opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 187 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Employment against Voluntary Retirement
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: G. HARI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 187 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## EMPLOYMENT AGAINST VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT

## 187.  SHRI G. HARI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Railways  has  stopped  an  employment  initiative launched  in  2004,  when  it  started  giving  jobs  to  children  of employees in the lower tier in return for voluntary retirement;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  it  is  true  that  an  order  has  been  issued  to  all  zonal railways  asking  them  to  keep  Liberalised  Active  Retirement Scheme for Guaranteed Employment for Safety Staff (LARSGESS) on hold till further orders; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

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

- (a) & (b) The Scheme has been kept on hold and is being revisited in consultation  with  Ministry  of  Law  &  Justice  in  terms  of  orders  of Hon'ble High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh.
- (c)  &  (d)  Yes,  Madam.  As  per  Ministry  of  Railways'  letter  dated 27.10.2017 instructions have been issued to all Zonal Railways to keep the LARSGESS Scheme on hold till further orders.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 186 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: COMCASA
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: POONAM  MAHAJAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.186

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18 TH  JULY, 2018

## COMCASA

## 186. SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to finalise the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) with the United States of America;
- (b) if so, the salient features of the pact and the current status of the same; and
- (c) whether the pact will be formally concluded during the upcoming India-US 2+2 Dialogue and if so, the details thereof?

## 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): Discussions  regarding  a  Communication  Compatibility  and Security Agreement (COMCASA) with the United States of America are ongoing and negotiations have not been concluded.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 185 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Salary Scam in Central Hospital
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RANJANBEN BHATT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK   SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.185

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## SALARY SCAM IN CENTRAL HOSPITAL

†185.   SHRIMATI RANJANBEN BHATT:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is seriously considering to conduct a probe into  the  salary  scams  reported  in  Delhi  rail  division  and  central hospital, northern railways;
- (b) if  so,  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  action  in  this  regard; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

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

(a) to (c): The cases for payment of salaries to some of the fictitious employees  in  Delhi  Division  and  salaries  &  other  allowances  to fictitious  DNB  Trainee  Doctors  at  Northern  Railway  Central  Hospital have been investigated by the Zonal Railway Vigilance. Based on the outcome of investigation, both the cases have since been taken up for remedial  system  improvements  and  necessary  departmental  action against  the  officials  involved  in  these  corrupt  practices.  Moreover, complaints/FIRs have also been lodged/registered with local Police in these cases.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 183 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Stree Swabhiman Initiative
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: MOHANBHAI KALYANJIBHAI KUNDARIYA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 183

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 18.07.2018

## STREE SWABHIMAN  INITIATIVE

## 183   SHRI  KUNDARIYA  MOHAN  BHAI KALYANJI  BHAI:

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

- (a)    whether the Government has launched the Stree Swabhiman Initiative;
- (b)    if so, the  details and the objectives thereof and the benefits likely to accrue from the initiative; and
- (c)        the  details  of  the  agencies  identified  for  the  implementation  of  the  said initiative?

## ANSWER

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

- (a), (b) and (c):   ' Stree Swabhiman ' is a unique initiative of CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd. (CSCSPV). CSC-SPV invites Corporate Houses to contribute in the initiative of Women's Health, Hygiene & Empowerment under CSR funds. Under this initiative Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLE) under CSC-SPV, sets up Micro  Manufacturing  Unit at  their  own  cost  where  low  cost  bio-degradable sanitary pads are being manufactured and supplied to women /girls in rural areas. In  one  unit  6-10  women  (adult)  are  employed  and  1200-2000  sanitary  pads  are manufactured  in  a  day  in  each  such  unit  depending  on  the  efficiency  of  the workers.

As on 30 th June, 2018, total of 204 Units have been set up in 18 States.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 180 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Hike Railway Fare
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: UDIT RAJ

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 180 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## HIKE RAILWAY FARE

180. DR. UDIT RAJ:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the impact of GST on railway fare;
- (b) whether it has hiked railway AC fare too much and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether due to impact of GST, the present fare of every class has almost doubled in comparison to last few years; and
- (d) if so, the steps being taken to reduce its impact on common man?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## ANSWER ( SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) to (c): With effect from 01.07.2017, in place of service tax at the rate of 4.5% on the passenger fare in AC and First class, Goods and Service Tax (GST) at the rate of 5% on the passenger fare of AC and First class is  levied.  Goods  and  service  tax  is  not  levied  on  second  class  and sleeper classes.

(d): There has been a marginal increase in fare by 0.5% in AC and first class and no impact on sleeper class and second class.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 179 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Cargo Container Business
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: ADVOCATE NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 179 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## CARGO CONTAINER BUSINESS

179.  ADV. NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  apprehending  a  sharp  decline  in  the cargo container business post Goods and Services Tax (GST) and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has taken up the matter with the Ministry of Finance to impress upon the need to reduce the GST on container cargo; and
- (c) if so, the details of the outcome ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a)  No,  Madam.  There  is  no  decline  in  the  cargo  container  business after  implementation of Goods and Services Tax  (GST) from 1 st  July, 2017. The details of loading on originating basis in containers are as under:

-2-

## Details of Container loading on originating basis (in Million Tonnes):

|            |            | (in MT)   |
|------------|------------|-----------|
| FY 2016-17 | FY 2017-18 | +/-       |
| 47.60      | 54.31      | + 6.71    |

## (in MT)

|   July 2016- March 2017 |   July 2017 - March 2018 | +/-    |
|-------------------------|--------------------------|--------|
|                   35.93 |                    41.23 | + 5.30 |

(b)  &  (c)  Ministry  of  Finance  as  well  as  NITI  Aayog  have  been requested to consider uniform levy of GST on Rail Container traffic at par  with  road  container  traffic.  Service  of  Goods  Transport  Agency (GTA) for  transport  of  goods  by  road  are  taxed  uniformly  @  5%  GST with no Input Tax Credit (ITC). On the other hand, transport of goods in container by rail by any person other than Indian Railways is taxed @ 12% with full Input Tax Credit. The matter is still under consideration.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 176 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Millennium Science and Technology Policy
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.176 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18/7/2018

## MILLENNIUM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY

## 176. SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL:

## Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ A´ÉÆ |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ be pleased to state:

(a) whether the draft Millennium Science and Technology Policy reportedly finalised recently, highlights  the  loss  of  an  entire  generation  of  talent,  an  ageing  pool  of  scientists,  obsolete  labs, declining quality of research, poor technology transfer and other inadequacies;

(b) if so, the details of deficiencies observed and the main features of the new policy outline; and

(c) the broad framework of corrective steps proposed to attract the best available creative talent and to create the required infrastructure for the purpose?

## ANSWER

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

ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ A´ÉÆ |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ +ÉÉè® {Éßl´ÉÉÒ ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ

(bÉ. c­ÉÇ ´ÉvÉÇxÉ)

(a) & (b):  No Madam, Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy - 2013 is in place. Apart from the other aspirations the policy envisages making careers in science, research and innovation attractive  enough  for  talented  and  bright  minds  and  establishing  world  class  infrastructure  for Research  and  Development  (R&D)  for  gaining  global  leadership  in  frontier  areas  of  science. Attracting talented and bright minds towards careers in science, research and innovation is one of the main objectives of the STI Policy -2013.

- (c) In  order  to  attract  the  best  available  creative  talent,  the  Department  of  Science  and Technology (DST) through Ramanujan Fellowship Scheme and the Innovation in Science Pursuit for  Inspired  Research  (INSPIRE)  Faculty  Scheme  and  Department  of  Biotechnology  (DBT) through  Ramalingaswami  re-entry  Fellowship  provide  attractive  avenues  and  opportunities  to scientists  of  high  caliber  to  work  in  Indian  Institutes/Universities  of  their  respective  interest  and domain.

VAJRA (Visiting Advanced Joint Research) Faculty Scheme is a recent initiative of DST to bring  overseas  scientists  and  academicians  including  Non  Resident  Indian  (NRI)  and  Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) to India to work as adjunct / visiting faculty for a specific period of time in public funded academic and research institutions.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 175 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Contamination of Sian River
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: VASANTHI M.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.175

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.7.2018

## CONTAMINATION OF SIAN RIVER

175. SHRIMATI VASANTHI M.:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether India has taken up with China the issue of contamination of water Sian river in Arunachal Pradesh, a tributary of the mighty Brahmaputra;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether her Ministry was coordinating with the water resources ministry while referring to existing mechanisms between India and China to deal with issues pertaining to water; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) Following   reports   about   contamination   of   water   in   Siang River,  the issue was raised with the Chinese side on several occasions, including by External Affairs Minister with her Chinese counterpart. In this regard, Government has noted statements by Chinese authorities stating that the situation was caused by an earthquake in the region and was not a man-made incident.

Government continues to carefully monitor the water flow in transborder rivers, including Brahmaputra River and its tributaries, for early detection of any abnormality so that corrective and preventive measures are taken to safeguard livelihood of the people in these regions. Ministry of External Affairs closely works with the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation in this regard.

As a lower riparian State with considerable established user rights to  the   waters   of   the   trans-border   rivers,   Government   has   consistently conveyed its views and concerns to the Chinese authorities, including at the highest levels, and has urged them to ensure that the interests of downstream States are not harmed by any activities in upstream areas.

Government intends to remain engaged with China on the issue of trans-border   rivers   to   safeguard   our   interest,   including   through   an institutionalized Expert Level Mechanism which was established in 2006.

Following Prime Minister's visit to Wuhan (China) for the Informal Summit with the Chinese President in April 2018, the two sides renewed the MoU on provision of hydrological information for Brahmaputra River during flood season by China to India. Chinese side has since started providing hydrological information for Brahmaputra River. *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 174 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: Spectrum Auction and Telecom Policy
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: RAM CHARITRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 174 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 th   JULY, 2018

## SPECTRUM AUCTION AND TELECOM POLICY

174. SHRI RAM CHARITRA NISHAD:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the next spectrum auction will be the biggest so far with 3,000 MHz of radio waves;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the spectrum supporting 5G services and fiberisation of networks will be part of the National Telecom Policy, 2018 and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the  time  by  which  the  said  new  policy  is  likely  to  be  announced  by  the Government?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has planned auction of spectrum  in  700  MHz,  800  MHz,  900  MHz,  1800  MHz,  2100  MHz,  2300  MHz,  2500 MHz, 3300-3400 MHz and 3400-3600 MHz bands. Accordingly, a reference has been sent to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on 19.04.2017 seeking recommendations on the Reserve Price for auction of right to use spectrum.
- (c) & (d) The National Digital Communications Policy - 2018, which is likely to be announced in coming months has provisions regarding spectrum for 5G services and fiber deployment for digital communications infrastructure development. The strategy of draft policy includes:
- (i) To  identify  and  make  available  new  spectrum  bands  for  the  growth  of  5G networks,
- (ii) A 'National Broadband Mission - Rashtriya Broadband Abhiyan' which inter-alia has 'Fiber First Initiative' and 'National Digital Grid for fiberisation'.

*****************
Lok Sabha Question No. 171 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: KNPP
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: PARASURAMAN K.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 171

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## KNPP

171. SHRI K. PARASURAMAN:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  convert  Kudankulam  Nuclear  Power Plant (KNPP) into Nuclear Power Park; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the financial implication of the said project along with the time by which the said project is likely to be completed?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  PERSONNEL,  PUBLIC  GRIEVANCES  & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR.JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a) Nuclear  Power  Park  refers  to  a  site  with  a  number  of  large  capacity reactors  with  a  total  capacity  of  6000  MW  or  more.  The  Kudankulam site,  presently  has  two  reactors  -  KKNPP  1&2  (2X1000  MW)  in operation and two reactors, KKNPP  3&4 (2X1000 MW)  under construction.  In  addition,  work  for  setting  up  two  more  units  -  KKNPP 5&6  (2X1000  MW)  at  this  site  has  commenced.  On  progressive completion of Units 3 to 6, the Kudankulam site having a total capacity of 6000 MW will be a nuclear power park.
- (b) The total  completion cost of the six  units  at  Kudankulam is Rs.111932 crore. The units at the site are expected to be completed progressively by 2025-26.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 169 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: AcSIR
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: BANSHILAL MAHTO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 169 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018)

## AcSIR

## 169.   DR. BANSHILAL MAHATO:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  established  the  Academy  of  Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the time by when the academy will be  operational  by  the  Council  of  Scientific  and  Industrial  Research (CSIR); and
- (c) the manner in which AcSIR is likely to be beneficial?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Yes,  Madam.  The  Government  has  established  the  Academy  of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) in the country.
- (b) The Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) has been established in the country, as an Institution of National Importance, by an Act of Parliament called ACADEMY OF SCIENTIFIC AND INNOVATIVE RESEARCH ACT, 2011 (No. 13 OF 2012). Notification of Ministry  of  Science  and  Technology  (Department  of  Scientific  and Industrial Research) was notified in The Gazette of India on April 02, 2012 whereby all the provisions [except sub-section (2) of section 5] of the  Academy  of  Scientific  and  Innovative  Research  Act,  2011  came into force on the 3rd day of April, 2012. The  provisions of sub-section (2)  of  section  5  AcSIR  Act,  2011  came  into  force  on  the  26th  day  of June, 2013, after Ministry of Science and Technology (Department of Scientific  and  Industrial  Research) Notification  was  notified  in  The Gazette of India on June 26, 2013.

AcSIR  has  become  operational  at  laboratories  of  the  Council  of Scientific  and  Industrial  Research  (CSIR),  and  presently  it  has  more than 3000 Ph.D. students on its rolls.

- (c) AcSIR will be beneficial in many ways. These include, among others:
- i. providing opportunities of inter-disciplinary research;
- ii. disseminating  advanced  knowledge  in  science  and  technology, particularly  in  emerging  areas  and  such  areas  as  may  emerge  in future;
- iii. conducting courses as integration and interface of interdisciplinary  and  multi-disciplinary  areas  of  natural  sciences  and other disciplines;
- iv. educating  and  training  manpower  in  scientific  and  technological fields;
- v. collaborating, in appropriate areas in science and technology, with reputed universities and institutions in India or outside India;
- vi. promoting research in science and technology with a societal and industry linkage.
- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 168 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: My-Speed Application
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 168 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 th   JULY, 2018

## MY-SPEED APPLICATION

168. SHRIMATI P.K. SREEMATHI TEACHER:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  TRAI  has  come  up  with  My-Speed  application,  which  allows  the consumers  to  explore  the  mobile  data  experience  across  the  country  and  report  the same on TRAI My-Speed Portal;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the details of complaints received against the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) and the action taken by the Government thereon?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) Yes,  Madam,  MySpeed  app  is  available  on  both  Android  and  iOS.The results represented on the TRAI portal (www.myspeed.trai.gov.in) are the average of the  data  speed  samples  collected  from  various  consumers  of  the  Telecom  Service Providers (TSPs) on a crowd sourcing basis during speed test initiated by them.
- (c) Telecom  Regulatory  Authority  of  India  (TRAI)  Act,  1997  does  not  envisage handling of individual consumer complaints. However, complaints received in TRAI are forwarded to concerned service providers for appropriate action.

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