opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 4167 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-22
Subject: CNG/PNG Facilities
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Rebati Tripura, Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeshwara

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4167 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 nd  MARCH,2021

## CNG/PNG Facilities

4167.  SHRI REBATI TRIPURA: SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWAR:

## पेोलयम और ाक ृ तक गैस मंी

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  formulated  a  scheme  to  provide  natural  gas pipeline connectivity in various districts in Tripura and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has set any guidelines in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to provide PNG/CNG facilities in the North Eastern part of the country including Tripura;
- (d) whether it is a fact that the Ministry is going to extend PNG facility in the latest round to 50 geographical locations which include Davangere in Karnataka and if so, the details thereof and the time by which Davangere is going to get PNG to  homes  including  the  plan  of  action  the  Ministry  has  prepared  to  provide CNG facilities in Davangere district?

## ANSWER पेोलयम और ाक ृ तक गैस मंी ( ी धम धान ) MINISTER OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS

## (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a) and (b) Petroleum & 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 and techno commercial viability including in the state of Tripura.  At present, Gomati District GA, West Tripura (excluding area already authorized) District GA and Agartala GA are authorized CGD networks in Tripura.
- (c) At present, Upper Assam GA, Cachar, Hailakandi&Karimganj Districts GA and Kamrup&Kamrup Metropolitan Districts GA are other authorized CGD network in the North Eastern part of the country.

(d) PNGRB has authorized Unison Enviro Private Limited (UEPL) for development  of  CGD  Network  in  Chitradurga  and  Davangere  Districts  GA  of Karnataka on 25.09.2018 under 9 th CGD bidding round and they will establish CNG stations and provide PNG connections in their authorized GA as per the authorized work plan.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 4163 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-22
Subject: Expenditure on Education
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Deepak Baij

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOKSABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4163 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2021

## Expenditure on Education

## † 4163. SHRI DEEPAK BAIJ:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- a) whether India is spending less on education in comparison to SAARC countries Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal;
- b) the percentage of GDP that is spent on education;
- c) the details of the increase therein along with the dates and quantum thereof; and
- d) the manner in which the reduced spending in the education would materialise the vision of improvement in the education?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

(a)&(b): India's public spending on education as a percentage of GDP was 4.43% during the year 2017-18 which was higher than that of all SAARC Countries except Bhutan and Nepal, however, on absolute terms, India's public expenditure on education is much more than those of all the SAARC Countries.

- (c): The details of increase in public expenditure on Education and the expenditure as percentage of GDP during five years is as follows:

## (Rs.in crores)

| Year                                 |   2013-14 (Actual) |   2014-15 (Actual) |   2015-16 (Actual) |   2016-17 (RE) |   2017-18 (BE) |
|--------------------------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|----------------|----------------|
| Expenditure on Education (In crores) |          430879    |          506849    |           577793   |      664265    |      756945    |
| Expenditure as %of GDP               |               3.84 |               4.07 |                4.2 |           4.32 |           4.43 |

(d): The National Education Policy, 2020 unequivocally endorsed and envisioned a substantial increase in public investment in education by both the Central government and all State Governments. As proposed in the NEP 2020, the Centre and the States will work together to increase the public investment in Education sector to reach 6% of GDP at the earliest.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 4160 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-22
Subject: Auction of Oil Fields
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Poonam (Mahajan) Vajendla Rao, Ramya  Haridas

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4160 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 ND  MARCH 2021

## Auction of Oil Fields

## 4160. SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN: MS. RAMYA HARIDAS:

## पेोलयम और ाक ृ तक गैस मंी

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

(a) whether it is a fact that the State-owned ONGC is looking for an auction of oil fields to increase stagnant oil production in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether it is also a fact that the agencies finally selected would be allotted new fields for extraction of oil or these would require to operate already operational oil fields; and

(d)  if  so,  the  details  of  additional  oil  expected  to  be  produced  from  the  planned auction of oil fields?

## ANSWER पेोलयम और ाक ृ तक गैस मंालय म मंी ) धान धम ी ( MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS

## (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) & (b) ONGC carried out bidding of 64 fields to enhance production of oil & gas from matured marginal fields. Out of these, forty nine fields have been awarded on revenue sharing basis. No bids were received for fourteen fields and single bid for one field was rejected. (c)  All  the  Sixty  four  fields  offered  for  bid  out  are  existing  operational  fields  of ONGC. (d) The fields were awarded for enhancing the production of oil & gas from base line production profile under Business-As-Usual (BAU) scenario. The revenue of the  bidders  depends  upon  the  revenue  generated  from  additional  oil  &  gas produced above the base line production.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 4159 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-22
Subject: Import of Cars
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Rahul Kaswan

## Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Revenue

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4159

## TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2021

CHAITRA 1, 1943 (SAKA)

## IMPORT OF CARS

4159. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN: Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of provisions for importing cars in the country;
- (b) whether the Government has seized some imported cars for non-payment of custom duty;
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the persons involved in it; and
- (d) the details of persons found guilty in the said cases so far?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## (SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

- (a) As per Import Policy of DGFT, motor cars are freely importable, subject to policy conditions No. 4-6 and 9-10 under Chapter 87 of ITC (HS), 2017, which inter alia provide that :
- (A) A second hand or used motor car shall:
- (i) confirm to the provisions of Motor Vehicle Act,1988 and rules thereunder.
- (ii) be allowed for import only through Customs port at Mumbai
- (iii) have a minimum road worthiness for a period of 5 years from the date of importation.
- (B) A new motor car shall:
- (i) confirm to the provisions of Motor Vehicle Act,1988 and rules thereunder.
- (ii) be  permitted  only  through  the  following  Customs  ports  namely,  Chennai, Ennore, Kattupalli, Krishnapatnam, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Mundra, Nhava Sheva,  Pipavav  and  Vishakhapatnam,  Air  Cargo  Complexes  namely,  Delhi and Mumbai and Inland Container Depots (ICDs) at Faridabad, Pune(Talegoan), and Tughlakabad.

(iii) Motor car having an FOB value of US $ 40,000 or more and engine capacity of more  than  3000cc  for  petrol  run  vehicle  and  more  than  2500cc  for  diesel  run vehicles  by  (a)  Individuals,  (b)  Companies  and  firms  or  (c)  OEMs  (Original Equipment Manufacturers- who have manufacturing and service network in India) are  exempt  from  some  conditions  subject  to  production  of  Type  approval certificate.

(b):  Yes, Sir;

(c & d): The details of the seizures of imported cars during 2020-21 (Till 31.01.2021) :

|   S. No. | Date of Seizure   | of Person importing the motor car          | Reason for seizure                        | Make/Model                                   | Value (in Rs. )   |
|----------|-------------------|--------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|-------------------|
|        1 | 25.11.2020        | Mr. Ganesh Ramchandra Surose               | Misuse of Transfer of Residence facility. | General Motors Corporation, Model: Hammer H3 | 8,69,009.19       |
|        2 | 19.12.2020        | 1.Mr. Imtiaz Khan 2.Mr.Abdul Kalam Lashkar | Smuggled into India.                      | Nissan Fairlady Z                            | 20,00,000.00      |

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 4155 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-22
Subject: IISER-Thiruvananthapuram
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4155 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2021

## IISER-Thiruvananthapuram

## 4155. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the  present status of IISER-Thiruvananthapuram in terms of its functioning from its own campus;
- (b) whether the institute has exited from the project mode
- (c) if so, the details thereof, if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) the number of academic wings and departments of IISER-Thiruvananthapuram that have an independent building;
- (e) if so, the details thereof;
- (f) whether the institute can accommodate all students on a single-occupancy basis if they join the residential campus during the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic;
- (g) if so, the details thereof; and
- (h) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

(a): IISER-Thiruvananthapuram  started  functioning  from  its  campus  in  Vithura  fully  from November, 2018.

(b)&(c): The  institute  is  yet  to  exit  from  project  mode.  The  reasons  for  the  same  include breakdown of initial contract with M/s Consolidated Construction Consortium Limited (CCCL), hard terrain of the region in which the institute is located, heavy rains for almost 7-8 months/year in  the  region,  which  preclude  constructions  and  non-availability  of  adequate  number  of workforce.

(d)&(e): Three  departments  of  IISER  Thiruvananthapuram  have  independent  building  viz. Chemistry, Biology and Physics.

(f)  to  (h): No,  the  institute  is  not  in  a  position  to  accommodate  all  students  on  a  singleoccupancy basis if they  join the residential  campus during the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic. However, furnishing of 1000- Bed hostel is to be undertaken, post completion of the same the institute  can  accommodate all students on a single-occupancy basis if they join the residential campus during prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4154 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-22
Subject: Maternity Benefit Act
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: P. Velusamy, Balashowry Vallabbhaneni

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4154 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2021

## MATERNITY BENEFIT ACT

## 4154. SHRI VELUSAMY P.:

SHRI BALASHOWRY VALLABHANENI:

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

- (a)whether  the  Government  is  having  any  proposal  to  amend  the provisions  of  the  Maternity  Benefit  Act  to  revise  the  duration  of maternity leave and if so, the steps taken by the Ministry to monitor the  implementation  of  the  provisions  for  those  women  who  are working in private sector;
- (b)whether any complaints are received from Private Sector employees  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  the  steps  taken  by  the Government and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)whether  it  is  true  that  women  working  in  private  sector  are  not getting maternity leave benefit like their counterparts in Government sector;
- (d)whether  it  has  come  to  the  notice  of  the  Ministry  that  due  to amendment to Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 to make it mandatory to provide  26  weeks  of  leave  to  women  with  pay,  the  private  firms have stopped recruiting women and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)whether any consultations have been held with the Ministry in this
- regard and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (e): At  present,  the  Government  is  not  having  any  proposal  to amend the Maternity  Benefit  Act,  1961  to  revise  the  duration  of  the maternity leave. The Government has   already  amended the Maternity Contd..2/-

Benefit Act, 1961 in the year 2017 and  enhanced the  maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks.  The implementation of the provisions of the  Maternity  Benefit  Act,  1961  rests  with  the  respective  State Governments  except  Mines  and  establishment  wherein  person  are other employed for the exhibition of equestrian, acrobatic and performances.

No  complaint  regarding  non  implementation  of  provisions under  Maternity  Benefit  Act  has  been  received  from  the  women employees under   in Central Sphere.

The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 was enacted with a view to encourage  more and more women  to seek employment which would  lead to increase in women labour participation rate.

There are stringent provisions under the Maternity Benefit

Act, 1961 for contravention of the provisions of the Act.

Due consultations have been made amongst the stakeholders in this regard and consequently the relevant provisions of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 have been subsumed in the Code on Social Security, 2020.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 4153 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-22
Subject: Empowerment of Domestic Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: (Dr.) Ram Shankar Katheria, Ravindra Kushawaha, Ravindra Kushawaha, Ravi Kishan Shukla, Subrata Pathak, Nayab Singh, Manoj Kumar Tiwari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4153 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2021

## EMPOWERMENT OF DOMESTIC WORKERS

## †4153. DR. RAM SHANKAR KATHERIA:

SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA:

SHRI RAVI KISHAN:

SHRI SUBRAT PATHAK:

SHRI NAYAB SINGH:

SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:

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

- (a)whether  the  Government  is  contemplating  any  action  plan  for economic  empowerment  and  providing  legal  protection  to  the domestic workers in household works;
- (b)if so, the details of the ongoing schemes in this regard;
- (c)if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d)the  steps  proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  for  economic empowerment of the said women in future along with the details in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): The domestic workers come under the category of unorganized workers and Central Government is already implementing Unorganized  Workers'  Social  Security  Act,  2008  (UWSS),  to  provide social security relating to life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits,  old-age  protection   to  the unorganized    workers

including  domestic  workers.  There  are  various  welfare  schemes launched by the Central Government such as Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti  Bima  Yojana  (PMJJBY)  and  Pradhan  Mantri  Suraksha  Bima Yojana  (PMSBY).  The  Central  Government  has  also  introduced  a pension  scheme  i.e.  Pradhan  Mantri  Shram  Yogi  Mandhan  (PM-SYM) Yojana  w.e.f  15.02.2019  for  unorganized  workers.  PM-JAY  Scheme provides health cover to eligible workers and their families.

The  UWSS  Act  has  now  been  subsumed  in  the  Code  on Social Security, 2020 wherein the Domestic worker has been defined as  'wage  worker'.  In  the  Code  on  Social  Security,  2020  there  are ample  provisions  for  social  security  benefits  to  the  unorganized workers  including  domestic  workers  to  be  given  by  the  Central

Government and the State Governments:-

- (i)        Life and disability cover
- (ii)        Health and maternity benefits
- (iii)       Old age protection
- (iv)       Education
- (v)        Provident fund
- (vi)       Employment injury benefit
- (vii)      Housing
- (viii)     Education schemes for children
- (ix)       Skill upgradation of workers
- (x)        Old-age homes
- (xi)       Any  other  benefit  as  may  be  determined  by  the  Central Government.

Many  State/UT  Governments  also  have  several  schemes, guidelines  and  provisions  for  social  security  (pension,  insurance, health and maternity benefit etc.) for domestic workers.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 4152 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-22
Subject: SWAMIH Scheme
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Meenakashi Lekhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4152

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2021 / CHAITRA 1, 1943 (SAKA)

## 'SWAMIH SCHEME'

## 4152:   SHRIMATI MEENAKASHI LEKHI:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- a. the total amount disbursed under the SWAMIH scheme;
- b. the details and total number of projects currently being financed through this scheme; and
- c. the number of applications received under this scheme?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (FINANCE) (SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

- (a): As of March 15, 2021, SWAMIH Fund has disbursed Rs. 1,036.4 crore.
- (b): As of March 15, 2021, the Fund has provided final approval to 65 projects with a sanctioned amount of Rs. 6,297 crore helping to complete 41,255 housing units.
- (c): As of March 5, 2021, the Fund has evaluated over 862 proposals.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4151 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-22
Subject: Memorials of Freedom Fighters
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: P.R. Natarajan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4151 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 MARCH 2021

## MEMORIALS OF FREEDOM FIGHTERS

## 4151. SHRI NATARAJAN P.R.:

## Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  erecting  memorials  in  honour  of  freedom  fighters across the country;
- (b) if so, the names of the freedom fighter, State-wise; and
- (c) the details of pending proposals with the Government for erecting memorials to freedom fighters?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR CULTURE & TOURISM (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) to (c) Yes, Sir. Government of India erect memorials in honour of freedom fighters across  the  country.  The  work  of  the  memorial  are  executed  through  an  authorised agency after  the  same  is  approved/  sanctioned  by  the  concerned  Ministry/  Authority. Presently,  no  proposal  for  erecting  memorials  to  freedom  fighters  is  pending  with Government of India. In Culture Ministry, there is no such specific plan or scheme of erecting memorials in the honour of freedom fighters. However, during commemoration of important personalities and freedom fighters like Lala Lajpat Rai, Jaiprakash Narayan and  Rani  Gaidinliu,  Ministry  has  sanctioned  the  fund  which  was  used  for  various activities.  Project  at  cost  of  Rs.  7  crores  was  sanctioned  for  construction  of  Rani Gaidinliu Cultural Centre in Nagaland in honour of Rani Gaidinliu, freedom fighter during her  centenary commemoration celebrated in 2015-16. Similarly Funds of Rs. 5 Crore was sanctioned to Govt. of Punjab to construct Auditorium in honour of Lala Lajpat Rai during his 150th birth anniversary in 2015-16. Also, total amount of Rs. 4.40 crore was sanctioned  for  Jaiprakash  Narayan  Memorial  at  his  birthplace  Lala  ki  Tola,  district Saran, Bihar.
Lok Sabha Question No. 4150 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-22
Subject: Exclusion of Madrassa from School Category
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Vijay Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4150 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.03.2021

## Exclusion of Madrassa from School Category

## †4150. SHRI VIJAY KUMAR:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Government of Maharasthra has excluded Muslim Minority Madrassas from school category;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor and whether a State Government can take such decisions;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to chalk out a clear policy to ensure that all the subjects are taught in all the Madrassa across the country; and
- (d) if so, the time by when it is likely to be implemented and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

- (a) & (b): As informed by the State Government of Maharashtra, there are 150 Madarsas in the State covered under UDISE and the State's SARAL database. Hence, they are not excluded as schools.
- (c) & (d): The Ministry of Education has been implementing a Scheme for Providing Quality Education in Madrassa (SPQEM) since 2014-15. The scheme provides financial assistance to encourage traditional institutions like Madarsas and Maktabs to introduce modern education through subjects such as Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, Hindi and English in their
- curriculum so that academic proficiency for classes I-XII is attainable for children studying in these institutions.

*****