opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 577 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Submarine Cable Connectivity
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Su Thirunavukkarasar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 577 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 TH  SEPTEMBER, 2020

## SUBMARINE CABLE CONNECTIVITY

## 577. SHRI THIRUNAVUKKARASAR SU:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has launched sub-marine cable connectivity to Andaman & Nicobar Islands recently;
- (b) if so, the details and the features thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has proposed to launch such facility to Lakshadweep also in the near future;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, EDUCATION AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

- (a) Yes, Sir.
- (b) The sub-marine cable connectivity project to Andaman & Nicobar Islands was inaugurated and dedicated to the nation by the Hon'ble Prime Minister on 10 th August 2020. The project provides bandwidth of 2 x 200 Gbps between Chennai and Port Blair and 2 x 100 Gbps between Port Blair and other  seven  islands  namely  Swaraj  Dweep,  Long  Island,  Rangat,  Little  Andaman,  Kamorta,  Great Nicobar  and  Car  Nicobar.  It  will  facilitate  delivery  of  e-Governance  services,  telemedicine,  teleeducation, e-commerce, e-learning and knowledge sharing, etc.
- (c) Yes, Sir.
- (d) Digital Communications Commission (DCC) on 20th December 2019 has approved the submarine  cable  connectivity  project  from  Kochi  to  Lakshadweep's  eleven  Islands  namely  Kavarati, Kalpeni,  Agatti,  Amini,  Androth,  Minicoy,  Bangaram,  Bitra,  Chetlat,  Kiltan  and  Kadmath.  The project  envisages  providing  bandwidth  of  2  x  100  Gbps  between  Kochi  and  eleven  Islands  of Lakshadweep.

- (e) Not applicable in view of (d) above.

************
Lok Sabha Question No. 576 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Retirement of Employees
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: L.S. Tejasvi Surya

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 576

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.09.2020)

## RETIREMENT OF EMPLOYEES

## 576. SHRI L.S. TEJASVI SURYA :

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there  is  a  proposal  to  retire  employees  of  Central  and  State  Government  after completing a maximum service period of 30 years;
- (b) if  so,  whether  the  Government will mandate the same for all employees of the Central Government in different States;
- (c) if so, whether the Government will also mandate the same for all employees of different State Governments; and
- (d) the  objective  behind  placing  a  ceiling  limit  of  30  years  of  service  for  Government employees?

## 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):    There  is  no  proposal  to  change  the  age  of  superannuation  of  Central  Government employees.

The  State  Government  employees  are  governed  by  the  rules/regulations  framed  by  their respective State Governments.

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

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 575 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Internet Access in Rural Areas of Bihar
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Mohammad Jawed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 575 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 TH  SEPTEMBER, 2020

## INTERNET ACCESS IN RURAL AREAS OF BIHAR

## 575. DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  present  status  of  the  scheme  of  the  Government  to  connect  the  rural  areas  of  Bihar, particularly Kishanganj Parliamentary Constituency with internet;
- (b) whether the Government has achieved the targets fixed in this regard and if so,  the  details thereof;
- (c) the number of villages in the State of Bihar connected with internet so far especially in the Kishanganj Parliamentary Constituency; and
- (d) whether there has reportedly been any delay in the completion of the work related to the said scheme in many areas and if so, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, EDUCATION AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

- (a) & (b) BharatNet project implemented in a phased manner to provide internet connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country includes Bihar. In Bihar, as on 04.09.2020, out of 8963 GPs including BHQs, 8790 GPs is service ready. In Kishanganj Parliamentary Constituency all 133 GPs including BHQs is service ready.
- (c) In Bihar, 38821 villages are connected with internet including 3G & 4G mobile services. This includes 1845 villages in Kishanganj Parliamentary Constituency.
- (d) Yes, Sir. Delay was due to Right of Way issues and natural calamity like heavy rains/floods etc.

************
Lok Sabha Question No. 574 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Privatisation of Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Pushpendra Singh Chandel, Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 574

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.09.2020

## PRIVATISATION OF RAILWAYS

## †574. SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL: SHRIMATI MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has proposed any incentives policy to promote the private sector to operate trains and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  the details of the trains currently operated by the  private sector along with the details of the proposed trains to be operated by private sector;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  is  considering  a  plan  to  regulate  the  fare  of private trains and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  run  a  private  sector  tourist train connecting the mountainous regions of Kumaon and Garhwal in order to promote tourists in Uttarakhand and if so, the details thereof?

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## ANSWER (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) Ministry of Railways (MoR) have invited applications to invest and induct modern rakes over select routes through Public Private Partnership (PPP) to provide  world  class  services  to  the  passengers.  As  part  of  this  initiative, MOR have issued 12 Requests for Qualification (RFQs) on 1 st  July, 2020 for operation  of  passenger  trains    over  approximately  109  origin-destination pairs (divided into 12 clusters) through PPP on Design, Build, Finance and Operate  ('DBFO')  basis.  Under  this  PPP  model  the  private  operator  will in collect fare and specified non-fare revenues from passengers consideration of the services, as per the Concession Agreement.

(b)    As  of  now,  no  passenger  train  service,  over  Indian  Railways,  is  being operated  by  Private  Operator.    The  routes  are  spread  across  the  entire Indian  Railway  network  and  the  list  is  available  in  the  public  domain namely,  http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/IndicativeRoutesfor12clusters.pdf. (c)    The  private  player,  shall,  in  consideration  of  the  investment  and services  provided  by  him,  be  entitled  to  levy  and  collect  fare  from  the passengers users in  accordance  with  what  the  market  can  bear  and  also raise other revenues in terms of a Concession Agreement. (d) The train services in the notified projects (clusters) include destinations of tourist importance like Shirdi, Katra, etc. as well as destinations in the mountainous regions of Kumaon and Garhwal such as New Rishikesh and Kathgodam. *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 572 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Integration of Indian Economy
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Anurag Sharma

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 572.

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 16 TH  SEPTEMBER, 2020.

## INTEGRATION OF INDIAN ECONOMY

## 572.   SHRI ANURAG SHARMA:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state:

वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) the details of the provisions that have been realized by the Government of  India  for  the  industrialists  and  corporates  for  integration  of  Indian Economy with the global markets?

## ANSWER वाणिज्य  एवं उद्योग मंत्री (श्री पीयूष गोयल) THE MINISTER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI  PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a): The  liberalisation  of  the  Indian  economy  has  led  to  the  integration  of  the Indian economy with the global economy on its own terms. The industrialists and  corporates  make  business  decisions  based  on  their  perception  of  the risks and rewards in the domestic and international economic scenario.

India  has  registered  its  highest  ever  annual  FDI  Inflow  of  US  $74.39  billion (provisional figure) during the last financial year 2019-20 as compared to US $ 45.15 billion in 2014-2015. In the last six financial years (2014-20), India has received FDI inflow worth US$ 358.30 billion which is 53 percent of the FDI reported in the last 20 years (US$ 681.87 billion). Year-wise FDI inflow in the country since 2014-15 is given in below table:

Table: Year wise FDI inflow since 2014-15

|   Sl. No. | Financial Year   |   Amount (in US$ billion) |
|-----------|------------------|---------------------------|
|         1 | 2014-15          |                     45.15 |
|         2 | 2015-16          |                     55.56 |
|         3 | 2016-17          |                     60.22 |
|         4 | 2017-18          |                     60.97 |
|         5 | 2018-19          |                     62    |
|         6 | 2019-20          |                     74.39 |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 571 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Economic Losses due to Pandemic
Ministry: DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION
Asked by: Saikia Dilip, Ramesh Chander Kaushik

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION

## LOK SABHA

Unstarred Question No.571

To be answered on

Wednesday, September 16,2020 / Bhadrapada 25, 1942 (Saka)

## QUESTION Economic Losses due to Pandemic

## †571. SHRI DILIP SAIKIA:

## SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  assessed  the  loss  to  North  Eastern  States including Assam keeping in view the economic condition of the country due to pandemic corona;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to issue relief package to North Eastern States including Assam; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a), (b), (c) & (d):  Government of India has taken several measures to support the State  Governments,  including  Assam.As  a  part  of  the  COVID-19  Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package,funds have been released to aid and enable the States to ramp up testing facilities, augment hospital infrastructure,  conduct  surveillance  activities  along  with  procurement  of  essential equipment, drugs and other supplies. The packages like Special and Comprehensive packages,  Atmanirbhar  package,  and  relief  measures  under  the  Pradhan  Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan, relief measures for MSMEs and NBFCs, increased allocation under MGNREGS, interest subvention for MUDRA loans and revamp of Viability Gap Funding scheme for social infrastructure, etc. will benefit all the North Eastern States, including Assam.

Further,  Ministry  of  Development  of  North  Eastern  Region  under  its  North  East Special  Infrastructure  Development  (NESID)  Scheme  has  sanctioned  five  (05) projects costing Rs.193.32 crore for Strengthening Health Infrastructure for Fighting Corona Virus (COVID 19) in the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya,

Mizoram and Nagaland. This includes sanction of Rs. 97.48 crore to Assam.  So far, an  amount  of  Rs.77.33  crore  has  been  released  to  the  State  Governments  for implementation of these projects, including Rs. 38.99 crore to Assam.An amount of Rs.25.29  crore  has  also  been  released  to  all  the  NE  States,including  Assam  (Rs. 4.99 crore) by the North Eastern Council (NEC) to assist in combating the pandemic COVID-19  and  as  well  as  to  provide  relief  to  the  stranded  youths/people  of  NER during the time of lockdown. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also released an amount of Rs. 303.40 crore to North Eastern States, including Rs. 191.83 crore to Assam for various activities under the Health Sector including for measures to fight corona pandemic.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 569 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: MRO Hub in Defence Sphere
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Achyutananda Samanta

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.569

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 th  SEPTEMBER, 2020

## MRO HUB IN DEFENCE SPHERE

569. SHRI ACHYUTANANDA SAMANTA:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  make  India  a  Manufacturing,  Repair  and Overhaul (MRO) hub in the defence sphere and if so, the details thereof and the initiatives taken and concessions provided in this regard and if not, the details therefor; and
- (b) whether the Government has any plans of involving HAL and MDL shipyards to invest in such hubs to subsidise Government investment and produce more 'Make in India' products; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

(a) to (c): The Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) sector has the potential to act as a pivot for the development of the Aerospace & Defence sector.

The recent rationalization in  the  GST  structure  is  likely  to facilitate  MRO  activities within India.

There are large number of public and private MRO facilities including HAL catering to Military and Commercial aerospace within the country.

This  sector  would  also  open  opportunities  for  the  components  industry  and  their active involvement would enable life-cycle support of the major platforms.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 567 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Private Trains on Railway Routes
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: K. Muraleedharan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 567 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.09.2020

## PRIVATE TRAINS ON RAILWAY ROUTES

567. SHRI K. MURALEEDHARAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has proposed to operate private train to ply on railway routes by private operators;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  details  of  train  routes  proposed  by  the  Government  in  various States for the aforesaid project; and
- (d) the details of private trains that are sanctioned in Kerala state?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 567 BY SHRI K. MURALEEDHARAN TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 16.09.2020 REGARDING PRIVATE TRAINS ON RAILWAY ROUTES (a)  to  (c)    Ministry  of  Railways  (MoR)  has  invited  applications  for investment  and  induction  of  modern  rakes  over  select  routes  through Public Private Partnership (PPP) to provide world class services to the passengers. As part of this initiative, MOR have issued 12 Requests for Qualification (RFQs) on 1 st   July,  2020  for operation of  passenger trains over approximately 109 origin-destination pairs (divided into 12 clusters) through PPP on Design, Build, Finance and Operate ('DBFO') basis. The routes are spread across the entire Indian Railway network and the list namely, is available in the public domain http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/IndicativeRoutesfor12clusters.pdf.

(d)  The details of train services, included in the notified RFQs, serving the state of Kerala are as under:-

| Station From   | Station To            | Frequency   |
|----------------|-----------------------|-------------|
| Kanniyakumari  | Ernakulam             | Daily       |
| Kochuveli      | Ernakulam             | Tri weekly  |
| Kochuveli      | Guwahati              | Tri weekly  |
| Chennai        | Mangalore via Calicut | Weekly      |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 566 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Unused Land of Postal Department
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Prataprao  Jadhav, Gopal Jee Thakur

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 566 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 TH  SEPTEMBER, 2020

## UNUSED LAND OF POSTAL DEPARTMENT

## †566. SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  ample  land  of  Postal  Department  is  lying  unused  in  Buldhana  and  Shegaon  post offices situated in Buldhana Parliamentary Constituency of Maharashtra State;

- (b) if so, the details thereof;

- (c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to build a commercial complex by developing unused lands;

- (d) if so, the details thereof; and

- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, EDUCATION AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

- (a) No, Sir. There is no unused Postal land in Buldhana and Shegaon in Buldhana Parliamentary Constituency of Maharashtra State.

- (b) Nil, in view of (a) above.

- (c) Nil, in view of (a) above.

- (d) Nil, in view of (a) above.

- (e) Nil, in view of (a) above.

************
Lok Sabha Question No. 565 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Revenue Loss
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Balubhau (Alias Suresh Narayan) Dhanorkar

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 565. TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 16 TH  SEPTEMBER, 2020.

## REVENUE LOSS

## 565.   SHRI BALUBHAU ALIAS SURESH NARAYAN DHANORKAR:

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

- (a) whether the industry has undertaken revenue analysis of estimated/projected loss of revenue to the Government, presently; and
- (b) the  impact  of  proposed  reduction  of  GST  on  revenue  vis-à-vis  recovery  on account of increase in sales, industry-wise?

## ANSWER वाणिज्य  एवं उद्योग मंत्री (श्री पीयूष गोयल) THE MINISTER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI  PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) & (b): As per information received from Department of Revenue (State Taxes Division), no such report is available.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 560 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Withholding of MPLAD Fund
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Pritam Gopinath Munde

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 560 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.09.2020

## WITHHOLDING OF MPLAD FUND

560.  SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU:

Dr. PRITHAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE:

Will the Minister of STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  withheld  the  funds  released under MPLAD scheme after Covid-19 pandemic in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the various developmental activities and job opportunities have suffered in the country thereafter;
- (d)  if  so,  whether  the Government had conducted any survey to find  its  impact  on  developmental  activities  and  job  opportunities  in various districts in the country; and
- (e)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  corrective  steps  taken  or proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS  AND  PROGRAMME  IMPLEMENTATION  AND  MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a)  Government decided not to operate the Members of Parliament Local  Area  Development  Scheme  (MPLADS)  for  two  years,  that  is

during FY 2020-21 and FY 2021-22 and placed the funds allocated for the  FY2020-21  at  the  disposal  of  the  Ministry  of  Finance  for strengthening  its  efforts  in  managing  the  challenges  of  COVID-19 which  has  been  declared  as  a  global  pandemic  and  a  notified disaster in the country.

(b)   Ministry  has  issued  detailed  circular  on  08.04.2020  containing instructions wherein inter alia Hon'ble Members have been requested  to  re-prioritize  their  recommendations  in  consultation with District Authorities, wherever feasible, and District Authorities have  also  been  advised  to  ensure  that  works  are  completed  from among  the  available  funds  as  no  more  funds  would  be  released during FY 2020-21 and 2021-22.

(c) Government has received references from Hon'ble Members that developmental activities are likely to be affected after the decision of the Government.

(d) No sir

(e) In view of the reply to part (d), question does not arise.

*****