opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 5075 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Initiatives to stop irregularities in Fair Price Shops
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5075

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 TH  MARCH, 2018

## INITIATIVES TO STOP IRREGULARITIES IN FAIR PRICE SHOPS

## 5075. SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD 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  Government  has  taken  any  new  initiative  to  stop  the irregularities in Government fair price foodgrain shops;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the said initiatives have yielded the desired results and if so, the details thereof?

## A N S W E R

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

(a)  to  (c):    With  an  aim  to  bring  reforms  in  the  functioning  of    Public Distribution  System  (PDS)  and  Fair  Price  Shops  (FPSs),  Government  is implementing a scheme on 'End-to-End Computerization of PDS Operations' in collaboration  with  all  States/UTs.  The  scheme  comprises  digitization  of ration  cards/beneficiaries,  computerization  of  supply-chain  management, setting up of transparency portals and grievance redressal mechanisms in all States/UTs. The Scheme also includes automation of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) by  installation  of  electronic  Point  of  Sale  (e-PoS)  devices  at  FPSs  for biometric/  Aadhaar  authentication  of  beneficiaries,  electronic  capturing  of sale transactions at FPSs, etc. At present, Digitization of ration cards/beneficiaries has been completed in all States/UTs and 2.97 lakh out of 5.27 lakh FPSs have ePoS devices across the country. Further, to identify and weed out duplicate/ ineligible beneficiaries from PDS, and to enable rightful targeting of food subsidies - States/UTs have been asked to seed available Aadhaar numbers of eligible beneficiaries/ households in their ration cards. At  present,  about  82%  ration  cards  under  NFSA  at  the  national  level  have been seeded with Aadhaar numbers of at least one member of the household.

These  initiatives  along  with  the  institutional  mechanism  for  the monitoring and grievance redressal envisaged under National Food Security Act, 2013, that includes Vigilance Committees, District Grievance Redressal Officers and State Food Commission have helped in making the system more efficient and transparent.

A new central sector scheme - Integrated Management of PDS (IMPDS)  has  been  approved  for  the  year  2018-19  and  2019-20  for  further strengthening of the PDS.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5074 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Fake Arms Licences
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5074

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

FAKE ARMS LICENCES

5074. SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  racket  of  making  fake  arms  licences  by  using  fake documents is flourishing in various parts of the country;

(b)  if  so,  whether  the  Government  is  considering  any  effective  steps  for curbing such rackets; and

(c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): Some  instances  of  arms  licenses  issued  on  the  basis  of  fake documents  have  come  to  the  notice  of  Government.  As  per  available information, the State Government of J&K has revoked two arms licences in  August,  2017.  The  said  licenses  were  issued  to  them  by  the  Home Department, J&K in 2006. Besides, ATS Rajasthan have busted a national racket of fake arms licenses and registered a criminal case under IPC and Arms  Act  at  Police  Station,  S.O.G,  Jaipur  and  an  FIR  has  also  been registered  at  PS,  Sukher,  Udaipur  against  3  persons  under  relevant sections  of  IPC  and  Arms  Act  for  their  involvement  in  fraudulent  arms licence case.

'Public Order and Police' being State subjects, the State Governments/UTs are taking penal actions under the Arms Act, 1959 and Rules made there under which have elaborate regulatory provisions to curb illegal possession of Arms.

Besides, issuing advisories to State/UTs from time to time to take strict action against the offenders,  the  Government  has  asked  the  State Governments to enter the data relating to issue and renewal of licenses in electronic  format  in  National  Database  of  Arms  Licences  (NDAL)  and generate  Unique  Identification  Number  (UIN)  to  monitor  the  issuance  of licences.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5072 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Sewage Disposal System
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOUSING & URBAN AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 5072

TO BE ANSWERED ON MARCH 27, 2018

## SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM

NO.5072         SHRI VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK:

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

- (a) whether the Government has provided/proposes to provide financial assistance for integrated sewage disposable system in Pakur, Sahebganj, Dunika and Godda districts of Jharkhand;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is considering to take help from any global agency to set up sewage system in the said districts of Jharkhand; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (d). No, Madam.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5069 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Parameters for CPSEs
Ministry: HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
Asked by: KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES & PUBLIC ENTERPRISES DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ENTERPRISES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 5069

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.03.2018

## PARAMETRES FOR CPSEs

## 5069: SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

Will  the  Minister  of  HEAVY  INDUSTRIES  AND  PUBLIC  ENTERPRISES  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)  The details of the policy of Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) during 2016-17 for  deduction  in  marks  on  Government  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU) Parameters for CPSEs which fail to meet Parameters under Additional Eligibility;
- (b)  Whether the policy has been changed and made applicable retrospectively in respect of parameters under Additional Eligibility;
- (c)  if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (d)  the  number  of  times  change  in  policy  was  done  on  Government  MoU  of  CPSEs made applicable retrospectively in the last ten years?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTREPRISES (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

- (a) to (d): In  accordance  with  the  MoU  Guidelines  2016-17,  the  CPSEs  which  fail  to meet parameters under the Additional Eligibility Criteria would be rated as under:
- (i)  The CPSEs getting Excellent rating as per grading system would be downgraded to Very Good and the composite score shall be 90; and
- (ii)  In  respect  of  other  CPSEs,  MoU  ratings  would  be  reduced  by  score  of  5  from  the composite score at the time of approval of evaluation for the year 2016-17.

The  High  Powered  Committee  is  the  empowered  body  to  amend  MoU  guidelines. Therefore  with  an  objective  to  bring  uniformity  and  to  remove  hardships  faced  by the CPSEs, the HPC decided that uniform approach be applied in all cases at the time of evaluation 2016-17. Accordingly HPC decided that 5 marks may be deducted in  respect  of  CPSEs which  fail  to  meet  the  parameters  falling  under  Additional Eligibility Criteria irrespective of the grading as Excellent or otherwise.

…….
Lok Sabha Question No. 5068 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Price Capping of Essential Medicines
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: LALLU SINGH

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5068 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 th  March,2018

## Price Capping of Essential Medicines

†5068. SHRI LALLU SINGH:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  cap  the  prices  of  essential  and  life saving drugs on the lines of cap on the prices of stents;
- (b) if so, the level of discussion on the said proposal at present; and
- (c) the time by which a decision is likely to be taken in this regard?

## 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) to (c): National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), as per the methodology defined in the para 4 and 6 of the Drugs (Prices Control) order 2013 (DPCO 2013), fixes  the  ceiling  prices  of  essential  drugs.  NPPA  has  till  date  fixed prices of 851 medicines.

The  endeavor  of  the  Government  has  always  been  to  take  steps  in  the interest  of  the  consumers  and  ceiling  price  fixation  of  essential  medicines  is  an ongoing process.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 5067 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Legislation for Real Estate Sector
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: PR. SENTHILNATHAN, R.K. BHARATHI MOHAN, V. SATHYABAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5067

TO BE ANSWERED ON MARCH 27, 2018

## LEGISLATION FOR REAL ESTATE SECTOR

No. 5067

SHRI PR. SENTHIL NATHAN : SHRI BHARATHI MOHAN R. K. : SHRIMATI V. SATHYA BAMA :

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  bring  out  a  legislation
- with relevant provisions to regulate the real estate sector; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

(SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)

- (a) & (b):   The  Government  of  India  has  enacted  the  Real  Estate (Regulation  and  Development)  Act,  2016  (Act)  to  bring about transparency and accountability in the real estate sector  and  to  protect  the  interest  of  the  home  buyers. This  Act  also,  inter  alia,  provides  for  establishment  of Real  Estate  Regulatory  Authorities  in  the  States  and Union Territories; and adjudicating mechanism for speedy dispute redressal.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5063 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Impact of Merging of Bayer and Monsanto on Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: NARAMALLI SIVAPRASAD

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5063

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27 TH  MARCH, 2018

## IMPACT OF MERGING OF BAYER AND MONSANTO ON FARMING

5063.  DR. NARAMALLI SIVA PRASAD:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has assessed the situation with respect to the merger of Bayer and  Monsanto  and  its  implications  on  India's  farming  apart  from  what  the  Competition Commission of India (CCI) can do in its limited jurisdiction and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  going  to  handle  the  issue  of  intellectual  property  in  the merger, so that either through patents or plant breeder rights held by these companies, access to and prices of technological innovations are regulated and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the State Government and the agriculture department in the State have been duly informed about the mega merger and the likely impact on farmers in their State and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether two weeks is too short a period for farmer groups to make submissions to CCI on  one  of  the  biggest  mergers  of  companies  in  the  agriculture  sector  in  India,  if  so,  the necessary steps taken by the Government to open up the process and hold public hearings on the subjects; and
- (e) whether  the  public  sector  including  ICAR's  research  institutes  is  preparing  to  provide alternatives to the products developed by the corporate sector and if so, the details thereof

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a) to (d): Yes, Madam.  The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has received notice on 07.08.2017  from  Bayer  in  relation  to  the  proposed  acquisition  of  entire  shareholding  of Monsanto Company by Bayer.

Ministry  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare  has  discussed  with  CCI  and  certain information has been provided to CCI.  However the issue related to patent will be handled as per existing provision of Patents Act 1970.

- (e): ICAR and other commodity-based Indian Research Institutes are developing technologies meeting the requirements as alternative of the products developed by corporate sector.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 439 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-26
Subject: Tea Garden Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: RAM PRASAD SARMAH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. 439 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.03.2018

## TEA GARDEN WORKERS

- *439. SHRI RAM PRASAD SARMAH:

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

- (a)whether the Government has unveiled any scheme to  pay sufficient compensation to the dependents of labourers of Tea Garden in case of death of the present or Ex-Tea garden worker;
- (b)if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether  the  Government  has  any  policy/scheme  for  social  and
- economic security of Tea Garden workers; and (d)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(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  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  439  FOR  26.03.2018  BY  SHRI RAM PRASAD SARMAH REGARDING 'TEA GARDEN WORKERS'.

**********

(a)  &  (b):  No,  Madam.  However,  under  the  Employees'  Compensation Act, 1923 which is applicable to organised tea plantations, there is a provision for compensation to the dependents of worker.

(c) & (d): The Plantation Labour Act, 1951 mandates the tea estates to provide basic welfare services and amenities viz. housing, medical and primary  education,  water  supply,  sanitation  etc.  to  the  tea  garden workers.   Moreover, the workers of the tea industry are covered by all social  security  legislations  like  the  Employees'  Compensation  Act, 1923,  the  Payment  of  Gratuity  Act,  1972,  the  Employees'  Provident Funds  &  Miscellaneous  Provisions  Act,  1952,  the  Payment  of  Bonus Act, 1965, the Maternity Benefit Act 1961, the Payment of Wages Act, 1936,  the  Equal  Remuneration  Act,  1976,  the  Assam  Tea  Plantation Provident  Fund,  Pension  Fund  and  Deposit  Link  Insurance  Fund Scheme Act 1955 - only for Assam.

Besides, the government implements through the Tea Board various welfare activities for tea plantation workers and their dependants  in  tea  estates.  The  welfare  activities  undertaken  by  the Tea Board under the Human Resource Development (HRD) Scheme aim at improving the health and hygiene of workers, education of wards of workers and imparting training to improve skills for growers/workers.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 438 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-26
Subject: Development of Tea Sector
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: RADHESHYAM BISWAS

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 438 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 th  MARCH,2018

## DEVELOPMENT OF TEA SECTOR

## *438.  SHRI RADHESHYAM BISWAS:

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

- (a) whether the constitution of the Tea Board envisages overall development of the tea sector in the country including Assam;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Tea Board has been able to ensure remunerative prices to tea growers; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=h ¼ Jh lqjs'k izHkq ½

THE MINISTER OF  COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI SURESH PRABHU)

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

*****

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 438  FOR ANSWER ON 26 th  MARCH,2018 REGARDING 'DEVELOPMENT OF TEA SECTOR'.

(a) & (b): Yes Sir.  The Tea Board constituted under section 4 of the Tea Act, 1953 has various regulatory and developmental functions which inter-alia includes rendering financial and technical assistance for cultivation, manufacture and marketing of tea, export promotion, aiding research and development activities for augmentation of tea production and improvement of tea quality and to encourage and assist both financially and technically the unorganized small growers sector, for the overall development of the tea sector in the country including Assam.

(c) & (d): In  order  to  ensure  remunerative  prices  of  green  leaf  to  tea  growers  a  price sharing formula (PSF) has been notified as per the provisions of the Tea (Marketing) Control Order  in  the  case  of  Bought  Leaf  Factories.  This  formula  takes  into  account  the  cost  of production of green tea leaf by the small growers and cost of manufacturing by the Bought leaf factories and provides for equitable sharing of the net sale price of the made tea between the growers and the manufacturers. Minimum bench mark prices for green leaf are fixed and notified for each tea districts based on the above formula and payment of green leaf price to the  growers  is  closely  monitored  by  the  District  Green  Leaf  Price  Monitoring  Committees headed  by  the  District  Magistrates.  However,  in  case  of  estate  factories,  the  price  is dependent on quality, seasonal variations and market forces.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 429 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-26
Subject: Development Fee in Navodaya Vidyalayas
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SANTOSH KUMAR, MAMTAZ SANGHAMITA

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.429 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.3.2018

## Development Fee in Navodaya Vidyalayas

- *429. SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR: DR. MAMTAZ SANGHAMITA:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a)  whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  scrap  the  school  development  fee  being introduced in Navodaya Vidyalayas of the country in near future; (b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise; and

- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

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

****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  THE  PARTS  (a)  to  (c)  OF  LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.429  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  26.03.2018 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT FEE IN NAVODAYA VIDYALAYAS

(a)  to  (c):  No  such  proposal  is  under  consideration.   The  students  of  Jawahar  Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) are being provided good quality modern education free of cost along with free boarding and lodging since its inception. Only a nominal fee of Rs. 200 per month per student is charged from the students of classes 9th to 12th in the form of Vidyalaya Vikas Nidhi (VVN) with effect from July 2003. All girl students, students belonging to the SC/ST communities and boys belonging to the BPL families are exempt from paying this fee.  Thus, the  VVN  is  collected  only  from  a  very  small  percentage  of  students. VVN  fund  is  being utilised for following activities in JNVs:

1. For expansion of Computer Education Programme and Information Technology.
2. For conducting Yoga Camps, Adventure Activities, Promotion of Sports etc.
3. For development of Hobby Centres and Junior Science Labs as part of Science Promotion activities.
4. For organising local excursion trips and cultural activities.
5. For promotion of NCC and Scouts & Guides activities.
6. For Safety, Security and Health care of the children.
7. Quality improvement programmes in academics/Pace Setting Activities.

With  a  view  to  providing  better  facilities  to  the  students  of  the  JNVs  as  well  as  for strengthening the security services, hygiene, sanitation and cleaning services etc., the VVN is being  enhanced  by  NVS  to  Rs.  600  per  month  per  student  w.e.f.  April, 2018.  Students belonging to SC/ST communities, girl students and boys belonging to BPL families continue to  be  exempted  from  paying  this  fee.  From  those  students  whose  parents  are  government employees, VVN would be charged at the rate of Rs. 1500 per month w.e.f. April 2018.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 428 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-26
Subject: Global Initiative of Academic Networks
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: K. MARAGATHAM

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 428 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.03.2018

## Global Initiative of Academic Networks

- *428.  SHRIMATI K. MARAGATHAM:

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

- (a) whether the Government has launched a scheme called Global Initiative of Academic Networks  wherein  foreign  faculty  members  stay  for  a  while  in  the  country  and  deliver lectures for an honorarium;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the total  number of foreign faculties who have delivered honorarium lectures under the said scheme so far?

## A N S W E R MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFFERED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  THE  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 428 FOR 26.03.2018 ASKED BY SHRIMATI K. MARAGATHAM, HON'BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT REGARDING GLOBAL INITIATIVE OF ACADEMIC NETWORKS. (a) & (b): The  Government  of  India  launched  a  scheme  named  Global  Initiative  for Academic  Network  (GIAN)  on  30th  November  2015  with  an  objective  to  garner  the  best international knowledge & experience into our system of education and enable interaction of students & faculty with the best academic & industry experts from all over the world.  Under the GIAN scheme, the foreign faculty and industrial experts are invited to conduct a course of one  week  (12  to  14  hours)  or  two  week  (24  to  28  hours)  duration  at  an  Indian  academic institution.  The upper limit of overall expenditure allowed for each such course is $8000 for 12-14  hours  and  $12000  for  20-28  hours  course  covering  travel  and  honorarium  for  the foreign faculty, contingency, video recording, lecture material preparation etc. (c): As  on  22.3.2018,  a  total  of  1067  courses  have  been  conducted  under  the  GIAN scheme, in which 1029 foreign faculties and industry experts have participated.

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