opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 339 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Primary Education in Mother Tongue
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: DILIP KUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 339 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH  MARCH 2018

## Primary Education in Mother Tongue

## †*339. SHRI DILIPKUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI:

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

(a)  whether  there  is  any  provision  in  the  Right  of  Children  to  Free  and  Compulsory Education  (RTE)  Act,  2009  making  it  mandatory  to  provide  children  their  initial  primary education in their mother tongue;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether  teaching  of  Marathi  language  has  been  made  mandatory  in  English  Medium schools and Central schools in Maharashtra as per the said provisions and if so, the details thereof;

(d)  whether  there  are  still  many  schools  in  Maharashtra  where  Marathi  language  has  been excluded from the syllabus and the children of Marathi mother tongue are not admitted; and

(e) if so, the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government against the said schools?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

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

*****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  339  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  19 TH   MARCH,  2018 REGARDING 'PRIMARY EDUCATION IN MOTHER TONGUE' ASKED BY SHRI

DILIPKUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI, MP: (a) to  (b):  Section  29(2)(f)  of  the  Right  of  Children  to  Free  and  Compulsory  Education (RTE) Act, 2009 mandates that the medium of instructions at elementary level shall, as far as practicable, be in child's mother tongue. (c) to (e): Government of Maharashtra has reported that vide its resolution dated 04-02-2009, it  has  been  made  mandatory  to  teach  Marathi  language  in  non-Marathi  medium  School including  English  medium  schools  in  the  state.  It  has  further  reported  that  no  written complaint has been received regarding non-teaching of Marathi language in any school.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 338 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Inclusion of Other Communities/ Non-Tribals in STs List
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. †*338

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.3.2018

## INCLUSION OF OTHER COMMUNITIES / NON-TRIBALS IN STS LIST

†*338 :  SHRI VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK :

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether other communities which are non-tribal by origin are being included in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs) in place of original and  genuine tribal communities under the present system;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (c) the details of the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard along with the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI JUAL ORAM)

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

****

## Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *338 for answer on 19.3.2018  asked  by  Shri  Vijay  Kumar  Hansdak,  MP,  regarding  'Inclusion  of  Other Communities / Non-Tribals in STs List.'

(a) :   No, Madam.

(b ) :  In view of (a) above, does not arise.

(c) :  The criteria followed for specification of a community as a Scheduled Tribe are : (i) indications  of  primitive  traits;  (ii)  distinctive  culture;  (iii)  geographical  isolation;    (iv) shyness of contact with the community at large;  and  (v) backwardness.

The  Government  has    on  15-6-1999  (further  amended  on  25-6-2002),  laid  down  the modalities for determining the claims for inclusion in, exclusion from and other modifications in the Orders specifying lists for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. According to these modalities,  only  those  proposals  which  have  been  recommended  by  the  concerned  State Government/Union Territory Administration and concurred with by the Registrar General of India (RGI) and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) are to be considered for amendment of legislation. Accordingly, the proposals / recommendations received from concerned State Governments / UT Administrations are processed by this Ministry as per the approved modalities.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 336 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Allocation of PDS Kerosene
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: RAMSINH PATALYABHAI RATHWA

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.  *336 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 th   March, 2018

## ALLOCATION OF PDS KEROSENE

* 336. SHRI RAMSINH RATHWA : पैट्रोल ियम और प्राक ृ तिक गैस मंत्री Will the Minister of PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS be pleased to state: (a)    whether  the  Government  has  devised  the  policy  for  allocation  of  PDS  kerosene  to States and if so, the details thereof; (b)  the year in which the aforesaid policy was formulated and announced; and (c) whether the aforesaid policy accounts for LPG coverage and population of the States

- and if so, the details thereof?

## A N S W E R

पैट्रोल ियम और प्राक ृ तिक गैस मंत्री (श्री धमेन्द र प्रधा

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

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

*******

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 336 ASKED BY SHRI RAMSINH RATHWA ANSWER ON 19.03.2018 REGARDING ALLOCATION OF PDS KEROSENE.

(a) to (c) :  The  Government  of  India (Ministry of Petroleum  and  Natural  Gas) makes  allocation of  Public Distribution System (PDS) Kerosene on quarterly basis for cooking and lighting purposes only as per Kerosene (Restriction on Use and Fixation of Ceiling Price)  Order, 1993. Further distribution of PDS Kerosene within the States/UTs under PDS network to various categories of ration card holders/consumers is made by the  concerned  States/UTs.   The  scale  and  criteria  of  distribution  are  also  decided  by respective State/UT.

PDS Kerosene allocation of States/UTs have been rationalized since 2010-11, by taking  into  account  the  factors  such  as  increase  in  domestic  LPG/PNG  connections, increase  in  electricity  coverage,  non-lifting  of  PDS  Kerosene  quota  by  the  concerned States/UTs etc.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 332 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Promotion of Indian Folk Arts and Culture
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: MEENAKASHI LEKHI

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 332 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2018

## PROMOTION OF INDIAN FOLK ARTS AND CULTURE

*332. SHRIMATI MEENAKASHI LEKHI:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to promote Indian folk arts and culture on a foreign platform;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the Government in this regard; and

(c)  the  incentives  being  provided  to  improve  the  economic  conditions  of  folk artists?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  CULTURE  AND CLIMATE

MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CHANGE

(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

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

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO. 332 FOR 19.3.2018  REGARDING PROMOTION OF INDIAN FOLK ARTS AND CULTURE

(a)  &  (b):  The  Ministry  of  Culture  aims  at  disseminating  Indian  Folk  Arts  and Culture  abroad  through  Signing  of  Cultural  Agreements  &  Cultural  Exchange Programme  and  their  implementation  by  concerned  agencies  with  mutual discussions through diplomatic channels. Ministry of culture operates Scheme for Promotion of International Cultural Relations under which Festivals of India are organized showcasing folk art and other cultural events as exhibitions, dance, music, theatre, food fest, literary fest, film fest, yoga etc. Under this scheme, Ministry of culture also gives Grant-in-aid to  Indo  Foreign  Friendship  Cultural  Societies  for  organizing  programmes  & activities  including  folk  art  &  other  cultural  activities  for  their  promotion  abroad. The signing & implementation of Exchange programme is a continuous process. Organising  Festivals  of  India  and  supporting  Indo  Foreign  Friendship  Cultural Societies abroad is a regular activity of Ministry of culture. (c):  The  Government  of  India has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) with headquarters at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Allahabad, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur to  protect,  preserve  &  promote  various  forms  of  folk  art  and  culture throughout  the  country.  The  folk  artists  from  all  over  India  are  engaged  to perform in the festivals & programmes organized by these ZCCs regularly in all States/Union Territories of India. Besides, the folk artists are also sent abroad to perform in Festivals of India.   Incentives like  Dearness allowance, honorarium, board & lodging, local & international travel are provided to these artists by the respective ZCC and Ministry of Culture.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 328 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Polytechnic Private Colleges
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: GEETHA KOTHAPALLI

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *328 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2018

## POLYTECHNIC PRIVATE COLLEGES

## *328. SHRIMATI  KOTHAPALLI  GEETHA :

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  there  are  more  than  70  polytechnic  private colleges related to agriculture in Andhra Pradesh and among them, 70 per cent of the colleges' management is in a very bad position and not up to the minimum standards;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the funds sanctioned/spent so far, district and college-wise;
- (c) whether any Central team visited Andhra Pradesh to study the polytechnic agricultural colleges and proposed corrective measures in this regard; and
- (d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve standards in such colleges?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) to (d): No Madam.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 327 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Updation of NCERT Text Books
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: C. N. JAYADEVAN, ANTO  ANTONY

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 327 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2018

## Updation of NCERT Text Books

## *327.  SHRI C.N. JAYADEVAN: SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

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

(a) whether it is a fact that about one crore unsold NCERT text books are likely to become obsolete as the text books are being updated for the upcoming 2018-19 academic session, thereby causing a loss of Rs. 30 crore to the national exchequer and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government had plans to update the text books and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons for printing such a large number of text books last year;

(c) whether  the  Government  proposes  the  sale  of  the  aforesaid  text  books  through book fairs and other possible platforms and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  set  up  an  effective  mechanism  to  keep  a balance  between  the  demand  and  supply  of  NCERT  text  books,  thereby  avoiding  the huge loss and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(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. 327 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2018 ASKED BY SHRI C.N. JAYADEVAN, MP AND SHRI ANTO ANTONY, MP REGARDING 'UPDATION OF NCERT TEXT BOOKS'.

(a) & (b) The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) have informed that  they  do  not  have  any  leftover  stock  of  un-updated  books.  Therefore,  no books have become obsolete due to their updation.  NCERT has updated its textbooks for the  year  2018-19 on the basis of suggestions received from teachers, students, experts, parents, etc. In this regard a web portal was created by the NCERT and suggestions from teachers were invited, accordingly books have been reviewed and appropriate updation and  additions  were  incorporated  into  the  textbook.  The  review  broadly  pertained  to rectification of factual errors, if any, and updation of data.

(c) In view of the above, the question does not arise.

(d) NCERT already has a mechanism for maintaining a balance between demand and supply of textbooks. NCERT has launched a dedicated web portal (www.ncertbooks.ncert.gov.in)  for  supply  of  textbooks  to  schools  and  individuals.  All interested Schools, Agencies, Individuals, including State Government/Agencies and 895 NCERT empanelled Vendors can place their requirement of NCERT textbooks on this Portal.  NCERT  assesses  the  demand  through  the  portal  and  accordingly  prints  the required number of textbooks.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 325 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Publicisation of Records Relating to Netaji
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: HARI BABU KAMBHAMPATI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 325

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH  MARCH, 2018

## PUBLICISATION OF RECORDS RELATING TO NETAJI

## †* 325. SHRI HARI MANJHI:

- (a) whether the Government has made  public all the records relating to Netaji  Subhash  Chandra  Bose  and  Azad  Hind  Fauj  and  placed  them  in  the National Archives of India;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE & MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST & CLIMATE CHANGE

(DR. MAHESH SHARMA )

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

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 325 FOR 19 TH  MARCH, 2018.

## (a) & (b): The details of declassified records relating to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose are as below:

| S.No.   | Name of Ministry/Office      |   No. of records/files |
|---------|------------------------------|------------------------|
| i.      | Prime Minister's Office      |                     58 |
| ii      | Ministry of Home Affairs     |                     37 |
| iii     | Cabinet Secretariat          |                     09 |
| iv      | Ministry of External Affairs |                    200 |
| Total   | Total                        |                    304 |

Accordingly,  a  total  of  304  declassified  records/files  have  been  transferred  to  the National  Archives  of  India  by  above  mentioned  Ministries/Offices  for  permanent retention.  Out  of  304  files,  303  files  are  already  uploaded  on  Netaji  webportal  i.e. www.netajipapers.gov.in

The National Archives of India is the custodian of declassification files/records of the Government of India.

In addition, in 1997 the National Archives of India had received 990 declassified files pertaining to the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) from the Ministry of Defence, and in 2012, 1030 files/items pertaining to the Khosla Commission (271 files/ items) and Justice Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry (759 files/items) from the Ministry of Home Affairs. All these files/items are already open to the public under the Public Records Rules, 1997.

(c): Does not arise.
Lok Sabha Question No. 324 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: English Language Textbooks
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SURESH KODIKUNNIL

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 324 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19-03-2018

## English Language Textbooks

## *324. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

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

- (a) whether the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) has recommended the Government to include and incorporate passages from the autobiography of  late  president  Shri  APJ  Abdul  Kalam  in  the  English  language  textbooks prescribed by the secondary school certificate and higher secondary certificate Boards from the next academic year and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  received  any  representation  from  any  State Government to implement such a decision; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## 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 Part (a) to (c) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 324 for reply on 19 th  March, 2018 asked by Shri Kodikunnil Suresh regarding English Language Textbooks

(a)  to  (c)  :  No,  Madam.  Central  Advisory  Board  of  Education  (CABE)  has  not recommended including and incorporating passages from the autobiography of late President Shri A. P. J. Abdul Kalam in the English language textbooks prescribed by  the  secondary  school  certificate  and  higher  secondary  certificate  Boards. However,  Sh.  Latif  Magdum,  Secretary,  Maharashtra  Cosmopolitan  Education Society, Pune and Nominated member (Minority Educational Institutions) of CABE proposed such agenda for inclusion in agenda for 63 rd and 65 th meeting of CABE held on 19 th August, 2015 and 15 th -16 th January, 2018 respectively. The proposed agenda was placed before CABE in both the meetings; however, no decision was taken in the matter.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3908 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Construction of Guest Houses
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: JUGAL KISHORE SHARMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†3908 ANSWERED ON 19.03.2018

## CONSTRUCTION OF GUEST HOUSES

†3908. SHRI JUGAL KISHORE:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the  State-wise  number  of  guest  houses  including  Jammu  & Kashmir  particularly  in  backward  and  rural  areas  of  the country as on date;
- (b) whether there is any proposal for construction of guest houses in Jammu & Kashmir during the current financial year;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has restarted the scheme for providing central assistance for the construction of said guest houses; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e): Construction and operation of Guest Houses is primarily a  private  sector  activity.  The  Ministry  of  Tourism,  Government  of India  only  approves  operational  Guest  Houses  under  its  voluntary scheme.

The  number  of  Guest  Houses  approved  by  the  Ministry  of Tourism in various regions in India as on date is 5.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3907 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Rail Tariff for Steel Goods
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: C.S. PUTTARAJU

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3907 FOR ANSWER ON 19/03/2018

## RAIL TARIFF FOR STEEL GOODS

3907.  SHRI C.S. PUTTA RAJU:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has given any thought on its domestic policies that are reportedly hurting the domestic steel producers;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the  extent  to  which  the  railway  freight  policy  and  clean  energy  cess  is impacting the steel sector in the country;
- (d) whether any consultations have been held with Ministry of Railways to change tariff classification of Steel goods at par with coal; and
- (e) if so, the details and the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR STEEL

(SHRI VISHNU DEO SAI)

(a)&(b): Government policies have been supportive of the development and growth of the steel industry. The Government has come out with National Steel Policy 2017, Domestically  Manufactured  Iron  &  Steel  Products  Policy  and  amendment  in  GFR 2017 to include Life Cycle Cost Analysis to enhance the usage of steel.

- (c) The railway freight policy impacts the steel industry in terms of transportation costs of steel and its raw materials. In so far as the clean energy cess is concerned, the same has been repealed.

(d)&(e):  Ministry  of  Railways  has  been  apprised  of  the  issues  related  with  freight classification  of  iron  ore  and  a  Joint  Task  Force  has  been  constituted  to  look  into such issues.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3905 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: List of Foreign Degrees
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: DILIP PATEL

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3905 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2018

## List of Foreign Degrees

3905. SHRI DILIP PATEL

(a) whether the Government  is considering to bring comprehensive list of foreign degrees and its validity status for the benefit of students; and

(b) if so, the details thereof and the time by which it would be brought in public domain?

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

- (a) No, Madam.
- (b) Does not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3904 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Central Tribal University
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: LAKHAN LAL SAHU

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3904 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2018

## Central Tribal University

†3904. SHRI LAKHAN LAL SAHU:

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

- (a) whether the State Government of Chhattisgarh has again sent a proposal to establish Central Tribal University in Bastar which has been turned down by the Government earlier;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons for turning down such proposal;
- (c) whether the State Government has proposed/requested to set up a special study campus for tribals  of  Bastar  of  Central  Tribal  University  located  in  adjoining  Amarkuntak  district  of Chhattisgarh; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the decision taken by the Government in this regard?

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

- (a) to  (d)  At  present  there  is  no  proposal  under  consideration  to  establish  a  new  Central Tribal University in Bastar in Chhattisgarh. A  proposal was  received from  the State Government of Chhattisgarh to set up a regional study centre of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University  in  Bastar.  However,  it  was  decided  that  the  University  should  first  stabilize  its operations at its main campus before any expansion is considered. As per 12 th Plan (2012-17) as approved by National Development Council (NDC), the thrust is on consolidation of the higher education  system.  Expansion  would  be  mainly  done  by  scaling  up  capacity  of  the  existing institutions  in  place  of  setting  up  new  institutions.  Besides,  the  Central  Government  has launched Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) on cost sharing basis to assist States to upgrade existing institutions to Universities provided they are eligible as per norms.

****