opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 223 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-04
Subject: Prices of Petrol/Diesel
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 223 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  FEBRUARY, 2019

## Prices of Petrol/Diesel

## 223. SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM:

पेट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्री

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

- (a) whether the retail selling price of petrol and diesel have been slashed by big margins in the recent past and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to bring petroleum products under Goods and Services Tax and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  monitors  the  prices  of  various  petroleum  products  including petrol and diesel fixed by the private companies to ensure that the prices are in conformity with the variation in the crude oil prices in the international markets; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken against private companies for not passing the benefit  of  low  crude  oil  prices  to  the  consumers  and  also  to  safeguard  the  interest  of  the consumers?

## ANSWER

## पेट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्री

## (श्री धमेन्द्र प्रधान) MINISTER OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS

## (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a) The  retail  selling  price  of  petrol  and  diesel  has  reduced  in  the  recent  past,  the details of which for Delhi market are given below:

( ` /Litre)

|                     |   Petrol |                      |   Diesel |
|---------------------|----------|----------------------|----------|
| Highest (4.10.2018) |    84    | Highest (16.10.2018) |    75.69 |
| As on 28.01.2019    |    71.27 | As on 28.01.2019     |    66    |

- (b) Clause 12 A of Article 366 of the Constitution defines 'goods and services tax' (GST)  as  'any  tax  on  supply  of  goods  or  services  or  both  except  taxes  on  the supply  of  alcoholic  liquor  for  human  consumption'.  Further  Article  279  A  (5) provides  that  Goods  and  Services  Tax  Council  shall  recommend  the  date  on which  goods  and  services  tax  shall  be  levied  on  petroleum  crude,  high  speed diesel, motor spirit, natural gas and aviation turbine fuel. Thus, while petroleum products are included under goods and services tax, the date on which GST shall be levied on such products shall be as per decision of the Goods and Services Tax Council
- (c) & (d) Since the pricing of Petrol and Diesel is deregulated, the oil marketing companies, including  the  private  oil  companies,  themselves  decide  the  prices  of  Petrol  and Diesel being sold from the Retail outlets run by them.

x-x-x-x-x
Lok Sabha Question No. 218 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-04
Subject: Foreign Universities
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: PARASURAMAN K.

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No.218 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2019

## Foreign Universities

218. SHRI K. PARASURAMAN:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  Doctoral  degree  holders  from  the  top  500 foreign  universities  are  now  eligible  for  direct  recruitment  as  an  Assistant  Professor  in Indian varsities;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether it would help to cater to the growing demand for quality higher education within the country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a)to (c):Yes, Madam. As per University Grants Commission (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and other Measures for  the  Maintenance  of  Standards  in  Higher  Education)  Regulations,  2018,  a person  with  Ph.D.  degree  from  a  foreign  university/institution  with  a  ranking  among  top 500  in  the  World  University  Ranking  (at  any  time)  by  any  one  of  the  following:  (i) Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) (ii) the Times Higher Education (THE) or (iii) the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) of the Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Shanghai) is eligible for direct recruitment as Assistant Professor in universities and colleges. The said Regulations is intended to attract and retain the best quality teachers and to encourage research  in  Universities  and  Colleges.  The  aforesaid  regulations  are  available  on  UGC website at https://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/4033931\_UGC-Regulation\_min\_Qualification\_Jul2018.pdf.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 211 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-04
Subject: Promotion of MSMEs
Ministry: MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: RAMDAS CHANDRABHANJI TADAS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  †211 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2019

## PROMOTION OF MSMEs

## †211.      SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS:

Will the Minister of   MICRO,    SMALL    AND    MEDIUM    ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:

- (a) the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  set  up  Small  and  Medium  Scale Industries;
- (b) the  Special  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  promote  Small  and  Medium  Scale Industries in Maharashtra;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to promote orange industry in the country; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH)

(a)&(b): As per the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act  2006,  the  Central  Government  implements  various  schemes  and  programmes  for promotion and development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) throughout the country including Maharashtra. These include the schemes/programmes such as Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Scheme of Fund for Regeneration  of  Traditional  Industries  (SFURTI),  A  Scheme  for  Promoting  Innovation, Rural Industry and Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE), Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Micro and  Small  Enterprises,  Credit  Linked  Capital  Subsidy  Scheme  (CLCSS),  National Manufacturing  Competitiveness  Programme  (NMCP),  Micro  &  Small  Enterprises  Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP), National Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Hub (NSSH), and schemes for coir products and Khadi & Village Industries.

National  Small  Industries  Corporation  (NSIC)  under  the  Ministry  of  MSME  also promotes  and  supports  Micro,  Small  and  Medium  Enterprises  by  providing  integrated support services encompassing marketing, finance, technology and other services.

(c)&(d): Ministry of Agriculture &  Farmer's Welfare and Ministry of Food Processing Industries have the schemes for promotion of fruit and vegetable sector.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 209 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-04
Subject: Retention Policy
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAM TAHAL CHOUDHARY, RAMA DEVI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 209 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04 th February, 2019 Retention Policy

## †209. Shri Ram Tahal Choudhary: Shrimati Rama Devi:

- Will	the	Minister	of	HUMAN	RESOURCE	DEVELOPMENT	be	pleased	to	state: (a) whether	there	is	any	rule	for	expulsion	of	students	from	schools	in	case	they	fail	from	class I	to	VIII	under	the	Right	of	Children	to	Free	and	Compulsory	Education	(RTE)	Act	and	if	so, the	details	thereof; (b) whether	such	expulsion	of	students	from	schools	is	not	a	violation	of	the	said	Act; (c) if	so,	the	reaction	of	the	Government	in	this	regard;	and
- (d) the	corrective	measures	taken/	to	be	taken	by	the	Government	in	this	regard?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

- (a):						No,	Madam.	The	Right	of	Children	to	Free	and	Compulsory	Education	(Amendment)	Act, 2019	has	been	notified	on	11 th 	January,	2019,	which	provides	that: (i) there	shall	be	a	regular	examination	in	the	fifth	class	and	in	the	eight	class	at	the	end of	every	academic	year. (ii) if	 a	 child	 fails	 in	 the	 examination	 referred	 to	 above,	 he	 shall	 be	 given	 additional instruction	and	granted	opportunity	for	re-examination	within	a	period	of	two	months from	the	date	of	declaration	of	the	result. (iii) the	appropriate	Government	may	allow	schools	to	hold	back	a	child	in	the	fifth	class	or in	the	eighth	class		or	in	both	classes,	in	such	manner	and	subject	to	such	conditions	as may	be	prescribed,	if	he	fails	in	the	re-examination. (iv) the	appropriate	Government	may	decide	not	to	hold	back	a	child	in	any	class	till	the completion	of	elementary	education.
- (v) no	child	shall	be	expelled	from	a	school	till	the	completion	of	elementary	education.

(b)	to	(d)	: Under	Section	8	of		the	Right	of	Children	to	Free	and	Compulsory	Education	(RTE) Act,	2009		the	appropriate	Governments	have	the	responsibility		to	implement	the	provisions	of the	RTE	Act,	2009	to	provide	free	and	compulsory	education	to	every	child	as	per	the	norms	and standards	specified	in	the	RTE	Act,	2009.

- *******
Lok Sabha Question No. 203 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-04
Subject: Industrial Output Growth
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: ANTO  ANTONY

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 203. TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE 4 TH  FEBRUARY, 2019.

## INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT GROWTH

## 203.   SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

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

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether the Government has noticed the report of decline of Industrial output growth in the country, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the decline of industrial output growth has any adverse impact on the economy;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (d) whether the Government is planning to introduce a new Industrial Policy, if so, the details and the salient features thereof?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् यएवंउद्योग मंत्रालयमेंराज् यमंत्री(श्री सी.आर.चौधरी) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI C.R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a) to (c): The  Index of Industrial Production (IIP) measures  the  industrial performance in manufacturing, mining and electricity. As per the latest IIP, the industrial output has increased and registered a growth of 5.0 per cent during the period April-November 2018-19 as compared to a growth of 3.2 per cent during the corresponding period of the previous year.
- (d) : The existing Industrial Policy was formulated in the year 1991. In view of  the  rapidly  changing  landscape  of  manufacturing  and  services,  as well as in the light of the new technologies and business models which are prevalent now, the need for a new industrial policy to address the existing challenges and take advantage of the future opportunities has been felt. Therefore, the Government has decided to formulate a new Industrial Policy which would be a roadmap for all business enterprises in  the  country.  In  this  regard,  consultations  have  been  held  with stakeholders to get their ideas and feedback. Keeping in view all such inputs, a new Industrial Policy is under consideration of the Government.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 202 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-04
Subject: Removal of Vice Chancellor
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAMACHANDRAN MULLAPPALLY

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 202 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2019

## Removal of Vice Chancellor

## 202. SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN:

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

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  received  any  memorandum  from  various  quarters  including  from public representatives for removal of the Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi; and

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government thereon?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a) and (b) Yes,  Madam.  Representations  from  public  representatives  have  been  received  with some complaints against the Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). The Jawaharlal Nehru University is a statutory autonomous organization established under an Act of the Parliament and  governed  by  the  JNU  Act,  1966  and  the  Statutes  and  the  Ordinances  made  thereunder.  All administrative and academic decisions are taken by the University with the approval of its statutory bodies, such as Executive Council, Academic Council and Court. The matter was taken up with the University which has denied allegations made against the Vice Chancellor.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 200 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-04
Subject: Central Universities
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: ALOK SANJAR

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 200 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2019

## Central Universities

## †200. SHRI ALOK SANJAR:

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

- (a)  the  details  of  complaints  received  regarding  irregularities  in  Central  Universities  of  the country including Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (b) whether any investigation has been conducted by the Government in this regard and if so, the University-wise details along with the outcome thereof;
- (c) the details of the action taken by the Government against those found guilty in this regard; and
- (d) the remedial measures taken by the Government to check such irregularities in future?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. SATYA PAL SINGH)

- (a) to (d):  The data with regard to such complaints is not centrally maintained. The Central Universities  are  statutory  autonomous  bodies  and  they  are  competent  to  deal  with  such complaints  in  accordance  with  provisions  of  the  Act,  Statutes  and  Ordinances  of  the concerned University.  Whenever any complaint regarding mismanagement/ irregularities is received, it is forwarded to the concerned Central University for appropriate action at its end. In case, any complaint of serious nature supported by concrete evidence is received and the reply of the University is not found satisfactory, then depending upon the facts of the case, a Fact Finding inquiry Committee is constituted and action is taken accordingly.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 198 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-04
Subject: Status of Exempted Employees Provident Fund
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: KIRIT SOMAIYA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 198 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2019

## STATUS OF EXEMPTED EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND

198. DR. KIRIT SOMAIYA:

## Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)the status of exempted employees provident fund;
- (b)whether it is true that lacunae has been found in the present regulatory
- system; and
- (c)if so, the details thereof along with the corrective steps taken/mechanism adopted by the Government in this regard? ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a): Establishments covered under Employees' Provident Funds & Miscellaneous  Provisions  (EPF  &  MP)  Act,  1952  can  seek  exemption  from operation of Employees' Provident Funds (EPF) Scheme, 1952 under Section 17  of  the  Act.  Subsequent  to  the  grant  of  exemption  the  status  of  the establishment becomes exempted for the purpose of managing the Provident Fund contributions of the members/employees. Grant of exemption does not mean that the establishment has been left out of the purview of the Act. In fact  all  the  regulatory  framework  stipulated  in  the  Act  like  inspection, discovery  of  non-compliance  related  issues,  assessment  of  dues  and  its recovery remains with Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), same as in case of un-exempted establishments.
- (b): A  regulatory  system  for  monitoring  exempted  establishments  is  in place  in  EPFO.  The  regulatory  framework  of  EPFO  to  monitor  exempted establishments is being reviewed from time to time and necessary improvements are done to make the system more robust.
- (c): The EPFO has put in place a system of online filing of monthly/annual returns by exempted establishments. This has been implemented from May 2017.  Further  an  annual  inspection  of  exempted  Trusts/establishments  is conducted every year which is termed as compliance audit.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 194 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-04
Subject: Sharada Prasad Committee Report
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: SHASHI THAROOR

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 194 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2019

## SHARADA PRASAD COMMITTEE REPORT

## 194. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

## Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that the Sharada Prasad Committee Report has held that there is nepotism and irregularities in the working of sector skill councils;

(b) if so, the details of the steps taken by the Government in relation to aforesaid findings;

(c) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  Sharada  Prasad  Committee  Report  has suggested that to avoid conflict of interest, members of National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) should not  be members  of  National  Skill  Development  Funds  (NSDF)  and  if  so,  the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government has taken any steps to change the constitution of NSDF; and (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI ANANTKUMAR HEGDE)

(a) to (b) The  Government  constituted  a  Committee  under  Shri  Sharda  Prasad,  former Director  General,  Directorate  General  of  Employment  &  Training,  Ministry  of  Labour  & Employment,  Government  of  India,  for  rationalisation  and  optimization  of  the  functioning  of Sector Skill Councils (SSCs), on 18.05 2016.

The  Committee  has  made  several  recommendations  on  inter  alia,  classification,  role, governance structure and financing of SSCs. The Committee submitted its Report in December 2016. The Report was placed in public domain and thereafter there were three consultations held at Bangalore (15th June, 2017), Mumbai (29th June, 2017) and Delhi (20th July, 2017) with all  stakeholders viz SSCs, Industry Associations, State Governments, user industries, training providers  and  Central  Ministries/  Departments.  Since  then  NSDC  has  issued  guidelines  for avoidance of conflict of interest in promoting organization of SSCs in August 2018.

(c) to (e) The  Cabinet  in  its  meeting  held  on  28.03.2018  had  approved  the  proposal  of Ministry Skill  Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) to revise composition of the Board of Trustees  of  National  Skill  Development  Fund  (NSDF).  The  revised  composition  of  Board  of Trustees of NSDF is as under:

- (i) Secretary, MSDE
- (ii) Chief Executive Officer, National Institution for Transforming India (9NITI) Aayog or a nominee not below rank of Joint Secretary (JS);
- (iii) Secretary, Department of Financial Services or a nominee not below the rank of JS: and
- (iv) Representative from industry to be nominated by Government of India
Lok Sabha Question No. 193 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-04
Subject: Gas Distribution Facility
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: PARVESH SAHIB SINGH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 193 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2019

Gas Distribution Facility

## 193. SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH:

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS पेट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्री be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  clean  fuel  in  every  village  and  town  in  the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b)  the  details  of  the  districts  and  villages  in  Delhi  that  have  been  provided  with  the  gas distribution facility during the last four years; and

(c)  whether the Government proposes to provide the Gas distribution facility to the remaining districts and villages in Delhi and if so, the details thereof along with list of those areas which are under process for the extension of this facility?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) is the authority to grant authorization to  the  entities  for  the  development  of  City  Gas  Distribution  (CGD)  network  in  Geographical Areas (GAs) as per PNGRB Act, 2006. PNGRB identifies GAs for authorizing the development of CGD network in synchronization with the development of natural gas pipeline connectivity/ natural  gas  availability.    With  the  completion  of  9 th CGD  Bidding  Round,  CGD  would  be accessible  in  178  GAs  covering  approximately  280  districts  spread  over  26  States  and  UTs. PNGRB has also launched 10 th CGD bidding round. After successful completion of 10 th CGD Bidding Round, 70% of the country's population would have access to CGD network.

(b) & (c) Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) has been authorized to develop CGD network in Delhi which covers all the districts of Delhi. IGL has provided 6,61,243 domestic Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections in Delhi. PNG connection is provided subject to pipeline connectivity and necessary clearances received from different authorities.