opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 4843 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-26
Subject: New National Universities
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: MAULANA BADRUDDIN AJMAL

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4843 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.03.2018

## New National Universities

4843. SHRI BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

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

- (a) whether the Government has received suggestion/demand from organisations /commissions or individuals for setting up of more national universities to cater to the need of the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has any plan to set up new national universities;
- (d) if so, the details thereof, State-wise and location-wise; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

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

- (a) to (e) : At  present  there  is  no  proposal  to  set  up  a  new  National  University  in  the Country. According to the 12 th Plan (2012-17), as approved by National Development Council, the thrust is on consolidation of the higher education system. Expansion would be mainly done by  scaling  up  capacity  of  the  existing  institutions  in  place  of  setting  up  new  institutions. However, the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014 provides for the establishment of one Central University in the successor State of Andhra Pradesh and one Tribal University each in the State of Andhra Pradesh and in the State of Telangana.

'Education' being a concurrent subject,  the State  Governments are also taking various initiatives  to  increase  the  reach  of  higher  education  in  the  respective  States.  Besides,  Private Universities/Institutions are also catering to the higher educational aspirations of the youth of the country.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4840 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-26
Subject: Investment Summit
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: KAMAKHYA PRASAD TASA

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4840. TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE 26 TH  MARCH, 2018.

## INVESTMENT SUMMIT

## 4840.  SHRI KAMAKHYA PRASAD TASA:

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

## वाणिज् यवव द्योग म त्री

- (a) whether  an  investment  summit  was  recently  organised  in  Assam  with participants from ASEAN and other eastern neighbours;
- (b) if so, the details and the outcome thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has urged the ASEAN members and other eastern neighbours to invest in North Eastern Region (NER) which is at the heart of Act East policy; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the response received thereon?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b): Yes,  Global  Investor's  Summit  -  Advantage  Assam  was  held  on 3 rd &  4 th February,  2018  in  Guwahati,  Assam  with  participants  from ASEAN and other eastern neighbours.  As per the information made available by Government of Assam, the details of participation are as follows:-
- (c) & (d): Government  of  Assam  has  urged  the  ASEAN  Nations  to  invest  in Assam during the Global Investors' Summit - Advantage Assam 2018 however  no  commitment  has  been  made  so  far  by  any  of  these Nations.

| S. No .   | Country    |   Minister |   Ambassador |   Officials |   Business |   Total |
|-----------|------------|------------|--------------|-------------|------------|---------|
| 1.        | Bangladesh |          1 |            1 |           2 |          6 |      10 |
| 2.        | Bhutan     |          3 |            1 |          24 |         13 |      41 |
| 3.        | Cambodia   |          1 |            0 |           9 |          4 |      14 |
| 4.        | Japan      |          0 |            1 |          16 |         10 |      27 |
| 5         | Korea      |          0 |            0 |           3 |         19 |      22 |
| 6.        | Laos       |          1 |            0 |           2 |          6 |       9 |
| 7.        | Myanmar    |          1 |            1 |           2 |          3 |       7 |
| 8.        | Thailand   |          0 |            0 |           1 |          0 |       1 |
| 9.        | Vietnam    |          0 |            0 |           0 |          4 |       4 |
|           | Total      |          7 |            4 |          59 |         65 |     135 |

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 4838 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-26
Subject: Courses on Remote Sensing and GIS Mapping
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4838 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.03.2018

## Courses on Remote Sensing and GIS Mapping

## 4838. SHRIMATI RAKSHATAI KHADSE:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  launch  a  course  to  be  undertaken  by  the renowned institutions under the Ministry to study state-of-art of remote sensing and GIS mapping  to  address  the  challenges  rising  in  rapidly  changing  urban  environment  of Indian cities; (b) if so, the details thereof; and (c) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): Higher Educational Institutions like Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and National  Institutes  of  Technology  (NITs)  etc.  have  academic  autonomy  to  frame  and transact their curriculum/course in various programmes including remote sensing and GIS  mapping.  Further,  the  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  has  constituted  an Expert Committee to examine as to how geospatial education could be integrated in the existing University system and its implication in other areas like engineering, IT etc. and to highlight its benefits in areas like developing smart cities, urban planning etc.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 4837 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-26
Subject: Assistance to Madarsas
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: VASANTHI M.

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4837 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 th  March, 2018 Assistance to Madarsas

## 4837. SHRIMATI VASANTHI M.:

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

- a. whether the Government is providing assistance to Madarsas by various means as teachers, tiffins and toilets etc.; and
- b. if so, the details thereof?

## A N S W E R MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

(a)  and  (b) The  Ministry  of  Human  Resource  Development  is  implementing  a Scheme for Providing Education to Madarsas/Minoritites (SPEMM). SPEMM is an Umbrella scheme which comprises of Scheme for Providing Quality Education in  Madrasa  (SPQEM)  and  Infrastructural  Development  in  Minority  Institutions (IDMI).

SPQEM provides  financial  assistance  to  encourage  traditional  institutions like Madarsas and Maktabs to introduce modern education through subjects such as  Science,  Mathematics,  Social  Studies,  Hindi  and  English  in  their  curriculum through  support  for  a  maximum  of  three  teachers;  books,  teaching  learning material and computer labs.

Under  the  SPQEM  scheme,  financial  assistance  is  also  provided  for establishment of Science/Computer Labs/workshops in Madrasas at the Secondary/Senior Secondary levels.

The Department of School Education is also implementing the Mid-Day-Meal Scheme,  which  covers  all  school  children  studying  in  Classes  I-VIII  of  -Aided, Special Training Centres including Madarsas and Maqtabs supported under SSA.

Madrasas which are affiliated to State Board of Secondary Education/ State Madrasa Board are also eligible for grant for text books, in-service training, school grant and teacher grant under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).

The Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, has decided to provide Teachers/Teachers Training, Tiffin and Toilets (3Ts) in registered, recognized and reputed Madarsas following  formal  education  like  Science,  Maths,  English,  etc.  with  the  funds available with MAEF. Further, it has also decided to extend the benefit of Grantsin-Aid  scheme  of  MAEF  for  construction  of  toilets  under  Swachh  Vidyalaya scheme of MAEF to such Madarsas. This is a continuous programme of MAEF.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4835 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-26
Subject: DBTL
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: BALASUBRAMANIAM SENGUTTUVAN

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4835 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 th  March, 2018

## DBTL

4835. SHRI B. SENGUTTUVAN:

## पेोलयम एवं ाक ृ तक गैस मंी

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state : (a)  whether  the  National  Payments  Corporation  of  India  [NPCI]  has  identified  the  Bank Accounts of all beneficiaries for Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG (DBTL) and if so, the details

- thereof;
- (b) whether the identification of DBTL beneficiaries is based only on Aadhaar Card or other modes are also taken into consideration in view of the judgment of the Supreme Court of India that not having an Aadhaar Card would not disentitle a person to any social benefit and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  whether  the  NPCI  proposes  to  directly  transfer  funds  to  the  Bank  Accounts  of beneficiaries in lieu of the goods received through the Public Distribution System and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## पेोलयम एवं ाक ृ तक गैस मंी ( ी धम धान

## )

MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) & (c) Under PAHAL scheme, LPG consumers are required to link such bank accounts which are the part of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) payment gateway. LPG consumers, who join the scheme, get the LPG cylinders at non-subsidised price and receive LPG subsidy (as per their entitlement) directly into their registered bank accounts. As on 19.03.2018, 20.10 crore consumers have joined the Scheme and getting subsidy in their registered bank account.

- (b)  As  per  Aadhaar  (Targeted  Delivery  of  Financial  and  Other  Subsidies,  Benefits  and Services) Act, 2016, under Section 7 for use of Aadhaar, all LPG consumers are advised to link  Aadhaar  number  to  their  LPG  consumer  number  by  31.03.2018,  except  for  the consumers based in the States of Jammu & Kashmir, Assam and Meghalaya.

In  case  a  customer  is  not  having  Aadhaar  card,  then  he/she  can  also  submit  the enrolment  ID  with  relevant  details  at  his/her  LPG  distributor  and  can  receive  subsidy. Moreover, LPG customers can also receive subsidy on submission of any of the following documents -  Voter  ID  card  or  Ration  card or  Kisan  Photo Passbook  or  passport  or  driver license along with a declaration form.

- ----------
Lok Sabha Question No. 4834 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-26
Subject: Annual Book Fair
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KRISHN PRATAP SINGH

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4834 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.3.2018

## Annual Book Fair

†4834. DR. KRISHAN PRATAP:

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

- (a)  whether the Government has decided to change the venue of Annual Book Fair from Pragati Maidan to somewhere else in the National Capital Region;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the time by which the venue is proposed to be changed?

## ANSWER

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

(a): No decision has been taken  by the Government to change the venue of the New Delhi World Book Fair  from Pragati Maidan to somewhere else in the National Capital Region. (b) & (c): In view of (a) above, the questions do not arise.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4833 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-26
Subject: CAG Authority
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: ANUPAM HAZRA

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4833 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.03.2018

## CAG Authority

4833. DR. ANUPAM HAZRA:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has taken any steps against the authority of Visva Bharati on the basis of points raised by Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) authority during audit for the period 201416 and for non-compliance with the regulation relating to financial matters during the said period on the basis of complaint relating to irregular appointments in different posts of Visva Bharati; and

(b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): The Visva Bharati has informed that there are Audit observations on irregular appointments in  Visva-Bharati  as  included  in  the  Inspection  Reports  for  the  year  2014-15  and  2015-16.  The University has furnished its replies on the said observations to the concerned Audit authority.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4832 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-26
Subject: Guidelines for Protection of Artefacts
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: MOHANBHAI KALYANJIBHAI KUNDARIYA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4832 FOR ANSWER ON 26 th  March, 2018

## GUIDELINES FOR PROTECTION OF ARTEFACTS

## 4832.   Shri Kundariya Mohan Bhai Kalyanji Bhai:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a recent survey/study by NDMA has pointed out that most of  the museums are vulnerable to vandalism and natural  disaster;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether detailed guidelines have been drawn/laid down to protect priceless artefacts kept in the museums; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken to ensure its strict compliance?

## ANSWER

## (DR. MAHESH SHARMA) MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR CULTURE, MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

- (a) and (b) No  specific  study  has  been    undertaken  by  NDMA  to  ascertain vulnerabilities  of  individual  Museums  to  vandalism,  natural  and  manmade disasters.
- (c)          and  (d):  Yes.  NDMA  has  drawn  detailed  guidelines  to  address  museum safety and protect priceless artefacts through a multi hazard and interdisciplinary approach.

The guidelines provide a template for museums to develop their own risk management  plans  and  strategies  through  risk  assessment,  risk  reduction, emergency  response  and  post  disaster  recovery.    The  objective  is  to  enable museums to streamline disaster risk management within the overall operation of a  museum.

Guidelines alongwith checklist  for  Disaster  Management  have  been circulated to  all  the  museums  under  the  Ministry  of  Culture.    A  workshop  was organised for all the museums in disaster management. Disaster management is an ongoing process in the museums of Ministry of Culture and is reviewed biannually by Secretary (Culture).
Lok Sabha Question No. 4831 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-26
Subject: Export of Soyabean Meal
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: ADVOCATE NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4831 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 th  MARCH,2018

## EXPORT OF SOYABEAN MEAL

## 4831. ADV. NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether India was a major exporter of soyabean meal recently;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  details  of  the  foreign  exchange  earned therefrom during the last five years;
- (c) whether the export of soyabean meal has come down heavily in recent years; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the remedial action proposed by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Jh lh- vkj- pkS/kjh½

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a)& (b)  Details of India's export of soybean meal (HS code:2304 -Oil cake and other Solid residue Soybean Oil Extraction of soybean), during the last five years are as under:

(Qty in Tons; Value in US$ in million )

| 2016-17   | 2016-17   | 2015-16   | 2015-16   | 2014-15   | 2014-15   | 2013-14   | 2013-14   | 2012-13   | 2012-13   |
|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Qty       | Value     | Qty       | Value     | Qty       | Value     | Qty       | Value     | Qty       | Value     |
| 12,76,177 | 554.90    | 4,12,986  | 233.34    | 14,67,698 | 786.67    | 40,91,183 | 2258.27   | 47,41,052 | 2605.41   |

(Source: DGCI&S)

- (c) Yes madam. Due to the non-competitive price in the international market, during 2014-15 and  2015-16,  there  was  a  substantial  decline  in  export  of  soyabean  meal  as  compared  to 2012-13  and  2013-14.  However,  export  of  Soyabean  meals  registered  a  growth  of  209% during 2016-17 as compared to 2015-16.
- (d)  The    Government  has  increased  Merchandise  Exports  from  India  Scheme  (MEIS)    on export of soyabean meal to 7% from 5%. This is likely to make Indian soyabean oilmeals more competitive in the international  market and may result in increase in export of oilmeals during the coming years.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 420 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-23
Subject: Tiger Reserves
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: C. MAHENDRAN, A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *420

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2018

## Tiger Reserves

## *420.  SHRI C. MAHENDRAN:

SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether many tiger conservation areas in the country do not meet global standards and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  enough  personnel/staff  to  protect  and  conserve  the  big  cats among its tiger reserves and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  poaching  and  limited  staff  capacity  to  patrol  sites  are  the  major  issues  in  tiger conservation  in  the  country,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  corrective  action  taken/being taken in this regard; and
- (d) whether the Government is planning to merge/expand any of the existing tiger reserves and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

(a), (b), (c) & (d) :A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

***

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a), (b), (c) & (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *420 ON TIGER RESERVES DUE FOR REPLY ON 23.03.2018

- (a) 49  out  of  50  tiger  reserves  in  India  meet  the  global  standards  in  tiger conservation,  as  per  the  Conservation  Assured  |  Tiger  Standards  (CA|TS) 'Light' survey, a questionnaire and expert opinion based exercise, wherein no field assessment is taken into consideration.
- (b) Though there is about 29% frontline staff vacancy against sanctioned posts in tiger  reserves,  protection  and  conservation  of  tigers  is  supplemented  by deploying the Special Tiger Protection Force in sensitive tiger reserves which is operational in 8 tiger reserves as of now.  Besides funding assistance under the  ongoing  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  Project  Tiger  (CSS-PT)  is provided to the States for various activities, inter alia ,  including deployment of  anti-poaching staff in tiger reserves to overcome the shortfall.  A total of 4,80,000 mandays is generated under the CSS-PT for this purpose.
- (c) Poaching remains an ever persistent threat to tiger conservation due to demand emanating predominantly  from outside the country.  Analysis  of  data  for  six years  indicates  that  63%  of  the  tigers  died  due  to  natural  causes  while  22% were poached and 15% were tiger body part seizures.  While staff position is relatively robust in tiger reserves, the CSS-PT  provides  assistance for employing staff for anti-poaching, strengthening intelligence and legal support besides  stressing  the  need  to  have  a  security  plan  which  is  operationalised through  a  legally  mandated  Tiger  Conservation  Plan  and  which  is  cross checked using a security audit framework.
- (d) There is no such proposal.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 413 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-23
Subject: RuPay Cards
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: OM BIRLA

## *413 SHRI OM BIRLA:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the number of RuPay Cards issued by the banks during the last three years and the current year under rural and urban categories;
- (c) whether the Government is open to the idea of activation of the RuPay Cards at Micro-ATMs and Points of Sale (PoS) or issuance of cards which are already preactivated; and
- (b) whether the Government has taken cognizance that there is a huge gap between the number of RuPay Cards issued and the cards which had been activated by the banks, especially in the rural areas and if the details thereof; SO,
- (d) if so the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## Answer THE FINANCE MINISTER (SHRI ARUN JAITLEY)

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

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES LOK SABHA

## MINISTRY OF FINANCE

STARRED QUESTION No. *413 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 MARCH 2018 (FRIDAYJCHAITRA 2, 1940 (SAKA)

## RuPay Cards

Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.*413 Position) for March 2018 by Shri Om Birla, MP, regarding "RuPay Cards 23rd (13th

- (a) As informed by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the cumulative numbers of RuPay cards issued at the end of financial years 201415 to 2017-18 (till date) are provided in the following table:

|                                         |   As at the end of 2014-15 |   As at the end of 2015-16 |   As at the end of 2016-17 |   2017-18 (upto February 2018) |
|-----------------------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Number of RuPay cards issued (in crore) |                      15.23 |                      26.77 |                      36.51 |                          46.37 |

Source: NPCI

NPCI has informed that details regarding RuPay card issued under rurallurban categories is not maintained by them

- (b) As informed by NPCI, the data regarding number of active RuPay cards is not maintained centrally. This number is dynamic and keeps on changing on real time basis.

The Department of Financial Services in its weekly video conference with all banks and NPCI, has asked them to activate balance RuPay cards in a timebound manner. Banks have been advised to deploy Business Correspondents (BCs) for this purpose. In addition, cardholders are being encouraged to approach mobile and handhold devices to activate their cards,

- (c) and (d) Government is encouraging cardholders to activate RuPay cards at micro ATMs and Point of Sale (PoS) devices: As far as pre-activated card is concerned as per NPCI due to security considerations, all debit cards are sent in deactivated state and need to be activated by the cardholder. Hence issuance of pre-activated cards is not advisable on security considerations.

*****