opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1573 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Reservation for SCs and STs
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE, SADASHIV KISAN LOKHANDE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1573

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017)

## RESERVATION FOR SCS AND STS

## †1573. SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE: SHRI SADASHIV LOKHANDE:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is a provision for reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Constitution                           of the country;
- (b) if so, the percentage of reservation in Centre and States;
- (c) whether the Government is contemplating either to do away with the system of reservation or accord the proportionate reservation considering the year 2015 as base year; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

( a) & (b): Article 16(4) of the Constitution enables provision of reservation to backward class of citizens, who are not adequately represented in the services under the State.

As per extant instructions, reservation is provided to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes at the rate of 15%, 7.5% and 27% respectively in case of direct recruitment on all India basis by open competition. In case of direct recruitment on all India basis otherwise than by open competition, the percentage fixed is 16.66% for Scheduled Castes, 7.5% for Scheduled Tribes and 25.84% for Other Backward Classes .

In case of direct recruitment to Group C posts normally attracting candidates from a locality or a region, the percentage of reservation is generally fixed on the basis of proportion of their population in the respective States/Union Territories.

The services under the State come under the List II of the Seventh Schedule i.e. State List of the Constitution. The information on the state-wise provisions for reservation is not centrally maintained.

(c) & (d): As per the 9 judge Bench Constitutional judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Indira Sawhney case, total reservation cannot exceed the limit of 50%.   In the same judgment, the Hon'ble Supreme Court has also observed that clause (4) of Article 16 of Constitution speaks of adequate representation and not proportionate representation.

At  present,  there  is  no  proposal  to  do  away  with  the  existing  system  of  reservation  or  to review the reservation policy on proportionate basis on the basis of population.

**********
Lok Sabha Question No. 1572 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Advance Technology Missile
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: HARI OM PANDEY, KURUPPASSERY VARKEY THOMAS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEFENCE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1572

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27 TH  DECEMBER, 2017

## ADVANCE  TECHNOLOGY  MISSILE

1572.  SHRI  HARI  OM  PANDAY:

PROF. K.V. THOMAS:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has launched any advance technology missile;
- (b) if so, the details and facts therefor;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether  the launching  of Brahmos  missile from  different launching  pads, including fighter aircrafts is successful; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the extent to which it was successful?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                    (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

j{kk ea=h

¼Jherh  fueZyk lhrkje.k )

(a) to (c): Yes,  Madam.    Many  technologies  have  been  launched  for Advanced Missiles including Propulsion, Materials, Avionics and Sensors.

- (d) Yes,  Madam.    The  launching  of  BrahMos  Missile  from  different platform like ship, land and fighter aircraft is successful.
- (e) BrahMos missile was successfully flight tested from Indian Air Force (IAF)  Su-30  MK-I  fighter  aircraft  against  sea  based  target  at  distance  of 260 km.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1570 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Irregularities in Passenger and Catering Services
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1570 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## IRREGULARITIES IN PASSENGER AND CATERING SERVICES

†1570. SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  received  any  complaint  regarding corruption  and  irregularities  in  passenger  and  catering  services  in Allahabad zone of Northern Central Railways;
- (b)  if so, the action taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  investigation  in  this regard; and
- (d)  if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a)  to  (d):  No  complaints  regarding  corruption  have  been  received  in North  Central  Railway.  However,  total  178  numbers  of  complaints regarding irregularities in catering services have been received,  out of which 100 cases have  been fined after due investigation and an amount of ₹ 6,72,500/- has been realized during the Financial Year 2017-18 (upto 30.11.2017) and suitable action has been taken in remaining case.

Some complaints regarding passenger services have been received and  adequate  action,  as  deemed  fit,  has  been  taken  in  this  regard  to redress the complaint.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1569 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Economic Advisory Council
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: PINAKI MISRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1569 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## ECONOMIC ADVISORY COUNCIL

## 1569.  SHRI PINAKI MISRA:

Will the MINISTER of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  constituted  an  Economic  Advisory  Council  to  advice  on Macro-economic issues; and
- (b) if so, the terms of reference of the council?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS

## (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a) The Government has constituted an Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), vide Notification dated 26.09.2017, under the Chairmanship of Dr. Bibek Debroy, Member, NITI Aayog, for a period of two years or until further orders, whichever is earlier;
- (b) The terms of reference of the Economic Advisory Council are as under:
- (i) Analyze  any  issue,  economic  or  otherwise,  referred  to  it  by  the  Prime  Minister  and advising him thereon.
- (ii) Addressing issues of macroeconomic importance and presenting views   thereon to the Prime Minister. This could be either suo-moto or on reference from the Prime Minister or anyone else.
- (iii) Attending to any other task as may be desired by the Prime Minister from time to time.

------
Lok Sabha Question No. 1566 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Hindi in UNO
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: NEELAM SONKER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1566

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## HINDI IN UNO

## † 1566. SHRIMATI NEELAM SONKER:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is any monetary consideration in getting   Hindi included as official language in the United Nations Organisation (UNO);
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government intends to allocate funds for the said purpose; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## (SHRI M. J. AKBAR)

(a) to (d) Getting Hindi accepted as an official language of the United

- Nations   will   indeed   involve   additional   expenditure,   however   this additional expenditure cannot be borne only by India. According to the rules   of   the   United   Nations,   the   additional   expenditures   has   to   be contributed by all member states of the UN. That is why a vote held on any proposal to make a language an official language of UN, and such a vote must be passed by a two third majority.

On several occasions Indian leaders have delivered statements at the UN in Hindi including Prime Minister's statement at the 69 th  UNGA in September 2014, the address of Prime Minister to the UN Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015, and the addresses to the UNGA by External Affairs Minister during its 70 th , 71 st  and 72 nd  sessions in 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively. Necessary special arrangements were made for simultaneous interpretation of these statements into English by the Permanent Mission of India in New York.

- The   Government   continues   its   efforts   in   popularizing   Hindi worldwide. A World Hindi Secretariat has also been set up in Mauritius in February 2008, to promote Hindi as an international language. In the current financial year (2017-18) Rs 5 crores has been allocated for the propagation of Hindi worldwide through the Diplomatic Missions/Posts of India abroad.
- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1565 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Changes in Electoral System
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1565

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 27 TH  DECEMBER, 2017

## CHANGES IN ELECTORAL SYSTEM

## †1565. SHRI ARVIND SAWANT:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has sought cooperation of countries which have better electoral systems to study their electoral processes;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the measures proposed to be taken by the Government to improve our electoral system;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to bring in experts from countries which have better electoral system to improve our system; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW AND JUSTICE AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS (SHRI P.P.CHAUDHARY)

(a) and (b): The Election Commission has informed that no formal attempt has been made to study the electoral  process  of  other  countries.  However,  the  Commission  has  entered  into  Memorandums  of Understanding  (MoU)  with  various  countries/international  organizations  for  exchange  of  better practices in electoral matters, sharing of expertise, capacity building etc.

(c) and (d): The Commission has informed that no assistance of experts from any other countries has been sought by them.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1564 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Quality of Ammunition
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: RAMDAS CHANDRABHANJI TADAS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE PRODUCTION

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1564

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27 TH  DECEMBER, 2017

## QUALITY  OF  AMMUNITION

1564.  SHRI  RAMDAS  C. TADAS:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether arms and ammunition being manufactured in the Ordnance Factories are of  poor  quality  as  it  has  been  reported  that barrel  of  a  gun  was damaged  when  it  was tested;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  action taken  by  the  Ordnance  Factory  Board  in this regard;
- (c) whether the Quality Monitoring Department is conducting the investigation in this regard; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

र  ा रा य मं ी

- (a) No, Madam.

(b) to (d): Ordnance  Factories  under  Ordnance  Factory  Board  (OFB) manufacture  arms  and  ammunition  in  accordance  with  the  laid-down specifications, drawings and available Acceptance Plan.  Testing / trial is an integral part of quality process.  Items are issued to the User only after successfully completing the stipulated inspections, testing and proofing by Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA).  Damage to equipment during testing, if any, is properly investigated by Defect Investigation Team headed by DGQA and comprising representatives of the User and OFB.

******

(DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)

(डा. सुभाष भामरे)
Lok Sabha Question No. 1562 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Supply of Coal
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: JANAK RAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1562

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## Supply of Coal

## 1562. SHRI JANAK RAM:

Will the Minister of Coal be pleased to state:

(a) whether the power companies have requested for the reduction in the supply of coal and if so, the details thereof;

(b)  whether  the  reserves  of  coal  with  these  companies  have  been  around  one  sixth  of  the annual production of coal; and

(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF COAL IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL AND RAILWAYS

## ( SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL )

( a) :  A  number  of  Power  Gencos  had  regulated their  coal  supply  in  2016-17  and  in  the  initial months of this fiscal when demand for power was subdued while preferring to consume from their  stocks  owing  to  their  comfortable  stock  position.  The  details  of  some  of  such  Power Genco's are as under:

| Name of Power Genco     | % Materialization against FSA during 2016-17   | % Materialization against FSA during 2017-18 (1st Qtr)   |
|-------------------------|------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|
| RRVUNL (Rajasthan)      | 53%                                            | 23%                                                      |
| PSPCL (Punjab)          | 64%                                            | 66%                                                      |
| MPPGCL (Madhya Pradesh) | 46%                                            | 51%                                                      |
| HPGCL ( Haryana)        | 54%                                            | 24%                                                      |
| GSECL (Gujarat)         | 51%                                            | 68%                                                      |
| MAHAGenco (Maharashtra) | 62%                                            | 77%                                                      |

(b)  & (c) : In 2016-17, coal stock of CIL has increased from 57.64 MT in the beginning of the year to 68.42 MT mainly due to regulation imposed by few of the Power Gencos as detailed in Ans.(a).

On  the  other  hand,  coal  stock  at  power  House  end  depleted  from  38.87  MT  on 31.03.2016 to 27.63 MT as on 31.03.2017. As the production for the year 2016-17 is 554.14 MT, coal stock at power house end is much lower than one sixth of the annual coal production.

*  *  *
Lok Sabha Question No. 1560 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Target for Atomic Energy
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: BHARATI DHIRUBHAI SHIYAL, SUBHASH PATEL, RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1560

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## TARGET FOR ATOMIC ENERGY

1560.   DR. BHARATIBEN D.SHYAL: SHRI SUBHASH PATEL: SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the target set for atomic energy under eleventh five year plan;
- (b) whether the said target has been achieved and if not, the reasons therefor;and
- (c) whether  the  target  set  for  nuclear  power  generation  was  not  achieved  due  tothe delay in completion of Kudankulam Nuclear Project and if so, the detailsthereof and the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (Dr. JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a) The target of nuclear energy generation in the XI Five Year Plan (2007-2012) was 163,395 Million Units (MUs), which was revised to 124,608 MUs at MTA stage.
- (b) The actual generation in the XI Five Year Plan was 109,642 MUs. The shortfall in generation was on account of lower generation due to non availability of indigenous uranium in the required quantity, delay in fruition of international cooperation resulting in  delay  in  availability  of  imported  uranium  and  shifting  of  completion  of  the Kudankulam  (KKNPP-1&2,  2  X  1000  MW)  and  Prototype  Fast  Breeder  Reactor (PFBR) projects to XII Plan.
- (c) The  Kudankulam  Nuclear  Power  Project  Units  1&2  (KKNPP  1&2)  has  been completed  and  these  units  are  currently  in  commercial  operation.  The  delay  in completion of these units was one of the reasons for the shortfall in achievement of generation  target  of  XI  five  year  plan.  The  project  completion  was  delayed  on account of local protests in 2011 severely impeding work for about six months and its domino  effect,  litigations  against  the  project  in  courts  and  fulfilling  of  directions  of Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  by  Nuclear  Power  Corporation  India  Limited  (NPCIL)  and other  agencies.  The  Government  and  Nuclear  Power  Corporation  of  India  Limited enhanced public outreach manifold to allay the apprehensions and concerns of local people about safety of the project and all related issues.

******.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1559 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Norms for Forming Coal Company
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1559 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

Norms for Forming Coal Company

## 1559: SHRI NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

(a) the norms for forming coal company by Coal Department; and

(b) whether Talcher Area under Mahanadi Coal Field is to have a separate coal company in the name of Brahmani and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF COAL AND RAILWAYS

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a)  &  (b): Coal  companies are carved out to facilitate mining operations, keeping in view logistical requirements. Creation of a separate coal company in Talcher area under Mahanadi Coalfields  Limited  (MCL)  by  reducing  the  MCL's  command  area  would  result  in  several operational difficulties and make the company uneconomical. As such, there is no proposal to have a separate coal company in Talcher area. Further, additional administrative cost without significant revenue/ return would not be a workable proposition.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1558 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Slowdown in IT Sector
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: RAJIV PRATAP RUDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  1558

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 27.12.2017

## SLOWDOWN IT SECTOR

## 1558. SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY:

Will the Minister of Electronics & Information Technology be pleased to state: -

- (a) whether the Indian Information Technology (IT) sector is seeing a global slowdown over the last two years;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons  therefor  along  with  the  quantum  of  jobs affected due to the slowdown;
- (c) the details of the growth of IT sector over the last three years, year-wise;
- (d) whether the IT companies are expected to be laying off workers over the next three years including the current year and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the measures taken by the Government to create new range of digital jobs through 'Digital India' as India moves towards a digital economy?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ALPHONS KANNANTHANAM)

- (a) and (b): No, Sir.  The industry is expected to continue to be a net hirer. In FY2016-17, the industry added 170,000 jobs.
- (c): The details  of  the  growth  of  IT  sector  over  the  last  three  years,  yearwise  is  given  as under :
- (d):   No, Sir.
- (e): The measures taken by the Government are as follows :
1. BPO Promotion Scheme
2. Indirect Employment Generation and Contractual Job Creation under Common Service Centre 2.0 project *******

(US$ in Billion)

|             |   2014-15 |   2015-16 |   2016-17(E) |
|-------------|-----------|-----------|--------------|
| Exports     |      97.8 |     108   |        117   |
| Domestic    |      21   |      22   |         24   |
| Total       |     118   |     130   |        141   |
| YoY Growth% |      11.8 |       9.1 |          8.9 |

(E) = Estimate

Source: NASSCOM
Lok Sabha Question No. 1556 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Defence Technology
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: BALABHADRA MAJHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1556

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27 TH  DECEMBER, 2017

## DEFENCE  TECHNOLOGY

1556.  SHRI  BALABHADRA  MAJHI:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the status / position of defence situation of the country vis-a-vis its neighbours;
- (b) whether  country's  defence  technology  is  twenty  years  older  than  the  developed countries; and
- (c) if so, the extent to which Make in India initiative has helped to cover the gap?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE

IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

र  ा रा य मं ी

(DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)

(डा. सुभाष भामरे)

- (a) & (b): Government regularly reviews the  threat perception to  secure our borders and protect national interests.  Our armed forces are geared up to  safeguard  our  borders  and  uphold  the  sovereignty,  territorial  integrity and security of India.

Defence  technology  of  any  nation  spawns  a  wide  spectrum  of technologies.    While  some  technologies  may  be  'state  of  the  art',  some other  may  not  be  so.    It  is  always  an  endeavour  to  optimise  this  'mix', keeping our threat perceptions in mind.  As technologies evolve, defence equipments are upgraded / replaced and this is a continuous process.

- (c) The  'Make  in  India'  initiative  of  the  Government  has  recognised Defence Sector as one of the priority sectors.  It is an initiative that aims to achieve self-reliance for the country in defence manufacturing and equipping the forces with the best possible equipment.  The Government is pursuing several initiatives under 'Make in India' to achieve higher levels of indigenization and self-reliance in the defence sector.

******