opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 305 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-12
Subject: Flap Gates at Stations
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RODMAL NAGAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.305 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2018

## FLAP GATES AT STATIONS

†305.    SHRI NAGAR RODMAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  install  flap  gates with barcode at the railway stations;
- (b) if not, whether the Government has prepared any plans to reduce the existing workload on ticket checker and to provide any facility to the persons without ticket; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## ANSWER (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a):  Yes,  Madam.  In  the  year  2017-18,  the  work  of  'Automatic Gate  Based  Ticket  Checking  System(for  trial  in  two  stations)' has been sanctioned at an abstract cost of ₹4.16 Crore.

(b)&(c): Various measures have been undertaken to reduce the existing  workload  of  the  ticket  checking  staff.    The  same includes  sanctioning  of  additional  posts  and  filling  of  vacant posts.  In order to optimize the human resource available, it has been  decided  to  utilize  spare  Enquiry-cum-Reservation-Clerk manpower in stationary ticket checking activities.  Rationalizing the  workload  through  system  improvements  and  technological solutions is continuous and ongoing process.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 304 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-12
Subject: Army Recruitment Centre
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: LAXMAN GILUWA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.304

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12 TH  DECEMBER, 2018

## ARMY RECRUITMENT CENTRE

## 304. SHRI LAXMAN GILUWA:

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

- (a) whether the Government propose to open more Army recruitment centres specially in  East  Singhbhum  and  West  Singbhum,  Jharkhand  to  encourage  the  youth  of  the adjoining districts to join the Army;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)

र  ा रा य मं ी

(डा. सुभाष भामरे)

(a) to (c): No such proposal for opening more Army Recruitment Centres, including  in  East  Singhbhum  and  West  Singhbhum,  Jharkhand  is  under consideration.

Recruitment in Indian Army is done through Army Recruiting Offices (AROs) spread across the whole country which cater to the requirements of all districts.  It is also ensured that recruitment from each of the districts of the country is done at least once in the Recruiting year (April to March).

Army Recruiting Office, Ranchi, Jharkhand is responsible for recruiting candidates from East Singhbhum and West Singhbhum.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 301 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-12
Subject: Committee on NDCP
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: M. UDHAYAKUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 301 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 th   DECEMBER, 2018

## COMMITTEE ON NDCP

301. ADV. M. UDHAYAKUMAR:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Government has constituted Committees to work on objectives set by National Digital Communication Policy (NDCP);
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  it  is  also  true  that  according  to  private  service  providers,  the  telecom sector remains highly taxed just like tobacco industry in addition to the GST at 18 per cent which is almost at the higher tax bracket; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) No. Madam.
- (b) Does not arise in view of (a) above.
- (c) & (d) As per the information received from the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, the telecommunication services attract standard rate of GST @ 18% and is not taxed like tobacco industry.
- *************
Lok Sabha Question No. 299 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-12
Subject: Non-delivery of Parcels
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: BALASUBRAMANIAM SENGUTTUVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.299

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2018

## NON-DELIVERY OF PARCELS

## 299.  SHRI B. SENGUTTUVAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

of

- (a) whether the Railways is aware that the complaints non-delivery of parcels of goods booked on the Railways are on the increase and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Railways are paying huge amounts as compensation for non-delivery of goods to the consignees and if so, the region-wise details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Railways  is  also  aware  that  non-delivery  of valuable goods is alleged to have reached the proportion of a scam in the Southern Railways; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a): Year-wise  comparative  figures  for  the  year  2016-17  and 2017-18  of  complaints  registered  for  non-delivery  of  parcels  of goods booked on the Railways show a decreasing trend.

| Year    |   No. of Complaints |
|---------|---------------------|
| 2016-17 |                4750 |
| 2017-18 |                4344 |

(b): Region-wise details of amounts paid as compensation for nondelivery of goods to the consignees are not maintained. However, an amount of ` 2.74 crore has been paid as compensation by the Railways for non-delivery of goods to the consignees in the year 2017-18.

(c):  No such case of non-delivery of valuable goods has come to notice.

(d):  Does not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 298 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-12
Subject: Setting up of Mobile Towers
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 298 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 th   DECEMBER, 2018

## SETTING UP OF MOBILE TOWERS

†298. DR. RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that mobile tower is proposed to be set up in Margoda and Seria of Giridih district;

- (b) if so, the current position of setting up tower in both places; and
- (c) the time by which the said mobile tower is likely to be established?

ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) to (c) Yes,  Bharat  Sanchar  Nigam  Limited  (BSNL)  has  planned  to  set-up  a mobile tower each at Margoda and Seria in District Giridih of Jharkhand State by 31 st March 2019 and foundation-works are in progress.

- *************
Lok Sabha Question No. 297 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-12
Subject: First Solar Powered Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: PASHUPATI NATH SINGH, RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY

- (a)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 297 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2018

## FIRST SOLAR POWERED STATION

## †297. SHRI PASHUPATI NATH SINGH: DR. RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to State:

- (a) whether  Guwahati  railway  station  has  become  the  first solar powered railway station;
- (b) if so, whether the Government proposes to convert railway stations of Jharkhand also to solar powered stations;
- (c) if so, the targets set by the Government in this regard; and
- (d) the  approximate  yearly  expenditure  of  railways  on  diesel and electricity?

## ANSWER

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

- No, Madam.
- (b)  &  (c)  Action  has  been  taken  to  convert  major  stations  of Jharkhand State into solar powered stations.  Till  date,  following stations  in  Jharkhand  have  been  converted  into  partly  solar powered railway stations:
- i)
- ii)
- iii)
- Tatanagar - 350 Kilo Watt Peak (kWp)
- Chakradharpur - 40 kWp
- Rajkarsawan - 2 kWp

Further,  Dhanbad  and  Gomoh  Railway  Stations  will  be

partially  powered  by  solar  plant  of  641.365  kWp  capacity  including hospital and workshop and this work is targeted to be completed by 2018-19.

(d) Expenditure on diesel is ₹ 17070 Cr. & ₹ 17959 Cr. in the year 201617 & 2017-18 respectively and expenditure on electricity is ₹ 11263 Cr. & ₹ 11894 Cr. in the year 2016-17 & 2017-18 respectively. *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 296 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-12
Subject: Installation of Latest Signalling Equipments
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAJAN BABURAO  VICHARE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.296 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2018

## INSTALLATION OF LATEST SIGNALLING EQUIPMENTS

## † 296.     SHRI RAJAN VICHARE :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a)    whether the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and CIDCO have taken a decision to bear the cost of installing latest signalling equipments under the Central Railways;
- (b)     if so, the details thereof;
- (c)      whether  the  Mumbai  Railway  Vikas  Corporation  (MRVC)  has  not  made provision of funds for the installation of  signalling equipments for new rail routes under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP);
- (d)     if so, the reasons therefor;
- (e)    whether the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation is capable of bearing the expenditure of installing signalling equipments alongwith  providing basic facilities to citizens; and
- (f)      if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  &  (b)  :  There  is  no  direct  cost  sharing  arrangement  with  Navi  Mumbai Municipal Corporation(NMMC)/CIDCO for any of the sanctioned Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) works.

(c) & (d) :  Necessary funds for associated S&T works of new line routes under MUTP-1 & 2 namely 5th & 6th line Kurla-Thane, 3rd & 4th line Borivali-Virar, 5th  line  Mahim-Santacruz,  5th  &  6th  line  CSTM-Kurla,  Extension  of  AndheriGoregaon Harbour line,  5th & 6th line Thane-Diva and 6th line Mumbai CentralBorivali have been provided.

Funds  for  the  installation   of  signalling equipment  for new line works under  MUTP-3  namely  Panvel-Karjat  (double  line)  on  Central  Railway  and quadrupling of the Virar-Dahanu Road on Western Railway, would be provided after funds are arranged for the whole project. (e) & (f) :  Information is being collected and will be laid on the Table of the House.

## *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 295 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-12
Subject: Encouraging Young Scientists
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: OM PRAKASH YADAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.295 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12/12/2018

## ENCOURAGING YOUNG SCIENTISTS

## †295.  SHRI OM PRAKASH YADAV:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ +ÉÉè® |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is running any programme to keep young scientists connected with scientific activities during their studies or after completion of their studies to encourage them;
- (b) if so, the time by which the Government is considering to implement this scheme; and
- (c) if not, the future plan of the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES AND MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ +ÉÉè® |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ, {Éßl´ÉÉÒ ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ +ÉÉè® {ÉªÉÉÇ´É®hÉ, ´ÉxÉ A´ÉÆ VÉãÉ´ÉÉªÉÖ {ÉÉÊ®´ÉiÉÇxÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ

(bÉ. c­ÉÇ ´ÉvÉÇxÉ)

(a)  &  (b):  The  Government  has  instituted  several  schemes/programmes  to  keep  young  scientists connected with scientific activities during their studies and also after completion of their studies. The schemes are designed to encourage them to study and facilitate to take up research as a career and  identify  promising  young  researchers  with  innovative  ideas  and  provide  them  with  training and research opportunities in niche areas of science and engineering. Children Science Congress, Scholarship  for  Higher  Education  (SHE),  The  INSPIRE  Award  -  MANAK  (Million  Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge), Internship Programmes like S.N Bose Scholars, Khorana  Scholars  etc.  are  some  of  the  activities  /  schemes  of  the  Ministry  which  are  aimed  to connect  the  youngsters  with  science  during  their  studies.  The  Ministry  is  also  running  several postdoctoral level research schemes for young scientists after completion of their studies through fellowships  and  extramural  research  projects  to  nurture  their  scientific  talent  for  taking  up challenging research problems for the benefit of the country.

- (c) Does not arise in view of (a) & (b) above.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 294 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-12
Subject: Compulsory Military Service
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: ANUPAM HAZRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.294

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12 TH  DECEMBER, 2018

## COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE

## 294. DR. ANUPAM HAZRA:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

j{kk ea=h

- (a) whether there is any constitutional constraint in introducing compulsory military service for  young aspirants for Government service, elected public representatives such as M.P. / M.L.A. and Member of Panchayat;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the initiative taken by the Government to remove the obstacle on the way to the mission of compulsory military service for the youth?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)

र  ा रा य मं ी

(डा. सुभाष भामरे)

(a) to (c): There is no such proposal under consideration.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 292 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-12
Subject: BPL Benefeciaries
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: BANSHILAL MAHTO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 292 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2018

## BPL BENEFICIARIES

292. Dr. BANSHILAL  MAHATO:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) the present income limit for qualifying as BPL beneficiary in the country;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to increase the income limit for BPL category keeping in view the rising inflation;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

## (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a) to (d):  The information is being collected and would be placed in the House.
- ----
Lok Sabha Question No. 291 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-12
Subject: Live Streaming of Court Proceedings
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW & JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 291

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 12 th  DECEMBER, 2018.

## Live Streaming of Court Proceedings

## 291. SHRIMATI RAKSHATAI KHADSE

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes live streaming of court proceedings for the benefit of all including the litigants and the lawyers;
- (b) if so, whether the Government is framing up comprehensive guidelines for live streaming of court proceedings; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): A Writ Petition was filed in the Hon'ble Supreme Court, seeking declaration for permitting live streaming of Supreme Court case proceedings of constitutional and national importance having an impact on the public at large and a direction to make available the necessary infrastructure for live streaming and to frame guidelines for the determination of such cases which are of constitutional and national importance.    The  Hon'ble  Supreme Court vide its Judgment dated 26 th September, 2018 has inter-alia observed that : (i) It is important  to  re-emphasise  the  significance  of  live-streaming  as  an  extension  of  the principle  of  open  justice  and  open  courts;  (ii)    The  process  of  live-streaming  should  be subjected to carefully structured guidelines, (iii)  Initially, a pilot project may be conducted for  about  three  months  by  live-streaming  only  cases  of  national  and  constitutional importance which can be expanded in due course with availability of infrastructure.

***********
Lok Sabha Question No. 290 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-12
Subject: Corrupt Bureaucracy
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: SHIVKUMAR CHANABASAPPA UDASI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 290

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2018)

## CORRUPT BUREAUCRACY

## 290. SHRI SHIVKUMAR UDASI:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether according to a survey, Indian bureaucracy is the most corrupt and inefficient;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and Government's reaction in this regard along with the details of steps being taken by the Government; and
- (c) whether the Government has formulated any plan to make the bureaucracy of the country efficient and if so, the details thereof?

## 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): No such survey has been conducted at the behest of Government of India.
- (b): Does not arise in view of (a) above.
- (c): Government  is  promoting  efficiency  by  encouraging  greater  transparency,  introducing simplified procedures and reducing scope for discretion.

## These inter alia include:

- a) Disbursement  of  welfare  benefits  directly  to  the  citizens  under  various  schemes  of  the Government in a transparent manner through the Direct Benefit Transfer initiative.
- b) Implementation of E-tendering in public procurements.
- c) Introduction of e-Governance and simplification of procedure and systems.
- d) Introduction of Government procurement through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
- e) Invocation  of  FR-56(j)  and  AIS(DCRB)  rule  for  prematurely  retiring  officials  whose performance has been reviewed and found unsatisfactory.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 289 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-12
Subject: Indian Passport in Passport Index
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: KALIKESH NARAYAN SINGH DEO

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 289

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2018

## INDIAN PASSPORT IN PASSPORT INDEX

289.    SHRI KALIKESH N. SINGH DEO:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the reasons for Indian passport scoring poorly amongst all Asian countries on the passport index as released for the year 2018-19;

(b) whether the Ministry is taking any measures to improve the global rating of the Indian Passport; and

(c) if   so,   the   details   of   the   measures   planned   and   if   not,   the   reasons therefor?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) As per the information available on www.passportindex.org, the Arton Capital Passport Index (ACPI) gives global ranking to various passports based on the "visa free' status accorded to the passport holders of a specific country. The current passport ranking is based on the number of countries a passport holder can visit Visa Free or gets Visa on Arrival. T o determine the individual rank of each passport, a Visa Free Score (VFS) is prepared which is the sum of Visa Free (VF) and Visa on Arrival (VoA) facility accorded to the passport holder of a country.

According to ACPI 2018, India is ranked 66 th  with a VFS of 65; 25 countries according VF entry and 40 countries granting VOA facility to Indian passport holders. India was ranked 73 rd   in 2017 with a VFS of 57 with 25 countries according VF entry and 32 countries granting VOA facility to Indian passport holders.

(b) & (c) Yes.The Government has been continuously liberalizing the visa policy with the objective of promoting investments and tourism into India from other countries. The e-Visa scheme has been further liberalized to allow business visits and medical treatment in India. The number of entries and validity of eVisas has been increased and the scheme has been expanded to include 166 countries and territories till date. These initiatives are expected to encourage other countries to reciprocate and facilitate travel of Indian passport holders to their countries. As more countries permit Indian passport holders to visit Visa Free or grant them Visa on Arrival facility, the rank of the Indian passport on the Global Passport Index is expected to improve.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 287 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-12
Subject: Coal Exploration
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: GOWDAR MALLIKARJUNAPPA SIDDESHWARA, KRISHNAN NARAYANASAMY RAMACHANDRAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 287 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2018

## Coal Exploration

## 287.    SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWARA; SHRI K.N. RAMACHANDRAN:

Will the MINISTER OF COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is taking up measures to expand coal exploration in the country and if so, the details thereof, it not the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the Government has taken cognizance to the fact that India's coal reserves will be exhausted in a few decades and if so, the reaction of Government thereto; and
- (c) the details of the steps being taken to address the issue?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COAL ( SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a): Exploration of coal resources in the country is a continuous process. Ministry of Coal through its central sector scheme supports the promotional/regional exploration and detailed exploration  in  non  Coal  India  Limited  (CIL)  blocks.  Central  Mine  Planning  and  Design Institute (CMPDI)  is the nodal agency in coal exploration and does exploration departmentally or through its contractual agencies for Coal India subsidiaries companies and also for Central Sector Scheme of Ministry of Coal, Govt. of India. The drilling/exploration done by CMPDI in last 4 years & current year are given in below table:

| Item                                                              |   2014-15 |   2015-16 |   2016-17 |   2017-18 |   2018 -19 (Apr'18- Nov'18) |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------------------------|
| Promotional (Regional) &Detailed drilling in Coal (in Lakh Meter) |      8.98 |     10.46 |     11.75 |     14.08 |                         8.4 |

(b) & (c): The total estimated coal resources in the country is 319.02 billion tonnes as per 'The inventory of Geological Resources of Indian Coal' (as on 01.04.2018), prepared by the Geological  Survey  of  India.  The  total  coal  extracted  from  the  coalfields  of  India  during 2017-18 is 680.46 million tonnes and since 1950 upto 2017-18 is around 15122.28 million tonne (as per Coal Controller, MoC, Govt. of India). Every year about 3 to 5 billion tonnes of  proved  (measured)  resources  are  being  added  through  fresh  exploration  to  the  Coal Inventory of India. At the present rate of extraction, coal will last for several decades.

*****