opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2607 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-12
Subject: Development of Oil and Gas
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: P. KUMAR

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2607 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 th  March, 2018

## Development of Oil and Gas

## 2607. SHRI P. KUMAR:

## पैट्रोलियम व प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्री

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

(a) whether the Government proposes to hold consultation with the industry/investors before  formulating  any  new  policy  regarding  development  of  oil/gas  and  other petroleum products;

(b) if  so, the details thereof along with the salient features of the new oil/ petroleum policy;

(c) whether the Government proposes to deregulate the prices of natural gas; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

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

(a)  &  (b). The  Government  of  India  has  launched  the  Hydrocarbon  Exploration  & Licensing Policy (HELP)  on 30 th March, 2016 after holding wide ranging consultations with various stakeholders such as Exploration & Production (E&P) operators, service providers,  industry  and  trade  associations  etc.,  including    National  Oil  Companies (NOCs).    The  salient  features  of  new  Hydrocarbon  Exploration  &  Licensing  Policy (HELP) are as follows: -

-  Single License for conventional and unconventional Hydrocarbons.
-  An Open Acreage Licensing Policy.
-  Easy to administer Revenue Sharing Model
-  Marketing & pricing freedom for the Crude oil & Natural gas.
-  Zero royalty rates for deepwater and ultra deepwater blocks for first seven years.
-  Equal weightage to work programme and fiscal share
-  Exemption from oil cess
-  Custom duty exemption etc.

(c)  &  (d). Government  of  India  has  notified  'New  Domestic  Natural  Gas  Pricing Guidelines, 2014' in October, 2014. This pricing mechanism is formula based and has been worked out considering the volumes and prices prevailing at major international markets such as Henry Hub (USA), National Balancing Point (UK), Alberta (Canada) and Russia. The formula has been finalized considering the requirements of producing and consuming sectors, and has tried to make a fine balance between their interests. The  prices  are  notified  after  every  six  months  in  accordance  with  said  guidelines. Government  has  notified  a  policy  in  March,  2016  to  grant  marketing  and  pricing freedom  with  a  price  ceiling  on  gas  produced  from  discoveries  in  Deepwater,  Ultra Deepwater,  and  High  Pressure-High  Temperature  areas.  Government  has  also provided marketing and pricing freedom for the sale of crude oil and natural gas to be produced under the Discovered Small Fields Policy-2015 and Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP). Government has also notified the marketing and pricing freedom for Coal Bed Methane (CBM) in April, 2017 to augment domestic gas production.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2606 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-12
Subject: University and College Teachers
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: GOPALAKRISHNAN CHINNARAJ

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No.2606 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2018

## University and College Teachers

2606. DR. C. GOPALAKRISHNAN: Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a)  whether  the  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  has  sought  feedback  from various stakeholders on its draft regulations for minimum qualifications for appointment and other service conditions of university and college teachers and others; (b) if so, the details thereof; and (c) the response/feedback received from various stakeholders in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): The University Grants Commission (UGC) has informed that the Committee constituted  by  the  Chairman,  UGC  has  drafted  UGC  Regulations  on  'Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and Other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education, 2018'.  The  draft  regulations  has  been  uploaded  on  the  UGC  website  vide  Public Notice  dated  9 th February,  2018  to  seek  feedback/  suggestions/  comments  from various  stakeholders/  general  public.  UGC  has  further  informed  that  it  has  received 7800 responses/ feedback from various stakeholders till 28 th February, 2018.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2605 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-12
Subject: Expansion of National School of Drama
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2605 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2018

## EXPANSION OF NATIONAL SCHOOL OF DRAMA

2605. SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL :

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal/plan  to  open  a  branch  of  National  School  of Drama (NSD) in different States of the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to start NSD in Damoh in Madhya Pradesh;
- (d)   whether  the  Government  has  received  any  request/proposal/letter  from  various  State Governments especially Madhya Pradesh to open a branch of NSD in their respective States; and
- (e) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  action  taken  by the Government thereon, State/UT-wise including Madhya Pradesh?

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR CULTURE & MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST & CLIMATE CHANGE

## (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

## ANSWER

- (a) to (b): Yes Sir. The Broad Based Committee (Vision Committee) set up by the NSD Society in February 2005, inter-alia, had recommended opening of five regional centres of the NSD across the country. On the basis of these recommendations, the decision to establish Five Regional Centres during the 11 th Five Year Plan period (2007-2012), one each at Kolkata, Mumbai, J&K, and North-East besides upgrading  the  existing  Regional  Resource  cum  Research  Centre,  Bengaluru  to  a  full-fledged regional centre, was taken by the Government.

So far, only Government of Karnataka has provided land /accommodation in 2013 at Bengaluru for the purpose where one year theatre training course is being organized by the NSD. Currently, the Bengaluru centre is running one year course on dramatic arts.

Proposals for opening of NSD centres in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have also been received by the NSD.

To review the position of opening of NSD centres, NSD Society constituted a Sub-Committee. The NSD society, on the recommendations of the Sub-Committee, decided to defer the opening of such centres   till such time that the status of institution of national importance is granted to NSD.

- (c): No
- (d): NSD has received  proposals  only  from  Andhra  Pradesh  and  Telangana,  but  the  same  has  been deferred, as already stated against part (a)&(b) above
- e): Does not arise.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2604 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-12
Subject: Promotion of Industries
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: VASANTHI M.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL POLICY & PROMOTION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2604. TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE 12 TH  MARCH, 2018.

## PROMOTION OF INDUSTRIES

## 2604.   SHRIMATI VASANTHI M.:

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

## वाणिज् यवव द्योग म त्री

- (a) whether it is true that the Government has fixed priority on job creation, export push and boost to foreign direct investment in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  it  is  also  true  that  the  Government  has  invited  opinion  from  the experts in all the above three fields and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the other steps taken by the Government to realize the said goal?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् यवव द्योग म त्रालयमेंराज् यम त्री(श्री सी.आर.चौधरी) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI C.R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a) to (c) :  Job creation, export promotion and encouraging foreign direct investment in the country have been the priority of the Government. Government has taken  various  steps  for  generating  employment  in  the  country  like encouraging  private  sector  of  economy,  fast  tracking  various  projects involving  substantial  investment  and  increasing  public  expenditure  on schemes  like Prime Minister's  Employment  Generation  Programme (PMEGP),  Mahatma  Gandhi  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA), Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana  (DDU-GKY)  and  Deendayal  Antyodaya  Yojana-  National  Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM).

A Scheme 'Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana' has been initiated generation. Government has also implemented the National Career Service  Project providing a package of employment related services inter-alia consisting of a portal (www.ncs.gov.in) for online registration and posting of jobs for for incentivising industry for promoting employment job-seekers.

The  Government has taken  a  number  of  initiatives  like  'Make  in  India', 'Startup  India',  for  promoting  investments  in  India  thereby  boosting exports  and  job  creation.  Moreover,  Government  has  undertaken  a number of reforms to promote FDI in the country, which complements and supplements  domestic  investment.  Domestic  companies  are  benefited through  FDI  by  way  of  enhanced  access  to  supplementary  capital  and state-of-art-technologies, as also exposure to global managerial practices resulting  into  employment  generation  and  accelerated  growth  of  the sectors.

Consultations are held with stakeholders including apex industry chambers,  Associations,  representatives  of  industries/groups  and  other organizations inviting suggestions and feedbacks on the various schemes/ programmes being run by the Government to make necessary improvements  thereon.  Views/  suggestions  received  are  considered  by the Government and necessary amendments, if required, are made from time to time.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2603 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-12
Subject: Institutions of Eminence
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2603 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2018

## Institutions of Eminence

## 2603. SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN:

Will	the	Minister	of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be	pleased	to	state : (a)	 whether	 the	 Government	is	planning	for	setting	up	of	institutions	of	eminence	under which	ten	public	and	ten	private	universities	would	be	selected; (b)	if	so,	the	details	thereof; (c)	whether	the	education	reforms	underway	would	receive	big	boost	in	the	years	to	come; and

- (d)	if	so,	the	details	thereof?

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

(a)	to	(b):	Yes	Madam. University	Grants	Commission	(UGC)	has	issued	/	notified	enabling regulatory	architecture	in	the	form	of		UGC	(Declaration	of	Govt.	Educational	Institutions	as Institutions	of	Eminence)	Guidelines,	2017	and	UGC	(Institutions	of	Eminence	Deemed	to	be Universities)	Regulations,	2017	to	enable	10	public	and	10	private	institutions	to	emerge	as World	Class	Teaching	and	Research	Institutions	named	as	'Institutions	of	Eminence'	(IoEs).

As	per	the	Guidelines	and	Regulations	applications	for	Institutions	of	Eminence	was called	 for	 and	 in	 response	 114	 applications	 have	 been	 received.	 An	 Empowered	 Expert Committee	(EEC)	has	been	constituted	for	selection	of		Institutions	of	Eminence.

(c)	to	(d):	Under	this	scheme,	the	selected	IoEs	will	have	freedom	to	choose	their	own	path to	become	world	class	institutions	and	greater	autonomy	like	to	admit	foreign	students	upto 30%	of	admitted	students,	freedom	to	recruit	foreign	faculty;	to	offer	online	courses	upto 20%	of	its	programmes;	to	enter	into	academic	collaboration	with	top	500	institution	in	the world	 ranking	 without	 permission	 of	 UGC;	 freedom	 to	 fix	 and	 charge	 fees	 from	 foreign students	 without	 restriction;	 flexibility	 of	 course	 structure	 in	 terms	 of	 number	 of	 credit hours	and	years	to	take	a	degree;	complete	flexibility	in	fixing	of	curriculum	and	syllabus etc.	 has	 been	 provided.	 Further,	 each	 public	 Institution	 selected	 as	 IoE	 shall	 be	 provided financial	assistance	upto	Rupees	1000	Crore	over	a	period	of	five	years.

It	is	expected	IoEs	will	come	up	in	top	500	of	the	world	ranking	in	ten	years	time	and in	 top	 100	 eventually	 overtime.	 This	 will	 improve	 the	 general	 level	 of	 education	 of	 the country	and	will	enable	students	to	get	world	class	education	at	an	affordable	rate	within the	country.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2602 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-12
Subject: AICTE Functioning
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: B.V. NAYAK

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2602 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2018

## AICTE Functioning

## 2602. SHRI B.V. NAIK:

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

(a) whether  Government  is  taking  any  concrete  steps  to  improve  the  functioning  of  All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in the light of deteriorating standards of professional technical education in private sector;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether  any  steps  are  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  make  a  transparent mechanism at AICTE for recognition and monitoring of private institutions; 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): The Government and AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) have taken concrete steps to improve the functioning of AICTE on the recommendations of Kaw Committee  viz.  to  concentrate  on  mentoring  and  development,  to  focus  attention  on research  and  innovation,  rating  to  be  the  fulcrum  of  regulation  etc.  The  Committee submitted  its  report  titled  'Technical  Education  in  India:  A  Futuristic  Scenario'  on 12.06.2015. The AICTE has implemented e-Governance mechanism which includes Online approval process for the institutes, dashboard and online grievance redressal system for eliminating corrupt practices and maintaining transparency & presenting model curriculum.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2601 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-12
Subject: Academic Activities in ESIC Hospital, Kalaburgi
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: SHOBHA KARANDLAJE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2601 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2018

## ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES IN ESIC HOSPITAL, KALABURGI

2601. KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE:

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

- (a)whether  ESIC  is  aware  that  the  Academic  activities  at  the  ESI  Medical College and Hospital in Kalaburgi have been hit hard by the shortage of cadavers for research and education;
- (b)if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  total  intake  of  ESIC  Hospital, Kalaburgi along with the steps taken by the Government to address the issue;
- (c)whether ESIC has taken initiatives for spreading awareness and encouraging individuals to support cadaver donation and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)whether  a  Policy  for  utilizing  the  services  of  UG/PG  Pass-outs  from  ESI Medical  Colleges/ESI-PGIMSRs  in  ESI  Hospitals/Dispensaries  has  been approved, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a) & (b): Yes, Madam.  It has been recently learnt that there is shortage of cadavers for research and education at ESIC Medical College, Kalaburgi.

The total intake of students is 100 MBBS admission annually.

The college is making efforts to procure more cadavers.

- (c): Yes, Madam. ESIC Medical Colleges have undertaken programme/initiatives for encouraging individuals to support cadaver donations.

The  Activities  carried  out  in  this  regard  by  some  ESIC  Medical Colleges are as under:

## Faridabad, Haryana

-  'Continuing  Medical  Education  program  on  Organ  &  Body  Donation Awareness' on 15-04-2017.
-  Joka, Kolkata
-  'Continuing Medical Education Seminar on Organ and Tissue Transplantation and Donation' on 19-12-2017.
-  Workshop on Organ/Body donation on 26/2/2018

## Kalaburgi, Karnataka

-  'Body  Donation  Awareness  Programme'    organized    by  Deptt  of Anatomy on 08-02-2018
-  A 'Body Donation Society' has also been established by the College

## Sanathnagar, Hyderabad

- 
- Voluntary Body Donation Awareness program on 10-6-2017
-  Awareness program about Body Donation as an outreach activity in the community on 26/01/2018.

Encouraging live human voluntary Body Donors through personal interaction/social media providing Body Donor ID cards to willing individuals.

- (d): Yes, Madam. A Policy for utilization of the services of the UG/PG Passouts  from  ESI  Medical  Colleges/ESI-PGIMSRs  in  ESI  Hospitals/Dispensaries has been approved.  In this regard, ESI Corporation has issued memoranda on  04.09.2014  and  02.02.2018  for  utilization  of  services  under  bond  in respect of UG/PG passouts from ESIC Medical/Dental Colleges.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2599 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-12
Subject: Karnal Employment Exchange
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: ASHWINI KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2599 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12TH MARCH, 2018

## KARNAL EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE

## 2599.  SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR:

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

- (a) the  number  of  registered  unemployed  persons  with  employment  exchange  in Karnal  in  Haryana  as  on  1st  Jan.,  2018  including  Graduates,  Post  Graduates, Skilled and Unskilled persons out of them; and
- (b) the details and the number  of persons got employment  through Karnal employment exchange during the last three years and the current year, categorywise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a):  As per the information received from the State, the number of job seekers, all of whom  may  not necessarily be unemployed, registered with live register of employment exchange in Karnal in Haryana as on 1st Jan., 2018 is given below:

| Educational Qualification   |   Job seekers |
|-----------------------------|---------------|
| Post Graduate               |          3044 |
| Graduate                    |          5584 |
| 10+2                        |         18941 |
| Matric                      |          4666 |
| Below Matric                |           854 |
| ITI                         |          1200 |
| Diploma Holder              |           803 |
| Engineer                    |           524 |
| Doctor                      |            18 |
| Total Live register         |         35634 |

(b):  The  number of job seekers placed through Karnal employment exchange, yearwise and category-wise are given as under:

| Year            |   2015 |   2016 |   2017 |
|-----------------|--------|--------|--------|
| Total Placement |    220 |    384 |      3 |
| SC              |     28 |      0 |      0 |
| BC              |     25 |      0 |      0 |
| OBC             |      7 |      0 |      0 |
| PH              |      0 |      3 |      0 |
Lok Sabha Question No. 2598 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-12
Subject: Social Audit of MDMS
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2598

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2018

## Social Audit of MDMS

## 2598.   SHRIMATI P.K. SREEMATHI TEACHER:

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

- (a) whether the Government have introduced social audit on mid day meal scheme for schools in the country including Kerala; and
- (b) if so, the status of the project and the funding pattern for the same?

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

- (a) & (b): The Department of School Education & Literacy issued detailed guidelines in  2014  for  conducting  Social  audit  under  the  Mid  Day  Meal  Scheme  (MDMS). Social audit under the Scheme has been conducted in Bihar, Maharashtra, Odisha, Karnataka,  Punjab,  Uttar  Pradesh,  Telangana,  Nagaland,  Andhra  Pradesh,  West Bengal, Rajasthan, Uttrakhand and Tamil Nadu.  Presently Social Audit is being conducted in the State of Mizoram.

Under  the  scheme,  Management,  Monitoring  &  Evaluation (MME)  component  is provided by the Central Government.  It is calculated @ 2% of the total assistance for (a) food grains, (b) transportation cost, (c) cooking cost and (d) honorarium to cook-cum-helpers. The amount sanctioned under MME component is used by the States  and  UTs  for  Management,  Monitoring  &  Evaluation purposes  including Social Audit of the scheme.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2597 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-12
Subject: PF Interest Rate
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: RAMACHANDRAN MULLAPPALLY

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2597

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2018

## PF INTEREST RATE

2597. SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN:

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

- (a)whether  the  Government  has  further  reduced  interest  rate  on
- Employees Provident Fund; and
- (b)if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons  therefor  along  with  the interest  rate  being  provided  on  Employees  Provident  Fund  at present?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a) & (b): The rate of interest on Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) is determined  by  the  Central  Government  in  consultation  with  the Central  Board  of  Trustees  (CBT),  Employees'  Provident  Fund  (EPF). Further, in   determining the rate of interest, the Central Government shall satisfy itself that there is no overdrawal on the Interest Account as a result of the debit thereto of the interest credited to the accounts of  members.  The  rate  of  interest  for  2016-17  is  8.65  per  cent.  The CBT,  EPF  has  recommended  8.55  per  cent  rate  of  interest  to  be credited to EPF subscribers' accounts for 2017-18.

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