opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3503 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-17
Subject: Identification of Bogus Voters
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Pratima Bhoumik, Bhagirath Chaudhary, Devji Mansingram Patel, Ranjeetsingh Naik Nimbalkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3503

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 17 TH  MARCH 2021

## IDENTIFICATION OF BOGUS VOTERS

3503. MS. PRATIMA BHOUMIK:

SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY:

SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

SHRI RANJEETSINGH HINDURAO NAIK NIMBALKAR:

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

- (a) whether the Govenment proposes to implement any concrete plan to identify bogus voters and also check bogus voting in General Elections held in the country; and
- (b) if so, the time by which it is likely to be implemented and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND

## ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a)   and  (b):  The  Election  Commission  of  India  has  informed  that  it  has taken several measures to remove the duplicate/multiple/repeated entries from the electoral rolls, some of them are as under: -
- I. Running  of  'De-duplication  software'  at  the  polling  booth  and Assembly Constituency level to identify lists of possible duplicate/repeated entries before revision of electoral rolls.
- II. House to house verification and collection of information regarding dead/shifted voters by Booth Level Officer (BLO).
- III. The Commission has launched Voter Helpline mobile App & 'Voter Portal'  in  which  a  person  can  check  whether  he/she/any  other person is enrolled at two or more places and report to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) concerned to take appropriate action for deletion of duplicates/multiple registration.
- IV. Uploading of electoral rolls at Chief Electoral Officer's website and displaying of the same at ERO's office and at designated locations for public scrutiny.
- V. The  Commission  has  ordered  several  electoral  roll  purification drives  from  time  to  time  in  the  States/Uts  to  remove  duplicate entries in electoral roll, in which EROs concerned find out probable duplicates and after getting the same verified from the field BLOs take  necessary  action  to  remove  such  duplicates  following  due procedure  of  law.  Apart  from  the  drive,  EROs  also  remove  such duplicates/entries by continuous updation of electoral roll.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3502 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-17
Subject: Salt Pan Lands
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Kapil Moreshwar Patil, Manoj Kishorbhai Kotak

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3502. TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 17 TH  MARCH, 2021.

## SALT PAN LANDS

## 3502.  SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL: SHRI MANOJ KOTAK:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: वाणिज्य  एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether the Government is planning to develop salt pan lands in the Country specially in Thane, Mumbai city and Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) to support the Central Government's mission of 'Housing for All by 2022'.
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any consultant  has  been  appointed  to  prepare  the  master  plan  for development of the salt pan land for 'Housing for All' initiative;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether  it  is  also  a  fact  that  Mumbai  and  MMR  Region  has  approx  5,379 acres of salt pan lands and the major part is encroached; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य  एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री सोम प्रकाश) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI SOM PARKASH)

- (a) to (d): The  salt  commissioner's  office  has  59,796  acres  of  salt  pan  land  of which 8386  acre of land has been  declared surplus vide this Department's OM no. 04011/8/2012/2017-Salt dated 26.02.2017. Land not  declared  surplus  is  used  for  the  purposes  of  salt  production  and requirements of the Salt Commissioner's office. Land declared surplus is  available  for  various  public  purposes  including  'Housing  for  all  by 2022' scheme.

No consultant has been appointed by DPIIT for the purpose. However, Government  of  Maharashtra entrusted  Mumbai  Metropolitan  Region Development  Authority  (MMRDA)  the  responsibility  of  preparing  the master  plan for future use of salt pan land in Mumbai city and Mumbai sub urban districts.

A  Revised  master  plan  of  salt  pan  land  in  Mumbai  was  shared  by Government of Maharashtra on 25.11.2019. This department vide DO letter  dated  16.12.2019  requested  Government  of  Maharashtra  to submit  revised  master  plan  clearly  indicating  the  details  of  320.43 acres of developable salt pan land in Mumbai. No further communication has been received from Government of Maharashtra

- (e) & (f): Yes Sir, Mumbai and MMR region has approx. 5379 acres of salt pan lands of which 498.478 acres is encroached.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3496 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-17
Subject: Import of Essential Commodities
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Kani K. Navas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3496 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 th MARCH, 2021

## IMPORT OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES

## 3496. SHRI K. NAVASKANI:

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

- (a) the percentage increase in imports of essential commodities for the year 2020;
- (b) the percentage decline in exports from India for the months of March-December, 2020; and
- (c) the percentage increase in overall imports for the months of March-December, 2020?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Jh gjnhi flag iqjh½

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)

- (a): India's  import of  essential  commodities  declined  by  29.0% during January- December 2020 as compared to corresponding period of the previous year.
- (b): India's  total  merchandise  export declined by 17.8%  during March- December 2020 as compared to corresponding period of the previous year.
- (c): India's total merchandise import declined by 27.9%  during March- December 2020 as compared to corresponding period of the previous year.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 3494 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-17
Subject: Cases Against Officers
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: Prataprao Govindrao  Patil Chikhalikar

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3494

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2021)

## CASES AGAINST OFFICERS

## †3494. SHRI PRATAPRAO PATIL CHIKHLIKAR :

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of cases registered for serious offences against Central Government officers, State-wise;
- (b) whether the administrative activities have been affected due to the posts lying vacant on account of absconding officers against whom the cases have been registered; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## 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) to (c) The information is being collected and will be laid on the Table of the House.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3493 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-17
Subject: National Packaging Initiative
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Goddeti Madhavi, Chinta Anuradha, Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, Midhun Reddy, M V V Satyanarayana, Chandra Sekhar Bellana, Beesetti  Venkata Satyavathi, Kotagiri Sridhar, Talari Rangaiah, Pocha Brahmananda Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3493 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 th MARCH, 2021

## NATIONAL PACKAGING INITIATIVE

## 3493.  SHRIMATI GODDETI MADHAVI:

SHRIMATI CHINTA ANURADHA:

SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY:

SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY:

SHRI M.V.V. SATYANARAYANA:

SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR BELLANA:

DR. BEESETTI VENKATA SATYAVATHI:

SHRI SRIDHAR KOTAGIRI:

SHRI TALARI RANGAIAH:

SHRI POCHA BRAHMANANDA REDDY

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  launched  a  National  Packaging  Initiative  as  part  of  the National Logistics Policy;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether this policy will help to reduce logistics cost, ensure product safety and promote sustainability; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Jh gjnhi flag iqjh½

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)

- ( a ) to ( d ): No Sir . However, given that packaging plays an important role in logistics, the subject  has  been  covered in  the  draft  national logistics policy  after consultations with stakeholders .

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3491 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-17
Subject: Railway Facilities
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3491 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2021

## RAILWAY FACILITIES

## †3491. SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether many areas of Gujarat are not connected with Railways due to  which  residents  of  these  areas  are  deprived  of  railway  facilities thereby hampering the development of these areas;
- (b) if so, the details of such areas; and
- (c) the  time  by  which  the  Government  proposes  to  launch  railway projects in these areas?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (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. 3491 BY SHRIMATI  POONAMBEN  MAADAM  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 17.03.2021 REGARDING RAILWAY FACILITIES

(a) to (c): Railway projects are taken up on the basis of remunerativeness, last mile connectivity, missing links and alternate routes, augmentation of congested/saturated  lines,  socio-economic  considerations  etc.  depending upon  throwforward  of  ongoing  projects,  overall  availability  of  funds  and competing demands which covers connectivity in backward and rural areas also.

As on 01.04.2020, 5301 Route Kilometre length of Railway network is available in the State of Gujarat.

Further, as on 01.04.2020, 04 new line projects of total length 479 Km falling  fully/partly  in  the  State  of  Gujarat  have  been  taken  up  to  improve connectivity,  out  of  which  69  Km  length  has  been  commissioned  and  an expenditure of ` 1653 crore has been incurred upto March, 2020.

Average  Annual  Budget  allocation  for  infrastructure  projects  and safety works, falling fully/partly in the State of Gujarat, during 2014-19 has increased to ` 3327 crore per year, from ` 589 crore per year (during 200914).  Thus  the  average  annual  budget  allocation  during  2014-19  is  465% more  than  average  annual  budget  allocation  of  2009-14  ( ` 589  crore  per year).

Total proposed Budget estimate (BE) outlay for infrastructure projects  and  safety  works,  falling  fully/partly  in  the  State  of  Gujarat  for financial  year  2021-22  is ` 4484 crore,  which  is  661%  more  than  average annual budget outlay of 2009-14.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3490 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-17
Subject: Misinformation regarding Train Schedule
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3490 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2021

## MISINFORMATION REGARDING TRAIN SCHEDULE 3490.  SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Ministry acknowledges the consequences of misinformation/inadequate information released regarding train schedules during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown; and
- (b) if so, the steps taken/ proposed by the Ministry to control misinformation  and  to  ensure  the  dissemination  of  valid  information thereon?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a)  and  (b)  During  the  lockdown  period  Shramik  special  trains  were operated  by  Indian  Railways  to  evacuate  stranded  persons  to  their respective states. These trains were 'trains on demand' run based on the demands  by  State  Governments;  no  tickets  were  directly  sold  to  the passengers  by  Indian  Railways.  The  schedule  of  these  trains  were decided  in  co-ordination  with  the  State  Governments  and  adequate information  was  provided  to  State  Governments  to  ferry  passengers  to and  from  Railway  Stations.  Further,  with  effect  from  12 th   May,  2020 operation  of  limited  number  of  special  Rajdhani  Express  trains  was started.    For  such  trains,  on  Indian  Railways  system,  an  integrated

helpline  information  number  of  139  is  functional  and  which  picks  up information  from  National  Train  Enquiry  System  (NTES)  for  answering queries on train related information. In  order  to  make  enquiry  service  more  effective,  the  NTES  through, which  the  information  is  disseminated,  has  been  completely  integrated with  Control  Office  Application  distributed  over  all  Divisions  to  capture information of trains at each station which is then updated in the NTES. With this integration, it has become feasible to give updated information regarding  train  running,  on  near  real-time  basis  along  with  other  train related enquiry. Moreover,  the  public  is  informed  through  Press  Notification,  Print  & Electronic Media and Social Media, if any new/special train is started or any train is cancelled. An app called NTES has also been developed and information  related  to  train  services  including  Cancelled/  Rescheduled  / Diverted trains is uploaded in this app. Besides,  proper  training,  from  time  to  time,  is  imparted  to  staff concerned to ensure dissemination of correct information to the passengers.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3488 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-17
Subject: Empowerment through PMGDISHA
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya, Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3488

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 17.03.2021

## EMPOWERMENT THROUGH PMGDISHA

## 3488.   SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA :

## SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL:

Will the Minister of Electronics & Information Technology be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the people of the country especially SC, ST people living Below Poverty Line (BPL) and women are likely to be empowered through this campaign to handle the digital instruments; and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) the measures being taken by the Government to make the people of rural areas of Gujarat more digitally empowered?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR  ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

(a):    The  Government  of  India  is  implementing  a  scheme  titled  'Pradhan  Mantri  Gramin  Digital Saksharta Abhiyan' (PMGDISHA) since 2017 to usher in digital literacy in rural India by covering 6 crore rural households (one person per household). The Scheme is aimed at empowering the citizens in rural areas by training them to operate computer or digital access devices (like tablets, smart phones etc.), send and receive e-mails, browse Internet, access Government services, search for information, undertake digital payment, etc. and hence enable them to use the Information Technology and related applications to actively participate in the process of nation building. A special focus of the Scheme is on the marginalised sections of society like Scheduled Castes (SC) / Scheduled Tribes (ST), women, differently-abled persons, etc.

Under the PMGDISHA Scheme, as on 12.03.2021, around 4.54 Crore candidates have been enrolled and  around  3.69  Crore  candidates  have  completed  the  training  out  of  which  more  than  2.71  Crore candidates have been certified. Almost 54 percent of the certified candidates are women; almost 21 percent candidates are from the Scheduled Caste (SC) community and around 8.7 percent candidates are from the Scheduled Tribes (ST) community. A category wise status is given below:

| Category         | Registered   | Trained     | Certified   |
|------------------|--------------|-------------|-------------|
| Women            | 2,35,70,178  | 1,95,77,486 | 1,48,16,925 |
| Scheduled Caste  | 88,27,406    | 73,66,482   | 55,63,351   |
| Scheduled Tribes | 40,82,796    | 32,92,923   | 23,35,980   |

- (b):  In the state of Gujarat, as on 12.03.2021, a total of 20,12,411 candidates have been enrolled and 16,94,065 candidates have been trained, out of which 12,25,654 candidates have been certified under the PMGDISHA Scheme.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3485 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-17
Subject: Expenditure Limit of Candidates Contesting Elections
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar, Arvind Ganpat Sawant, Dhanush M Kumar, C.N. Annadurai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3485

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 17 TH  MARCH 2021

## EXPENDITURE LIMIT OF CANDIDATES CONTESTING ELECTIONS

3485. SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR: SHRI ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT: SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR: SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI:

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

- (a) whether  the  expenditure  limit  of  candidates  contesting  in  elections vary from State to State and if so, the details thereof and the reasons
- therefor;
- (b) whether there is a demand for increase in expenditure of candidates contesting elections due to the increase in the size of electorate and increasing inflation and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether the Election Commission has now constituted a committee to examine the expenditure limit of candidates contesting in Lok Sabha and Assembly Elections;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the composition of the committee;
- (e) the  time  by  which  the  committee  is  likely  to  submit  its  report  to  the Government; and
- (f)  whether  the  Government  is  also  taking  steps  to  check  criminals  from contesting  elections  and  if  so,  the  details  and  the  present  status thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a)   and  (b):  The  Election  Commission  of  India  (ECI)  has  informed  that there has been consistent demand of many political parties to raise the

limits as the number of electors increased from 834 million in 2014 to 921 million in 2020 and also the rise in Cost Inflation Index from 220 to 301, i.e.  by  1.37  times.Considering  these  factors  and  the  extraordinary  and unprecedented situation due to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, the expenditure  limits  of  Candidates  for  Parliamentary  and  State  Assembly elections were increased vide Notification No 3667(E) dated 19 th October, 2020.

(c) to (e): The ECI has informed that a committee has been constituted to examine the expenditure limit of candidates contesting elections, and it is likely  to  submit  its  report  by  31 st March,  2021.  The  composition  of  the Committee is as under:

- I. Shri Harish Kumar, IRS (retired)
- II. Shri Umesh Sinha, Secretary General, ECI
- III. Shri ChandraBhushan Kumar, Deputy Election Commissioner, ECI
- IV. DG (Expenditure), ECI- Member Secretary.

(f):  Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 dealing with disqualification  on  conviction  for  certain  offences  lays  down  sufficient provisions for disqualification for membership of Parliament and theState Legislatures.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3484 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-17
Subject: Retirement under 56-J
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: T.R.V.S. Ramesh

## MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3484

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2021)

## RETIREMENT UNDER 56-J

## 3484. SHRI T.R.V.S. RAMESH:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a number of Government officers have been retired under Rule 56-J during the last two years; and
- (b) if so, the numbers 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)  &  (b):    As  per  the  information/data  provided  by  different  Ministries/Departments/Cadre Controlling  Authorities  (CCAs),  provisions  of  FR  56(J)/similar  provisions  have  been  invoked against 90 Group-A officers and 80 Group-B officers in last two years. The year-wise break up is as under:

| Category of Central Government officers   |   Year- 2019 |   Year-2020 |   Total |
|-------------------------------------------|--------------|-------------|---------|
| Group A                                   |           82 |           8 |      90 |
| Group B                                   |           67 |          13 |      80 |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3483 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-17
Subject: National e-Vidhan Application Project
Ministry: PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Midhun Reddy, Chinta Anuradha, M V V Satyanarayana, Goddeti Madhavi, Beesetti  Venkata Satyavathi, Kotagiri Sridhar, Pocha Brahmananda Reddy

3483.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3483 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17-03-2021

## National e-Vidhan Application Project

SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY SHRIMATI CHINTA ANURADHA SHRI M.V.V. SATYANARAYANA SHRIMATI GODDETI MADHAVI DR. BEESETTI VENKATA SATYAVATHI SHRI SRIDHAR KOTAGIRI SHRI POCHA BRAHMANANDA REDDY

Will the Minister of PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the progress made under the National e-Vidhan Application project;
- (b) the details of the progress made with respect to Meghraj cloud project under the same;
- (c)  whether the Government intends to introduce more such measures for e-Governance; and
- (d)   if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND HEAVY INDUSTRIES & PUBLIC ENTERPRISES

## SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL

- (a) To implement National eVidhan Application (NeVA), Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) have been  signed  with  15  States  viz.  Punjab,  Odisha,  Bihar  (both  Houses),  Meghalaya,    Manipur, Gujarat,  Arunachal  Pradesh,  Nagaland,  Puducherry,  Tripura,  Himachal  Pradesh,  Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim and Haryana. Out of these, 8 States viz. Punjab, Odisha, Bihar (both Houses), Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Tamil Nadu who have submitted DPR for sanction, first five excluding Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim & Tamil Nadu have been released first instalment for implementation of the Project.
- (b) NeVA has been hosted at National Cloud (Meghraj) and has become fully functional without the requirement of local data centre.

(c) & (d) Keeping in view the role assigned under Allocation of Business Rules, 1961 to the Ministry of  Parliamentary  Affairs,  NeVA  has  been  developed  as  a  comprehensive  generic  Application  by subsuming all its activities in it. There is no further such other e-Governance project in pipeline in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.