opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1523 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-19
Subject: Non-Transparent Performance Appraisal
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: GANESH SINGH

## MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1523

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.12.2018)

## NON-TRANSPARENT PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL

## 1523. SHRI GANESH SINGH:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  system  of  performance  appraisal  is  non-transparent,  except  in  respect  of communicating 'adverse' entries;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it gives feedback to officers about their areas of strength/ potential and also does not  motivate  officers  through  recognition  of  good  work  accomplished  and  if  so,  the details thereof along with the action taken in this regard;
- (d) whether the monitoring system for the timely writing of the reports is extremely weak resulting that there is considerable delay in the writing of annual reports and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor; and
- (e) whether the evaluations of Reviewing Officers and Accepting Authorities are often not available  on  account  of  their  having  demitted  office,  in  which  case  the  reports  are deprived of valuable inputs and if so, the details thereof since last five years?

## 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, Madam.  The system of Annual Performance Assessment Report (APAR)/Performance Appraisal Report (PAR) for Central Government employees, including officers belonging to All India Services, is transparent. Government instructions provide for disclosure of full APAR/PAR to the officer reported upon, for representation, if any.

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

(c):   The APAR/PAR does give  feedback to officers about their areas of strength/potential.  The APAR/PAR also motivates the  officer, through recognition of  good  work accomplished, and also to improve on some areas of  work, wherever required.

(d):      No,  Madam.  The  instructions  provide  timelines  for  preparation  and  maintenance  of APAR/PAR. Some online systems for generation and recording of APARs have also been set up.

- (e):    Instructions are in  place for Reviewing Officers and Accepting Authorities to record their comments even after demitting office, within a stipulated time.

No such centralized data is maintained.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1522 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-19
Subject: Calicut Station as World Class Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: M. K. RAGHAVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1522 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.12.2018

## CALICUT STATION AS WORLD CLASS STATION

1522. SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a)  the  present  status  of  the  proposal  for  converting  Calicut railway station into a World Class station;

(b)  whether  any  time  frame  has  been  fixed  to  complete  all  the procedures and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the status of the proposal for development of platform no. 4 at Calicut  station  including  provision  of  VRR/restaurant,  shifting  of parcel office, PRC, etc.?

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

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

******

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1522 BY SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  19.12.2018  REGARDING  CALICUT STATION AS WORLD CLASS STATION

(a) At present, bids for redevelopment of Calicut (Kozhikode) station are under process of finalization.

(b)    Station redevelopment program is first of its kind and complex in nature  and  requires  detailed  techno-financial  feasibility  studies  and statutory clearances from local bodies etc.  Therefore, no time-frame can be indicated at this stage.

(c)    The development of Platform No.4 including provision of VRR/Restaurant  has  been  planned  under  station  re-development Scheme.  Tender has been invited for shifting of existing Parcel Office to Multi-Functional complex at Calicut (Kozhikode) railway station.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1521 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-19
Subject: Haj Act
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: PRASUN BANERJEE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1521 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.12.2018

## HAJ ACT

## 1521. SHRI PRASUN BANERJEE:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  Whether the Government has any proposal to amend the Haj Act to include visits to Islamic pilgrimage sites other than Mecca and Medina in Haj and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  Whether the name of the Haj is going to be changed to Ziyarat; and
- (c)  If so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) No,  Madam.  There  is  no  proposal  to  amend  the  Haj  Committee  Act,  2002  to include visits to Islamic pilgrimage sites other than Makkah and Madinah during Haj pilgrimage.
- (b)  &(c) No,Madam.There is no proposal to change the name of Haj to Ziyarat.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1520 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-19
Subject: Post Retirement Medical Benefits to SSC Officers
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: MAUSAM NOOR, Tejpratap Singh,Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1520

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19 TH  DECEMBER, 2018

## POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL BENEFITS TO SSC OFFICERS

1520.  SHRIMATI MAUSAM NOOR:

SHRI  TEJ PRATAP SINGH YADAV:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  reneged  upon  the  provisioning  of  Short-Service Commission (SSC) officers with post-retirement medical benefits;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government would reconsider the decision as it affects a large number of officers engaged in SSC and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Army has proposed to the Government to make SSC more attractive to bridge the widening recruitment gap between officers in permanent commission and SSC; and
- (e) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  in  this regard?

## 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): The Government has decided to formulate a special scheme to mitigate  the  hardships  of  Short  Service  Commissioned  Officers  (SSCOs) and  Emergency  Commissioned  Officers  (ECOs)  in  obtaining  medical facilities after their release.

(d) & (e): Efforts are being made to make the Short Service Commission more attractive in consultation with the Armed Forces.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1519 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-19
Subject: Uranium Production
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: VISHNU DAYAL RAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1519

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.12.2018

## URANIUM PRODUCTION

1519.   SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the total uranium production in the country and its yearly requirement for nuclear power generation;
- (b) the total quantity of uranium being imported and the names of the countries from which it is being imported;
- (c) whether the Government has formulated any scheme to make the country self sufficient in  the area of uranium; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) It is not in the public interest to disclose the quantity of production of uranium in the  country.  The  approximate  requirements  of  uranium  for  Pressurized  Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) are given below:

|   Unit Capacity (MW) |   Annual requirement at 85% Capacity Factor (tons UO 2 ) |
|----------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|
|                  220 |                                                       45 |
|                  540 |                                                      100 |
|                  700 |                                                      125 |

The approximate requirements of uranium for Light Water Reactors (LWRs) are as given below:

|   Unit Capacity (MW) | Annual requirement at 85% Capacity Factor (tons low enriched uranium)   |
|----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                  160 | 6(at 85% CF)                                                            |
|                 1000 | 25 (at 90% CF)                                                          |

(b) Quantum  of  uranium  being  imported  from  foreign  countries  and  names  of  the Countries are as  given below:

|   Sr. No. | Delivery Year   | Country    | Quantity being procured (in MT)   |
|-----------|-----------------|------------|-----------------------------------|
|         1 | 2018-19 2019-20 | Russia     | Nil 56.67                         |
|         2 | 2018-19 2019-20 | Kazakhstan | 1500 approx. 1500 approx.         |
|         3 | 2018-19 2019-20 | Canada     | 986.6 1000 approx.                |

(c)&(d)Yes, Sir. The Government has taken measures to augment domestic uranium  supply  by  state-of-the-art,  integrated,  multi-disciplinary  exploration  in several  prospective  and  potential  geological  domains  in  various  parts  of  the country and opening of new mines and processing facilities.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1518 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-19
Subject: Procurement Orders to PSUs
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE PRODUCTION

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1518

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19 TH  DECEMBER, 2018

## PROCUREMENT ORDERS TO PSUs

1518.  SHRI SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY:

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

- (a) whether the procurement orders to defence Public Sector Undertakings are a decline;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government  proposes  to issue more  licenses to private sector for manufacturing and supply of various defence equipments; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

र  ा रा य मं ी

(DR. SUBHASH BHAMRE)

(डा. सुभाष भामरे)

(a) & (b): Government  is  pursuing  initiatives  to  achieve  higher  levels  of indigenization  and  self-reliance  in  the  defence  sector.    This  is  sought  to  be achieved by harnessing the capabilities of both the public and the private sector industries in the country.  The number and value of capital contracts signed with Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) during the last three years are given below:

| Year    |   Number of Contracts | Value (Rs. in crore)   |
|---------|-----------------------|------------------------|
| 2015-16 |                    22 | 15,617.21              |
| 2016-17 |                     8 | 12,374.05              |
| 2017-18 |                    15 | 10,475.07              |

(c) & (d): The licensing policy has been streamlined,  reducing the number of items requiring Industrial License.  A total of 394 licenses have been issued to 239 Indian companies for manufacture of defence items since 2001.

******

on
Lok Sabha Question No. 1515 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-19
Subject: Special Category Status
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: MURALI MOHAN MAGANTI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1515 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.12.2018

## SPECIAL CATEGORY STATUS

## 1515.    SHRI M. MURALI MOHAN:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Union Government is contemplating to accord Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Union Government is contemplating to bring amendments in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014 (APR) on this issue; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and 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):  Special  Category  Status  for  plan  assistance  was  granted  in  the  past  by  the National Development Council (NDC) to some States that are characterized by a number of  features  necessitating  special  consideration.  These  features  included  (i)  hilly  and difficult terrain (ii) low population density and / or sizeable share of tribal population (iii) strategic location along borders with neighbouring countries (iv) economic and infrastructural backwardness and (v) non-viable nature of state finances. Special  Category Status was granted based on an integrated consideration of these criteria.

The Fourteenth Finance Commission has recommended the transfer to the States by devolution and grants-in-aid for the period 2015-20 which was accepted by the Central Government.  The Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC) in its recommendations has not made any distinction between General Category States and Special Category States in the horizontal distribution of shareable taxes amongst the States.

However, in the case of Andhra Pradesh, the Central Government has agreed to give a special assistance for Government of Andhra Pradesh for five years, which would make up for  the  additional  Central  share  the  State  might  have  received  during  these  years  i.e, 2015-16 to 2019-20. This will be in the form of Central Government funding for externally aided projects for the state of Andhra Pradesh signed and disbursed during these years.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1514 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-19
Subject: Powers to CBI
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: E. T. MOHAMMED BASHEER

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1514

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.12.2018)

## POWERS TO CBI

## 1514. SHRI E.T. MOHAMMED BASHEER:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Estimate Committee of Parliament has recommended that the CBI should be given statutory status and legal power to investigate cases with inter-State ramifications and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government feel the need for an exclusive act for CBI; and
- (c) 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.

- (b) & (c):   CBI functions within an explicit and well established legal and procedural framework and  derives  its  powers  as  Delhi  Special  Police  under  the  Delhi  Special  Police  Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946, for investigation of crimes as per provisions of Cr. PC and as per instructions contained in the Crime Manual.

Therefore, no such proposal has been found necessary by the Government presently.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1513 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-19
Subject: Charges for Aadhaar Authentication
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: PINAKI MISRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1513

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.12.2018

## CHARGES FOR AADHAAR AUTHENTICATION

## 1513.     SHRI PINAKI MISRA:

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

- (a)        whether  it  is  a  fact  that  UIDAI  is  levying  heavy  charges  on  bankers  for  Aadhaar authentication services and if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (b)          whether  the  Government  has  prescribed  any  fee  to  be  charged  by  UIDAI  from  the banks for Aadhaar authentication and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) and (b): As far as Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is concerned, UIDAI does  not  charge  any  transaction  charges  for  either  Yes  /  No  or  e-KYC  authentication. However, as per the provisions of Regulation 12(7) of Aadhaar (Authentication) Regulations, 2016, w.e.f. 1 st June,  2017,  License  fee  is  applicable  to  Authentication  User  Agencies (AUAs)  and  Authentication  Service  Agencies  (ASAs).  Since  Banks  using  e-KYC  service (KUAs) are, by default, also AUAs, there is no additional license fee for e-KYC services.

|     | License Fees (for 2 years)   |
|-----|------------------------------|
| AUA | Rs 20 Lakh                   |
| ASA | Rs 1 Crore                   |

The circular issued by UIDAI in this regard dated 31.05.2017 is available at https://uidai.gov.in/images/resource/Circular\_for\_AUA\_KUA\_and\_ASA\_Agreements\_v40.p df and dated 08.08.2017 is available at https://uidai.gov.in/images/resource/Circular\_dated\_08082017.pdf.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1510 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-19
Subject: Waiver of MDR Charges
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: SONA RAM CHOUDHARY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION No. 1510

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 19.12.2018

## WAIVER OF MDR CHARGES

## 1510                    COL. SONARAM CHOUDHARY

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

- (a) whether  the  Merchant  Discount  Rate  (MDR)  charges  have  been  waived  by  the Government  on    transactions  upto  Rs  2000/-  to  promote  cashless  economy,  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (b) whether  cashless  payments  are  likely  to  be  a  challenge  for  certain  Government  to Consumer (G2C) and Customer to Customer (C2C) services where payment is above this limit;
- (c)    whether the Government is considering to completely waive MDR for cashless payments for G2C and C2C services to encourage cashless economy;  and
- (d)    if so, the details thereof and if not, the reason there for?

## ANSWER

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

- (a):        Yes,  Sir.    MeitY  has come out with MDR (Merchant Discount Rate) Reimbursement Scheme to promote low value digital payment transactions for a period of two years from 1st January  2018.  As  per  the  scheme,  Merchants  need  not  pay  the  MDR  charges  to  banks  on digital  payments  up  to  Rs  2000  through  Debit  cards,  Unified  Payment  Interface  (UPI)  and BHIM  Aadhaar  Pay,  as  the  Government  is  reimbursing  the  relevant  MDR  charges  to  the banks.
- (b):          No,  Sir.    For  C2G  payments,  there  is  a  separate  MDR  reimbursement  scheme  by Government of India for payment of upto Rs 1 lakh dues to Govt of India   by citizens using Debit Cards.  Government payments are made to Citizens digitally, largely  through Direct Benefit Transfer and Public Fund Management System (PFMS) .
- (c) and (d):   No, Sir. The intent of Government is to support low value transactions for two years  so  that  more  number  of  citizens  are  encouraged  to  make  payments  through  various digital payment modes.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1509 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-19
Subject: Coal Mines
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: BHARATENDRA SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1509 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.12.2018

## Coal Mines

## 1509 : KUNWAR BHARATENDRA

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether his Ministry has undertaken any study to examine the rationalization of coal mines in view of safety and financial viability and is so, the details thereof; and
- (b) whether the Ministry has set up a Committee to look into the closure of unsafe mines and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) : Coal India Limited had conducted a study to rationalize the coal mines in view of safety in the financial year 2017-18. On the basis of the report of the Subsidiary Companies, production was suspended from 43 mines in 2017-18.
- (b) : No, Madam. The Ministry has not set up any committee to look into the closure of unsafe mines.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1508 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-19
Subject: Promotion of Human Genes
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1508 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19/12/2018

## Promotion of Human Genes

## 1508.  SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL

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

- (a) Whether the government has proposed/ is considering any policy efforts to promote modern research in human genes; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (Dr. Harsh Vardhan)

- (a) Yes, Madam, Department of Biotechnology has a clear emphasis to promote modern research in human genetics.
- (b) Overall  the  emphasis  is  to  advance  our  understanding  of  genetic  and  genomic components of human physiology and pathophysiology. Projects have been supported on understanding the genetic basis of neurological, endocrinological, hematological, respiratory, ocular, autoimmune and other disorders.

*******