opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 125 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: General Financial Rules
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: (SMT.) RATNA DE(NAG), NARANBHAI KACHHADIA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.125

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18 TH  JULY, 2018

## GENERAL FINANCIAL RULES

## 125. DR. RATNA DE (NAG):

SHRI  NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

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

- (a) whether  the  rules  and  orders  of  the  Government  of  India  dealing  with  matters involving public finances, as laid down in the general financial rules of the Ministry of Finance are applicable to the Ministry of Defence;
- (b) if  so,  whether  these  rules  and  orders  are  being  followed  by  the  Ministry  of Defence;
- (c) if  so,  whether  the  general  financial  rules  regarding  procurement  of  goods  and services  have  been  considered  while  framing  the  latest  Defence  Procurement  Policy 2016; and
- (d) if  so,  whether  the  fundamental principles of  public buying are adhered to in the procurement process in the Ministry of Defence and if so, the details thereof?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE

IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

र  ा रा य मं ी

(a) to (d): A Statement is attached.

*******

(DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)

(डा. सुभाष भामरे)

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 125 FOR ANSWER ON 18.07.2018

(a) & (b): The General Financial Rules (GFRs) lay down the general rules applicable to Ministries / Departments, and detailed instructions relating to procurement of goods are issued by the procuring departments broadly in conformity with the general rules, while maintaining flexibility to deal with varied situations. (c) & (d): The Defence Procurement Procedure-2016 has been accordingly  formulated  keeping  in  view  the  unique  features  of  supplier constraints, technological complexity and the emergent nature of procurements to maintain operational preparedness of the Armed Forces.

- *******
Lok Sabha Question No. 121 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Pension to Physically Handicapped Wards
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: MALLIKARJUN  KHARGE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PENSION AND PENSIONERS WELFARE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 121

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018)

## PENSION TO PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED WARDS

## 121. SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  grant  family  pension  to  mentally  retarded  or physically handicapped children of retired Government employees even after completion of twenty five years of age;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the time by which a final decision in this regard is likely to be taken; and
- (d) if not, 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) to (d):    The Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 already provide for grant of family pension  to  mentally  retarded/physically  handicapped  children  of  retired  Government  employees after  completion  of  twenty-five  years  of  age  if  their  income  is  less  than  the  minimum  family pension under these Rules and the dearness relief admissible thereon as announced from time to time.  The  minimum  family  pension  under  these  Rules  is  Rupees  9000/-  per  month  with  effect from 1 st January, 2016.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 120 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Introduction of New Express Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SURESH KODIKUNNIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.120

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## INTRODUCTION OF NEW EXPRESS TRAINS

## 120. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to introduce new express trains on Kollam-Chennai (via ) Sengottai new broad gauge line;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps to introduce KollamThamparam train on daily basis; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## ANSWER (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) to (d) It is proposed to run a regular train service viz.16189/16190 Tambaram-Sengottai  Antyodaya  Express(daily).  Besides,  to  cater  to the needs of Tambaram-Kollam sector, a bi-weekly special train  had been  operated  between  Tambaram  and  Kollam  via  Sengottai  during 09.04.2018  to  29.06.2018.    Besides,  a  tri-weekly  special  service  is being operated between Tambaram and Kollam w.e.f 02.07.2018.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 119 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Demand for Coal
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: RAMDAS CHANDRABHANJI TADAS, CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 119 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## Demand for coal

## 119.   SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS: SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any rise in the demand for coal has been registered during the last three years;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  meet  this demand;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  constituted  any  study  group  on  demand for coal in future; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the objectives thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COAL, FINANCE & CORPORATE AFFAIRS (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a): The all India demand of coal during last three years is given below:-

| Year                               | 2015-16                            | 2016-17                            | 2017-18 (Provisional)              |
|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
| ActualDemand (MT)$                 | 836.39                             | 837.23                             | 899.69                             |
| $ Actual Demand (Dispatch+Import). | $ Actual Demand (Dispatch+Import). | $ Actual Demand (Dispatch+Import). | $ Actual Demand (Dispatch+Import). |

(b): Due to concerted and co-ordinated efforts, the offtake / dispatch of coal of CIL has increased from 488.86 MT in 2014-15 to 580.04 MT in 2017-18. The  progress  of  production  of  CIL  is  reviewed  regularly.  CIL  has  been directed to work out a definite action plan to ensure higher production and offtake  in  future.  CIL  has  also  been  directed  to  ensure  that  necessary clearances  for  the  existing  coal  mines  are  in  place  which  will  help  in increasing the coal production in the short/medium term and also operationalizing the newly  allocated coal mines  for further increasing production  in  the  medium  term.  New  rail  lines  are  being  laid  for  smooth evacuation of increased coal production from the mines of growing coalfields of SECL, MCL and CCL.

(c)&(d)  : As  a  part  of  the  strategy  to  evolve  a  long  term  policy  in  the  coal sector,  CIL  engaged  KPMG  to  prepare  a  'Vision  Document  2030'  for  coal sector  in  India.  The  broad  scope  for  the  said  Vision  document  includes Demand and Supply scenarios for 2020 and 2030, Technology requirements for  the  coal  and  lignite  sector,  Advancement  in  coal  and  lignite  mining, SWOT analysis of the sector and Action Plan for the sector over this period.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 118 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Railway Projects in Maharashtra
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 118 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## RAILWAY PROJECTS IN MAHARASHTRA

- †118. SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of approved/sanctioned railway projects in Maharashtra during the last three years and the current year;
- (b) the  details  of  ongoing/running  behind  time  schedule/pending railway projects during the said period, division-wise and project-wise;
- (c) the  extent  of  cost  escalation  in  these  projects  including  the projected cost thereof, project-wise and division-wise;
- (d) the  reasons  for  inordinate  delay  in  completing  these  projects; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Railways to complete these projects expeditiously within a fixed time limit?

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

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  118  BY  SHRI  SANJAY  HARIBHAU JADHAV TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 18.07.2018 REGARDING RAILWAY PROJECTS IN MAHARASHTRA

(a):   20 Railway projects consisting of 9 New Lines and 11 Doublings have been taken up during the last 3 years and current year falling partly/fully in the State of Maharashtra which are at various stages of execution.

(b): Projects are sanctioned zone-wise and not division-wise.  Since 2014-15, based on physical progress of projects, last mile connectivity  projects  and  projects  for  decongesting  the  existing routes have been given sufficient funds. Funds for capacity enhancement projects have also been arranged through institutional financing for assured funding of viable projects.

(c) & (d): Besides availability of funds, completion of projects depends on several factors such as land acquisition, forestry and wild life  clearances,  shifting  of  services,  construction  of  road  over  and road under bridges by road maintaining agencies etc.  Therefore, it is not possible to fix timelines for projects, consequently time and cost overrun of ongoing projects cannot be estimated.

(e): In  addition  to  enhancement  of  fund  allocation,  regular  coordination meetings are held with State Governments and with other Ministries  of  Government  of  India  to  expedite  approvals  and  to remove  impediments  for  these  projects.  Field  units  have  also  been empowered for faster decision making in executing railway projects.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 115 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Common Service Centres
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: CH. MALLA REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 115

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 18.07.2018

## COMMON SERVICE CENTRES

## 115 SHRI CH.  MALLA  REDDY:

Will  the  Minister  of  ELECTRONICS  &  INFORMATION  TECHNOLOGY  be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government is planning to get all the common service centers (CSCs)  to  act  as  a  Business  correspondents  (BCs)  for  delivering  various services  like  banking,  Insurance,  railway  booking  etc;  to  create  last  mile access points for delivery of financial services across the country.
- (b) if so, the  details thereof,  and
- (c) if no, the reason therefor ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI S.S. AHLUWALIA)

(a),  (b)  and  (c):  Yes,  Sir.    Common  Services  Centre  (CSC)  project  envisages setting up of one CSC at every Gram Panchayat (GP) to cover all the 2.50 lakh GPs  of  the  country.  The  CSCs  are  required  to  provide  Government  to  Citizen (G2C)  and  Business  to  Citizen  (B2C)  services  to  the  citizens.  These  services include  Banking,  Insurance,  Railway  booking  etc.  The  services  are  delivered through  Village  Level  Entrepreneur  (VLE)  who  are  registered  by  M/s  CSC eGovernance Services India Ltd for the purpose.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 114 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Railway Projects in Rajasthan
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: NIHAL CHAND CHAUHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 114 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## RAILWAY PROJECTS IN RAJASTHAN

†114. SHRI NIHAL CHAND:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  rail  projects  pending  in  various  States including  Rajasthan  and  the  current  status  of  these projects and the reasons for their pendency;
- (b) the time scheduled for the above said projects;
- (c) whether paucity of funds is one of the reasons which is impeding the progress of these projects and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps being taken by the Government to solve the problems and start work on the projects?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 114 BY SHRI NIHAL CHAND TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 18.07.2018 REGARDING RAILWAY PROJECTS IN RAJASTHAN

(a)  to  (d):      At  present,  500  Railway  projects  including  180  New Lines,  57  Gauge  Conversion  and  263  Doubling  Projects  are  in different stage of execution. This includes 32 projects in the state of Rajasthan including 10 New Line projects, 6 Gauge Conversion and 16 Doubling Projects. Further, commissioning of these projects requires clearance from various departments of State Government and Central Ministries like acquisitions of land, statutory clearance like forestry and wild life,  shifting of utilities etc., which affect the pace  and  timely  execution  of  projects.  For  assured  funding  of viable projects, institutional financing has been done by arranging loan from M/s Life Insurance Corporation of India Limited for 1.5 lakh crore, which has increased Railways' capacity for committed fund provision for essential projects. For timely completion of the projects, Railway is holding regular meetings with State Government and concerned Central Government officials on various  issues  involving  alignment,  land  acquisition,  forestry  and wild life clearances, shifting of utilities etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 113 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Development of Surat Railway Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: DEVUSINH JESINGBHAI CHAUHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.113 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## DEVELOPMENT OF SURAT RAILWAY STATION

113. SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has any plan to develop the Surat Railway Station; and

(b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) :  Yes, Madam.  For development of Surat railway station, an MoU  has  been  signed  between  Indian  Railway  Stations  Development Corporation  (IRSDC),  Gujarat  State  Transport  Corporation  and  Surat Municipal Corporation. A Multi Modal Transport Hub (MMTH) has been conceptualised around the Surat Railway station to provide an integrated transport system for the people.  A joint Venture Company of IRSDC, Gujarat State Transport Corporation and Surat Municipal Corporation, for development of MMTH,  has been registered on 17.10.2017.  Bids for development of  MMTH at Surat has been invited on PPP Mode.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 111 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: SMS Based Alert System
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: MANSHANKAR NINAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 111 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 2018

## SMS BASED ALERT SYSTEM

## 111. SHRI MANSHANKAR NINAMA:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a)      whether it is a fact that an SMS based weather alert system has been started by the Department of Meteorology;
- (b)
- if so, the details and the salient features thereof;
- (c) whether any arrangement has been made for proper functioning of the said system during any calamity;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the manner in which ordinary people are able to use these facilities?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a)-(b) Yes  Madam.  India  Meteorological  Department  (IMD)  started  sending  SMS based  cyclone  warning  to  central  and  state  level  disaster  management agencies from 2010 and to general public through free of cost registration in the website since 2015.  IMD launched a dedicated website for cyclones viz.  www.rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in  in  the  year  2014.    The  general  public can register themselves through this website to receive SMS alert related to  cyclonic  disturbances  over  north  Indian  Ocean.    SMS  is  sent  to  the registered  users  of  the  states  likely  to  be  affected  due  to  cyclonic disturbances.  In addition, the Area Cyclone Warning Centres and Cyclone Warning  Centres  also  send  SMS  to  state  and  district  level  disaster management agencies related to cyclonic disturbances over north Indian Ocean.

Further  the  SMS  based  cyclone  warnings  are  also  issued  to  registered farmers through the Kisan Portal of Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India. It is also sent to the registered fishermen through the SMS system of Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad.

For fishermen in deep sea, IMD is working in collaboration with ISRO and INCOIS to send SMS through satellite based communication system.

- (c)-(d)  Yes.  There is a standard system established in IMD in collaboration with Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DEITY) under the Digital India Programme.
- (e) To receive SMS, the general public need to register themselves through the websites of IMD, INCOIS and Kisan Portal.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 110 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Vacant Posts
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: ANTO  ANTONY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 110 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## VACANT POSTS

## 110. SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has issued notices for filling up of various vacancies existing in Railways;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  number  of  posts, number of applications received and the present status of the applications;
- (c) whether it is true that the Government has received three crore applications for 90000 vacancies; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

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

*****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 110 BY SHRI ANTO ANTONY TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 18.07.2018 REGARDING VACANT POSTS

(a) to (d) Yes, Madam. The details are as under-

| Centralized Employment Notification (CEN) No.   | Name of Post                      | Total number of notified vacancies   | Total number of applications received   |
|-------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|--------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| 01/2018                                         | Assistant Loco Pilot & Technician | 26,502                               | 47,55,920                               |
| 02/2018                                         | Level-1 (erstwhile Group 'D')     | 62,907                               | 1,89,78,913                             |
| Total                                           | Total                             | 89,409                               | 2,37,34,833                             |

The scrutiny of the applications has been completed.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 109 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Skill Development Centres for Minority Girls
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: SANTOSH KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.109 ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## SKILL DEVELOPMENT CENTRES FOR MINORITY GIRLS

## 109. SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Ministry has any proposal to open some 'Skill Development Centres for Minority Girls' in the entire country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if not, the reasons for not taking any action therefor; and
- (d) the details about the plan outlay in this regard with special reference to Purnia in Bihar?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)

(a)  to  (c):  The  Ministry  of  Minority  Affairs  is  already  implementing  the  following  Skill Development schemes, in which minimum 33% seats in case of Seekho aur Kamao & USTTAD  and  30%  in  case  of  Nai  Manzil,  are  earmarked  for  minority  girls/women candidates:

- (i) 'Seekho aur Kamao (Learn & Earn)'- Skill development Initiative for minorities.
- (ii) Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts / Crafts for Development (USTTAD).
- (iii) Nai  Manzil  -  An  integrated  Education  and  Livelihood  initiative  for  the Minority Communities.

In  fact  in  case  of  Nai  Manzil,  out  of  enrolment  of  66,884  students  in  the  first phase, 48% minority girl/women were enrolled.

Further,  Maulana  Azad  Education  Foundation  (MAEF),  an  autonomous  body under this Ministry has launched a new scheme titled Gharib Nawaj Skill Development Training for minority youth for providing short term job oriented skill courses leading to sustained  and  gainful  employment,  where  30%  seats  are  earmarked  for  minority women/girls.

- (d): Does not arise, in view of above.