opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1821 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-26
Subject: Innovation Level
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: TARIQ ANWAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1821 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26/07/2017

## INNOVATION LEVEL

## †1821. SHRI TARIQ ANWAR:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó Ùðüëðó be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether improvement in innovation level is likely to strengthen health, education and agriculture sector in the country; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and steps being taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES

(SHRI Y.S. CHOWDHARY)

òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó +ÉÉè® ÑðöÆãðó òãðìððÐð ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó

(gÉÉÒ ´ÉÉ<Ç. AºÉ. SÉÉèvÉ®ÉÒ)

- (a) Yes  Madam.  Health,  education  and  agriculture  are  among  the  priority  sectors  identified  for improvement
- (b) The Department of Science & Technology has launched a new programme 'National Initiative for  Developing  &  Harnessing  Innovations  (NIDHI)'  last  year  which  covers  the  entire  value  chain  of innovations starting from idea to commercialization.

To promote innovation focused start-ups some of the key initiatives taken by the government are:

1. National  Institution  for  Transforming  India  (NITI)  Aayog  is  implementing  Atal  Innovation Mission (AIM) for promoting Incubators and Tinkering Labs.
2. Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and Department of Science and Technology (DST) have joined hands to promote Research Parks in the country.
3. Department  of  Industrial  Policy  and  Promotion  (DIPP)  in  association  with  Small  Industries Development  Bank  of  India  (SIDBI)  has  set  up  a  Rs.10,000  crore  Fund  to  invest  in  Venture Capital Funds to promote innovations and start-ups.
4. Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Industries has a programme to setup incubators in the Agriculture sector, under the ASPIRE ('A Scheme For Promoting Innovation, Rural Industry & Entrepreneurship') programme.
5. Department of Bio-Technology has a programme to promote incubators in the Bio-tech sector under the  Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) programme.
6. MHRD  has  also  launched  a  Smart  India  Hackathon  for  involving  Engineering  students  to provide solutions to problems faced by Government Departments.

In short there is a concerted effort by the government to promote innovation for addressing the problems and challenges faced by the country.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 1818 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-26
Subject: Digital Transaction Ranking
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1818 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2017

## DIGITAL TRANSACTION RANKING

## 1818. SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

(a) whether NITI Aayog has ranked or plans to rank States on the basis of digital transactions;

(b) if so, the details and the present status thereof, State-wise;

(c) whether the Aayog has asked the States to submit their digital transaction data and if so, the details thereof and the response of the States thereto;

(d) whether NITI Aayog has also suggested to incentivize digital payments by promising a fixed incentive for individual and also for district collectors/district magistrates/deputy commissioners; and

(e) if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF HOUSING & URBAN AFFAIRS

## (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

(a) to (c): It has been decided by NITI Aayog to institute a Digital Transformation Index for States for  measuring  the  performance  of  States  towards  digital  transformation  in  terms  of  digital infrastructure, ease of access and digital governance.  Consultations were held with States to finalise the framework of the index.

(d) & (e): NITI Aayog had constituted a Committee of Chief Ministers on digital payments which submitted its interim report to Hon'ble Prime Minister on 24 th  January 2017. The Committee has, inter-alia, recommended various incentives for consumers and merchants in the form of cashback on digital  spends,  discounts  on  government  payments  via  digital  means,  incentives  to  banking correspondents (BCs) and small merchants for digital transactions.

NITI Aayog has launched a scheme to provide incentives to District Collectors / DMs/Deputy Commissioners of all the States/UTs to undertake Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities for promoting digital payments through bank accounts. Under the scheme an incentive of Rs. 10/- is provided for every individual who has transited to digital payment mode and undertaken at least two successful transactions by any of the five digital payments modes viz: Unified Payment Interface (UPI), Rupay / Debit / Credit / Prepaid Cards, Aadhar Enabled Payment System (AEPS), Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) and E-Wallets. An amount of Rs.21.33 crore has so far been released to 570 districts out of total sanctioned amount of Rs. 50 crore for the scheme.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1816 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-26
Subject: Network Connectivity of BSNL
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: BHOLA SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1816 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH  JULY, 2017

## NETWORK CONNECTIVITY OF BSNL

†1816. SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  issued  any  guidelines  to  Bharat  Sanchar  Nigam Limited (BSNL) to provide better network facilities to rural areas in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) to (c) Telecom Regularity Authority of India (TRAI) has laid down the Quality of Service standards  for  Basic  Service  (Wireline)  and  Cellular  Mobile  Service  (2G  &  3G),  Broadband Wireless Regulation & Wireless Data Regulations. These regulations are applicable to all the service providers including BSNL. The Quality of Service parameters and their benchmarks laid down through these regulations are applicable for the service area as a whole which includes rural  areas  too.  The  specific    parameters  for  'Fault  Repair'  in  respect  of  Basic  Telephone Service (Wireline) for rural areas are as follows:-

## Fault Repair

For rural and hilly areas:

By next working days: ≥75% and within 7 days:100%

## Rent Rebate

Faults pending for >3 days and < 7 days:

Rent rebate for 7 days.

Faults pending for >7 days and ≤15 days:

Rent rebate for 15 days.

Faults pending for > 15 days:

Rent rebate for one month.

************
Lok Sabha Question No. 1815 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-26
Subject: Voting Rights to NRIs
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: RAMACHANDRAN MULLAPPALLY

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1815

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 26 th  JULY, 2017

## VOTING RIGHTS TO NRIs

1815. SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken any decision on extending voting rights to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether Election Commission of India has conveyed its willingness for the same; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI P.P.CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (c): At present, under the provisions of section 20A of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 read with the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, Non Resident Indian Voters can cast their vote in person in the constituency where their names are registered.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1814 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-26
Subject: Financial Assistance to Poor
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: MD. BADARIDDOZA KHAN

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

******

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1814

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 26 TH  JULY, 2017

## Financial Assistance to Poor

1814. SHRI MD. BADARUDDOZA KHAN:

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

- (a)  whether  it  has  been  difficult  for  the  poor  and  low  income  group  people  to  file petitions in the Supreme Court due to high fee and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether any scheme has been introduced by the Supreme Court for facilitating the filing  of  petition  and  providing  financial  assistance  to  the  poor  and  people belonging to low income group and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI P.P.CHAUDHARY)

- (a) to (c) Free legal services  (which include payment of court fee, providing advocate for  legal  advice,  preparation  of  paper  book  and  appearance  in  court  etc.)  are provided  to      poor  and  marginalized  persons  covered  under  Section  12  of  the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.  The  Supreme  Court  Legal  Services Committee (SCLSC) constituted under the Act has been providing free legal aid effectively as mentioned above to all eligible persons. The eligibility income criteria for  obtaining  free  legal  aid  from  the  SCLSC  is  Rs.1,25,000/-  per  annum  for  the general public.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1813 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-26
Subject: Survey of Slum Areas and Slum Re-development
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAMESH BIDHURI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1813 TO BE ANSWERED ON JULY 26, 2017

## SURVEY OF SLUM AREAS AND SLUM RE-DEVELOPMENT

No. 1813 SHRI RAMESH BIDHURI:

Will  the  Minister  of  HOUSING  AND  URBAN  AFFAIRS  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) the estimated number of houses and slums in urban areas as per recent  survey  by  the  National  Sample  Survey
- Organization (NSSO);
- (b) whether any basic amenities like road, electricity, drinking water,  etc.  have  been  provided  in  these  slums  during  the last five years and if so, the district-wise details thereof;
- (c) whether  any  concrete  steps  have  been  taken  by  the Government to improve basic amenities for slum dwellers and if so, the district-wise details thereof; and
- (d) whether  there  has  been  any  increase  or  decrease  in  the number of slums in whole of NCR including Delhi and if so,
- the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

(RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a) The estimated number of houses and slums in urban areas is
- 8,05,20,700 and 33,510 respectively as per the survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO)  in  its  69 th Round  of  Survey  during  the  period  July, 2012 to December, 2012.
- (b) As reported by NSSO, the percentage of households in urban areas  having  improved  source  of  drinking  water,  electricity for domestic use and with no road connectivity is respectively 95.3, 97.9 and 5.0 and district-wise estimates of basic infrastructure are not computed due to considerations of sample size in NSSO surveys.
- (c)
- Govt. of India through this Ministry assists the States/UTs to provide  houses  to  eligible  slum  dwellers  under  In-situ  slum rehabilitation  (ISSR)  component  of  Pradhan  Mantri  Awas Yojana (Urban).
- (d) Govt. of  NCT of  Delhi  has  reported  that  Delhi  Urban  Shelter Improvement Board has relocated 13 Jhuggi Jhopri Clusters so  far  to  decrease  the  number  of  slums.  NSSO  has  also reported that no separate estimate for NCR is available.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1811 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-26
Subject: Agreements with Neighbouring Countrie
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: RANGASWAMY DHRUVANARAYANA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1811 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2017

## AGREEMENT WITH NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

† 1811. SHRI R. DHRUVA NARAYANA:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  any  agreements  have  been  entered  into  with  the neighbouring countries under the foreign policy during the last one year;
- (b) if  so,  the  details of the agreement(s) entered into with China with regard to disputed territories;
- (c) whether  negotiations  have  been  held  or  agreement  entered into with China regarding excavation in the disputed territories; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

- (a) Yes.
- (b) No such agreement has been entered into with China.
- (c) & (d) Question does not arise.
- *****

ANSWER [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
Lok Sabha Question No. 1810 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-26
Subject: Repealing of Obsolete Laws
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: ANSHUL VERMA

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†1810

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 26 th  JULY, 2017

*****

## Repealing of Obsolete Laws

## †1810. SHRI ANSHUL VERMA:

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

- (a) the progress made in repealing of obsolete/outdated Acts/legislations in the country;
- (b) the action taken on recommendations of Indian Law Commission and other committees including committee constituted under the Chairmanship of Shri R. Ramanujan;
- (c) the total number of laws repealed during the year 2014-15 till date including legislations identified for repealing; and
- (d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to expedite the process?

## A N S W E R

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI P. P. CHAUDHARY)

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

## Statement  referred  to  in  reply  to  parts  (a)  to  (d)  of  the  Lok  Sabha Unstarred  Question  No.  †1810  to  be  answered  on  26-07-2017  regarding 'Repealing of Obsolete Laws'.

(a) to (d): Review of all laws with a view to bring them in harmony with the current  economic,  social  and  political  situation  in  the  country  is  a  continuous process. This task is undertaken by the different nodal Ministries/Departments of the Central Government administering their respective laws and generally by the  Law Commission of India. The Law Commission has submitted its 248 th , 249 th ,  250 th and  the  251 st Reports  on  "Obsolete  Laws:  Warranting  Immediate Repeal", in  which  it  recommended  for  repeal  of  72,  113,  74  and  30  obsolete Acts respectively, including some State laws. Further, a Two-member Committee headed by Shri R. Ramanujam  was also constituted by the Prime Minister's Office on 1 st September, 2014 for review of repeal of obsolete laws. Two-member's Committee has submitted it's  report  and  identified  total  1741 Central  Acts  for  repeal  out  of  total  2781  Central  Acts  existing  as  on  15 th October, 2014 on the Statutes Book.

Accordingly, 1175 Acts have been repealed so far through,-

- (a) the Repealing and Amending Act, 2015 repealing 35 Acts;
- (b) the Repealing and Amending (Second) Act, 2015 repealing 90 Acts;
- (c) the Appropriation Acts (Repeal) Act, 2016 repealing 756 Appropriation Acts; and
- (d) the Repealing and Amending Act, 2016 repealing 294 Acts.

A  Bill  namely,  the  Repealing  and  Amending  Bill,  2017  has  been introduced in Lok Sabha on 09/02/2017, proposing to repeal 105 obsolete and redundant Acts and the said Bill is pending for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha. The Government is actively pursuing the matter to repeal the Acts identified for repeal, in consultation with the concerned administrative Ministries/Departments.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1809 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-26
Subject: Convictions in Scams
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: HARIOM SINGH RATHORE

## भारत सरकार विधध और न्या* य मंत्राऱय विधायी विभाग ऱोक सभा अतारांककत प्रश्न सं. 1809

जिसका उत्तर बुधिार , 26 िुऱाई , 2017 को ददया िाना है

## घोटाऱों में सजा

- +1809. श्री हररओम ससिंह राठौड़ :

क्या विधि और न्याय मिंत्री यह बताने की क ृ ऩा करेंगे कक :

- (क) विगत तीन िर्ष़ों क े  दौरान रािनैततक/आधथिक तथा अन्य प्रकार क े  घोटाऱों में न्यायाऱय के  आदेशानुसार ककतने ऱोग दोषी ऩाए गए हैं ;
- (ख)  उक्त  घोटाऱों  में  दोषी  ऩाए  गए  ऱोगों  से गबन   की  धनराशश  िब्त  करने  हेतु  क्या
- कारििाई की गई है ;
- (ग) ऐसे ऱोगों क े  नाम क्या हैं ; और
- (घ) उक्त ऱोगों में ककतने ऱोगों से गबन की कई राशश िब्त की गई है तथा इस िब्त
- धनराशश का ब्यौरा क्या है ?

## उत्तर

विधि और न्या य तथा इऱेक्ट्रॉनिकी और सूचिा प्रौद्योधिकी राज्य मिंत्री (श्री पी.पी.चौिरी) (क) से (घ) : िानकारी एकत्रत्रत की िा रही है और सदन क े  ऩटऱ ऩर रख दी िाएगी ।

*****************
Lok Sabha Question No. 1808 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-26
Subject: Projects from Assam
Ministry: DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION
Asked by: RAM PRASAD SARMAH

## Government of India Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region

## LOK SABHA

Unstarred Question No.1808

To be answered on

Wednesday, July 26, 2017/Shravana 4, 1939 (Saka)

## Question Projects from Assam

1808.  SHRI RAM PRASAD SARMAH:

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

- (a) the  details  of  projects  included  in  State  priority  list  from  the  State  of  Assam  in current financial year;
- (b) the details of projects to be implemented during the current financial year;
- (c) the details of fund allocated and released for the different projects in the State of Assam during the last three financial years; and
- (d) the  details  of  projects  which  were  included  in  the  State  priority  list  but  not approved/sanctioned during the last three years?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) All States were requested to send the priority list during the year 2016-17 of the estimated expenditure three times the normative allocation. The State Government of Assam has given 15 projects costing Rs.580.70 crore out of which 13 projects costing Rs.569.71 crore have been retained/sanctioned under NLCPR scheme. Priority list for the current financial year has not been obtained from any State.
- (b) A total of 203 projects under NLCPR are at different stages of implementation.
- (c) The amount of funds allocated and released under NLCPR scheme during the last  three  years i.e. 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17 are Rs.151.15 crore, Rs.165.69 crore and Rs.152.21 crore respectively.
- (d) During the year 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17, the State Government of Assam submitted priority list for 111 projects, 51 projects and 15 projects respectively. As cost of the proposals exceeded three times its normative allocation, the State Government was requested to re-prioritize these projects and accordingly most of the re-prioritized projects  have  been  retained  and  sanctioned.  Some  projects  could  not  be  sanctioned including those pertaining to completion of balance works.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1806 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-26
Subject: SIDF
Ministry: DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION
Asked by: JANAK RAM, VISHNU DAYAL RAM

## Government of India

## Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region

## LOK SABHA

Unstarred Question No. 1806

To be answered on

Wednesday, July 26, 2017/Shravana 4, 1939 (Saka)

## Question

## SIDF

† 1806. SHRI JANAK RAM: SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  implementing  schemes  under  the  Social  and Infrastructure Development Fund (SIDF);
- (b)       if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)         the  present  status  of  ongoing  and  pending  projects  under  SIDF  in  the  North Eastern Region, State-wise?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)        Yes Madam.
- (b) Under    Social and Infrastructure Development Fund (SIDF), a sum of Rs. 586.20  crore  has  been  kept  in  the  Public  Account  for  taking  up  projects  in  the North Eastern Region (NER), especially for Arunachal Pradesh and other border areas facing special problems that cannot be tackled through normal schemes.
- (c)         The  on-going  projects  under  SIDF  where  the  entire  approved  cost  of  the projects has not been released are:-
- Improvement of Dokmoka Dentaghat Road in Karbi Anglong District (Length 11 Km), Assam.
- Improvement  and  Strengthening  of  Dihangi-Thaijwary-Haflong  Tinali  Road  in Dima Hasao District (Length 57Km), Assam.
- Improvement  of  Amsoi-Baithalangso  road  from  15 th   Km  to  44.60  Km  in  Karbi, Anglong District, Assam.
- Development  of  Margherita-Deomoli  Road  in  Tinsukia  District  in  Assam(13.25 KM) , Assam.
- Improvement of NH-36 at Phuloni Bazar to Lamba Teron Gaon in Karbi Anglong District, Assam.
- Improvement of Chura- Sugnu Road (Km 0.00 Km 26.00), Manipur.
- Construction of 20 Suspension Bridges on Indo-Bangladesh Border in Meghalaya.
- Construction of Roads and Bridges (4 number), Nagaland.
- Emergency Surfacing Works and Up gradation of approach road to Himalayan Orchid Centre and Linzey, Assam Road(1-8 Km), Sikkim.
- Construction of Hanam Chhantu Handloom and Handicrafts Residential Training Centre at Gengpuii, Mizoram.
- Modernisation  of  Power  Distribution  System  through  underground  cabling  at Tawang Township, Arunachal Pradesh.
- Anti-Erosion  work  along  Menchangriver  to  protect  Khinmey,  Bomdir,  Paighar  , Dharamkang, Yuibu village in Tawang district,  Arunachal Pradesh.
- Construction of District Hospital in Longding district, Arunachal Pradesh.

*****