opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3984 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-27
Subject: Intellectual Property Rights
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shrirang Appa Barne, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL

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

## LOK SABHA

****

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3984.

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE  27 TH  MARCH, 2017.

## INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

## 3984.  SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE:

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

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

## वाणिज् यवव उद्योगम त्री

- (a) whether  the  Union  Government  has  signed  any  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU)  for cooperation on capacity building, Human Resource Development and awareness generation in the field of Intellectual Property Rights and if so, the details thereof, country-wise including the number of cases of patents pending abroad;
- (b) whether  there  is  a  need  for  recognising  the  importance  of  modernisation  of  Intellectual Property Offices in the country and if so, the schemes implemented by the Union Government for Modernisation and Strengthening of Intellectual Property Offices;
- (c) whether  there  is  a  proposal  to  amend  all  the  legislations  related  to  patents,  designs, trademarks and geographical indications to comply with India's International obligations under the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS); and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Union Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् यवव उद्योगााज् यम त्रीस् वतं त्र्रभााा(स्ीमतंीिरममलााीीतंाामि(

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRIMATI NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a): The Government of India has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) / Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) for cooperation in the field of Intellectual Property Rights. At present, the  MoUs/  MoCs  signed  with  World  Intellectual  Property  Organization,  South  Centre (Switzerland),  European  Patent  Office,  Japan  Patent  Office,  United  Kingdom  Intellectual Property  Office,  Intellectual  Property  Office  of  Singapore  and  the  Ministry  of  Economy, Finance and Industry, France are in operation.

As regards number of cases of patents pending aboard, no such information is maintained.

- (b): Yes.  The  Scheme  of  Modernization  and  Strengthening  of  Intellectual  Property  Offices (MSIPO) has been implemented by the Government of India in this regard.
- (c): The existing legislations related to patents, designs, trademarks and geographical indications are already compliant with India's International obligations under the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
- (d): Question does not arise.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3982 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-27
Subject: Awareness Drive for School Dropouts
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RANJANBEN BHATT

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3982 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 TH  MARCH, 2017

## Awareness Drive for School Dropouts

- †3982. SHRIMATI RANJANBEN BHATT: Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a)  whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  initiate  awareness  drive  for  the dropout students; (b) if so, the details of steps taken by the Government so far in this regard; and (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

(a)  to  (c):  Section  4  of  the  Right  of  Children  to  Free  and  Compulsory  Education (RTE) Act, 2009 provides for special training for age appropriate admission of out of  school  children.  Those  children  who  have  missed  out  certain  academic  years either because they were never enrolled in school or  dropped out of school, have a right to special training in residential and non residential mode, subsequently to be mainstreamed in formal schools in age appropriate class.

Under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  Sarva  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (SSA),  Rs. 103.07  lakh  children  have  benefitted  from  the  special  training  from  2011-12  to 2015-16.  For  the  year  2016-17,  an  amount  of  Rs.  64204.69  lakh  has  been approved for special training of 11,29,881 children.

As a part of the SSA, States and UTs undertake community mobilization drives to ensure that parents enroll and send their children to school.

The  Rashtriya  Madhyamik  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (RMSA)  scheme  was  launched  in 2009 and the objectives include reducing dropout rate of students and improving the  retention  rate  at  the  secondary  stage.  The  scheme  provides  for  improving access  by  approving  new  secondary  schools  and  by  providing  additional classrooms, science laboratory, library, computer rooms, art/craft/culture rooms, toilets,  drinking  water  facilities  etc.  in  new  secondary  schools  and  existing secondary  schools.  Interventions  like  survey  and  identification  of  out  of  school children,  awareness  programme,  bridge  courses,  special  teaching  for  learning enhancement  etc.  have  also  been  supported  under  RMSA  to  address  issues relating to dropout. Under RMSA, 12,394 secondary schools have been approved since  inception  across  all  States/UTs,  out  of  which  10,397  secondary  schools have  already  become  functional.  RMSA  has  also  supported  strengthening  of infrastructure of existing schools in 37,382 Government Secondary Schools.

As per Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) data, the average annual  dropout  rate  at  elementary  level  has  declined  from  4.15%  in  2013-14  to 4.10% in 2014-15, whereas at the secondary level the dropout rate has reduced from 17.86% in 2013-14 to 17.06% in 2014-15

*********
Lok Sabha Question No. 3981 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-27
Subject: National Book Trust
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: K. MARAGATHAM

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3981 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.03.2017

## National Book Trust

3981. SHRIMATI K. MARAGATHAM:

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

(a) whether the National Book Trust (NBT) proposes to bring out a dozen books in many languages including Sanskrit by next year; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) whether NBT also proposes to launch a Book on Mahatma Gandhi in the coming months; and (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  &  (b) Yes,  Madam. NBT has a full-fledged publishing programmes in all major Indian languages including Sanskrit. On an average 200-250 books are published every year.

(c) & (d) During 2016-17, NBT has already published one children book on Mahatma Gandhi 'lcdk lkFkh] lcdk  nksLr ' in Bhojpuri, Maithili and Magahi  language translations.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 3980 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-27
Subject: Exploitation of Labourers in BHEL
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: RAHUL KASWAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3980 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.03.2017

## EXPLOITATION OF LABOURERS IN BHEL

†3980. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENTbe pleased to state:

- (a)whether the Government has received complaints of exploitation of labourers working in various institutions including Bharat Electricals Ltd. (BHEL), New Delhi;
- Heavy
- (b)if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c)whether  the  Government  proposes  to  review  the  modification  in  labour laws in view of the said labour problems; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

- (a): There  are  no  reported  cases  of  complaints  of  exploitation  of labour working in the Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL), and also no such complaints have been received by the Company under the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System.
- (b): Does not arise in view of reply to Part (a) of the question above.
- (c) & (d): Reforms of Labour Laws are ongoing process to update legislative  system  to  address  the  need  of  the  hour  and  to  make  them effective and contemporary  to the emerging economic  and  industrial scenario. The Second National Commission on Labour Codes has recommended that the existing Labour Laws should be broadly grouped into four  or  five  labour  codes  on  functional  basis.  Accordingly,  the  Ministry  has taken  steps  for  drafting  four  labour  Codes  on  Wages;  Industrial  Relations; Social Security & Welfare; and safety and working conditions respectively, by simplifying,  amalgamating  and  rationalizing  the  relevant  provisions  of  the existing Central Labour Laws.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3978 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-27
Subject: School of Planning and Architecture
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KIRIT SOMAIYA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3978 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.03.2017

## School of Planning and Architecture

## 3978. DR. KIRIT SOMAIYA:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a) whether any State Government including Maharashtra has submitted any proposal to establish a new School of Planning and Architecture in the country; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the proposals are under active consideration of the Ministry; and (d) if so, the details thereof and the time by which the approval for establishing the said

- institutions is likely to be given?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (d):  Yes  Madam.  The  Ministry  has  received  proposals  for  establishing  new Schools of Planning and Architecture from the Government of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya and Nagaland. However, as of now, there is no proposal to establish a new School of Planning and Architecture in the country.

*******************

## F.No.10-4/2017-TS.VI

Government of India Ministry of Human Resource Development Department of Higher Education ***

Subject: Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3978 due for answer on 27.03.2017 regarding ' School of Planning and Architecture' .

- The text  of  the  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  Question  No.  3978  raised  by  DR. KIRIT SOMAIYA is as follows: (a)  whether any State Government including Maharashtra has submitted any proposal to establish a new School of Planning and Architecture in the country; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c)  whether the proposals are under active consideration of the Ministry; and (d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  time  by  which  the  approval  for establishing the said institutions is likely to be given? 2. In  view  of  above,  a  draft  reply  to  the  above  question  has  been
- attempted and placed below for consideration and approval please.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3975 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-27
Subject: Vegetarian Courses in Hotel Management
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3975 ANSWERED ON 27.03.2017

## VEGETARIAN COURSES IN HOTEL MANAGEMENT

## 3975. SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  there  is  a  long  standing  demand  from  vegetarian  families with  orthodox  traditions  to  make  available  opportunities  for  their children  in  hotel  management  courses  by  giving  the  option  of 'Learning Vegetarian only';
- (b)
- if so, details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether  the  Indian  Heritage  Hotel  Association  (IHHA)  and  some other  groups  representing  hotels  have  approached  the  Government urging  it  to  run  vegetarian  only  degree  programmes  in  some  hotel management institutes and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has received a number of online petitions in this regard; and
- (e) if  so,  the  reaction  of  the  Government  thereto  and  the  measures taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e): The Ministry of Tourism has received requests and representations  from  various  quarters  including  Indian  Heritage  Hotels Association for introduction of 'vegetarian only' optional curriculum in the three years B.Sc. (Hospitality and Hotel Administration) course being run in  the  Central  Institutes  of  Hotel  Management  under  the  administrative control of the Ministry of Tourism.

Introduction  of  exclusive  'vegetarian  only'  curriculum  in  the  B.Sc. (Hospitality &  Hotel Administration) requires separate  infrastructure/ equipment.  The  option  of  'vegetarian  only'  curriculum  in  the  three  years B.Sc.  (Hospitality  and  Hotel  Administration)  course  has  been  introduced from  the  academic  session  2016-17  in  three  Central  Institutes  of  Hotel Management, at Ahmedabad, Bhopal and  Jaipur.  Extension of the course to other Central IHMs would depend on creation of requisite infrastructure.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3974 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-27
Subject: GAIL Gas Pipeline Incidents
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: C.S. PUTTARAJU

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3974

## TO BE AN SWERED ON 27.3.2017 GAIL GAS PIPELINE INCIDENTS

## 3974.  SHRI C.S. PUTTA RAJU:

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

## isVªksfy;e vkSj izkd`frd xSl ea=h

- (a) whether the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) has resumed the stalled pipeline work in many parts of the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  GAIL proposes to take all precautions  to prevent any untoward incident like the one happened last year in Andhra Pradesh from its pipeline; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken/being taken by GAIL in this regard?

## ANSWER

## पेट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्रािय में राज् य मंत्ररी (स् विंत्र प्राार ( श्ररी धमेन्द  र प्रधान

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a):  GAIL  (India)  Ltd.  has  resumed  the  pipeline  work  in  June  2015  of  Kochi-Koottanad-MangaloreBangalore pipeline in the State of Kerala. This pipeline is also passing through the State of Tamil Nadu and the pipeline laying work in Tamil Nadu is yet to start subject to availability of hindrance free RoU.
- (b)  &  (c):  Amongst  the  existing  mechanism  to  prevent  such  incidents,  the  following  steps  have  been initiated by GAIL:
- i. Safety  Audits  are  carried  out  by  independent  external  agencies  and  internal  multidisciplinary teams to find out gaps if any and the recommendations are complied with time bound manner.
- ii. Well-equipped Fire protection and Safety measures have been set up across all GAIL Sites.
- iii. Daily  foot  patrolling  in  populated/  urban  centers  and  monthly  foot  patrolling  of  Lines  at  other locations to identify encroachments / suspicious activities, if any. Also, GPS based online tracking system for foot patrolling implemented.
- iv. Security clearances have been obtained for patrolling/monitoring of RoU/RoW for operation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for surveillance of Pipeline.
- v. A  Disaster  Management  Sub  Group  has  been  formed  at  Corporate  Office,  GAIL  primarily  to come  together  for  mitigating  the  Crisis  without  any  delay  and  taking  all  actions  which  are necessary arising out of the Crisis.
- vi. A Centralized Integrity Management Group (CIMG) has been established to closely monitor & maintain comprehensive pipeline database and coordinate the integrity management of pipelines across the Country.
- vii. Group  SMS  and  voice  telephony  system  have  been  implemented  at  all  GAIL  sites  for  faster communication during emergency.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3972 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-27
Subject: Inclusion of IIITDM
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: J. JAYASINGH THIYAGARAJ NATTERJEE

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.3972 TO BE ANSWERRED ON 27.03.2017

## Inclusion of IIITDM

3972.  SHRI J.J.T. NATTERJEE:

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

- (a) whether the Government is planning to include any of the Indian Institutes of    Information  Technology  Design  and  Manufacturing  (IIITDM),  along  with  the other  Indian  Institutes  of  Technology  (IITs)  in  the  country  managed  by  the Ministry;
- (b)       if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  expenditure  for  the  operationalization  of  IIITDM,  Kurnool  is incurred from the Plan funds of the Government; and
- (d)       if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey)

(a) to (d): In pursuance to the 13 th Schedule of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization  Act,  2014,  a  centrally  funded  Indian  Institute  of  Information Technology Design and Manufacturing (IIITDM) has been established in Kurnool district  of  Andhra  Pradesh.  The  Institute  is  presently  operating  from  temporary campus. In the financial year 2015-16, budget allocated for IIITDM, Kurnool was Rs. 3.10 crore and for the financial year 2016-17 it is Rs. 20.00 crore. As on date a sum of Rs. 18.10 crore stands released to the Institute.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3970 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-27
Subject: Exemptions for Start-ups
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: ASADUDDIN OWAISI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3970.

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE  27 TH  MARCH, 2017.

## EXEMPTIONS FOR START-UPS

## 3970.  SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

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

## वाणिज् यवव द्यग ं ्री

- (a) the  number of foreign companies that have applied for establishing start-up including the number of companies which have sought mandatory exemption from 30% local sourcing in the country during each of the last three years and the current year, company-wise;
- (b) whether  it  is  fact  that  the  Ministry  has  sent  a  proposal  to  the  Ministry  of Finance to raise tax holiday from three years to seven years for start-ups the said response of the Ministry of Finance thereto; and
- (c) the  other  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  including  exemption from 30% local sourcing for foreign start-ups to boost investment in start-ups?

## 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): Only companies incorporated in India are permitted to register under Startup India.
- (b): Department  of  Industrial  Policy  and  Promotion,  Ministry  of  Commerce  and Industry  sent  a  proposal  to  Department  of  Revenue,  Ministry  of  Finance  to extend tax exemption to Startups for 3 consecutive years in a block of 7 years (against the earlier provision of 3 years in a block of 5 years) under Section 80-IAC of Income-tax Act. This has been included in the proposals under the Union Budget for the year 2017-18.
- (c): The  Government  of  India  has  not  taken  any  steps  specifically  for  foreign startups.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 3969 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-27
Subject: Forest Right Committees
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS) LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. † 3969 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.03.2017

## FOREST RIGHT COMMITTEES

## † 3969. SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the names of the States wherein Gram Sabhas have constituted/have not constituted Forest  Rights  Committees  under  The  Scheduled  Tribes  and  Other  Traditional  Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 till date;

(b) whether the Government has taken or proposes to take any steps for early constitution of  these  committees  in  those  States  where  gram  sabhas  have  not  constituted  the  said committees; and

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

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI JASWANTSINH BHABHOR)

(a) As  per  'The  Scheduled  Tribes  and  Other  Traditional  Forest  Dwellers  (OTFDs) (Recognition  of  Forest  Rights)  Act,  2006'  (in  short  FRA)  and  rules  there  under, responsibility for implementation of the Act lies with the States/UTs. As per information received  from  the  State  Governments,  upto  31.01.2017,  Gram  Sabhas  have  constituted Forest Rights Committees under FRA in all the States, except (i) Arunachal Pradesh (ii) Manipur (iii) Meghalaya (iv) Nagaland (v) Sikkim.

(b) &  (c)  As  already  stated  in  reply  to  part  (a)  above,  the  responsibility  for implementation of the Act lies with the States/UTs. Manipur, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh State Governments reported that they feel that the FRA is not so relevant in their State  because  of  the  prevalent  customary  community  ownership of forest  land.  Sikkim reported that there are no forest dwelling STs and Other Forest Dwellers in the true sense of the term and most of STs of Sikkim hold revenue land in their own name and they are not solely dependent on the forests for their livelihood. Nagaland has informed that the land holding system and the village system of Naga people is peculiar in that the people are the landowners.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3967 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-27
Subject: Rising Cost of Education
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: INNOCENT

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3967 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.03.2017

## Rising Cost of Education

## 3967. SHRI INNOCENT :

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that rising cost of education has become a major cause of worry for parents and students in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the Government's reaction thereto; and
- (c) the details of steps taken/being taken by Government to check the high cost of  education  in  universities  and  technical  educational  institutions  in  the country, at present?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## (DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

(a) to (c): Yes, Madam. There are grievances received from the students regarding charging of excessive fees by the technical institutes, that has impact on rising cost of  education  in  the  country.  All  India  Council  for  Technical  Education  (AICTE) constituted a Committee under the Chairmanship of Justice Shri. B.N. Srikrishna, former Judge of Hon'ble Supreme Court to recommend the fee to be charged by private  technical  institutes  in  the  country.  The  Committee  has  recommended maximum limit of tuition and development fee to be charged by these institutions. Further  all  the  State/  U.T.  Governments  have  been  directed  to  comply  with  the recommendations  of  the  Fee  Committee. AICTE  has  also  imposed  penalty  on several  colleges  and  has  issued  stern  warning  to  the  colleges  for  charging excessive fee/ capitation fee from the students.

****