opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1370 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Tribal affected by Rourkela Steel Plant
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: CH. MALLA REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED   QUESTION NO. 1370

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## TRIBAL AFFECTED BY ROURKELA STEEL PLANT

1370. SHRI CH. MALLA REDDY:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  National  Commission  for  Scheduled  Tribes  (NCST)  has  expressed  its displeasure over the slow progress on the issue of displacement of tribals due to Rourkela Steel Plant;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether  the  NCST has directed the  Union Steel Ministry to  constitute a high level committee to investigate that whether the land acquired for the steel plant was handed over to any cooperative society or private organization; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  and  (b):  On  22.02.2016  and  24.02.2016,  the  National  Commission  for  Scheduled Tribes  (NCST)  visited  the  Rourkela  Steel  Plant  in  connection  with  displacement    and rehabilitation  of  tribals  due  to  setting  up  of  Rourkela  Steel  Plant  at  Rourkela.  On 17.10.2016 and 16.05.2017, NCST held meetings with the officers of the Government of Odisha, Rourkela Steel Plant and Ministry of Steel to discuss the matter.
- (c)  and  (d):  In  the  sitting  held  on  16.05.2017,  NCST  advised  Ministry  of  Steel  to constitute a Committee to enquire into the land sold / leased to any private organization by  the  Rourkela  Steel  Plant.  The  Ministry  of  Steel  has  constituted  a  Committee  in accordance with the recommendation.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1364 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Courses in Nano Scale Engineering
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1364 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## Courses in Nano Scale Engineering

## 1364.  SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to begin bachelor's course in nano scale engineering at Indian  Institutes  of  Technology  (IITs)/National  Institutes  of  Technology  (NITs)  and private colleges/Universities; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) : No, Madam.  However, courses on nano scale engineering are already available in  premier  technical  institutions  e.g.  Indian  Institute  of  Science  (IISc),  Indian  Institutes  of Technology (IITs) and National Institutes of Technology (NITs).

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1359 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Compensations to Tea Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: RAM PRASAD SARMAH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1359 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## COMPENSATIONS TO TEA WORKERS

1359. SHRI RAM PRASAD SARMAH:

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

- (a)whether the Government has unveiled schemes to pay sufficient compensations to dependents of labourers of Tea Garden in case of death of Tea or Ex Tea garden workers;
- (b)if so, the details thereof;
- (c)if not, whether the Government has adopted any policy for ensuring social
- and economic security of Tea Garden workers; and
- (d)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): No, Madam. However, the Plantation Labour Act, 1951 mandates the tea estates to provide basic welfare services and amenities viz. housing, medical  and  primary  education,  water  supply,  sanitation  etc.  to  the  tea workers.   Moreover, the workers of the tea industry are covered by all social security  legislations  like  the  Employees'  Compensation  Act,  1923,  the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, the Employees' Provident Funds & Miscellaneous  Provisions  Act,  1952,  the  Payment  of  Bonus  Act,  1965,  the Maternity  Benefit  Act  1961,  the  Payment  of  Wages  Act,  1936,  the  Equal Remuneration Act, 1976, the Assam Tea Plantation Provident Fund, Pension Fund and Deposit Link Insurance Fund Scheme Act 1955 - only for Assam.

Besides,  the  Government  implements  through  the  Tea  Board various welfare activities for tea plantation workers and their dependents in tea  estates.  The welfare  activities  undertaken  by  the  Tea  Board  under  the Human  Resource  Development  (HRD)  Scheme  aim  at  improving  the  health and  hygiene  of  workers,  education  of  wards  of  workers  and  imparting training to improve skills for growers/workers.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1358 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: BALABHADRA MAJHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1358 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL CENTRE FOR ARTS

## 1358. SHRI BALABHADRA MAJHI:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is true that the Government has taken decision to open a satellite centre of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in Odisha;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  time  by  which  it  is  likely  to  be  fully functional; and
- (c) the steps being taken by the Government and the factors being considered to set  up  a  regional  centre  of  Indira  Gandhi  National  Centre  for  the  Arts  in Odisha?

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR CULTURE & TOURISM (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

## ANSWER

- (a) to (c): Executive  Committee  of  Indira  Gandhi  National  Centre  for  the  Arts (IGNCA)  in  its  72 nd meeting  held  on  18 th April,  2017  decided  that  a Satellite  Regional  Centre  could  be  established  in  Odisha  which  will function under the Regional  Centre, IGNCA,  Ranchi.

Decision of the Executive Committee is being implemented accordingly.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1357 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Expansion of Refinery
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: RAM CHARITRA

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1357 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 th  JULY, 2017

## EXPANSION OF REFINERY

1357: SHRI RAM CHARITRA NISHAD:

## पैट्रो ल ियम और प्राक ृ तिक गैस मंत्री

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

- (a) whether the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) proposes to invest Rs. 15000 crore in Gujarat refinery expansion project and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the total fund invested by IOCL for expansion of various refineries in the country during the last two years and the current year, refinery-wise; and
- (c) whether the IOCL also proposes to invest in refineries project abroad and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## पैट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्रािय में राज्य मंत्री ( स्विंत्र प्रभार ) (श्री धमेन्द्र प्रधान)

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a)  Indian  Oil  Corporation  Limited  (IOCL)  has  informed  that  the  Company  has planned to expand its Gujarat Refinery from the current capacity of 13.7 MMTPA to 18.0 MMTPA with an estimated investment of Rs. 15000 crore. M/s Engineers India Limited  (EIL)  has  done  the  configuration  study  for  the  expansion  project.  The configuration  has  new  units  like  Atmospheric  Vacuum  Unit,  Indmax  unit,  Motor Spirit (MS) block units, Kerosene Hydro De-sulphurization unit and Sulphur recovery units along with associated utilities and off sites.
- (b) The details of total fund invested by IOCL for expansion of various refineries in the country during the last two years and the current year, refinery-wise is Annexed.
- (c) IOCL has informed that at present they have no plan to invest in refineries project abroad.

*********

Annexure Investment made in Refinery Projects during last two years and current

## year (upto June, 2017)

|   S.No. | Refinery Name       |   Expenditure during last two years and current year(upto June, 2017) (Rs. Cr) |
|---------|---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Panipat Refinery    |                                                                          78.18 |
|       2 | Gujarat Refinery    |                                                                         564.33 |
|       3 | Haldia Refinery     |                                                                          29.13 |
|       4 | Bongaigaon Refinery |                                                                         113.83 |
|       5 | Digboi Refinery     |                                                                           2.49 |
|       6 | Mathura Refinery    |                                                                          33.36 |
|       7 | Barauni Refinery    |                                                                         272    |
|       8 | Paradip Refinery    |                                                                          19.82 |
Lok Sabha Question No. 1356 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Audit Report of Universities
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: DEVAJIBHAI GOVINDBHAI FATEPARA

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1356 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## Audit Report of Universities

## 1356. SHRI DEVAJIBHAI G.FATEPARA:

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

- (a) whether the Ministry has received an audit report showing financial irregularities from some Central Universities and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether a large sum of funds have been allegedly misappropriated as per the audit and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has taken the cognizance of said audit report; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

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

(a) to (d): The Ministry has received the Inspection Reports of some of the Central Universities  indicating  the  observations  of  Audit  on  various  matters,  including  the financial  irregularities,  from  the  office  of  the  Principal  Director  of  Audit.  The Ministry  refers  such  reports  to  the  concerned  Central  Universities  (CUs)  for  early settlement of the audit-paras.

The  Ministry  of  Human  Resource  Development  (MHRD)  also  reviews  such  audit  reports from  time  to  time  and  instructs  the  concerned  CUs  to  take  adequate  corrective  measures including to prevent their recurrence. The University Grants Commission vide its D.O. NO. F.6-1/2016(CU) dated 17 th March 2016 has also issued the instructions to Vice Chancellors of all Central Universities pertaining to improving  financial management and strict compliance of rules / procedures in the Central Universities.  It is mandatory for all Central Universities to conduct internal audits of their accounts in a time bound manner.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1354 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Central Universities
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: HARI MANJHI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1354 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## Central Universities

## †1354. SHRI HARI MANJHI:

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

- (a)  whether the Government proposes to identify or has identified such Central University/ organisations which have the potential to make their own identity at world level in the field of education and research;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has allocated any funds/incentives to the said Government and private sector institutes in this regard in the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

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

## (DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

(a) to (e): There is a proposal for providing a Regulatory Architecture enabling 10 public and  10  private  Institutions  to  emerge  as  World  Class  Teaching  and  Research  Institutions which are proposed to be named as 'Institutions of Eminence'. Accordingly, the Ministry of Human  Resource  Development,  in  consultation  with  University  Grants  Commission  has formulated draft UGC (Declaration of Government Educational Institutions as Institutions of Eminence) Guidelines, 2017 for public institutions and draft UGC (Institutions of Eminence Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2017 for private Institutions.

The  scheme  proposes  to  provide  financial  assistance  upto  Rs.10,000/-  crore  to  10 public Institutions to be selected as 'Institutions of Eminence'. The entire scheme of setting up/upgrading  10  public  and  10  private  Institutions  as  'Institutions  of  Eminence'  is  under consideration of the Government.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1353 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Child Labour in Drought Hit States
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: MEKAPATI RAJAMOHAN REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1353 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## CHILD LABOUR IN DROUGHT HIT STATES

1353. SHRI M. RAJA MOHAN REDDY:

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

- (a)whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  Child  Labour  is  on  the  rise  in drought hit States and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether the Government has conducted any survey in this regard; and
- (c)if so, the details and the findings thereof along with the steps taken/being taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): Child Labour is an outcome of various socio-economic problems such as poverty, economic backwardness and illiteracy etc. The number of main workers in the age group of 5-14 years in the country is 43.53 lakh as per 2011 Census which shows a decline from 57.79 lakh as per 2001 Census.
- (b) & (c): Government is implementing National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme for rehabilitation of child labour and presently the Scheme is sanctioned  in  280  districts  of  the  country.  Under  the  Scheme,  survey  for identification of working children is undertaken on regular basis. The survey intends to identify working children below 14 years of age in all occupations and  processes  and  adolescents  (14  to  18  years)  working  in  hazardous occupations  and  processes.  Children  rescued/withdrawn  from  work  in  the age group of 9-14 years are enrolled in the NCLP Special Training Centres (STCs), where they are provided with bridge education, vocational training, mid  day  meal,  stipend,  health  care,  etc.  before  being  mainstreamed  into formal education system. Children in the age group of 5-8 years are directly linked to the formal education system through a close coordination with the Sarva  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (SSA).  At  present  approximately  1.41  lakh  children are enrolled in the STCs under the scheme in the country.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1352 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Pay Commission for Unorganised Sector
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: MALLIKARJUN  KHARGE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1352 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## PAY COMMISSION FOR UNORGANISED SECTOR

1352. SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE:

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

- (a)whether  the  Government  reviews  the  working  conditions  and  pay scales of the workers working in unorganized sector by appointing commissions at regular intervals on the lines of employees of the Central Government;
- (b)if so, the details thereof;
- (c)if not, whether the Government has any such proposal in this regard at present; and
- (d)if so, the details thereof along with the time by which final decision
- is likely to be taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (d): The Minimum Wages Act, 1948, provides for fixation/periodic revision of minimum wages in employment to prevent exploitation  of  workers.  Under  the  Act,  the  appropriate  Government, both  the  Centre  and  the  States,  fixes/revises  the  minimum  wages  in scheduled  employments  falling  in  their  respective  jurisdiction.  This Act provides for fixation of hours of work, payment of overtime wages besides providing penalties for offences under the Act and the Rules made thereunder.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1351 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Protection of Dialects
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAM SWAROOP SHARMA

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1351 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## PROTECTION OF DIALECTS

## † 1351. SHRI RAM SWAROOP SHARMA:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  for  the  protection  of  the dialects which are on the verge of extinction in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the time by which it is likely to be implemented?

## ANSWER

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

## (DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

(a)  to  (c):    The  Government  of  India  has  initiated  a  Scheme  known  as 'Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages of India' (SPPEL),  being implemented  by    Central  Institute  of  Indian  Languages  (CIIL),  Mysore.    This scheme  aims  at  protection,  preservation  and  documentation  of  all  the  mother tongues/languages  of  India  which  are  spoken  by  less  than  10,000  people. Dialects  being  part  of  a  language  are  covered  under  this  programme.  The University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)    has  a  Scheme  for  'Establishment  of Centres  for  Endangered  Languages'  under  which    centres  were  approved    in respect of nine Central Universities.  Further the UGC has been implementing a scheme namely 'Funding support to the State Universities for study and research in indigenous and endangered language in India'' under which seven Universities were approved for grants. In addition,  a collaborative project between Maharaja Sayajirao  University,  Baroda  and  BHASA,  a  Non  Governmental    Organisation working for Promotion and Preservation of Indigenous and Endangered languages was approved by UGC.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 1350 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Welfare of Labourers in IT and Small Scale Industries
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: N.K. PREMACHANDRAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1350 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## WELFARE OF LABOURERS IN IT AND SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIES

1350. SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

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

- (a)whether  the  Government  proposes  to  introduce  the  provisions  of  labour welfare laws in IT start ups and small scale industries so as to ensure the social security and welfare of workers working in these sectors;
- (b)if so the details thereof and the steps taken in this regard;
- (c)the  details  of  employees  working  in  IT  companies,  start  ups  and  small scale industries in the country, State/UT-wise;
- (d)whether  the  Government  also  proposes  to  utilise  the  unclaimed  amount pending with EPFO for ensuring the social security and welfare of workers and pensioners; and
- (e)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b): The workers of IT start ups and small scale industries may avail the  benefits  of  the  provisions  of  the  Employees'  Provident  Funds  and Miscellaneous  Provisions  Act,  1952,  Employees'  State  Insurance  Act,  1948 and  the  social  security  schemes  under  the  Unorganised  Workers'  Social Security Act, 2008 depending upon their eligibility.

The  Central  Government  has  also  launched  the  Atal  Pension Yojana,  Pradhan  Mantri  Jeevan  Jyoti  Bima  Yojana  and  Pradhan  Mantri Suraksha  Bima  Yojana  for  all  citizens  especially  targeting  unorganised workers  to  provide  them  comprehensive  social  security.  The  details  of employees working in IT companies, start ups and small scale industries in the country is not centrally maintained.

- (c): The details of employees working in IT companies, start ups and small scale industries in the country, State/UT-wise, is not centrally maintained.
- (d) & (e): No decision has been taken in this regard.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 1346 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Safety at Steel Plants
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: RAVINDRA VISHWANATH GAIKWAD

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1346 FOR ANSWER ON 24/07/2017

## SAFETY AT STEEL PLANTS

1346.  PROF. RAVINDRA VISHWANATH GAIKWAD:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has reviewed the safety and environment protection measures taken by steel production companies;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the funds spent so far by the Government for safety environment protection and training during the current year; and
- (c) the details of infrastructure for safety, training, environment protection available with the Government?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR STEEL

(SHRI VISHNU DEO SAI)

- (a) Steel  is  a  deregulated  sector  and  individual  Steel  manufacturing  companies enforce  and  review  safety,  environment  protection  measures  &  training  in  their respective plants/units. In addition, review is undertaken by authorities under various statutory regulations/provisions etc.

(b)&(c): Does not arise.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 1345 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Task Force on Innovation
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: BALKA SUMAN

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1345. TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE  24 TH  JULY, 2017.

## TASK FORCE ON INNOVATION

## 1345.  SHRI SUMAN BALKA:

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

वाणिज् यवव द्यग ं ्री

- (a) whether the Task Force on Innovation has suggested measures to enhance the innovation ecosystem in India and to improve India's ranking in the Global Innovation Index (GII);
- (b) if so, whether India has improved its innovation rank in the GII; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## 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): Yes,  Madam.  The  Task  force  on  Innovation  has  come  up  with  the  report 'Task  Force  on  Innovation  Report  on  Global  Innovation  Index:  An  Indian Perspective'  in  which  measures  to  enhance  the  innovation  ecosystem  in India and improve India's ranking in the Global Innovation Index (GII) have been suggested.
- (b) & (c): Yes,  Madam. India has improved its rank in Global Innovation Index (GII) from 81 st in 2015 to 66 th in 2016, and further six places to 60 th in 2017.

*******