opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 79 (STARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: Promotion of Steel Sector
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*79

## FOR ANSWER ON 21/11/2016

## PROMOTION OF STEEL SECTOR

- *79. SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO: DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the domestic steel sector has been reportedly plagued by low prices, higher imports and muted demand growth and if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto;

(b) whether the Government proposes to encourage domestic steel producers to export their products;

(c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  subsidies/incentives  being  provided/ proposed to be extended by the Government in this regard; and

(d) the other steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to protect and promote the domestic steel industry and the extent of success achieved therefrom?

## ANSWER

(SHRI CHAUDHARY BIRENDER SINGH)

THE MINISTER OF STEEL

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

********

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (A)  TO  (D)  OF  THE  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *79 FOR ANSWER ON 21/11/2016 TABLED BY  SHRI  ADHALRAO  PATIL  SHIVAJIRAO  AND  DR.  SHRIKANT  EKNATH SHINDE, MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT REGARDING 'PROMOTION OF STEEL SECTOR'

(a) Since  beginning  of  fiscal year 2014-15,  the  Indian  Steel industry  has witnessed severe stress due to surge in imports from countries saddled with excess capacity and fall in domestic prices. In India, steel prices of HR Coils fell from a high of ~ Rs.  47,000  in  April,  2014  to  Rs.  30,000  in  January,  2016.  Volume  of  Steel imports increased to 11.71 MT in 2015-16 from 5.45 MT in 2013-14. With the decline in domestic steel prices, the net sales realisation and profit margins of domestic steel producers also decreased and the erosion in profit margins for the steel companies significantly decreased their debt  servicing capability. (b)&(c):  Government  has  various  export  promotion  schemes  like  Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS), Duty Exemption Scheme, Interest Equalization Scheme etc. under Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20 which are also available for export of iron and steel goods. Government has taken various steps in the interest of domestic Steel Industry rice imports of Steel has declined by 39% to 4.5 million during  April-October,  2016  as  compared  to  the  corresponding  period  last

(d) from  unfair  foreign  competition  and  the  same  have  yielded  positive  results.  P realization has improved , tonnes year. Further, Indian Steel  Exports  have  increased  by 50%  to  4.2  million  tonnes during April-October, 2016 as compared to the corresponding period last year.

- ********
Lok Sabha Question No. 77 (STARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: Policy on e-Commerce
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: SULTAN  AHMED, MAHEISH GIRRI

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

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. 77.

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE 21 ST  , NOVEMBER, 2016.

## POLICY ON E-COMMERCE

## *77. SHRI SULTAN AHMED: SHRI MAHEISH GIRRI:

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

## वाणिज् यवव द्यग ं ्री

- (a) the salient features of the existing e-commerce and online retail business;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to frame a new policy on e-commerce and online retail market and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  salient  features  thereof  including  provisions  made  therein  to  allow  the consumers  to  filter  the  products  based  upon  their  choice  for  domestically manufactured or imported ones;
- (d) whether any Committee has been constituted in this regard; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof along with the time by which the said policy is likely to be implemented?

## ANSWER

वाणिज् यवव द्यग ााज् यं ्रीस् वतं ््रभााा(स्रींतंरीिरंमलााीरीतंाांि( THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRIMATI NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

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

********

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 77 FOR ANSWER ON 21 st  NOVEMBER, 2016

- (a): No study on existing e-commerce companies and online retail business has been undertaken by the Government.
- (b): No such proposal has been finalised by the Government.
- (c): Does not arise.
- (d) & (e): A Committee has been constituted to examine various issues relating to  e-commerce  sector  under  the  Chairmanship  of  CEO,  NITI  Aayog. The Committee inter-alia comprises representatives from Department of  Industrial  Policy  &  Promotion,  Department  of  Economic  Affairs, Department  of  Electronics  &  Information  Technology,  Department  of Consumer  Affairs  and  certain  State  Governments  namely  Assam, Karnataka,  Madhya  Pradesh,  Maharashtra,  Odisha  and  Punjab.  The Committee  is  mandated  to  examine  various  issues  in  e-commerce sector  and  make  recommendations  for  further  liberalization  of  the policy in this sector (including possibility of changes in the FDI policy). However,  since  no  new  policy  has  been  finalized,  time  limit  for implementation thereof does not arise.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 71 (STARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: Development of Salt Industry
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: KALYAN BANERJEE

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

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. 71. TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE 21 ST  NOVEMBER,  2016.

## DEVELOPMENT OF SALT INDUSTRY

- *71. SHRI KUNDARIYA MOHAN BHAI KALYANJI BHAI:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

be pleased to state: वाणिज् यवव द्यग ं ्री

- (a) whether  meetings  were  held  between  Government  of  Gujarat  and  Union Government  in  2012,  in  connection  with  development  of  salt  industry  and agarias in the State and if so, the outcome of the meetings;
- (b) the action taken/being taken to reimburse the State Government  the expenditure  incurred  on  development  of  salt  industry  schemes/projects  and welfare schemes for the salt workers; and
- (c) whether the Union Government proposes to contribute 50 per cent amount of the State Salt Projects so that more projects and better activities are taken up in Gujarat and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् यवव द्यग ााज् यं ्रीस् वतं ््रभााा(स्रींतंरीिरंमलााीरीतंाांि( THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRIMATI NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a): No meeting was held between Government of Gujarat and Government of India in 2012 regarding development of salt industry and agarias in the State.
- (b): There  is  no  scheme  of  the  Government  of  India  which  envisages reimbursement to the State Government of the expenditure incurred on development  of  salt  industry/projects  and  welfare  schemes  for  salt workers.
- (c): No such proposal is under consideration.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 69 (STARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: Promotion of Wildlife and Forest Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: RAMDAS CHANDRABHANJI TADAS, NANABHAU FALGUNRAO PATOLE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*69 ANSWERED ON 21.11.2016

## PROMOTION OF WILDLIFE AND FOREST TOURISM

- *69. SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS: SHRI NANA PATOLE:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the  Government plans to develop wildlife and forest tourism in the country, if so, the details thereof along with its scope in various States, State/UT-wise including Maharashtra;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  received  any  proposals  in  this regard from the various State Governments or public representatives and if so, the details thereof and the status of the said proposals;
- (c) the funds allocated for the purpose during the last three years and the current year, year-wise;
- (d) the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  develop  these forests as tourist sites; and
- (e) the  time  by  which  these  places  are  likely  to  be  developed under wildlife and forest tourism?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

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

********

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*69 ANSWERED  ON  21.11.2016  REGARING  PROMOTION  OF  WILDLIFE AND FOREST TOURISM.

(a) to (d): India  has  huge  tourism  potential  including  wildlife  and forest tourism in the country including in the State of Maharashtra. Development  and  promotion  of  tourist  destinations  and  products including Wildlife & Forest Tourism is primarily the responsibility of the respective State Government/Union Territory (UT) Administration.

However,  for  development  of  tourism  infrastructure  in  the country, the Ministry of Tourism has launched the Swadesh Darshan scheme- Integrated Development of  Theme-Based Tourist Circuits, in 2014-15.

Wildlife  Circuit  has  been  identified  as  one  of  the  thirteen thematic circuits for development under this operative scheme.

The  Ministry  has  sanctioned  following  projects  in  the  year 2015-16 for the Wildlife Circuit under Swadesh Darshan scheme:

| State          | Name of Project                                                                                   |   Amount Sanctioned (Rs. in Crore) |
|----------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
| Madhya Pradesh | Development of Wildlife Circuit at Panna- Mukundpur- Sanjay- Dubri-Bandhavgarh- Kanha-Mukki-Pench |                              92.22 |
| Assam          | Manas-Pobitora-Nameri-Kaziranga-Dibru- Saikhowa as Wildlife Circuit in Assam                      |                              95.67 |

(e): The completion period of projects sanctioned under the Swadesh Darshan scheme varies from 18 to 36 months.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 66 (STARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: Memorial on Morarji Desai
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: CHANDRAKANT RAGHUNATH PATIL, DEVAJIBHAI GOVINDBHAI FATEPARA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO.66 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 st  NOVEMBER, 2016

## MEMORIAL ON MORARJI DESAI

* 66. SHRI C.R.PATIL:

## SHRI DEVAJIBHAI G. FATEPARA:

## Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- a) whether the Government has received request/proposal from the State Government  of  Gujarat  for  paying  compensation  to  Sabarmati  Ashram Gaushala Trust towards the land acquired for the memorial of former Prime Minister, Late Shri Morarji Desai;
2. (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  response  of  the  Union  Government thereto including the reasons for delay if any, in taking action in this regard;
3. (c)  whether  the  Government  had  constituted  a  Concept  Committee  to develop suitable memorial on the Samadhi of Late Shri Morarji Desai named as Abhay Ghat and if so, the details of the action taken thereon; and
4. (d)  the  action  taken  by  the  Government  so  far  to  acquire  land  for  such memorial?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM

(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (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 66 FOR 21 st  NOVEMBER, 2016.

(a) & (b) A  proposal  for  payment  of  compensation  towards  cost  of  land was, for the first time, received in the Ministry in the year 2000 from the State Government  of  Gujarat  and  was  examined  by  this  Ministry.  Since,  the commemoration period of the birth centenary of Late Sh. Morarji Desai during 1996-1997 had already ended by then, the request of the State Government of Gujarat could not be acceded to by the Ministry of Culture. (c) Yes, Madam. A concept committee under the Chairmanship of Chairman, Sabarmati Ashram Gaushala Trust, Ahmedabad was constituted on 23.02.1996 to develop suitable Memorial on the Samadhi of Late Shri Morarji Desai  named  as  Abhay  Ghat  at  Sabarmati,  Ahmedabad  as  a  part  of commemoration of his birth centenary during 1996-1997. (d) Sabarmati Ashram Gaushala Trust, Ahmedabad spared land measuring 7450 square meters for the purpose of the Samadhi of Late Shri Morarji Desai known  as  'Abhay  Ghat'  which  is  presently  under  the  maintenance  and possession  of  Central  Public  Works  Department  (CPWD),  Government  of India.  The  construction  work  started  in  July,  1997  and  was  completed  in March, 1999 by CPWD.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 919 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: BRICS Trade Fair
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, SUDHEER GUPTA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 919 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 st  NOVEMBER, 2016

## BRICS TRADE FAIR

## 919. DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

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

- (a) whether a trade fair of the BRICS countries was held recently at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi;
- (b) if  so,  the  details and the objectives thereof indicating the names of the BRICS countries along with the number of companies participated in this fair;
- (c) whether the said fair has resulted in demand of Indian products in BRICS countries;
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  revenue  earned  by  the  Indian  Companies  as  a result thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to organize such fairs on regular basis so as to popularise and encourage Indian products?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx jkT; ea=h ¼Jherh fueZyk lhrkje.k½ ¼Lora= izHkkj½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) The 1 BRICS Trade Fair was organized at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi from
- st 12-14 October 2016.
- (b) to  (d):  The  BRICS  Trade  Fair  was  completely  an  interactive  business engagement  and  was  organized  with  an  objective  to  promote  trade  and investment opportunities amongst the participating BRICS nations i.e. Brazil, Russia,  India,  China  and  South  Africa.  397  companies  participated  at  the BRICS Trade Fair to showcase the capability of each of the BRICS nations in

the  identified  sectors.  About  910  companies  participated  at  various  BRICS business engagements and nearly 1601 Business-to-Business (B2B) Meetings took place over three days. The BRICS Trade Fairs, like the other business to business  International  Trade  Fairs  was  a  unique  platform  for  showcasing technologies, goods and services, exploring opportunities for businesses and entering  into  dialogues  and  discussions  for  joint  venture  partnerships  and collaborations.  As  the  BRICS  Trade  Fair  was  not  a  direct  consumer  fair allowing sales of merchandise, the immediate revenue earned by participating Indian Companies cannot be quantified.

- (e) India organised the 1 st BRICS Trade Fair during its Presidency pursuant to the announcement made by  Hon'ble Prime Minister of India during the BRICS Summit at Ufa, in 2015. The Presidency of BRICS will move to China in 2017 and they would need to take a decision on the organisation of the next BRICS Trade Fair.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 912 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: Increase of seats in IITs
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shrirang Appa Barne, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, BHOLA SINGH, DHARMENDRA YADAV

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 912 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.11.2016

## Increase of seats in IITs

912.   SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE: SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO: DR. BHOLA SINGH: SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to increase B. Tech. and M. Tech. seats in various Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  some  of  the  IITs  have  raised  their  concern  over  such  increase  of seats, and if so, the reasons therefor and reaction of the Government thereto;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  provide  additional  facilities/ provisions in the IITs before increasing the seats and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if so, the steps taken by the Government so far in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

(a)  to  (e):  The  IIT-Council  in  its  50 th   Meeting  held  on  23.08.2016  approved  inprinciple,  the  proposal  for  increasing  the  overall  students'  strength  in  the  IITs  to one  lakh  by  the  year  2020.  All  IITs  were  asked  to  prepare  a  plan  of  action  for implementing this decision. Increasing intake requires matching infrastructure in the  form  of  classrooms,  hostels,  accommodation  for  faculty,  etc.  Based  on  the requirement projected by the IITs, suitable budgetary support is provided.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 911 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: Educational Testing Service
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: ANANDRAO  ADSUL, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, Shrirang Appa Barne, YERRAM VENKATA SUBBAREDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 911 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.11.2016

## Educational Testing Service

911.   SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRI Y.V. SUBBA REDDY:

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

- (a) whether the Government has any proposal for setting up a specialised body to conduct all entrance examinations currently held by the Central Board of Secondary Education, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  said  body  would  be  modelled  upon  the  Educational  Testing Service of the United States of America;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  it  would  include  the  National  Eligibility  Test,  Joint  Entrance Examination  Main  and  National  Eligibility  Cum  Entrance  Test  among others; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the time by which it is likely to be set up?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

(a)  to  (e):  The  matter  of  setting  up  specialized  body  to  conduct  all  entrance examinations  is  under  consideration  of  the  Ministry;  however  no  decision  has been taken on it.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 908 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: Faculty Members at IIT
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, BHARATENDRA SINGH, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, K. ASHOK KUMAR, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 908 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.11.2016

## Faculty Members at IIT

908.   SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

KUNWAR BHARATENDRA:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

SHRI K. ASHOK KUMAR:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  liberalise the norms  for  foreign academicians who want to teach at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs);
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Ministry of HRD has sorted out the matter with the Ministries of  External  Affairs  and  Home  Affairs  in  this  regard  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  also  plans  to  incentivize  foreign faculty members to teach at IITs; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof along with the other steps taken by the Government to increase the number of foreign faculty members at IITs?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

(a) to (e): The issues relating to liberalizing the norms for foreign academicians were discussed in a meeting held in the Ministry on October 3, 2016 with representatives of  the  Ministry  of  External  Affairs  (MEA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). There  was  broad  consensus  on  liberalizing  the  existing  regulatory  regime  so  that more  foreign  faculty  can  teach  in  India.    The  foreign  faculty  is  incentivized  with same emoluments as their Indian counterparts. It is proposed to conduct interviews in select foreign countries so as to recruit suitable foreign faculty in to IITs.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 905 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: Seats in IIMs
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, BHARATENDRA SINGH

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 905 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.11.2016

## Seats in IIMs

## 905. DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN: KUNWAR BHARATENDRA:

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

- (a) whether  the  Ministry  has  asked  Indian  Institutes  of  Management  (IIMs)  to  increase substantially the number of seats and also to increase the number of doctoral students;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the objective behind the move;
- (c) whether  IIMs  have  the  capacity  to  increase  the  seats  and  if  so,  the  time  by  which  the increase in enrolment is likely to be implemented;
- (d) whether there is any proposal that IIMs would also participate in the new initiative of the Government to make twenty world class universities/institutes and if so, the details thereof, and
- (e) the other steps taken by the Government to provide quality education in IIMs?

## A N S W E R MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

- (a) & (b): The  Indian  Institutes  of  Management  (IIMs)  have  been  asked  to  increase  their student strength, depending on existing space availability and infrastructure.
- (c): IIMs have been asked to assess the capacity to increase the number of seats. Once they make an assessment of additional resource requirement, the plan for increase in enrollment would be examined.
- (d): The draft regulation for World Class Universities have been placed in public domain but not yet finalized. Once these are finalised some IIMs, who will be eligible to participate in the new initiative, are expected to participate.
- (e): IIMs focus on providing quality management education and updation of course content to provide the best quality education which is  an ongoing process in all IIMs.

*****