  that  many inefficient guides and touts posing as guides harass visitors, especially foreign tourists  at  protected  monuments  under  the  Archaeological Survey of India (ASI);
- (b) whether the Government proposed to appoint qualified licensed guides; and
- (c) if so, the action taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE, CULTURE AND TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) A few incidence of inefficient individuals posing as guides to harass visitors have been reported.
- (b)&(c) Yes, Madam. Archaeological Survey of India has framed Policy for Guides  as  per  directions  of  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  of  India  for appointment of Archaeological Survey of India guides to make the system transparent.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2037 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-28
Subject: Review of Right to Education Act
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RANJIT SINGH  BRAHMPURA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2037 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 th  NOVEMBER, 2016

## Review of Right to Education Act

## 2037. SHRI RANJIT SINGH BRAHMPURA:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: ( a) whether the Government proposes to link RTE to parameters such as quality outcomes and learning indicators as well and if so, the details thereof; and (b)  whether  the  Government  considering  extending  Right  to  Education  Act,  2009  from  6-14

years age bracket to 3-18 years age bracket, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## ( SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

(a): The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 lays down the duties  of  the  appropriate  Government  and  the  local  authority  to  ensure  that  good  quality elementary  education  conforming  to  norms  and  standards  is  provided,    that  curriculum  and courses of study are prescribed in a timely manner, and that teachers are trained. It also provides for putting in place a continuous and comprehensive evaluation of the child's understanding of knowledge and his or her ability to apply the same. To further strengthen the emphasis on quality education, the learning outcomes for students at elementary level are being finalized.

(b): The  Central  Advisory  Board  of  Education  (CABE)  in  its  63 rd meeting  held  on  19th August, 2015 decided to reconstitute the Sub-Committee on 'Extension of Right of Children to Free  and  Compulsory  Education  (RTE)  Act,  2009  to  Pre-school  Education  and  Secondary Education'  which  was  initially constituted  on  4 th August,  2011.  Accordingly,  the  SubCommittee has been reconstituted on the 4 th April, 2016.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2035 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-28
Subject: Meeting of India-US TPF
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: PRALHAD VENKATESH JOSHI, KIRIT SOMAIYA

## MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2035

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 th  NOVEMBER, 2016

## MEETING OF INDIA-US TPF

## 2035. SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI: DR. KIRIT SOMAIYA:

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

- (a) the  details  and  the  outcome  of  the  10th  India-US  Trade  Policy  Forum  (TPF)  meeting recently held in New Delhi indicating the details of the focus group;
- (b) the issues which were deliberated upon during the TPF meeting; and
- (c) the quantum of bilateral trade between the two countries during 2015-2016?

## ANSWER

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

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

(INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a)       The 10 th round of India- US Trade Policy Forum (TPF) meeting was held in New Delhi on 20 th October,2016. The Indian side was led by Hon'ble Commerce & Industry  Minister  and  the  US  side  was  led  by  Mr.  Michael  Froman,   US  Trade Representative. The  focus  group  were  (i)  Agriculture  (ii)  Services  (iii)  Intellectual Property & (iv) Investment & Manufacturing.
- (b)         The  issues  deliberated  included  -   Market  Access  issues  for  Agriculture, Pharma, Services, Smart Cities, E-Commerce and Direct Selling, Digital Economy, Visa Fees, Patent & Copy right issues , Infrastructure and FDI.
- (c)        The quantum of bilateral trade (export & Import) between India & US is  US $ 62,117.21  (Million)  during  the  period  2015-2016  and  trade  balance  is  in  favour  of India.  Indian Exports to USA during 2015-2016 is US $ 40,33582 Million and Imports
- from USA are valued at US $ 21,781,39 Million.

***