opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 6533 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-06
Subject: Forest Area in Chhattisgarh
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: LAKHAN LAL SAHU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 6533 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.04.2018

## Forest Area in Chhattisgarh

## 6533.  SHRI LAKHAN LAL SAHU:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  total  notified  forest  area  in  Chhattisgarh  along  with  the  measures  being  taken  for development, upgradation and conservation of forest areas of the State;
- (b) whether encroachment and mining activities in large scale of the forest area in the State has caused damage to the environment;
- (c)  if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (d) whether the cutting of forest has also been reported by the members of Forest Protection Committee; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/likely to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) As per the information received from the Chhattisgarh Forest Department, total notified forest area in the Chhattisgarh is 59772.40 sq. km. The measures taken to develop, upgrade and conserve forest area include assisted natural regeneration and plantation in the degraded forest areas.
- (b) & (c) Large scale encroachment and mining activities have not been reported in forest area in recent past.
- (d) & (e) The cutting of forest has not been reported by the members of Forest Protection Committee.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 6531 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-06
Subject: Regulatory Bottlenecks for Fast Track Investment
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: BALKA SUMAN

## Government of India

## Ministry of Finance

## Department of Revenue

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6531

APRIL 6, 2018

CHAITRA 16, 1940 (SAKA)

## REGULATORY BOTTLENECKS FOR FAST TRACK INVESTMENT

6531: SHRI SUMAN BALKA:

Will the Minister of Finance be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has formed six sub-groups to identify regulatory bottlenecks and suggest best practices followed in areas like Income Tax, Goods and Services Tax, Corporate Laws, Financial Securities Laws, Regulatory Impact Assessment and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and to improve regulatory processes for fast tracking of investments, both for domestic and the foreign companies; and

- (b) if so, the cletails thereof?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## ANSWER (SHRI SHIV PRATAP SHUKLA)

(a) and (b}: Yes, Madam\_ Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) has constituted a Better Regulatory Advisory  Group under the chairmanship of Secretary, DIPP to look into issues affecting industrial growth and interventions required thereof: The said group has been entrusted with the task of identifying the regulatory and procedural issues hindering investments by the domestic and companies and to recommend measures for developing a better mechanism for fast-tracking investments: . foreign

The following sub-groups were constituted and the participating organizations agreed to take up responsibility for carrying out the assessment and present their recommendations:

| i)   | Income-tax                   | ASSOCHAM                   |
|------|------------------------------|----------------------------|
|      | Goods and Services Tax       | CII                        |
|      | Corporate Laws               | FICCI                      |
|      | Financial Securities Laws    | PHDCCI                     |
|      | Regulatory Impact Assessment | FISME & CUTS               |
| vi)  | MSME                         | Laghu Bharti & FISME Udyog |

~
Lok Sabha Question No. 6530 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-06
Subject: Tax Collection after GST
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: SANJAY JAISWAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6530

TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, APRIL 6 TH , 2018/ CHAITRA 16, 1940 (SAKA)

## Tax collection after GST

## 6530: DR. SANJAY JAISWAL:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the growth trends in the retail market after the Goods and Services Tax rollout; and
- (b) whether there has been any positive trend in the tax collection and if so, the details thereof during the last quarter?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI SHIV PRATAP SHUKLA)

(a) The  Government  has  been  taking  feedback  from  various  stakeholders  like associations of Commerce and Industry, tax practitioners and consumers on implementation of various aspects of GST relating to rationalization of tax rate structure and simplification of various processes from time to time. The same have been considered by  the  GST  Council  in  its  various  meetings  and  as  per  Council's  recommendation,  a number of  notifications  relating  to  changes  in  GST  rate  structure  under  provisions  of relevant sections of Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act and Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) Act have been issued. Besides, amendments have also been carried out in Rules for simplification of various procedures.

(b) The month-wise details of Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST), State Goods and Services Tax (SGST), Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) and Cess collected by the Government in last quarter (January - March, 2018) is as follows:

## (Amount in Rs. Crores)

| Month          | Collection   |
|----------------|--------------|
| January, 2018  | 88,929       |
| February, 2018 | 88,047       |
| March, 2018    | 89,264       |

The GST collections have increased in the month of March, 2018 comparing to last two months.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 6529 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-06
Subject: Effects of Rise in Global Temperature
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: VISHNU DAYAL RAM, HARI MANJHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6529 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.04.2018

## Effects of Rise in Global Temperature

## 6529. SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM: SHRI HARI MANJHI:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) the details of changes noticed in sea level due to rising global temperature;
- (b) the manner in which unauthorised development in coastal areas, reduction in green area, unregulated tourism and indifference towards laws relating to conservation of coastal areas have adversely affected the said areas; and
- (c) the manner in which the Government is likely to provide for safety against rising sea level in the coastal areas?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a)  According  to  the  Fifth  Assessment  Report  of  Intergovernmental  Panel  on  Climate  Change published in 2014, global mean sea level rose by 0.19 [0.17 to 0.21] metres in the period 1901 to 2010, and will continue to rise during the 21 st Century. Due to this rise, coastal systems and lowlying areas will increasingly experience adverse impact such as submergence, coastal flooding, and coastal erosion.

(b) & (c) The development in coastal areas is regulated by the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) 2011 with a view to conserve and protect coastal stretches, its unique environment and its marine area and to promote development in sustainable manner based on scientific principles taking into account  the  dangers  of  natural  hazards  in  the  coastal  areas  and  sea  level  rise  due  to  global warming. Concerned  States  and  Union  Territories  are  responsible  for  implementation  and enforcement of the provisions of the CRZ Notification.

The  Integrated  Coastal  Zone  Management  Project  implemented  by  the  Ministry  of Environment, Forest and Climate Change includes demarcation of hazard line for mapping the entire  coastline  of  the  mainland  of  the  country;  establishment  of  a  National  Centre  for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) in Chennai to promote research and development in the  area  of  coastal  management  including  addressing  issues  of  coastal  communities.  India's National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) outlines a strategy that aims to enable the country adapt to climate change and enhances the ecological sustainability of our development path.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 6527 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-06
Subject: Tariff Exemptions to IT StartUps
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: SANTOSH KUMAR, MANOJ KUMAR TIWARI, (SMT.) RATNA DE(NAG), MAMTAZ SANGHAMITA, HARI OM PANDEY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

*****

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6527

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY THE 06 TH  APRIL, 2018 CHAITRA  16, 1940 (SAKA)

## TARIFF EXEMPTIONS TO IT STARTUPs

## 6527. SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR:

SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:

DR. RATNA DE (NAG):

DR. MAMTAZ SANGHAMITA:

SHRI HARI OM PANDAY:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any proposal to give more special tariff exemptions to IT startups in near future;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c)  the  time  by  when  it  is  likely  to  be  implemented  along  with  the  likely  impact thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI SHIV PRATAP SHUKLA)

(a): Presently there is no proposal under consideration to give more special tariff exemptions to IT startups.

(b) and (c): Doesn't arise in view of the (a) above.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 6526 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-06
Subject: Estimation of Black Money Stashed Abroad
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: KALIKESH NARAYAN SINGH DEO, KINJARAPU RAM MOHAN NAIDU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6526 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, 6 TH  APRIL, 2018 CHAITRA 16, 1940 (SAKA)

## ESTIMATION OF BLACK MONEY STASHED ABROAD

6526:     SHRI KALIKESH N. SINGH DEO: SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU:

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

(a) whether the Government has estimated the amount of money illegally stashed away abroad, if so, the details thereof and the basis of the estimate; (b) if not, the reasons therefor; (c) whether the Government has estimated amount and percentage of India's GDP in black money (in per cent and in rupees) and if so, the details thereof; (d) if not, the reasons therefor; and

(e) whether the Government has estimated the annual inward illicit financial flows and outward illicit financial flows, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (SHRI SHIV PRATAP SHUKLA)

(a) to (e):    There is no official estimation of quantum of black money/money illegally stashed away abroad, amount and percentage of India's GDP in black money (in per cent and in rupees), or inward/outward illicit financial flows.

However, the Government had commissioned a study, inter alia ,  on estimation of unaccounted income and wealth inside and outside the country, to be conducted by National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP), National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), and National Institute of Financial Management (NIFM).  The study reports of these institutes have been examined and forwarded to the Lok Sabha Secretariat for placing them before the Standing Committee on Finance. The Lok Sabha Secretariat has informed that the same has been placed before the Standing Committee on Finance.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 6525 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-06
Subject: Import Duty on Edible Oils and Wheat
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: CH. MALLA REDDY, ADVOCATE NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE *****

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6525

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY THE 06 TH  APRIL, 2018 CHAITRA  16, 1940 (SAKA)

## IMPORT DUTY ON EDIBLE OILS AND WHEAT

## 6525. SHRI CH. MALLA REDDY: ADV. NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has increased import duties on various edible oils in the wake of plunging oilseed prices way below the minimum support price levels and competition from cheaper imports;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has also increased the import duty on wheat;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the extent to which the increased import duty have benefited the farmers during the rabi season?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI SHIV PRATAP SHUKLA)

(a) and (b): Import duties on edible vegetable oils have been increased. Details of increase in import duty on edible vegetable oil are given as under:

| Type of Edible Vegetable Oil               | Earlier rate of duty   | Current rate of duty   | Date from which applicable   |
|--------------------------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------------|
| Crude Sunflower oil                        | 12.5%                  | 25%                    | 17.11.2017                   |
| Refined Sunflower oil                      | 20%                    | 35%                    | 17.11.2017                   |
| Soyabean oil (crude)                       | 17.5%                  | 30%                    | 17.11.2017                   |
| Soyabean oil (refined)                     | 20%                    | 35%                    | 17.11.2017                   |
| Crude Mustard/rapeseed/colza/canola        | 12.5%                  | 25%                    | 17.11.2017                   |
| Refined Mustard/rapeseed/colza/canola oils | 20%                    | 35%                    | 17.11.2017                   |
| Crude Palm oils                            | 30%                    | 44%                    | 01.03.2018                   |
| Refined Palm oils                          | 40%                    | 54%                    | 01.03.2018                   |
| All other crude edible vegetable oils.     | 12.5%                  | 30%                    | 02.02.2018                   |
| All other refined edible vegetable oils.   | 20%                    | 35%                    | 02.02.2018                   |

(c ) and (d) :  With  effect from 08.11.2017 import duty on wheat has been increased from 10% to 20%.

(e): The increase in import duty has benefitted the farmers by way of higher remunerative price of produce. The modal price of oilseeds such as soybean, sesame, groundnut etc. has increased due to increase in import duty.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 6524 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-06
Subject: Aadhaar Card
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6524 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 TH APRIL, 2018

## AADHAAR CARD

## 6524. SHRI SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  made Aadhaar  card  mandatory  for  students appearing  in NEET examination for MBBSand BDS; and
- (b) if so, the details and purpose thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) & (b ): Central Board of Secondary Education ( CBSE ) is the designated authority for conducting National -Eligibility -cum -Entrance Test (NEET) for admiss ion to MBBS / BDS course. As per the information provided by CBSE, Aadhar was used for enrolment t NEET  across  the  country,  except  for  the  States  of  Jammu  and  Kashmir,  Meghalaya  and Assam. Aadhaar helps in the following without disclosing the identity of the candidates: -

- i)The use of Aadhaar for the applicants of NEET -UG results in accuracy of the applicants' details.
- ii) This also helps in ascertaining identity of the applicants at the examination cent convenient and hassle free manner.
- iii) Aadhaar obvia tes the need to produce multiple documents to prove one's identity.
- iv) This  helps  to  curb  the  practice  of  unfair  means  such  as  impersonation  during examination.

However,  after  the  order  of  Hon'ble Supreme  Court  of  India  dated  07.03.2018, other proofs of identity are also allowed like Ration card/passport/voter Identity ca account etc.
Lok Sabha Question No. 6523 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-06
Subject: NPAs of MSMEs
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: BHARATENDRA SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA

## UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 6523

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 6th APRIL, 2018 / CHAITRA 16, 1940 (SAKA)

## 'NPAs of MSMEs'

## 6523

## SHRI KUNWAR BHARATENDRA :

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state

- (a)
- whether there is such a high incidence of Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises   (MSME) sector and if SO , the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the Government has introduced any scheme or programmes specifically to address incidence of NPAs in the MSME sector   besides the revised classification norms recently approved by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI SHIV PRATAP SHUKLA)

- (a) to (c): Non-Performing Assets   (NPAs) in Micro and Small Enterprises   (MSE) Sector as on September 2017 as reported by  Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) were 8.34% of total outstanding advances to them as against 10.21% for the banking sector as a whole. 30th

The reasons of NPAs in MSEs, inter-alia include; lack of demand, shortage of

In order to provide a simpler and faster mechanism to address the stress in the accounts of  Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises   (MSMEs) and to facilitate the promotion and development of MSMEs, RBI has issued guidelines o 'Framework for Revival and Rehabilitation of  Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to banks for implementation thereof The revival and rehabilitation of MSMEs having loan limits up to Rs.25 crore is taken up in terms of these guidelines.

working capital, non-availability of raw materials, power shortage, marketing problems, labour and management problems, equipment problems, delayed payments, etc.

- (c) if the details thereof ? SO,
Lok Sabha Question No. 6522 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-06
Subject: Mapping of Natural Resources
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: DUSHYANT SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6522

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.04.2018

## Mapping of Natural Resources

## 6522. SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIAMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details  of  the  current  system  of  mapping  used  by  his  Ministry  to  identify  natural resources in any given area;
- (b) whether  his  Ministry  has  taken  any  steps  to  develop  a  digital  support  system  for mapping  of  resources,  such  as  groundwater,  surface  water  availability,  soil  type  and suggestion on farming potential on a real time basis; and
- (c)     if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) to (c) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change through its premier national organization, namely Forest Survey of India (FSI), carries out the assessment of forest cover  of  the  country  biennially  and  findings  are  published  in  India  State  of  Forest Report.  In  addition,  the  Ministry  under  the  National  Natural  Resource  Management System(NNRMS) Scheme,  provides  grants  to  the  research  institutions  for  assessment and monitoring of country's natural resources, using remote sensing and GIS technology.  Some  of  the  projects  completed  under  this  Scheme, inter  alia include, (i)Forest  Types  of  India:  Atlas  by  Forest  Survey  of  India,  Dehradun,  (ii)  Mapping  of National  Parks  and  Wildlife  Sanctuaries:  Pilot  project  study  by  Wild  Life  Institute  of India, Dehradun, (iii) Coastal Zones of India by Space Application Centre(SAC), ISRO, Ahmedabad  (iv)Snow  and  Glacier  studies  by  SAC,  ISRO,  Ahmedabad,(v)National Wetland  Atlas  by  SAC,  ISRO,  Ahmedabad,(v)Desertification  and  Land  degradation Atlas  of  India  by  SAC,  ISRO,  Ahmedabad,  etc.  These  reports  are  available  in  digital form and serve as significant digital support system. Time interval for data collection is dependent on its end use and real time data is collected for parameters, wherever these are necessary,such as air and water quality.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 6516 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-06
Subject: Availability of Animals in Zoos
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: KIRIT SOMAIYA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.6516

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.04.2018

## Availability of Animals in Zoos

## 6516.  DR. KIRIT SOMAIYA

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether some enclosures of most of the zoos are lying empty for many years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, zoo-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has chalked out any proposal to fill these empty enclosures by exchange programmes and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government plans to import those animals from other countries which are not available in the country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) & (b) Recognised  zoos  in  the  country  are  operated  by  the  State  Government,  Central Government, Municipal Corporation, NGO / Society / Trust, Industry, and PSU. The  information  on  the  empty  enclosures  in  zoos  is  not  maintained  in  the Ministry.
- (c) The  recognized  zoos  mutually  negotiate  the  exchange  of  animals  among  them. They  submit  proposal  to  the  Central  Zoo  Authority  for  the  animals  agreed  by them during negotiation for approval under Section 381 of the Wildlife (Protection)  Act,  1972.  The  Central  Zoo  Authority  grants  permission  as  per proposal received from the zoo keeping in view approved Animal Collection Plan of the zoo, for preparing of single animals, infusion of new blood in a population, lifetime care of rescued animals and to form viable population by shifting.
- (d) The  exchange  of animals through import is negotiated by the respective recognized  zoos  with  the  foreign  zoos  keeping  in  view  the  approved  Animal Collection Plan of the zoo. After their mutual consent, the proposal for import is approved by the Central Zoo Authority and the Director, Wildlife Preservation, Government of India. Afterwards, the representative zoo takes necessary steps to import the animals.

***