opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 219 (STARRED), answered on 2018-08-01
Subject: Electoral Reforms
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: C. N. JAYADEVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. *219

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 01 st  AUGUST, 2018

## ELECTORAL REFORMS

*219. SHRI C. N. JAYADEVAN:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that majority of the political parties have opposed the idea  of  holding  simultaneous  election  for  the  Lok  Sabha  and  the  State Assemblies,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reaction  of  the  Government thereto;
- (b) whether it is a fact that many pressing electoral reforms such as curbing the  use  of  black  money  to  fund  election  etc.  as  recommended  by  a Committee on Electoral Reforms are pending; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto along with the steps taken by the Government to bring in electoral reforms so as to make the election process transparent?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN RESPECT OF PART (a) TO (c) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *219 DATED 01 ST  AUGUST, 2018

(a)  to  (c):  The  Department  Related  Parliamentary  Standing  Committee  on Personnel,  Public  Grievances,  Law  and  Justice  had  examined  the  issue  of simultaneous  elections  to  Lok  Sabha  and  State  Legislative  Assemblies  in consultation with various stake-holders including the Election Commission of India. The Committee has given certain recommendations in this regard in its 79 th report. The matter now stands referred to the Law Commission for further examination to work out practicable road map and framework for simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.

2. Further, the issue of electoral reforms in its entirety, was examined by the  Law  Commission  in  the  recent  past.  After  consulting  various  stakeholders, the Law Commission has submitted its 255 th report containing, interalia, purposive recommendations on Election Finance aimed at curbing use of black money in election funding. The recommendations are under examination of the Government at present.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 218 (STARRED), answered on 2018-08-01
Subject: Allotment of Coal Mines
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: JAY PRAKASH NARAYAN YADAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 218 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2018

## Allotment of Coal Mines

## *218.     SHRI JAI PRAKASH NARAYAN YADAV :

Will the MINISTER OF COAL be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  completed  the  allotment  process  of  coal reserves  (mines)/coal  blocks  in  view  of  establishment  of  the  proposed  4,000 MW ultra mega power project at Kakwara in Banka district of Bihar;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  if  not,  the  reasons  for  delay  in  allotment  of  coal  blocks  and  the  corrective steps being taken to address the same?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COAL, FINANCE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (c):      A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

****

18 th  Position

## Statement referred to in reply  to  parts  (a)  to  (c)  of  Lok  Sabha  Starred Question  No.218  for  answer  on  01-08-2018  asked  by  Shri  Jai  Prakash Narayan Yadav regarding Allotment of Coal Mines.

(a) to (c):      The Government has notified the Coal Blocks Allocation Rules, 2017 on 13-07-2017 to replace the Auction by Competitive Bidding of Coal Mines Rules, 2012 so as, inter-alia, to facilitate allotment of coal blocks for Ultra  Mega  Power  Projects  (UMPPs)  on  the  recommendation  of  Ministry  of Power.  The combined guidelines for UMPPs based on (i) Domestic Coal, (ii) Imported Coal and (iii) Linkage Coal are under finalization in the Ministry of Power. The  allotment  process  of  coal reserves/coal  blocks  in view of establishment  of  the  proposed  4,000  MW    UMPP  at  Kakwara  in  Banka District  of  Bihar  would  be  taken  up  after  finalization  of  the  aforesaid guidelines for UMPPs by Ministry of Power.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 214 (STARRED), answered on 2018-08-01
Subject: Conversion of Narrow Gauge Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: TAMRADHWAJ SAHU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.214 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2018

CONVERSION OF NARROW GAUGE LINE

†*214. SHRI TAMRADHWAJ SAHU:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) the names of places in the country where narrow gauge line is still in operation along with the details thereof; (b)  the  places  in  Chhattisgarh  for  which  proposal  to  convert  narrow gauge line into broad gauge line has been approved; (c)  whether  the  proposal  to  convert  Raipur-Rajim-Dhamtari  narrow gauge line in Chhattisgarh into broad gauge line has been approved; and (d)  if  so,  the  time  by  which  the  said  work  is  likely  to  be  completed along with the total amount sanctioned for the purpose?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COAL, FINANCE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  214  BY  SHRI  TAMRADHWAJ  SAHU  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 01.08.2018 REGARDING CONVERSION OF NARROW GAUGE LINE

## (a)  The narrow gauge sections on Indian Railways having Passenger operations include the following section Zone wise-

|   SN | Zone                       | Narrow Gauge Section                                                                       |
|------|----------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    1 | Central Railway            | Neral-Matheran, Murtizapur-Yavatmal, Murtizapur-Achalpur, Pachora-Jamner, Pulgaon-Arvi     |
|    2 | Northern Railway           | Kalka-Shimla, Pathankot-Jogindernagar                                                      |
|    3 | North Central Railway      | Dholpur-Sirmutra-Tantpur, Gwalior- Sheopur Kalan                                           |
|    4 | Northeast Frontier Railway | Darjeeling-New Jalpaiguri                                                                  |
|    5 | South East Central Railway | Kendri-Dhamtari, Abhanpur-Rajim Nagpur-Nagbhir                                             |
|    6 | Western Railway            | Bilimora-Wagai, Malsar-Choranda- Miyagam karjan, Choranda-Moti Koral, Jambusar-Pratapnagar |

(b) to (d) Detailed estimate for Gauge Conversion between Kendri to Dhamtari including Abhanpur-Rajim Branch line (67. 20 Km) has been sanctioned at a cost of Rs.543.93 crore on 30.05.2018. The completion of  Railway  project  requires  land  acquisition  and  shifting  of  utilities etc.    Therefore,  time  line  for  completion  of  project  cannot  be  fixed. However,  work  of  gauge  conversion  usually  takes  few  years  to complete.  Therefore,  Railways  is  also  exploring  option  of  starting trains of better speed & comfort on these Narrow Gauge (NG) lines as well.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 213 (STARRED), answered on 2018-08-01
Subject: Development of NER
Ministry: DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION
Asked by: SANKAR PRASAD DATTA

## Government of India

## Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region

## LOK SABHA

Starred Question No.*213

To be answered on Wednesday, August 1, 2018/Shravana 10, 1940 (Saka)

## QUESTION

## Development of NER

- *213.  SHRI SANKAR PRASAD DATTA:

Will  the  Minister  of  DEVELOPMENT  OF  NORTH  EASTERN  REGION  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has assessed the various socio-economic challenges and infrastructural constraints being faced in the North-Eastern Region (NER) and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  North-Eastern  Council  (NEC)  has  taken  any  steps  for  the development of the region; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the achievements made in this regard?

## ANSWER

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region [Dr. Jitendra Singh]

- (a) to (c) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.*213 for answer on 01.08.2018

(a) Assessment  of  various  challenges  faced  by  the  North  Eastern  Region  has been  undertaken  from  time  to  time.  All  non-exempted  Central  Ministries  have  to earmark 10% of the schematic budget for the development of North Eastern Region. There has been constant focus of the Government of India for development of the region through special programmes for social and physical infrastructure development,  human  resource  development,  capacity  building  etc.  Development efforts of the states of the region are also being supplemented through more liberal funding pattern of the sectoral developmental schemes and area specific development packages.

(b)  and  (c)  The  North  Eastern  Council  (NEC)  has  taken  up  various  measures  for development of the North Eastern Region, including setting up of regional institutes; funding  the  construction  of  10,911.58  kms.  of  roads;  installation  of  694.5  MW  of power plants and 2540.41 kms. of transmission & distribution lines; improvement of infrastructure in major airports of the region and creating infrastructure for education, healthcare, agriculture, horticulture, tourism, industries etc.

Improving livelihoods for the people of the North East is also a priority area for NEC  through  North  Eastern  Region  Community  Resource  Management  Project (NERCORMP).

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 212 (STARRED), answered on 2018-08-01
Subject: Allocation of Work to Judges
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: M. CHANDRAKASI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 212

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 01.08.2018

## Allocation of Work to Judges

*212. SHRI M. CHANDRAKASI:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a)  the procedure followed in the High Courts and the Supreme Court of the country for allocation of work to judges;
- (b)  whether  any  guidelines  have  been  issued  in  this  regard,  if  so,  the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether the Government would consider laying down any guidelines in the matter; and
- (d)  if so, the details in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a) to (d):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

Statement referred to in reply to Parts (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 212 due for answer on 01.08.2018 regarding 'Allocation of Work to Judges'

(a)  to  (d):  Allocation  of  work  among  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  and High Courts is  within the jurisdiction of the Chief Justice of the respective Court,   which are  independent  organ under the Indian  Constitution,  and the Government does not issue any guidelines in the matter.
Lok Sabha Question No. 207 (STARRED), answered on 2018-08-01
Subject: Digi Gaon
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: KAVITHA KALVAKUNTLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO.*207

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 01.08.2018

## DIGI  GAON

## *207.    SHRIMATI  KAVITHA KALVAKUNTLA:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a)      whether  CSC  SPV,  a  Special  Purpose  Vehicle  under  his  Ministry  has entered into an agreement with HDFC bank to enable its 3 lakh Village Level Entrepreneurs  (VLEs)  managing  the  Common  Service  Centres  (CSCs)  to operate as banking correspondents of HDFC bank;
- (b)     if so, the details thereof and the benefits to the public therefrom;
- (c)      whether  HDFC  will  support  CSC  SPV  in  converting  1,000  identified villages into Digital Villages (Digi Gaon) during this financial year; and
- (d)     if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a) to (d):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA  STARRED QUESTION NO. *207 FOR 01-08-2018  REGARDING DIGI GAON

…….

(a)  and (b):  Yes,  Sir.    HDFC  Bank  has  signed  an  Agreement  to  enable Common Services Centres (CSCs) to become Banking Correspondents. As per the  Agreement,  Village  Level  Entrepreneurs  (VLEs)  of  CSC  will  work  as Banking Correspondent of HDFC Bank and support the Government initiative to  promote  financial  inclusion  and  make  banking  services  more  accessible  in rural areas. Women, senior citizens and persons with disability will especially get  benefitted  through  this  initiative  as  it  would  enable  financial  transactions without the need for visiting bank branch.

(c)  and  (d):   There is no proposal with MeitY to this effect, however, HDFC Bank has offered to support the conversion of 1000 villages into digital villages.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 206 (STARRED), answered on 2018-08-01
Subject: Jeypore-Malkangiri Project
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: BALABHADRA MAJHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 206

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2018

## JEYPORE-MALKANGIRI PROJECT

*206.  SHRI BALABHADRA MAJHI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  in  spite  of  signing  of  Memorandum  of Understanding  (MoU)  between  the  Government  of  Odisha  and  the Ministry of Railways for Jeypore-Malkangiri Project, no tangible work has been done on the field even after nearly two years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons for such delay;
- (c) whether shortage of manpower is one of the main reasons;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken to address the same; and
- (e) the target date fixed to commission the project?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COAL, FINANCE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 206 BY SHRI BALABHADRA MAJHI TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  01.08.2018  REGARDING  JEYOREMALKANGIRI PROJECT

(a) to (e): Jeypore-Malkangiri  New  Line  (130  Km)  was  included  in Budget 2016-17 subject to approval by the Government (NITI Aayog, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs/CCEA).   An MoU was signed between  Ministry  of  Railways  and  Govt.  of  Odisha  on  10.10.2016 wherein it was agreed to share the cost of project, 25% by Govt. of Odisha and 75% by Railways.  The project was approved by Cabinet Committee  on  Economic  Affairs  (CCEA)  on  20.02.2018  at  a  cost  of ` 2343.64 crore.

The  Final  Location  Survey  (FLS)  for  30  Km.  has  been  completed. Finalization  of  L-Section  and  land  requirement  have  been  taken  up. The land acquisition papers for first 30 Km. will be submitted to State Government by September, 2018.   Further, land acquisition papers for balance 100 km is planned to be submitted to State Government by December, 2018.

There is no shortage of manpower with the  Railway for carrying out the infrastructure project.

The  project  is  targeted  to  be  completed  in  3  years  after  complete land acquisition by State Government.
Lok Sabha Question No. 205 (STARRED), answered on 2018-08-01
Subject: Misuse of Online Data
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: K. ASHOK KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*205

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 01.08.2018

## MISUSE OF ONLINE DATA

## *205 SHRI K. ASHOK KUMAR:

Will the Minister of Electronics & Information Technology be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether it is true that companies are misusing online data to manipulate the electoral process ahead of the general elections next year;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is also true that the Government has warned such companies which were misusing the said data; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION NO. *205 FOR 01-08-2018 REGARDING MISUSE OF ONLINE DATA

…….

(a) to (d): No  such  instance/report  has  come  to  the  notice  of  Government. There had been media reports about leakage of personal data. Government took notice of reports about leakage of data by Facebook and Cambridge Analytica, and issued notices to them in this regard.  In their response, Facebook informed that about 5.62 lakh Indians may have been potentially affected in the Cambridge Analytica  case,  wherein  an  application  developed  by  Global  Science  Research Ltd.UK  (GSR),  could  use  Facebook  platform  to  obtain  user  data  that  was allegedly  provided  to  Cambridge  Analytica.    However,  Cambridge  Analytica responded  that  they  do  not  have  any  Facebook  data  on  Indian  citizens.  To  a second  notice,  Facebook  informed  that  Cambridge  Analytica  had  violated Facebook's  policy.  Cambridge  Analytica  have  not  responded  to  the  second notice.    Since  the  reply  given  by  Cambridge  Analytica  was  not  adequately convincing, and that there was divergence in the replies given by Facebook & Cambridge Analytica, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been asked to investigate this matter with regard to possible misuse by Cambridge Analytica.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 202 (STARRED), answered on 2018-08-01
Subject: Informal Summit with China
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: SUGATA BOSE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.202 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2018

## INFORMAL SUMMIT WITH CHINA

- *202. PROF. (DR.) SUGATA BOSE:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the reasons for holding the informal summit with President of China at Wuhan and the topics covered in the discussion along with the results of the talks;
- (b) whether the next informal summit will take place in India; and
- (c) if so, the details including the time frame thereof?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI SUSHMA SWARAJ)

- (a) to (c) A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

*****

## PRIORITY- II

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF  THE LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  202  REGARDING  'INFORMAL SUMMIT WITH CHINA' FOR ANSWER ON 01.08.2018

(a) Prime  Minister  Shri  Narendra  Modi  and  President  of  People's  Republic  of China  Mr.  Xi  Jinping  held  their  first  Informal  Summit  in  Wuhan  on  April  27-28, 2018.    As  an  innovative  format  for  leadership-level  diplomatic  engagement,  the Informal Summit enabled the two leaders to hold direct, free and candid exchange of views  on  issues  of  over-arching,  long-term  and  strategic  significance,  without  the constraints of protocol and pre-set agenda.  It was not meant to discuss specific topics, but to strengthen mutual trust and understanding between the two leaders in order to forge a common understanding on the future direction of India-China relations and to create  the  appropriate  conditions  for  the  two  sides  to  deal  with  their  differences constructively.

(b) & (c) President  Xi  Jinping  has  accepted  Prime  Minister's  invitation  for visiting India for the second Informal Summit at a mutually convenient time in 2019.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2530 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-01
Subject: Ambulance Service in Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY, VISHNU DAYAL RAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2530 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2018

## AMBULANCE SERVICE IN TRAINS

† 2530.  SHRI SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY: SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  any  service  for  the  transportation  of  serious  patients along  with  an  attendant  on  the  line  of  ambulance  service  is available in trains;
- (b) if  so,  the  charges  for  transportation  of  such  patients  and  the expenditure  incurred  on  this  service  in  comparison  to  service  by road and air;
- (c)  whether  any  train  ambulance  service  is  being  operated  or proposed to be operated from Jharkhand and Bihar to neighbouring States and Delhi; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) to (d) Indian Railways do not run any ambulance-like service. Hence, comparison of charges for transportation with road and air in this regard does not arise. No such train ambulance service is  contemplated  for  transportation  of  patients  from  Jharkhand and Bihar to neighbouring States and Delhi.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2527 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-01
Subject: Special Tariffs for IT Startups
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: NARANBHAI KACHHADIA, RATTAN LAL KATARIA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2527

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 01.08.2018

## SPECIAL TARIFF FOR IT STARTUPS

## 2527          SHRI  NARANBHAI  KACHHADIYA: SHRI  RATTAN  LAL  KATARIA:

Will the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any proposal to give any special tariff exemptions to IT start-ups in near future;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the time by which it is likely to be implemented?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI S. S. AHLUWALIA)

(a), (b) and (c): There is no plan of Government to provide any special tariff exemption to IT start-ups  in  near  future.  Government  have  already  taken  a  number  of  initiatives  under  the Startup India Program which includes:

- (i) Start-ups to get income tax exemption for 3 years in a block of 5 years, if they are incorporated between 1 st April 2016 and 31 st March 2019. In the Union Budget 201718, the Government has increased this period of profit-linked deductions available to the eligible start-ups to 7 years.
- (ii) Section 54 EE has been introduced under the Finance Act, 2016 which provides for exemption  of  capital  gain  up  to  INR  50  lakhs  arising  out  of  transfer  of  long  term capital asset invested in a fund notified by Central Government. Also, Section 54 GB of Income-Tax Act, 1961 has been amended to provide exemption from tax on capital gains arising out of sale of residential house or a residential plot of land if the amount of net consideration is invested in equity shares of eligible Start-up for utilizing the same for purchase of specified asset.
- (iii) Tax exemptions on investments above Fair Market Value have been introduced on 14 June 2016 for investments made in Start-ups.

******