opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 442 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Expenditure on Security
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAJENDRA AGRAWAL

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *442

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27 TH  MARCH, 2018 /CHAITRA 6, 1940 (SAKA)

EXPENDITURE ON SECURITY

*442. SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the separatists in the State of Jammu and Kashmir have been provided security by the Government;

(b) if so, the details of the expenditure incurred thereon;

(c) whether the Government has any plan to review the policy of extending security to the separatists; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

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

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *442 FOR 27.03.2018 REGARDING EXPENDITURE ON SECURITY

(a)  to  (d):      As  reported  by  the  Government  of  J&K,  State  Government provides security cover based on Security Categorization as decided by the State Security Review Coordination Committee.

Security  categorization  is  reviewed  periodically  by  the  State Security Review Coordination Committee.

**********
Lok Sabha Question No. 5290 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Implementation of PMFBY
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: DILIP KUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5290

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  27 TH  MARCH, 2018

## IMPLEMENTATION OF PMFBY

5290.     SHRI DILIPKUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE      ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããè

be pleased to state:

- (a) the  name  of  the  State  owned  and  private  insurance  companies  empanelled  as Implementation Agencies (IA) for the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY);
- (b) the  names  of  State  owned  insurance  companies  in  the  country  particularly  in Maharashtra  which  provide  agricultural  assistance  and  insurance  to  the  farmers  and  the number of companies out of these which are eligible to be empanelled as    implementation company under the PMFBY; and
- (c) the names  of the State owned  companies  eligible for being empanelled as implementation agency for the PMFBY but have not been empanelled and reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

## ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान  कयाण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã  ½ãñâ  Àã·¾ã  ½ãâ¨ããè (  SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a) to (c): All the five Public Sector Insurance Companies namely, (i) Agriculture Insurance Company  of  India  Limited  (AIC),  (ii)  United  India  Insurance  Company  Limited  (UIIC),  (iii) National Insurance Company Limited (NIC), (iv) Oriental Insurance Company Limited (OIC) and (v) New India Assurance Company Limited (NIAC) are empanelled for crop insurance scheme in the country.  In addition, 13 private sector general insurance companies namely, (i)  ICICI-Lombard  General  Insurance  Company  Ltd.  (ii)  HDFC-ERGO  General  Insurance Company Limited, (iii) IFFCO-Tokio General Insurance Company Limited (iv) Cholamandalam MS General Insurance Company Limited, (v) Tata-AIG General Insurance Company  Limited,  (vi)  Future  Generali  India  Insurance  Company  Limited,  (vii)  Reliance General  Insurance  Company  Limited,  (viii)  Bajaj  Allianz  General  Insurance  Company Limited.,  (ix)  SBI  General  Insurance  Company  Limited,  (x)  Universal  Sompo  General Insurance  Company  Limited,  (xi)  Shriram  General  Insurance  Co.  Limited,  (xii)  Royal Sundaram  General  Insurance  Company  Limited  and  (xiii)  Bharti  Axa  General  Insurance Company Limited have also been empanelled for implementation of the scheme.

In Maharashtra, 4 Public Sector insurance companies namely AIC, NIC, OIC and UIIC were selected from amongst the empanelled companies that bidded for implementation of the scheme during 2016-17 and 2017-18 in one or more seasons.

At the request of State Governments, the Government has allowed the States to set up programme subject to participation in bidding process.  As on date no State Government has approached for empanelment of State owned insurance company for crop insurance.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 5289 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Potential of Food Processing Industry
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: HARI MANJHI

## GOVERNMENTOF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5289 ANSWERED ON 27 TH  MARCH, 2018

## POTENTIAL OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY

## †5289. SHRI HARI MANJHI:

Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the food processing industry sector has immense potential in the country and the turnover in this sector has touched Rs.400000 crore by the year 2016 and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  prepared  any  short  term  or  long  term  schemes  to grasp/realize the said potential;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the amount of private investment likely to be made in the said sector during the next ten years?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a): Food processing industries has immense potential in the country as India has the diversified production base and low level of processing. As per a study, 'An assessment of the extent of food  processing  in  various  food  sub-sectors'  commissioned  by  Ministry  of  Agriculture  & Farmers Welfare in 2014 and conducted by the Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi, the level of food processing in the country in 2010-11 was estimated at 6.76 per cent. As per Annual Survey of Industries, 2014-15, conducted by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the output of the registered food processing factories/units was estimated at Rs.9,34,149 crores in 2014-15.

(b) to (d): The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has been implementing various Central Sector  Schemes  under  PRADHAN  SAMPADA  MANTRI  KISAN  YOJANA  (PMKSY)  for overall promotion and development of food processing sector in the country to, inter alia, tap the full potential of food processing sector by increasing level of processing and reducing wastages of  food along the value chain. The PMKSY has an allocation of Rs.6000 crore for the period upto 2019-20, co-terminus with 14 th Finance Commission Cycle. Besides, Government has taken a  number  of  policy  initiatives  like  permitting  100%  Foreign  Direct  Investment  (FDI)  through automatic route in manufacturing of food products and 100% FDI under Government approval route  for  trading,  including  through  ecommerce,  in  respect  of  food  products  produced  and/or manufactured  in  India;  creation  of  a  special  fund  of  Rs.  2000  crore  in  National  Bank  for Agriculture  and Rural Development (NABARD) to provide affordable credit; classification of food  &  agro-based  processing  units  and  cold  chain  as  agriculture  activity  for  Priority  Sector Lending (PSL); lower Goods & Service Tax (GST) rates for majority of food products, 100% exemption of income tax on profit for new food processing units etc., to attract investment in the sector. The PMKSY envisages investment of Rs.31,400 crores by 2020.
Lok Sabha Question No. 5288 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Constitutional Status to NCBC
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: K. ASHOK KUMAR, K. GOPAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5288 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.03.2018

## CONSTITUTIONAL STATUS TO NCBC

## 5288. SHRI K ASHOK KUMAR: DR K GOPAL:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the Government is considering to   provide constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC);
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- whether the Government proposes to increase the number of membership from three to five; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI KRISHAN PAL GURJAR)

(a) (b) The Government introduced the Constitution (One Hundred and  Twenty-Third Amendment) Bill, 2017 in the Lok Sabha on 5.4.2017, which provides for setting up of a Commission for  socially and   educationally backward classes to be known as the National Commission for Backward Classes, as a Constitutional entity by insertion of article 338B in the Constitution. The Bill; alongwith the Bill to repeal the existing National Commission for Backward Classes 1993, were passed by the Lok Sabha on 10.04.2017 and introduced in the Rajya Sabha on 11.04.2017. The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Third  Amendment) Bill, 2017 was considered in the Rajya Sabha on 31.07.2017 and was passed by the Rajya Sabha with the exception of Clause 3 of the Bill. The Government has since introduced alternative amendment viz Clause 3 of the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Third Amendment) Bill, 2017 in the Lok Sabha on 03.01.2018. Act,

- (c) & (d): The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Third Amendment) Bill, 2017 provides for & five-member Commission including the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and three other members.
Lok Sabha Question No. 5287 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Production of Sugar
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: HARI NARAYAN RAJBHAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5287 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 TH  MARCH, 2018

## PRODUCTION OF SUGAR

## 5287.   SHRI HARINARAYAN RAJBHAR:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  country  is  self-reliant  in  the  field  of  sugar  production; and
- (b) the quantum of sugar production, State-wise including Uttar Pradesh?

## A N S W E R

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a): The installed capacity of sugar mills in the country to produce sugar is more than the domestic requirement. However, actual sugar production in a particular sugar season depends upon many other factors viz availability of sugarcane  for  crushing,  recovery  of  sugar  from  cane  and  efficiency  of management as well as plant and machinery etc.
- (b): The  sugar  production  for  the  current  sugar  season  2017-18  is estimated  to  be  about  272  Lakh  MT.  The  state-wise  details  of  sugar production  during  current  sugar  season  2017-18,  as  on  28.02.2018,  are  at Annexure.

****

Annexure ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b)  OF  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5287 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 27.03.2018 IN THE LOK SABHA

Statement showing state-wise sugar production till 28.02.2018 (in Lakh MT)

| Sl No.   | State          |   Sugar Production |
|----------|----------------|--------------------|
| 1.       | Andhra Pradesh |               3.42 |
| 2.       | Bihar          |               4.38 |
| 3.       | Chhattisgarh   |               0.18 |
| 4.       | Goa            |               0.05 |
| 5.       | Gujarat        |               7.38 |
| 6.       | Haryana        |               4.24 |
| 7.       | Karnataka      |              30.66 |
| 8.       | Kerala         |               0    |
| 9.       | Madhya Pradesh |               2.05 |
| 10.      | Maharashtra    |              78.76 |
| 11.      | Nagaland       |               0    |
| 12.      | Odisha         |               0.3  |
| 13.      | Puducherry     |               0    |
| 14.      | Punjab         |               4.82 |
| 15.      | Rajasthan      |               0.03 |
| 16.      | Tamilnadu      |               3.6  |
| 17.      | Telangana      |               2.06 |
| 18.      | U.P.           |              66.01 |
| 19.      | Uttarakhand    |               2.72 |
| 20.      | West Bengal    |               0    |
|          | Total          |             210.67 |

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5286 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Delay in Release of Foodgrain Quota
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: ANOOP MISHRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5286 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 TH  MARCH, 2018 DELAY IN RELEASE OF FOODGRAIN QUOTA

## 5286.

SHRI ANOOP MISHRA:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the complaints of delay in release of the foodgrains quota have been received during the last three years and the current year;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the  steps  taken  to  ensure  timely  release/distribution  of  foodgrains
- and other items under the said schemes?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE FOR  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (c): Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and State Government. Central Government is  responsible  for  procurement,  allocation  and  transportation  of  foodgrains upto the designated depots of the Food Corporation of India. The operational responsibility  for  allocation  of  foodgrains  within  the  States/UTs,  including distribution of foodgrains to the eligible beneficiaries under TPDS rests with the concerned State Governments/UT Admn.

As per the extant norms, the State Governments/UT Administrations are required to ensure the lifting of foodgrains from FCI depots by the last day  of  the  month  preceding  the  allocation  month.  Under  National  Food Security  Act  (NFSA),  2013,  the  receipt  of  foodgrains  by  the  beneficiary  in time is a legal entitlement and therefore it is imperative that the States/UTs lift the foodgrains within the validity period and ensure its timely distribution to  the  targeted  beneficiary.  Further,  the  States/UTs  have  been  given  the option for advance lifting and distribution upto six months ration in one go to the beneficiaries.

There  have  been  a  few  instances  of  delay  in  lifting  of  foodgrains within the validity period and advisories have been sent to the 18 States/UTs viz Assam, Bihar, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Sikkim, Telangana,  Arunachal  Pradesh,  Delhi,  Gujarat,  Himachal  Pradesh,  Kerala, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Tripura and West Bengal.

Government is implementing the scheme on 'End-to-end Computerization  of  TPDS  Operations'  to  ensure  greater  efficiency  and transparency in the distribution of foodgrains under NFSA, 2013.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5285 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Bridging Urban Infrastructure Deficit
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: J. JAYASINGH THIYAGARAJ NATTERJEE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

LOK   SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  5285 TO BE ANSWERED ON MARCH 27, 2018

## BRIDGING URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICIT

No. 5285   SHRI J.J.T. NATTERJEE:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to bridge the urban infrastructure deficit through institutional reforms and reaching out to the private sector for sharing the financing burden and ensuring that it
- results in improved services delivery across the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  provide  strategic leadership, funding, assistance in building capacity for urban planning and management to the State Governments?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)

(a)  &  (b):-  Atal  Mission  for  Rejuvenation  and  Urban  Transformation (AMRUT) was launched by Government of India on 25 June, 2015. In addition to  improving basic urban services, the Mission has a reform agenda which provides for 10% of budget allocation as incentive fund for  States/UTs  against  achieving  a  set  of  11  reforms  comprising  54 milestones by the States/UTs over a period of four years, which also include Credit Rating of the cities and floating of Municipal Bonds. A

sum of Rs.900 crore has been awarded so far as reform incentive to the States for implementation of reforms.

(c) The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is funding and providing technical support under Institutional Capacity Building to the Cities in the areas of Property Tax reforms, Advertisement Tax Reforms, Value Capture  Financing,  Reduction  in  Non-Revenue  Water,  Transaction Advisory for issue of Municipal bonds, etc. Beside this, under Individual Capacity Building, Ministry is funding and providing training to  elected  representatives  and  State  Government/Urban  Local  Body officials  through  an  Integrated  Capacity  Building  Program  covering areas  of  Public  Health  and  Engineering,  Town  Planning,  Finance  and Revenue, Administration and Urban Social Aspects.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5284 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Strengthening of NCSC
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: RITI PATHAK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. +5284 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.03.2018

## STRENGTHENING OF NCSC

## +5284. SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is considering legal and administrative measures for strengthening the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC);
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)

(a): The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) is a Constitutional Body set up under Article 338 of the Constitution: The Commission has powers to investigate and monitor all malters relating to safeguards   provided to the Scheduled Castes, to   inquire into   specific complaints with respect of deprivation of right etc. The new Chairman, Vice Chairman and three Members have   assumed the office in the Commission in June 2017. The Commission is functioning with 12 Regional Offices and discharging its duties satisfactorily: The Government would take necessary action to strength the Commission as and when required

- (b) & (c): does not arise.
Lok Sabha Question No. 5283 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Dairy Loans
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: HEMANT TUKARAM GODSE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, DAIRYING & FISHERIES LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5283

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27TH MARCH, 2018

## DAIRY LOANS

## 5283. SHRI GODSE HEMANT TUKARAM:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has fixed zero per cent interest rate on loans provided to farmers for agricultural purpose, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has noticed that interest rate on dairy loans is high as compared to interest rate on agricultural loans;
- (c)  if  so,  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  credit  to  farmers  on  zero  per  cent interest rate on dairy loans including purchasing of livestock through the nationalised banks which is a supplementary to agricultural sector; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (SHRIMATI KRISHNA RAJ)

- (a) No, Madam.

(b) to (d)  To help borrowers  reduce their loan burden on purchase of cattle, this department has  been  implementing Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme through National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).  The scheme provides for capital subsidy assistance  @25%  for  General  Category  beneficiaries  (33.33%  for  SC/ST  beneficiaries)  for purchase of cattle apart from other dairy activities as per norms of the scheme.  Since inception in  September,  2010,  altogether  Rs.1310.73  crore  has  been  disbursed  by  NABARD  as  subsidy benefiting 325519 dairy beneficiaries upto February, 2018. Further, as per Budget Announcement  2018-19,  facility of  Kisan Credit Card (KCC) has been extended to Animal husbandry farmers to help them meet their working capital needs. Interest subvention upto 5% shall be available on KCC loans if repaid in time.
Lok Sabha Question No. 5281 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Conference on Medical Devices
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 5281 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 TH  MARCH, 2018

## Conference on Medical Devices

## 5281.  SHRIMATI RAKSHATAI KHADSE:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) the outcome of the Conference on pharma industry and medical devices recently held at Bengaluru;
- (b) whether the Government envisages and expects the $ 65 billion Pharma and $ 11  billion  Medical  Devices  industry  to  double  its  worth  in  the  next  five  years looking at the international drug & device players that participated in this recent conference; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS; MINISTRY OF SHIPPING AND MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

- (a) The  3 rd edition  of  International  Exhibitions  &  Conferences  on  Pharmaceuticals and  Medical  Devices  sectors  held  at  Bengaluru  from  15-17  February  2018 provided an opportunity to Indian Pharmaceutical and Medical Device industry to interact  with  national  and  international  Regulators.  Further,  the  Conference provided an opportunity to the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of top Pharmaceutical and Medical Device industry to raise various issues before the Hon'ble  Minister  for  Chemicals  &  Fertilizers.  The  Conference  also  provided  a forum to bring all stakeholders at a single platform to discuss various issues and formulate  a  road  ahead.  About  15  sessions  on  various  subjects  were  held. Exhibitions  were  also  held  along  with  the  Conferences,  in  which  about  300 exhibitors of Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices and related industry showcased their  strength.  Further,  a  Conference  was  held  by  National  Association  of Software  and  Services  Companies  ( NASSCOM ) for Digital  Transformation through Innovation in Pharmaceutical, Medical Devices and Healthcare Industries  and  a  Workshop  on  'Regulatory  Systems  Strengthening  and  Prequalification  updates'  was  conducted  by  World  Health  Organization  (WHO) during the event.
- (b) & (c) As per the report of industries, Indian Pharmaceutical Sector is expected to touch 55 billion  USD and  Indian Medical Device Sector to 8.16 billion USD by 2020.

*****