opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3999 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Cadre Service Allocation
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: Devendrappa Y

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3999

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020)

## CADRE SERVICE ALLOCATION

## 3999. SHRI Y. DEVENDRAPPA:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Government proposes for examination based cadre service allocation to UPSC qualified probationers;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  the  present  practice  in  this  regard  and  of  divergent plans proposed; and
- (c) whether the new system would pay weightage and thus respect position to the top most posts of civil servants and 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)  &  (b):  Service  allocation  to  the  candidates  recommended  by  the  Union  Public  Service Commission (UPSC) on the basis of Civil Services Examination (CSE) is done on the basis of rank in the CSE, preferences of various participating services expressed by them, medical status, eligibility of the candidate and vacancy position in the relevant category at his/her turn. Further, Cadre  Allocation  to  the  All  India  Services  (AIS)  Officers  is  done  on  the  basis  of  rank, preferences for various zones and cadres and vacancy position in the relevant category at his/her turn as per the Cadre Allocation Policy applicable for the CSE Year.

- (c):   Does not arise

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3998 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Deployment of Extraction Techniques
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Durga Prasad Rao Balli

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3998

ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020

## DEPLOYMENT OF EXTRACTION TECHNIQUES

3998. SHRI BALLI DURGA PRASAD RAO:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a)  the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in regard to deployment of high productivity extraction techniques; and
- (b)  as  many  rich  mineral  deposits  are  in  environmentally  sensitive  areas  such  as forests, seashores & tribal habitation, the details of the policy decision taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINES, COAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

- (a) &  (b):  Ministry  of  Mines,  administers  the  Mines  and  Mineral  Development  Act, 1957  and  the  rules  made  thereunder.  The  Mineral  Conservation  and  Development Rules, 2017 has been notified for conservation and systematic development of mineral for protection of environment. The National Mineral Policy (NMP), 2019 also envisages that  the  mining  need  to  be  carried  out  in  an  environmentally  sustainable  manner keeping  stakeholders'  participation.  Para  6.4  of  the  NMP,2019  envisages  use  of equipment and machinery which will improve the efficiency, productivity and economics of  mining  operations  as  well  as  mineral  beneficiation  process,  safety  and  health  of persons working in the mines. Further the said policy envisages that mining operations shall  not  ordinarily  be  taken  up  in  identified  ecologically  fragile  and  biologically  rich areas.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3994 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Recruitment in ‘D’ Grade
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Chandra Prakash Joshi, Ravi Kishan Shukla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3994

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020

## RECRUITMENT IN'D' GRADE

3994.  SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI: SHRI RAVI KISHAN:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is any provision to provide employment to the local people in the 'D'grade recruitment in atomic energy enterprises;
- (b) if so, the rules and facilities being provided for the same;
- (c) whether  local  people  are  being  recruited  in  'D'  grade  in  all  the  enterprises including in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof during the last three years?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)&(b)  No, Sir. After implementation of 6 th Central Pay Commission, entry level is in Group 'C'  and hence  no Group  'D' recruitment  is  made  in  the  Constituent Units/Public Sector Undertakings and Aided Institutions of the Department of Atomic Energy.  However, the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), a Public Sector Undertaking under the Department of Atomic Energy, carries out recruitment in Group 'D' cadre for the local people (land displaced) only as  per  Resettlement  and  Rehabilitation  Policy-2006  and  their  rules  and facilities are governed by the said policy.
- (c)&(d) The UCIL do not have operations in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan and hence no recruitment in any cadre has been carried out in the said locations in the last three years.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3993 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Definition of Poverty Line
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: P.R. Natarajan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3993

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020

## DEFINITION OF POVERTY LINE

## 3993. SHRI NATARAJAN P.R.:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is having any official definition and norms fixed for urban/ rural poverty line across the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any review has been taken by the Government on the norms and cap for poverty line; 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 (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS & PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a) to (d) The erstwhile Planning Commission estimated poverty line and poverty ratio based on the  recommendations  made  by  the  experts  in  the  field  from  time  to  time.  The  erstwhile Planning Commission had constituted Task Force under the Chairmanship of Dr. Y.K.Alagh in  1977,  Expert  Group  under  the  Chairmanship  of  Prof  D.T.Lakdawala  in  1989,  and  the Expert Group under the Chairmanship of Prof. Suresh Tendulkar in 2005. The last poverty estimates were released by the erstwhile Planning Commission following the methodology recommended by Tendulkar Committee in 2013 for the year 2011-12 through a Press Note. The poverty line was defined on the basis of Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) as the criterion. For the year 2011-12, the poverty line at all India level has been estimated as Monthly Per-capita Consumption Expenditure of Rs. 816 for rural areas and Rs. 1000 for urban areas.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3991 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Theft in INS Vikrant
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Adoor Prakash

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3991

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 th  March, 2020

## THEFT IN INS VIKRANT

3991. ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  theft  of  computer  devices  from  the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant being built at the Cochin Shipyard Limited;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether the  Government has conducted any inquiry in this regard and if so, the details and the outcome thereof;
- (d)  whether  there  is  any  loss  of  sensitive  data  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the reasons for such a severe security lapse; and
- (e) the details of corrective measures and the actions taken in this regard?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

रक्षा राज्य मंत्री

( श्री श्रीपाद नाईक )

<!-- image -->

(a)  to  (e):    On  16.9.2019,  M/s  Cochin  Shipyard  has  reported  theft  of  certain commercially  off  the  shelf  (COTS)  hardware  items  from  Multi-Function  Consoles (MFCs)  of  Integrated    Platform  Management  System  onboard  Indigenous  Aircraft Carrier  (IAC).    The  investigations    by    Kerala    Police  and    National    Investigation Agency has been instituted.

The  information  contained  in  the  stolen  components  are  generic  and  non-sensitive. Security  has  already  been  enhanced  at  sensitive  points  in  the  yard  as  per  the recommendations of Kerala Police and other Central Security Agencies.

To  prevent  future  incidents  of  theft  CCTV  Cameras  have  been  installed, compulsory bio-metric access control for all the personnel, hand held metal detectors at  both gangways, baggage scanning at main gate, physical frisking of all personnel moving in and out of IAC instituted, 24 X 7 videography & Patrol, Armed CISF posts on flight deck, locking of sensitive compartments, installation of two net barrier etc. have  been  adopted. Besides,  additional  46  CISF  personnel  to  CSL  by  CISF headquarters have been approved for enhancing security exclusively at IAC.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3990 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Judicial Panels
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Badruddin Ajmal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3990

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 18 TH  MARCH, 2020

## Judicial Panels

## 3990. SHRI M. BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

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

- (a) the details of judicial panels set up by the Government during the last five years  and  the  current  year  along  with  issues  on  which  the  panels  were constituted;
- (b) the  number  out of them  who  have  submitted  their reports to the Government;
- (c) the action taken by the Government thereon; and
- (d) the time by which the remaining panels are likely to submit their reports to the Government?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a) to (d)  The information is being collected and will be laid on the Table of the House.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3989 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Mistakes in Aadhaar Card
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Sangamlal Kadedin Gupta, Ravindra Kushawaha, Ravi Kishan Shukla, Chandra Prakash Joshi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3989

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020

## MISTAKES IN AADHAAR CARD

3989.   SHRI SANGAM LAL GUPTA:

SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA:

SHRI RAVI KISHAN:

SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:

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

(a) whether the Government has taken note of the fact that operators are committing mistakes while  entering/recording  data  of  people  applying/updating  for  Aadhaar  Card  across  the country and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government thereon; and

(b)    the  difficulties  faced  by  the  people  as  a  result  of  these  mistakes  by  operators  and  the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  and  (b): Errors  can  occur  in  the  process  of  entering  of  data  of  residents  for  Aadhaar enrolment and update.

Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has placed robust quality check and process at the enrolment centre and in the UIDAI data centre with emphasis on corrective measures by imparting training to the operators. As  per UIDAI's  guidelines, at the time of enrolment/update, data entered by Enrolment Operator is shown to the resident and correction is made by the operator as pointed out by the resident.

UIDAI has a policy under which payment is made to the enrolment agencies for successful enrolments  and  mandatory  biometric  updates  only.  Further, erring  operators  committing mistakes more than the threshold limit are suspended and financial disincentives imposed on UIDAI's Registrars.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3988 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Cancellation of Passports
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: C. R. Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3988

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020

## CANCELLATION OF PASSPORTS

3988. SHRI C.R. PATIL:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether   the   Government   has   issued   orders   for   cancellation   of Passports   of   NRI   husbands   for   deserting   their   wives   on   the recommendation of Ministry of Women and Child Development or from any other Ministry;
- (b) if so, the details thereof during the last three years;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps for the extradition of NRIs whose passports were cancelled in the last three years; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [SHRI. V. MURALEEDHARAN]

(a) & (b) The   Government   has   not   issued   any   general   orders   for cancellation of passports of NRI husbands. There is already provision for revocation of passports under section 10(3) of the Passports Act, 1967. The Passport Issuing Authorities in India and abroad have, on the basis of Look   Out   Circulars/Non-bailable   Warrants/Summons/Court   Notices, revoked 60 passports of NRI husbands in the last three years due to NRI marital disputes.

(c) & (d) Extradition   cannot   be   sought   solely   on   the   ground   of cancellation of passport of any Indian citizen. However, on receipt of any extradition   request   from   the   Indian   law   enforcement   agencies/courts, Government of India seeks extradition from foreign countries.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 3987 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Trains from Jharkhand
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Annpurna Devi, Pashupati Nath Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3987 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020

## TRAINS FROM JHARKHAND

†3987. SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI: SHRI PASHUPATI NATH SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  names  of  the  States  of  which  maximum  number  of  railway passengers travel from Jharkhand;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to start new railway services from Jharkhand to the States having demand for such railway journey;
- (c)
- (d)
- (e)
- if so, the details thereof;
- if not, the reasons therefor; and
- the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a)  to  (e)    Indian  Railways  do  not  operate  trains  on  state-wise  basis  as Railway network straddles across the state boundaries. Further, state-wise details of number of passengers is not maintained. During the last  02  years  (i.e.  during  2018-2019  and  2019-2020  upto  February,  2020) Indian  Railways  have,  on  originating/terminating  basis,  introduced  26 trains  serving  the  stations  located  in  the  State  of  Jharkhand.  However, introduction  of  trains  including  those  serving  the  stations  located  in  the state of Jharkhand is an ongoing process subject to operational feasibility, commercial viability, resource availability, competing demands etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3986 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Construction of Bridge
Ministry: DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION
Asked by: Abdul Khaleque

## Government of India

Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3986

To be answered on Wednesday, March 18, 2020/Phalguna 28, 1941 (Saka)

## QUESTION

## Construction of Bridge

## 3986.  SHRI ABDUL KHALEQUE:

Will the Minister of DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has got any proposal of 'Construction of Bartary SH-2 to  Tarakandi  via  Muhiaand  Moinbori  road,  Barpeta  district'  (with  cost  of  Rs.  45.61 crores)  and  'Construction  of  RCC  bridge  no.  1/1  on  Dalguma  Chaysimana  Road, Barpeta district'(with cost of Rs. 79.80 crores);
- (b) if so, the current status of the proposal; and
- (c) whether the Government is likely to sanction road and bridge at the earliest and begin work at the soonest as these are important for the common people to commute?

## ANSWER The Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region [Dr. Jitendra Singh]

(a) to (c)  Under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) implemented by this Ministry, projects are sanctioned based on prioritization done by the  State  Governments,  within  the  Normative  Allocation  of  that  State.  The  projects 'Construction  of  Bartary  SH-2  to  Tarakandi  via  Muhiaand  Moinbori  road,  Barpeta district'(with  cost  of  Rs.  45.61  crores)  and  'Construction  of  RCC  bridge  no.  1/1  on Dalguma  Chaysimana  Road,  Barpeta  district'(with  cost  of  Rs.  79.80  crores)  though included in the shelf of projects sent by government of Assam, have not been included in the prioritized list of projects within their Normative Allocation under NESIDS for the year 2020-21.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3985 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Coal Blocks
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Mitesh Rameshbhai (Bakabhai) Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3985 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020

Coal Blocks

## 3985.         SHRI MITESH RAMESHBHAI PATEL (BAKABHAI):

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a)       whether  the  Government  has  recently  withdrawn  coal  blocks  from  some  States; and
- (b)      if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES

## (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

- (a)  &  (b):  Yes  Sir.  2  numbers  coal  blocks,  allocated  to  Public  Sector  Undertakings  of State  Governments  have  been  taken  away  by  Government.  The  details  are  attached  at Annexure.

***

The details of De-allocated coal blocks with reasons are as under:-

|   S.N. | Name of bl ock   | State       | Allottee Comapny                                                                                                        | Date of A llocation   | Date of De -allocation   | Reasons for de-all ocation                                     |
|--------|------------------|-------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|--------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
|      1 | Mourya           | Jharkhand   | M/s Karanpura Ene rgy Limited (KEL), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of er stwhile Jharkhand S tate Electricity Boar d. | 26.06.09.             | 27.12.19                 | Delay in operationa lisation of coal bloc k. Delay of 5 years. |
|      2 | Bhivkund         | Maharashtra | M/s Aurangabad Po wer Company Limi ted, a SPV of MAH AGENCO                                                             | 17.07.08.             | 27.12.19                 | Delay in operationa lisation of coal bloc k. Delay of 6 years. |

***

## Annexure
Lok Sabha Question No. 3984 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Audit of Whatsapp Security System
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: S. Muniswamy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3984

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 18.03.2020

## AUDIT OF WHATSAPP SECURITY SYSTEM

## 3984.   SHRI S. MUNISWAMY:

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

- (a)   whether the Government has any plan to conduct whatsapp security system audit; and
- (b)   if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) and (b): Government has sought submission of information from Whatsapp including discussing the need to conduct an audit of Whatsapp's security systems and processes.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3980 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Recusal by Judges
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Asaduddin Owaisi, Imtiaz Jaleel Syed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LAW & JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 18 th  MARCH, 2020

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3980 Recusal by Judges

## 3980. SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

## SHRI SYED IMTIAZ JALEEL:

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

- (a) whether cases of recusal by judges are on the rise year after year;
- (b)  if  so,  the  number  of  judges  who  recused  them  from  hearing  cases; (c)whether  this  practice  is  delaying  the  hearing  of  cases  and  is  time consuming and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether judges do not give any reason for recusal from hearing cases;
- (e)  if  so,  whether  Government  propose  to  make  it  mandatory  for  judges  to give reasons for recusal; and
- (f)  if  so,  the  details thereof and time by which a final decision is likely to be taken thereon?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) to (f): Disposal of pending cases in courts and related case management procedure including recusal by judges falls squarely within the domain of judiciary. Information on cases of recusal by judges is not maintained by the Government. Reasons for recusal, if any, are recorded in the court proceedings.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3979 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Mechanism to Settle Disputes
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Khagen Murmu, Ajay (Teni) Misra

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL AFFAIRS ****

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3979 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 18 TH MARCH, 2020

## MECHANISM TO SETTLE DISPUTES

3979. SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:

SHRI AJAY KUMAR MISRA TENI:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to set up any mechanism to settle minor disputes among the litigants to reduce the burden of increasing lawsuits;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

****

(a) to (c) The Government is committed to speedy disposal of cases and reduction  in  pending  cases,  inter-alia,  through  emphasis  on  Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) and initiatives to fast track special type of cases. The Government, in its endeavour to ensure resolution of commercial cases expeditiously and at reasonable cost to the litigants enacted the Commercial Courts Act, 2015.  The Act was further amended in 2018.  It facilitates the fast tracking of commercial disputes by duly constituted Commercial Courts. The specified value of commercial dispute has through the 2018 amendment been  reduced  to  Rs.  3  lakh  from  the  earlier  Rs.  1  crore.    A  mandatory provision of 'Pre-Institution Mediation and Settlement' (PIMS) (an

Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism) in cases which do not contemplate urgent interim relief, has also been introduced by the amendment Act to facilitate out of court settlement and ease the work load of  the  Courts.    The  Government  has  also  amended  the  Arbitration  and Conciliation Act, 1996, by the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2019 and enacted the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Act 2019 to promote institutional arbitration in place of ad-hoc arbitration.  Institutional arbitration in turn promotes the laying of uniform standards,  make arbitration  process  more  party  friendly,  cost  effective  and  ensure  timely disposal of arbitration cases, by Arbitral Institutions.