opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 611 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-05
Subject: Court Practice
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Kripanath Mallah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW & JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL AFFAIRS *****

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.611 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2020

## Court Practice

## 611. SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH

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

- (a) whether the Government has notified Section 30 of the Advocates Act, 1961  recently,  enabling  the  lawyers  to  practice  in  courts  across  the  country irrespective of their enrolment in any bar council without the need to transfer licence to their desired States;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the date from which this section will come into force?

## ANSWER MINISTER  OF  LAW AND JUSTICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASASD )

(a)  to  (c)  :  Yes  Sir.  Section  30  of  the  Advocates  Act,  1961  has  been  notified  on June, 9, 2011 and has come into force on June 15, 2011.
Lok Sabha Question No. 610 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-05
Subject: Setting up of Defence Canteen
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Prataprao  Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.610

TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 th  February, 2020

## SETTING UP OF DEFENCE CANTEEN

## 610. SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to set up Defence canteen in Buldhana district of Maharashtra; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the action taken in this regard?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

रक्षा राज्य मंत्री

( श्री श्रीपाद नाईक )

- (a) No, Sir.

- (b)  Not applicable.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 609 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-05
Subject: Reservation through Biometric Machines
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: (Dr.) Ram Shankar Katheria

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 609 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2020

## RESERVATION THROUGH BIOMETRIC MACHINES

## †609. DR. RAM SHANKAR KATHERIA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)    whether the Government has formulated a scheme to reserve seats through biometric machines installed outside general coaches;
- (b)    if so, the trains where such arrangement has been implemented and the remaining trains where such arrangement is to be made;
- (c)      the  trains  originating  from  Etawah  wherein  such  arrangement  has been made; and
- (d)      if not, the time by which it is likely to be started?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (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. 609 BY DR. RAM SHANKAR KATHERIA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 05.02.2020 REGARDING RESERVATION THROUGH BIOMETRIC MACHINES

(a) to (d): No, Sir. Reservation of seats in general coaches of train is not being done through Bio-metric machines installed outside them. However, Railway Protection Force has taken initiative at some stations to use Biometric Token Machines for better queue management for the passengers boarding general coaches in selected trains so that seating in general coaches is available on first come first serve basis. At present, Biometric  Token  Machines  are  used  at  07  major  Railway  Stations  for queue  management  for  passengers  boarding  general  coaches  in  20 prominent  trains.  These  trains  include  Train  nos.  12809,  12322,  11093 (C  Shivaji  Maharaj  Terminus  Railway  Station);  11061  (Lokmanya  Tilak Terminus Railway Station); 12533 (Lucknow Junction 0Railway Station); 12555,  11016  (Gorakhpur  Junction  Railway  Station);  12955,  12933, 12903,  12961,  22945  (Mumbai  Central  Railway  Station);  12925,  19707, 19039,  12907,  12471  (Bandra  Terminus  Railway  Station)  and  12915, 12548, 19167 (Ahmedabad Railway Station).

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 608 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-05
Subject: Smaller Coaches for Passengers
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 608 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2020

## SMALLER COACHES FOR PASSENGERS

## 608. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Minister  is  aware  that  the  ladies'  first-class  coaches have  smaller  compartments  with  less  seats  than  the  normal  firstclass general bogie and that too with highly insufficient safety;
- (b) if  so,  the  steps  being  taken  to  address  the  issues  and  if  not,  the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  plans  to  increase  the  size  and  the number  of  ladies  coaches  and  to  fortify  the  security  system  with better safety measures;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a)  to (d): Based on the demand, compartment size and number of seats in ladies first class coaches in EMU rakes is decided .

For  safety  and  security  of  ladies  passengers,  Emergency  Talk  Back system  and  Closed  Circuit  Television  Surveillance  Cameras  have  been provided  in  ladies   compartments/ coaches  of   all   newly  manufactured

Electrical Multiple Units (EMU) and Air conditioned rakes of Kolkata Metro. Emergency  talk  back  is  also  being  provided  on  existing  EMU  rakes  in Ladies  compartment.  Flasher  lights  have  also  been  provided  in  ladies compartment in EMU rakes in South Eastern Railway. When the alarm chain of the coach is pulled, these lights will start blinking and buzzer will start sounding till resetting of alarm chain.

Similarly,  coaches,  compartment  size  and  number  of  seats  depends on demand and is limited by total composition of trains.

(e): Does not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 607 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-05
Subject: Mobile Towers in Maharashtra
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Vinayak Bhaurao Raut

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 607 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH  FEBRUARY, 2020

## MOBILE TOWERS IN MAHARASHTRA

## †607. SHRI VINAYAK RAUT:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Union  Government  is  considering  to  install  more  mobile  towers  of  BSNL  for better connectivity in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts of Maharashtra;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the time by which these mobile towers are likely to be installed?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

(a) to (c) BSNL  is  continuously  adding  new  equipments  and  upgrading  its  existing  mobile network in both rural and urban areas in all of its Licensed Service Areas (LSAs) including Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts of Maharashtra state to improve its mobile coverage. BSNL has informed that  in  its  Phase  VIII.4  mobile  expansion  plan,  out  of  total  planned  76  Base  Transceiver  Stations (BTSs) in Sindhudurg district and 66 BTSs in Ratnagiri district, 48 BTSs and 49 BTSs respectively have been installed so far. The installation work of all remaining BTSs will be completed in financial year 2020-21.

************
Lok Sabha Question No. 602 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-05
Subject: Survey of Pagidipalli-Guntur Railway Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Jayadev Galla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.602

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2020

## SURVEY OF PAGIDIPALLI-GUNTUR RAILWAY LINE

602. SHRI JAYADEV GALLA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the survey of Pagidipalli-Guntur railway line was completed long back;
- (b) if so, whether the line has huge traffic and in the absence of second line,  passengers    are  facing  many  problems  and  railways  is  also losing revenue;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons for delay in laying this second line; and
- (d) the time by which the work on this line is likely to be taken up and
- completed?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a)  to  (d)  Yes,  Sir.  Updating  survey  for  doubling  between  BibinagarNallapadu stations (246.50 km)  has been  completed  in 2017-18. Pagidipalli-Guntur line is part of this survey as proposed doubling was to  take  off  from  Pagidipalli.  Doubling  projects  are  taken  up  as  per operational requirement of Railways. A number of capacity enhancement  works  like  Kukkadam  &  Rayanaguda  crossing  stations, Bommaipalli  (Crossing  station  with  standard  lay-out),  Ramannapet (Standard layout) etc have been taken up in this section. The line

………2/-

capacity utilization of the section was assessed between 69% to 82% and  the  project  was  not  taken  forward  as  there  was  no  immediate operational requirements at that time.

Now,  as  per  the  anticipated  operational  requirement,  doubling  of Guntur-Pagidipalli-Bibinagar (248 km) has been approved for inclusion against  Umbrella  work  of  2019-20  subject  to  requisite  Government approvals. Final location survey has been taken up. Further consideration of this proposal is possible once Detailed Project report becomes available and results thereon are firmed up.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 601 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-05
Subject: Shortfall in the Revenue of Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ravneet Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.601 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2020

## SHORTFALL IN THE REVENUE OF RAILWAYS

601.   SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  there has been a severe shortfall in railway freight traffic revenue during this financial year;
- (b) if so, the details thereof during the last three years, year-wise;
- (c) whether any steps are being taken by the Government to reverse this  trend  of  decreasing  railway  freight  traffic  revenue  and  bring improvement in this regard; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(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.601 BY SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 05.02.2020 REGARDING SHORTFALL IN THE REVENUE OF RAILWAYS

(a)and(b) There is a shortfall of ₹ 3,064.26 crore upto December-2019 when compared to corresponding period of last year.

( ₹ in crore)

| Period ending   | Freight Traffic Earnings   |
|-----------------|----------------------------|
| December-2018   | 85,329.11                  |
| December-2019   | 82,264.85                  |

The details  of freight earnings during the last three years is as under:

( ₹ in crore)

| Year    | Actual      |
|---------|-------------|
| 2016-17 | 1,04,338.54 |
| 2017-18 | 1,17,055.40 |
| 2018-19 | 1,27,432.72 |

(c)and (d)  Steps taken by Indian Railways to increase freight revenue include  adoption  of  rake  load  concept,  withdrawal  of  Busy  Season Charge, designing new wagons with higher payload, Long Term Tariff Contract Policy, Automatic Freight Rebate Scheme for traffic loaded in empty  flow  directions,  Station  to  Station  Rates,  Merry-Go-Round policy,  Ro-Ro  policy,  promoting  container  traffic  for  expanding  the freight basket, freight discount to bagged consignment when loaded in open and flat wagon, 25% concession on haulage charges for empty container and empty flat wagons, withdrawal of supplementary surcharge on Mini Rake and Two-Point traffic etc.

In  addition,  schemes  for  induction  of  General  Purpose  wagons, Special  wagons  to  transport  automobiles,  Special  Purpose  Wagons, and  High  Capacity  wagons  have  been  introduced,  through  which private entities can induct rakes to carry traffic in dedicated circuits. Besides, schemes for setting up of Private Sidings and Private Freight Terminals  have  also  been  launched  to  increase  freight  revenue through PPP mode.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 600 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-05
Subject: 5G Services
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Queen Oja, Bharatiben Dhirubhai Shyal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 600 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH  FEBRUARY, 2020

## 5G SERVICES

## †600.  SHRIMATI QUEEN OJA: DR. BHARATIBEN DHIRUBHAI SHIYAL:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the work is being carried out on 5G services in the country and if so, the details and the present status thereof; and
- (b) the time by which 5G services are likely to become available in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

(a) & (b) An  inter-ministerial High-Level  Forum  for  5G  India  2020  was  constituted in September  2017  to  articulate  the  Vision  for  5G  in  India  and  to  recommend  policy  initiatives  and action plans to realize this vision. The High-Level Forum submitted its report titled  'Making India 5G Ready' in August 2018. The Government is creating an enabling framework for launch of 5G services in India and also working with Telecom service providers/Original Equipment Manufacturers on 5G Technological Studies. The 5G services are expected to be introduced gradually and advance to a full range of services as ecosystem and demand for services grows.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 599 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-05
Subject: Corporate Interaction to Boost Investment
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Kotha Prabhakar  Reddy, Geetha Viswanath Vanga

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 599.

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 05 TH  FEBRUARY, 2020.

## CORPORATE INTERACTION TO BOOST INVESTMENT

## 599.   SHRI KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY: SHRIMATI VANGA GEETHA VISWANATH:

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

वाणिज्य

## एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether the Government has held discussions with India's 25 top corporate houses  and  lenders,  to  assess  their  investment  plan  and  tried  to  resolve issues that they may be facing in their bid to expand operations;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and outcome thereto;
- (c) whether capacity constraints are often cited as a reason for firms holding back investments, and in many cases investments that have been announced did not take off due to delay in clearances for decades; and
- (d) if so, the details of such projects identified in the past one decade along with steps being taken to resolve such issues and future action plan prepared so far?

## ANSWER वाणिज ् य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ( श्री पीयूष गोयल ) THE MINISTER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI  PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (d): The Government holds regular interaction and discussions with various industries and industry bodies to understand the issues being faced by them  in  their  bid  to  expand  operations  and  possible  measures  to resolve  them.  Engagement  with  industry  bodies  like CII,  FICCI, ASSOCHAM  etc.  gives  deeper  insight  into  business  plans,  and possible constraints faced by industry.

Recently,  a  National  Consultation  Forum  on  Make  in  India  2.0  was organised in line with the Hon'ble Prime Minister's vision towards $1 Trillion  Manufacturing  Economy,  with  the  objective  to  develop  a detailed actionable roadmap, focused on identified sectors and discuss conducive  policy  environment  and  interventions  needed  to  make India's  manufacturing globally competitive.  The National Consultation was attended by sectoral Ministries of Champion sectors, industrialists, and concerned industry associations.

Regarding  clearances,  Ease  of  Doing  Business  rankings  by  World Bank  showcase  improvement  wherein  India  has  jumped  from  142 nd rank in 2014 to 63 rd rank in 2019.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 597 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-05
Subject: Young Scientist Laboratories
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Kirron  Kher, Geetha Viswanath Vanga, Kotha Prabhakar  Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEFENCE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.597

TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 th  February, 2020

## YOUNG SCIENTIST LABORATORIES

597. SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER: SHRIMATI VANGA GEETHA VISWANATH: SHRI KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY:

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

- (a) whether the Government propose to set up DRDO Young Scientist Laboratories and if so, the details thereof and the progress made in this regard;
- (b) the funds allocated to each of the five new DRDO Young Scientist Laboratories;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  set  up  more  such  laboratories  to  boost defence capabilities in the country, including in Chandigarh;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the other steps taken by the Government to boost indigenous defence capabilities of the country?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

रक्षा राज्य मंत्री

( श्री श्रीपाद नाईक )

<!-- image -->

- (a)  As  per  directives  of  Government  of  India,  Defence  Research  and  Development Organisation (DRDO) has identified five niche technology areas and established the following Young Scientist Laboratories (YSLs) in year 2019:
-  Artificial Intelligence (DYSL-AI), Bengaluru
-  Quantum Technologies (DYSL-QT), Mumbai
-  Cognitive Technologies (DYSL-CT), Chennai
-  Asymmetric Technologies (DYSL-AT), Kolkata
-  Smart Materials (DYSL-SM), Hyderabad

The  five  labs  were  dedicated  to  the  Nation  by  Hon'ble  Prime  Minister  on  02 January, 2020.

(b)  The initial sanction of Rs.5 crores were accorded to each of these five DYSLs. The same to be augmented as per the lab requirements.

(c)  &  (d):    The  five  newly  established  labs  have  started  functioning  very  recently. However, as suggested by Hon'ble PM during dedication of five DYSLs to the Nation on 02 January, 2020, DRDO will identify more such niche technology areas and will set up YSLs if required.

(e)    DRDO  is  making  all-out  efforts  towards  indigenous  R&D  and  technology capability  building.    India  is  self-reliant  today  in  technology  areas  pertaining  to Missiles,  Radars,  Sonars  and  Electronic  Warfare(EW)  and  all  the  requirements  in these  areas  can  be  met  based  on  indigenous  technologies.    DRDO  Synergies  with Armed Forces, Industry & Academia for development of Technologies and systems based on National priorities. DRDO has also successfully developed major platforms like  the  indigenous  Light  Combat  Aircraft;  Main  battle  Tank  Arjun;  Multi-Barrel Rocket  Launcher  System  Pinaka;  Akash  Weapon  System  etc.    These  systems  after development are produced by Indian Industries for their induction by Armed Forces.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 596 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-05
Subject: SEZ in Bundelkhand
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Pushpendra Singh Chandel

## MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 596 (H)

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 th FEBRUARY, 2020

## SEZ IN BUNDELKHAND

## 596(H). SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािण�य एवं उ�ोग मं�ी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  plans  to  construct  a  Special  Economic  Zone  (SEZ)  in Bundelkhand under the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether there are obstacles in setting up of SEZ in Bundelkhand and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the details of new  initiatives taken by  the  Government  for  rehabilitation  and resettlement of farmers displaced from agricultural land acquired for developm ent of SEZ areas in the country?

## ANSWER

## okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=h ( Jh ih;w'k xks;y ) THE MINISTER OF  COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (c): No  Sir,  there  is  no  proposal  for setting  up  a  Special  Economic  Zone  (SEZ)  in Bundelkhand region at present. SEZ being setup under the SEZ Act, 2005 and SEZ Rules, 2006 are primarily private investment driven initiatives.
- (d): Land is a State Subject. Compensation to the land owners for the land acquired for Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is a State subject as per Entry No. 18 of the State List in the 7 th schedule to the Constitution of India and under the provisions of Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation  and Resettlement Act, 2013.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 595 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-05
Subject: 5G Spectrum Auction
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: V. Kalanidhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 595 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH  FEBRUARY, 2020

## 5G SPECTRUM AUCTION

## 595. DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has held the auction of 5G spectrum within the country;

- (b) if so, the details thereof;

- (c) whether the Government has received any request from some of the companies to reduce 5G spectrum prices;

- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons  therefor  along  with  the  action  taken  by  the  Government thereon;

- (e) whether BSNL is also planning to launch 5G services within the country and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor along with the time by which it is likely to be launched; and

- (f) the steps being taken by BSNL to compete with private players within the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

- (a) to (b) The spectrum acquired through auction, as being held from time to time, is permitted to be used in a technologically agnostic manner. The Government had sought the recommendations of TRAI on the auction of spectrum in various bands. The recommendations of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the subsequent reply from TRAI to DoT's back reference were considered by a Standing Committee in DoT. The recommendations of the Standing Committee were later considered by the Digital Communications Commission  (DCC).  Subsequently  a  Draft  Cabinet  Note  (DCN)  has  been  prepared  for  the  auction  of  the spectrum.  The  DCN  is  presently  under  consideration  in  the  Department.  The  successful  bidders  of  the spectrum auction can deploy mobile services using any technology including 5G.
- (c) to (d) Government has received a request from Broadband India Forum (BIF) stating that 5G prices recommended by TRAI are too high. Concerns on high reserve price were conveyed by the Government to TRAI. However TRAI did not review the prices.
- (e) M/s Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has requested DoT to assign spectrum for 5G services on Pan India basis (except for Delhi and Mumbai LSAs).
- (f) Government has approved the Revival Package for BSNL to make it competitive.

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