opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 438 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-18
Subject: Crude Steel Capacity
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: PRATHAP SIMHA, SHOBHA KARANDLAJE

## 438.

## CRUDE STEEL CAPACITY

## SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA: KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

(a) whether  India  has  crude  steel  capacity  of  126  million  tonnes  as  on  March, 2017 and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether  the  National  Steel  Policy  (NSP)  2017,  envisages  to  enhance  the domestic crude steel capacity to 300 million tonnes by 2030-31 and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether only 66 million tonnes of capacity has been added in the past decade and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether  several  global  steel  majors  have  scrapped  various  Greenfield  steel projects,  due  to  various  factors  like  location  of  land,  availability  of  raw  materials, economic viability of project, logistics, etc. and if so, the details thereof along with the response of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR STEEL

(SHRI VISHNU DEO SAI)

(a) India's crude steel capacity was 128.28 million tonnes (mt) in 2016-17. Data on India's Crude Steel capacity during the last five years is shown in the table below:-

| Year         | Crude Steel capacity (mt)   |
|--------------|-----------------------------|
| 2012-13      | 97.02                       |
| 2013-14      | 102.26                      |
| 2014-15      | 109.85                      |
| 2015-16      | 121.97                      |
| 2016-17      | 128.28                      |
| Source : JPC | Source : JPC                |

(b) The  National  Steel  Policy  (NSP)  2017,  envisages  to  enhance  the  domestic crude steel capacity to 300 million tonnes by 2030-31.  This indicates an addition of 171.72 million tonnes of capacity as compared to 2016-17 by 2031.

(c) Data on crude steel capacity during 2007-08 and 2016-17 is shown below and indicates an addition of 68.43 mt of crude steel capacity in the country during the last decade:-

| Year                 | Crude steel capacity (mt)   |
|----------------------|-----------------------------|
| 2007-08              | 59.85                       |
| 2016-17              | 128.28                      |
| Addition to capacity | 68.43                       |
| Source : JPC         |                             |

(d) Decision  to  set  up  steel  project  is  taken  by  individual  investor,  based  on various factors like location of land, availability of raw materials, economic viability of project,  logistics,  etc.    In  order  to  ensure  availability  of  raw  materials,  Government has come up with Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015 and Coal Mines (Special provision) Act, 2015.  This statutory framework provides transparent method of allocation of natural resources like iron ore and coal.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 436 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-18
Subject: Gratuity Act, 1972
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: KAVITHA KALVAKUNTLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 436 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2017

## GRATUITY ACT, 1972

## 436. SHRIMATI KAVITHA KALVAKUNTLA:

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

- (a)whether  the  Government  has  amended/proposes  to  amend  the payment of Gratuity Act, 1972;
- (b)if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether the cap of Rs. 10 lakh on the amount of gratuity paid to a
- worker has been increased to 20 lakh;
- (d)if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)whether this will be applicable to employees working in the private
- sector as well and if so, the details thereof?
- ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a) to (e): Yes, Madam. The Government has proposed to amend the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, which inter-alia envisages to increase the  period  of  twelve  weeks  of  maximum  maternity  leave  presently provided in section 2A of the said Act for the purpose of calculating continuous service and to enhance   the maximum amount as gratuity payable under section 4 of the said Act (the present limit is Rs.10 lakh under the Act).  It  has  been  proposed  to  empower  the  Central Government to notify the said period of maternity leave and amount of gratuity from time to time by notification in the Official Gazette. This will benefit the employees engaged in private and public sector.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 433 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-18
Subject: Development of Tourism in Nalanda
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†433 ANSWERED ON 18.12.2017

## DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN NALANDA

## †433. SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has sanctioned funds for integrated development of Ghoda-Katora-Rajgir-Jal Mandu-Pawapuri located in Nalanda;
- (b) if so, the amount released to the State Government during the last five years;
- (c) whether the Government is contemplating to provide any other form of assistance for the development of Ghoda-Katora so as to develop this famous tourist site and attract more and more tourists; and
- (d)
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI K. J. ALPHONS)

- (a) and (b): Yes,  Madam.  The  Ministry  of  Tourism  in  the  year 2013-14  has  sanctioned  an  amount  of  Rs.4841  lakh  for  Integrated Development of Ghora Katora (Rajgir-Jalmandir-Pawapuri) as Mega Circuit in Bihar. An amount of Rs.968.35 lakh has been released to the State Government of Bihar for the project.

(c) and (d): Development and promotion of Tourism Destinations is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments/Union Territory (UT) Administrations. However, Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to State Governments/UT Administrations for various tourism projects subject to submission of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), availability  of  funds,  liquidation  of  pending  utilization  certificates against  the  funds  released  earlier  and  adherence  to  the  relevant scheme guidelines.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 431 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-18
Subject: Deemed Universities
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KANWAR SINGH TANWAR

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 431 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2017

## Deemed Universities †431. SHRI KANWAR SINGH TANWAR:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state : (a) whether the Government has taken note that several Deemed Universities are not able to provide correct and full information about their students to State Governments as  a  result  of  which  State  Governments  are  not  in  a  position  to  verify  that  Degree  or Diploma of any student is valid or not; (b) if so, the details thereof; and (c) whether the Government is taking/ proposes to take any concrete steps against such Universities and if so, the details thereof?

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

(a)  to  (c):  No,  Madam.  However,  only  the  State  Government  of  Rajasthan  had  sent  a letter  in  the  year  2016  showing  its  inability  to  authenticate  degrees  received  by  the students  from  Deemed  to  be  Universities  in  Rajasthan  for  the  reason  that  the  State Government does not have required information w.r.t. Deemed to be Universities and the required documents are not being provided by the Institutions concerned. In order to  sort  out  the  problem,  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  was  asked  by  this Ministry  to  extend  all  necessary  support  to  State  Government  in  providing  whatever information  is  required  by  the  State  Government  with  respect  to  Deemed  to  be Universities  and  instruct  all  Deemed  to  be  Universities  to  co-operate  with  the  State Governments in providing information.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 429 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-18
Subject: Data of Jobloss
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: JOSE K. MANI

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 429

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18TH DECEMBER, 2017

## DATA OF JOBLOSS

429.  SHRI JOSE K. MANI:

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

- (a) whether  as  per  recent  data  released  by  centre  for  monitoring  Indian  Economy about  1.5  million  jobs  have  been  lost  during  January-April,  2017  even  as employment  figures  of  leading  listed  companies  are  showing  a  net  decline  in employment during the period and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  latest  report  of  labour  Bureau's  Quarterly  Employment  Survey  for October-December last year mentions that 1.52 lakh casual and 46,000 part time jobs were lost in 8 key sectors of the economy and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether adverse impact of demonetization still lingers on the employment sector; and
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  in  this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a):    To  ascertain  employment  and  unemployment  situation  in  the  country,  Labour Bureau,  Ministry  of  Labour  and  Employment  conducts  Employment-Unemployment Surveys annually. Last such survey was conducted during 2015-16. As per the survey reports, the unemployment rate on usual status basis for persons aged 15 years and above  in  country  during  2015-16  was  3.7%  in  comparison  to  unemployment  rate  of 4.0% during 2012-13.
- (b)  to  (d):  Labour  Bureau,  Ministry  of  Labour  and    Employment,  has  been  conducting Quarterly  Quick  Employment  surveys  in  the  selected    eight  sectors  and  as  per  the results of the Survey, the increase in employment in selected eight sectors was 1.22 Lakh in 1st January 2017 over 1st October 2016 in the country. There is no data on employment available  for  the  period  subsequent  to  demonetization.  The  Employment generation  is  a  key  priority  of  the  Government.  Government  has  focused  on  making employment opportunities accessible to unemployed persons. In order to improve the employability of youth, around 22 Ministries/Departments run skill  development schemes across various sectors.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 427 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-18
Subject: PF and Pension Complaints
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: RAVINDRA VISHWANATH GAIKWAD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 427 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2017

## PF AND PENSION COMPLAINTS

†427. PROF. RAVINDRA VISHWANATH GAIKWAD:

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

- (a)whether the Government has formulated any policy to resolve the complaints related to PF and pension in the country;
- (b)if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether the incidents of problems being faced by the EPFO account holders and the negligence by the offices have come to light in the recent past; and
- (d)if so, the details thereof and the action taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

(SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a)  &  (b):    Yes,  Madam.  The  Government  and  Employees'  Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) have provided the facility to Provident Fund (PF) and pension subscribers for online registration of public grievances  and  their  redressal  which  is  available  on  the  following internet based grievance handling portals:
- i.        Centralized  Public  Grievance  Redressal  and  Monitoring  System (CPGRAMS).
- ii.   EPF Internet Grievance Management System (EPFiGMS).
- (c) & (d):  Incidents of problems faced by the EPFO account holders as received  from  time  to  time  are  redressed  through  Public  Grievance Handling Systems.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 426 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-18
Subject: Grants under MDA Scheme
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 426 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 th  DECEMBER, 2017

## GRANTS UNDER MDA SCHEME

426. SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वा ͨणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंğी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is providing grants/financial assistance under the Market Development Assistance (MDA) scheme;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has approved any proposals in this regard during the last three years and the current year; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not the reasons therefor?

## 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)  to (d):  Yes, Madam. Under the Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme, lumpsum assistance  was  provided  to  Export  Promotion  Councils/Trade  Promotion Organizations  for  the following:
- (i) to assist exporters with a f.o.b. value of exports of uptoRs. 30 crore [relaxed in the case of events in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) Region], for participation in  approved  export  promotion  events  abroad  including  reimbursement  of  airfares and cost of rented space.
- (ii) to  assist  Export  Promotion  Councils/Trade  Promotion  Organizations  to  undertake export promotion activities for their product(s) and commodities in India and abroad.

The funds released to the eligible agencies under the MDA Scheme during the last three years are as under:

| Year    | Financial Assistance provided   |
|---------|---------------------------------|
| 2014-15 | ₹50.00 crore                    |
| 2015-16 | ₹48.74 crore                    |
| 2016-17 | ₹45.93 crore                    |

The Scheme now stands merged with the Market Access Initiative (MAI) Scheme.
Lok Sabha Question No. 423 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-18
Subject: Gas based Urea Units
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: SANKAR PRASAD DATTA

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 423 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2017 GAS BASED UREA UNITS

## 423.     SHRI SANKAR PRASAD DATTA:

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

## isVªksfy;e vkSj izkd`frd xSl ea=h

- (a) whether the Government proposes to open new gas based urea units in the country including North East Region during 2017-18 and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) whether the Government proposes to utilise the natural gas available in the State of Tripura and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  time  by  which  the  supply  of  natural  gas  is  likely  to  be provided to the said urea units?

## ANSWER

## पेट्रोल ियम और प्राक ृ तिक गैस मंत्री ( श्री धमेन्द  र प्रधान)

## MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a)  &  (b):    The  Government  of  India  has  approved  revival  of  four  closed  units  of  Fertilizer Corporation  of  India  (FCIL)  located  at  Talcher,  Ramagundam,  Gorakhpur  &  Sindri  and  one closed unit of Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation Limited (HFCL) located at Barauni. The fertilizer plant proposed to be installed at Talcher unit is coal based while plants proposed to be installed at rest of four locations are gas based plants. In addition to above, Government has also decided to install  a  Gas  based  new  Urea  Plant  of  8.646  LMT  per  annum  in  the  existing  premises  of Brahmaputra  Valley  Fertilizer  Corporation  Ltd.  (BVFCL).  At  present,  in  the  state  of  Tripura current allocated/contracted quantity of natural gas is about 5.226 Million Metric Standard Cubic Meter per Day(MMSCMD) against which the current supply is 4.25 MMSCMD, which is being fully utilized.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 422 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-18
Subject: Solar Energy in Navodaya Vidyalayas
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: BALKA SUMAN

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.422 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2017

## Solar Energy in Navodaya Vidyalayas

422. SHRI SUMAN BALKA:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  directed  the  Navodaya  Vidyalaya  Samiti  (NVS)  to  take measures for adoption of solar energy in all Navodaya Vidyalayas in the country; and
- (b)  if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

- (a)  The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had issued instructions to various Central  Government  Ministries/  Departments/  Institutions/  PSUs/  Organisations  etc.  to take  appropriate  action  for  installation  of  grid  connected  solar  rooftop  systems  in available roof space in their buildings with a view to producing clean and green power. MNRE  has  also  allocated  India  SME  Technology  Services  Limited  (ISTSL)  as  the implementing  expert  for  facilitating  grid  connected  solar  rooftop  programme  in  the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs).
- (b) The  Navodaya  Vidyalaya  Samiti  has  already  taken  up  steps  for  installation  of  grid connected solar rooftop systems in 252 JNVs in the first phase through the designated technical expert.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 420 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-18
Subject: Rehabilitation of Tribals
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: SRIRAM MALYADRI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 420

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2017

## REHABILITATION OF TRIBALS

## 420 SHRI MALYADRI SRIRAM:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether the Government has recently constituted a Committee to coordinate all relief and rehabilitation of tribals across the country;
- (b) If so, the details thereof including the mandate and composition of the Committee;
- (c) The details of the specific steps the Committee is expected to adopt to interact with the affected tribal evictees and displaced people; and
- (d) Whether the Government proposes to give any financial aid to such displaced tribals and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

- (a) No, Madam.
- (b) to (c) Does not arise in view of reply to (a) above.
- (d) Financial aid to tribals so displaced will be given in terms of the provisions of Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 419 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-18
Subject: Research on Sanskrit Computational Linguistics
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: HEMAMALINI

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 419 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2017

## Research on Sanskrit Computational Linguistics

## †419. SHRIMATI HEMA MALINI:

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

- a)    whether research is being conducted on Sanskrit computational linguistics in the country;
- b)    if so, the details thereof?
- c)    whether any significant progress has been made in this regard; and
- d)    if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## (DR. SATYAPAL SINGH)

- (a) & (b)  Yes, Madam. The following institutions are engaged in the area of research on Sanskrit Computational Linguistics:-
- 1) Centre of Sanskrit Studies, Jawahar Lal Nehru University, Delhi
- 2) Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT, Mumbai
- 3) Department of CSE, IIT, Kharagpur
- 4) Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, Tirupati
- 5) LTRC, IIT, Hyderabad
- 6) Poornaprajna Vidyapeetham, Bangalore
- 7) Sanskrit Academy, Hyderabad
- 8) Karnataka Sanskrit University, Bangalore
- (c)  &  (d)   Yes,  Madam.  There  has  been  significant  progress  in  the  last decade.  The current research outcomes are available in the form of web services at the web sites 'sanskrit.uohyd.ac.in/scl' and 'scl.samsaadhanii.in'  of  University  of  Hyderabad.  A  Master  Program  is run in Sabdabodha Systems and Computational Linguistics in Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth (RSV), Tirupati. Seminars and Workshops have been conducted  with  respect  to  various  Sabdabodha  Systems.   Deptt.  of Vyakarana, RSV in collaboration with IIT Kanpur and Akshar Bharati has published a text 'Natural Language Processing with a Paninian Perspective'.  There are 5 PHDs registered in Delhi University from 2014 in Sanskrit Computational Linguistics and 2 M.Phils already completed.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 417 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-18
Subject: Corruption at Tribal Ashramshalas
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: SURESH KODIKUNNIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 417

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2017

## CORRUPTION AT TRIBAL ASHRAMSHALAS

## 417. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received complaints from various quarters about the less than optimal facilities and administrative corruption at tribal ashramshalas in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government would constitute a committee of experts to look into the allegations and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government is intending to secure admission of various tribal ashramshalas in several districts that have been under allegations of lax facilities to private residential schools instead of the regular Government ones in phases and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): No such specific complaints have been received in the Ministry.  Ministry of Tribal Affairs provides monetary support only for construction of Ashram Schools based on the proposal received from the State Government. Management of Ashram Schools is the sole responsibility of State Governments.
- (b) & (c): No such proposal is under consideration of this Ministry.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 414 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-18
Subject: Vishwajeet Scheme
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVNTHI)

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 414 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2017

## Vishwajeet Scheme

414. SHRI MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO(AVANTHI):

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

- (a) whether  the  ambitious  Vishwajeet  scheme  of  the  Ministry  had  become  a nonstarter;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether Directors of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have expressed their disappointment over scrapping of the said scheme and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSW ER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE M INISTRY OF HUM AN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a) to (d): Project Vishwajeet was approved 'in-principle' by the IIT Council with a view to help 7 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) at Kharagpur, Delhi, Bombay, Kanpur, Madras, Roorkee and Guwahati to come up into the Top 100 World University rankings.

However,  since  the  Government  has  already  approved  the  scheme  to  establish  20 'Institutions  of  Eminence'  -  10  from  the  public  institutions  and  10  from  the  private institutions, the requirements projected under Project Vishwajeet would be adequately addressed under the scheme.

*****