opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 928 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-08
Subject: Operation of DTH Services
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: INNOCENT, VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK, LAXMI NARAYAN YADAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 928

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2018)

## OPERATION OF DTH SERVICES

928.SHRI INNOCENT: SHRI VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK: SHRI LAXMI NARAYAN YADAV:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a) the names of the companies which have been given licenses by her Ministry to operate Direct to Home services and are providing DTH services in the country;
- (b) the terms and conditions fixed for giving licenses to the companies;
- (c) whether the Government has any income from DTH services;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  issue  licenses  to  more  DTH  service providers and if so, the details thereof along with the revenue expected to be earned by the Government therefrom?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING {COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)}

- (a) The Ministry  has  granted  license  to  six  private  companies,  namely,  (i)  M/s. Dish TV India Limited (ii) M/s. Tata Sky Limited (iii) M/s. Sun Direct TV Pvt. Limited (iv)  M/s.  Reliance  BIG  TV  Limited  (v)  M/s.  Bharti  Telemedia  Limited,  and  (vi)  M/s. Videocon d2h Limited to provide Direct to Home (DTH) services in India under the DTH Guidelines issued on 15.3.2001, as amended from time to time.   In addition, Doordarshan as Public Broadcaster is also providing free to air DTH services in the country.
- (b) DTH licenses, under the DTH guidelines, are granted to those Companies which fulfill the eligibility criteria, terms and conditions and subject to security clearance and

technical clearances by the appropriate authorities of the Government. The details of DTH guidelines are available on the website of this Ministry at www.mib.gov.in.

(c)    to  (e)  As  per  provisions  of  clause  3.1  of  the  DTH  Guidelines,  the  Licensee,  in addition to an initial non-refundable entry fee of Rs.10 crores, is required to pay an annual license fee @ 10% of its gross revenue. There is no restriction on the total number of DTH licenses.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 927 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-08
Subject: Confirmation of Electrification of Villages
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: RANGASWAMY DHRUVANARAYANA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.927 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2018

## CONFIRMATION OF ELECTRIFICATION OF VILLAGES

927.   SHRI R. DHRUVA NARAYANA:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether villages have been declared to be electrified, in the GVA reports, prior to a confirmation visit by the GVA representatives;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) whether uninhabited villages and forest areas have also been counted as electrified, if so, the reasons therefor?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

( SHRI  R. K. SINGH )

(a) to (c) : A village  is  declared  electrified  on  the  basis  of  report  of  the respective DISCOM/State Government.  Uninhabited villages and forest are not counted as electrified.  According to Rural Electrification Policy 2006, a village is declared electrified if:

- (i) Basic infrastructure such as Distribution Transformer and Distribution Lines are provided in the inhabited locality as well as the Dalit Basti/hamlet, where it exists.
- (ii) Electricity  is  provided  to  public  places  like  schools,  Panchayat Office, Health Centres, Dispensaries, Community Centres etc. and
- (iii) The  number  of  electrified  household  is  atleast  10%  of  the  total number of households in the village.'

************
Lok Sabha Question No. 926 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-08
Subject: Production of Power from Urban Waste
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: ALOK SANJAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-926

TO BE ANSWERED ON-08.02.2018

## PRODUCTION OF POWER FROM URBAN WASTE

## 926. SHRI ALOK SANJAR

Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether any comprehensive scheme has been formulated for production of power from urban waste in the country:
- (b) if so, the details thereof: and
- (c) the details of information regarding utilization of urban waste for production of power in the country, city-wise?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER (I/C) (SHRI R.K. SINGH)

- (a) & (b) The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for setting up of waste to energy plants utilizing agricultural waste, urban waste, industrial waste and Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to generate power. In addition, the  Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs also provides central assistance of 35% of the total project cost  as per the  guidelines for Solid Waste Management under SBM.
- (c)  State/  UT-wise  details  of  Waste  to  Energy  plants  set  up  from  Municipal  Solid  Waste (MSW), as on 31.01.2018 are given in the Annexure.

*****

## Annexure

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 926 for 08/02/2018 regarding 'Production of Power from Urban Waste'

## 'State-wise details of Waste to Energy plants set up from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), as on 31.01.2018'

|   S. No. | State / UTs      | Plant Commissioned/Under trial                                                |   Installed Capacity (MW) |
|----------|------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|
|        1 | Delhi            | M/s Ramky Group at Narela-Bawana, New Delhi                                   |                     24    |
|        2 | Delhi            | M/s Jindal Urban Infrastructure Pvt Ltd. at Okhla, New Delhi                  |                     16    |
|        3 | Delhi            | M/s IL&FS Environment Infrastructure and Services Ltd. at Ghazipur, New Delhi |                     12    |
|        4 | Madhya Pradesh   | M/s Essel Infra at Jabalpur                                                   |                      9    |
|        5 | Maharashtra      | M/s Solapur Bio-energy Systems Pvt. Ltd at Solapur                            |                      3    |
|        6 | Himachal Pradesh | M/s Elephant Energy Private Limited at Shimla                                 |                      1.75 |
Lok Sabha Question No. 924 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-08
Subject: Budgetary Cut in MGNREGS
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: NANDI YELLAIAH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 924

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2018

## BUDGETARY CUT IN MGNREGS

## 924. SHRI NANDI YELLAIAH:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Union  Government  has  imposed  a  budgetary  cut  of  Rs.  6000  crore  to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the budgetary allocation for MGNREGS will be restored to its original size; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV)

- (a): No, Madam.

(b)&(c):

Do not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 923 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-08
Subject: Training cum Coaching Centres in West Bengal
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: ANUPAM HAZRA

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.923 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2018

Training cum Coaching Centres in West Bengal

923. DR. ANUPAM HAZRA:

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  training  cum  coaching  centres  under  Central Government  functioning  for  athletes  and  sports  persons  in  West Bengal;
- (b) whether the Government has established or proposes to establish such centres in West Bengal for international and domestic sports and games; and
- (c) if so, the details and the present status thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS {COL. RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (RETD.)}

- (a) To promote sports in the country, Sports Authority of India (SAI) is implementing the following sports promotional schemes across the country including in the State of West Bengal:
- i.
- SAI Training Centre (STC) Scheme
- ii. Special Area Games (SAG) Scheme
- iii.
- Extension Centre of STC/SAG Scheme
- iv.
- v.
- Centre of Excellence (COE) Scheme
- National Sports Academy (NSA) Scheme

Under the above Sports Promotional Schemes, SAI is running 04 (four)  STC  Centres  in  West  Bengal  one  each  at  Kolkata,  Lebong, Burdwan  and  Jalpaiguri  in  the  disciplines  of  Archery,  Athletics, Badminton,  Football,  Gymnastics,    Hockey,  Judo,  Swimming  and Table Tennis with 345 trainees (267 boys and 78 girls) on residential and non-residential basis.

Under SAG Scheme, SAI is running a Centre at Bolpur in the discipline of Archery, Basketball and Table Tennis with 71 trainees (37 boys & 34 girls) on residential and non-residential basis. SAI has adopted Scottish University Mission Institution, Kalimpong, Darjeeling in the discipline of Football & Taekwondo with 32 boy trainees and St. Teresa Girls Hr. Sec., Loreto Convent School, Darjeeling  in  the  discipline  of  Athletics  and  Football  with  25  girl trainees. Under COE Scheme, SAI is running a centre at Kolkata with 24 trainees (03 boys and 21 girls) in the disciplines of Archery, Athletics and Gymnastics. Under NSA Scheme, SAI Regional Football Academy is also run at Kolkata with 36 boy trainees. The  Government  of  West  Bengal  has  created  international standard sports  infrastructure  at  Jalpaiguri  which  has  been  taken over by SAI and a SAI Training Centre is running there in two sports discipline i.e. Athletics & Football with 57 residential (49 boys & 08 girls) and 78 non-residential (49 boys & 29 girls) trainees. (b) & (c): The  established  training  cum  coaching  centres  under Central Government functioning for athletes and sports persons in West Bengal are already indicated in part (a) of the reply. An MOU between Sports Authority of India, Coal India Limited (CIL) & Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) has been signed on 2 nd  May,

2017 for Coal India SAI National Table Tennis Academy, Kolkata.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 921 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-08
Subject: Assistance to Bihar under BRGF
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 921 ANSWERED ON 08.02.2018

## Assistance to Bihar under BRGF

## 921.   SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  special  financial  assistance  which  was  provided  under  Backward  Region Grants Fund (BRGF) to Bihar has been stopped;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether this is likely to create problems to the State in its developmental work efforts; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a) to (d) Backward  Regions  Grant  Fund  (BRGF)  Programme  which  was  being implemented in all States of the country, except Goa, has been delinked from the budgetary support  of  the  Central  Government  with  effect  from  the  financial  year  2015-16  as  this scheme has become a part of devolution to the States. This is in view of enhanced fiscal space made available to the States by the Fourteenth Finance Commission on account of higher devolution to the States from 32% to 42% of the Centre's net tax receipts. This would enhance  the  availability  of  funds  with  the  States,  including  Bihar,  allowing  them  greater autonomy for financing and designing the developmental works. Further, NITI Aayog has informed that during 2015-16 and 2016-17, Rs. 1887.53 crore and Rs. 1329.35 crore have been released respectively, under the special grant against the balance fund of Special Plan to Bihar.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 78 (STARRED), answered on 2018-02-07
Subject: Manufacturing of Small Arms and Ammunition
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: PR. SENTHILNATHAN, KRISHNAN NARAYANASAMY RAMACHANDRAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE PRODUCTION

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.78

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 7 TH  FEBRUARY, 2018

## MANUFACTURING OF SMALL ARMS AND AMMUNITION

- *78. SHRI  PR. SENTHIL NATHAN: SHRI K.N. RAMACHANDRAN:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  had  conducted  company  validation  procedure  through Defence Attache in Slovakia;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  current  status  of  the  proposed  project  for  the manufacture of small arms and ammunition under the 'Make in India' programme;
- (c) whether the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB)  has  given any reply to the Government in this regard and to expedite the process of approval and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  there  is  delay  in  according  approval  to  any  such  company  which  was given approval / recommendation by the OFB particularly for the manufacture of small arms and ammunition under the 'Make in India' programme; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to accord approval to such company / project?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                    (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

j{kk ea=h

¼Jherh  fueZyk lhrkje.k )

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

******

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 78 FOR ANSWER ON 7.2.2018

(a) In  the  last  three  years,  no  verification  of  firms  was  conducted  for manufacture of Small Arms through our Defence Attache in Slovakia. (b) & (c): Does not arise. Ordnance  Factory  Board  (OFB)  had  floated  a  Request  for Information  (RFI)  to  identify  Original  Equipment  Manufacturer  (OEM)  for selection of a technological partner for manufacture of small arms, under OFB  forwarded a  proposal  for  approval  of  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU)  to  be signed  with  an  Original  Equipment  Manufacturer  (OEM)  for  co-operation. At present, OFB does not  have any Standard Operating  Procedure (SOP) for selection of a technological partner.  Therefore, Ministry of Defence has of

(d) & (e): 'Make in India' programme. Based  on the above, returned the proposal to OFB  to finalise a SOP  for selection a technological partner.

- ******
Lok Sabha Question No. 77 (STARRED), answered on 2018-02-07
Subject: Acute Staff Crunch
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: MIDHUN REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 77 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2018

## ACUTE STAFF CRUNCH

- *77. SHRI P.V.MIDHUN REDDY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Railways is facing acute staff crunch;
- (b)   if so, the details thereof and  the reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether there has been no recruitment drive in the Railways since 2014; and
- (d)   if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COAL (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.  77  BY  SHRI  P.V.MIDHUN  REDDY  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.02.2018 REGARDING ACUTE STAFF CRUNCH

(a) No, Madam. (b) Does not arise. (c) & (d) Since 2014, 79,600 candidates in Group 'C' categories and 90,534  candidates  in  Group  'D'  categories  were  empanelled  by Railway  Recruitment  Boards  (RRBs)  and  Railway  Recruitment  Cells (RRCs), respectively.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 76 (STARRED), answered on 2018-02-07
Subject: Gauge Conversion
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: ARJUNLAL MEENA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.76 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2018

## GAUGE CONVERSION

- † *76.   SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the budget allocated for gauge conversion from metre gauge to  broad  gauge  of  Udaipur-Ahmedabad  rail  section  and  the amount spent so far;
- (b) the time by which the said work of gauge conversion is likely to be completed; and
- (c) the total length of gauge conversion along with the length up to which the said work has been completed?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COAL

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  76  BY  SHRI  ARJUN  LAL  MEENA  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  07.02.2018  REGARDING  GAUGE CONVERSION

- (a)  to  (c):    Ahmedabad-Himmatnagar-Udaipur    gauge  conversion project  (297.24  km)  has  been  sanctioned    in  the  Budget  2008-09. Latest  cost  of  gauge  conversion  project  is ` 1449.43  crore.  An expenditure of ` 381.46 crore has been incurred upto March, 2017 and an outlay of ` 422 crore has been provided for the year 2017-18.

Out of 297.24 km alignment of the project, 153.54 km falls in Gujarat and 143.70 km falls in Rajasthan.

Due to limited availability of funds in the earlier years,   there has  been  little  progress  on  this  gauge  conversion  project.  Since 2014-15, the Budget allotment of this project has been improved and the  work  on  this  project  has  been  expedited.  The  status  of  the project is as under:

1.  Ahmedabad-Himmatnagar (87.25 Km):. Status of works taken up on this stretch are as under:
2. (i):  Ahmedabad-Asarva  (1.87  km):  Already  an  existing  broad  gauge line. (ii)  Asarva-Himmatnagar  (85.38  km):  Earthwork,  bridges  work,  etc.
3. are in different stages of execution.
2.  Himmatnagar-Udaipur (209.65 Km):

All  contracts  (except  tunnel)  for  earthwork,  bridges  work  ballast supply, track linking, etc. have been awarded and works taken up.

Out of 295.32 Km gauge conversion to be done, 205.83 km gauge conversion is targeted to be completed  by March, 2019  and remaining 89.49 km gauge conversion is targeted to be completed by December, 2019.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 75 (STARRED), answered on 2018-02-07
Subject: Colour of Passports
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: N.K. PREMACHANDRAN, K. C. VENUGOPAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.75 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2018

## COLOUR OF PASSPORTS

- *75.   SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:
- SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  decided  to  change  the  colour  of passports under the Emigration Check Required (ECR) and non-ECR categories, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  study  regarding  the impact of change in colour of passports for the migrant Indians and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  remove  the  information furnished  in  the  last  page  of  the  passport  and  if  so,  the  details thereof along with evaluation/study, if any, conducted  by  the Government in this regard;
- (d) whether the Government has sought opinion of migrant Indians and Indians working abroad with regard to change in colour of passports and  avoidance  of  the  information  in  the  last  page  of  the  passport and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to review the decisions taken in the matter on the basis of the opinion of the migrant Indians and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI SUSHMA SWARAJ)

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

*****

## PRIORITY - XV

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  to  (e)  OF  THE  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 75 REGARDING 'COLOUR OF PASSPORTS' FOR ANSWER ON 07.02.2018

(a) to (e) A decision was taken by the Ministry on the recommendations of a three-member Committee  comprising  officials  of  the  Ministry  and  the  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child Development not to print the last page of the Passport Booklet. The Ministry also took the decision to  issue  a  passport  with  orange  colour  jacket  to  passport  holders  with  Emigration Check Required (ECR) status, with a view to help and assist them on priority basis.

The Ministry received several individual and collective representations requesting to reconsider these two decisions.

The Ministry reviewed both these decisions in the light of these representations. After comprehensive  discussions  with  the  various  stakeholders,  the  Ministry  decided  on  29 January, 2017 to continue with the current practice of printing the last page of the passport and not to issue a separate passport with orange colour jacket to ECR passport holders.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 71 (STARRED), answered on 2018-02-07
Subject: Coal Royalty
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 71 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2018

## Coal Royalty

## *71. SHRI NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  raise  the  royalty  on  coal  which  was  due  for revision in April, 2015;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COAL

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

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

## Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question no. 71 for 07.02.2018

(a) to  (c)  Section  9(3)  of  the  Mines  and  Mineral  (Development  and  Regulation)  Act,  1957, provides  that  the  Central  Government  may,  by  notification  in  the  Official  Gazette,  amend  the Second Schedule (which specifies rates of royalty) so  as to enhance or reduce the  rate  at which royalty shall be payable in respect of any mineral with effect from such date as may be specified in the  notification,  provided  that  the  Central  Government  shall  not  enhance  the  rate  of  royalty  in respect of any mineral more than once during any period of three years.

As such, there is no mandatory provision in the Act to revise the rates of royalty every three year.

The rates of royalty on coal and lignite were last revised vide notification no G.S.R. 349(E) dated 10.05.2012. Pursuant to this notification, the rates of royalty on coal were made ad valorem on price of coal, except for the State of West Bengal.

As  regards  revision  of  the  rates  of  royalty  on  coal,  a  Study  Group  was  constituted  on 21.07.2014 for the purpose of examining the issue of revision of present royalty rates on coal and lignite.  The  Study  Group  had  earlier  submitted  its  recommendation  on  27.04.2016.  However, pursuant to the change in scenario due to implementation of GST and other factors, the matter was again referred to the Study Group. The final recommendation of the Study Group is awaited.

*****