opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 638 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: 2G Mobile Communication
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Y. S. Avinash Reddy, Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Supriya Sadanand Sule, Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, DNV Senthilkumar. S., Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 638 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 TH  SEPTEMBER, 2020

## 2G MOBILE COMMUNICATION

## 638. SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is contemplating on dropping the 2G mobile communications system in the wake of increasing digital technology and introduction of 5G Technology in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has received any suggestions from Mobile companies in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (b) No,  Telecom  Service  Providers  in  the  country  are  using  diverse  cellular  mobile technologies viz. 2G, 3G, 4G and their combinations to provide voice & data services.

The Choice of technology for provision of telecom services are left to the Service Provider as per their respective business considerations. The Department of Telecommunications, Government of India makes available sufficient spectrum through auction for mobile services across different bands.

- (c) No, Government has not received any suggestion in this regard from Mobile companies.

************
Lok Sabha Question No. 637 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: FDI
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Pradyut Bordoloi

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 637. TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 16 TH  SEPTEMBER, 2020.

## FDI

## 637.   SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI:

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

- (a) whether  the  Foreign  Direct  Investments  into  India  declined  in  the  2018-19 financial year as compared to previous years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has assessed the reasons for the same; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

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

- (a): No Sir. As compared to previous years, Foreign Direct Investment has increased in the financial year 2018-19. The year-wise increase in FDI inflow can be seen in the following table:

|   S. No. | Financial Year   |   Total FDI Inflow (in US$ billion) |
|----------|------------------|-------------------------------------|
|        1 | 2015-16          |                               55.56 |
|        2 | 2016-17          |                               60.22 |
|        3 | 2017-18          |                               60.97 |
|        4 | 2018-19 (P)      |                               62    |

Note: (P) Figures are provisional. Source: Reserve Bank of India.

*******

(b) to (d):

Do not arise.
Lok Sabha Question No. 636 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Private Sector Participation in Space
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, Kuruva Gorantla Madhav, Beesetti  Venkata Satyavathi

- 636.

## (a)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 636 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN SPACE

- SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY:

SHRI KURUVA GORANTLA MADHAV:

DR. BEESETTI VENKATA SATYAVATHI:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has approved certain reforms to boost private sector participation in Space;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  concerns  of  the members of the scientific community towards such a move and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  any  steps  are  being  taken  to  alleviate  the  concerns and if so; the details thereof;
- (e) the details of the role of New Space India Limited (NSIL) in the post reformed space sector; and
- (f) the number of private companies that partner ISRO and a broad area/ sector-wise break up thereof as on date?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PG & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

- & (b)

Yes Sir, Government  has  created Indian National Promotion & Authorisation Centre (INSPACe),

Space, under

Department of Space to encourage, promote and hand hold the private  sector  for  their  participation  in  Space  Sector.  Private players  will  also  be  able  to  use  ISRO  infrastructure  through INSPACe.

## (c) & (d)

The decision of Government was conveyed to the Members of the scientific community elaborately, and scientific community welcomed the Government decision.

- (e) The role of NSIL in the post reformed space sector would be to build launch vehicles, providing launch services, build satellites, providing space based services, technology transfers, etc. There are more than 500 companies that partner with ISRO in carrying out space activities. The broad areas/sectors covered by  private  companies  are;  providing  materials,  mechanical development,
- (f) fabrication, electronic fabrication, system integration, etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 633 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Impact of Corona on Tea Industry
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Ramesh Chander Kaushik, Saikia Dilip

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 633 (H) TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 th SEPTEMBER, 2020

## IMPACT OF CORONA ON TEA INDUSTRY

## 633(H). SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK: SHRI DILIP SAIKIA:

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

- (a) whether the Government has made any assessment of economic slowdown in the tea industry due to the global pandemic Corona;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the action plan chalked out by the Government for North-East regions including Assam to provide financial assistance to the workers engaged in the tea industry?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=h ( Jh ih;w'k xks;y ) THE MINISTER OF  COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) & (b):   The Tea Board has made an assessment of the impact of Covid-19 on the tea industry. The decline in tea production during March, April and May, 2020 is estimated to be at 114.91 M.Kgs, against the expected trend based on the preceding two years.  Tea exports in April  - June, 2020 declined from 56.06 M.Kgs in April - June, 2019 to 41.08 M. Kgs. The loss of tea production has brought down the oversupply situation in the market, which may help the Industry through a rise in average  price  realization  of  made  tea.  The  average  auction  price  during  April -August,  2020  has increased by Rs.67.72 per kg, over the corresponding period of the previous year.

- (c): The    Government,  through  the  Tea  Board,  is  implementing  the  'Tea  Developm ent  & Promotion Scheme' during the Medium Term Framework (MTF) period, from 2017-18 to 2019-20, which has been extended for 2020-21, for providing financial assistance to the tea industry in the country, including in the North-Eastern Region, including Assam. Under the scheme, the Tea Board extends certain welfare measures like healthcare, education and vocational training for tea garden workers and their wards/dependants.  During the period April 2017 to August, 2020, the Tea Board

has disbursed Rs.16.45 Cr for the benefit of tea workers in the country, including Rs.2.74 Cr for tea plantation workers of North East Region including Assam.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 631 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Policy for Transfer of Employees
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: Shivkumar Chanabasappa Udasi, Pratima Bhoumik, Sumedhanand Saraswati

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 631

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.09.2020)

## POLICY FOR TRANSFER OF EMPLOYEES

## 631. SHRI SHIVAKUMAR C. UDASI: MS. PRATIMA BHOUMIK: SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is any policy for the transfer of employees of Central Government;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  formulate  single  transfer  policy  for  Government employees in the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether the Government proposes to constitute any commission for single transfer policy for both Central and State Government employees; and
- (f) 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):   In terms of instructions issued by Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) on transfer/posting of Government employees, all Ministries/Departments of Government of India are required to have their own guidelines for transfer/posting of their employees providing for the following -
- i. minimum tenure;
- ii. have a mechanism akin to Civil Services Board for recommending transfer; and Respective  Ministries/Departments  are  also  required  to  place  the  transfer  policy  in  public domain.
- (c)  to  (f):    There  is  no  proposal  to  formulate  a  single  transfer  policy  for  the  Government employees, as guidelines for transfer/posting of employees depend on the specific requirement of individual Ministries/ Departments. Moreover, the State Public Services are under State List for which the State Governments are competent to make rules and policies. Accordingly, there is no proposal  to  constitute  any  Commission  for  single  transfer  policy  for  both  Central  &  State Government employees.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 630 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Kisan Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Kotha Prabhakar  Reddy, Geetha Viswanath Vanga

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 630

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.09.2020

## KISAN TRAINS

## 630.  SHRI KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY:

## SHRIMATI VANGA GEETHA VISWANATH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  steps  being  taken  for  running  Kisan  Rail  to  help  in  bringing perishable agricultural produce like vegetables and fruits to the market in  a  short  period  of  time  by  having  facilities  in  the  train  with  frozen containers to build a seamless national cold supply chain for perishables to realise the goal of doubling farmers incomes by 2022; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and  the progress made route-wise and zonewise so far?

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## ANSWER (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) and ((b):  Under the Kisan Rail Project, potential circuits for movement of  vegetables,  fruits  and  other  perishables    are  being  identified  in and State Governments.  The assessment is being done on the basis of seasonal availability of these items for both way traffic, so as to obtain efficiency consultation with Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Agriculture/Animal Husbandry/ Fisheries Departments of and economies of scale.

Under the  Kisan  Rail  Project,  two  train  services  viz.  Devlali&  Kolhapur (Maharashtra) to Muzaffarpur (Bihar) and Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh) to Adarsh  Nagar  (Delhi)  are  already  operational.  Another  service  from Yeshwanthpur (Karnataka) to Nizamuddin (Delhi) will become operational very  soon.    Besides,  a  reefer  container  train  service  is  also  running between Tadipatri (Andhra Pradesh) to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust for export of banana.

Container  Corporation  (CONCOR)  has  also  established  a  cold  storage Reefer Park for export of perishables at their Inland Container Depot at Dadri.    In  addition,  Central  Railside  Warehousing  Company  (CRWC)  has developed a temperature controlled storage facility at Fatuha (Bihar) and another such facility is under development at Mancheswar (Odisha). ********
Lok Sabha Question No. 629 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: IPR in Defence
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Manoj Kumar Tiwari, Ravi Kishan Shukla, Sangamlal Kadedin Gupta, Ravindra Kushawaha

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.629

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 th  SEPTEMBER, 2020

## IPR IN DEFENCE

629. SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:

SHRI RAVI KISHAN:

SHRI SANGAM LAL GUPTA:

SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  measure  to promote  self-reliance  in  Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in defence sector;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the impact of such measures on cost savings; and
- (d)  the  challenges  before  the  defence  sector  to  attract  institutions  from  private  and  public sector for IPR?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

(a) to (d):  In 2018, Ministry of Defence, Department of Defence Production has launched a programme  'Mission  Raksha  Gyan  Shakti  (MRGS)'  to  promote  self-reliance  and  have  an enabling framework for creation of Intellectual Property (IP) and management of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) in Indian Defence sector.  Since the launch of programme MRGS, a total  of  1560  IP  applications  have  been  filed  by  the  personnel  of  Defence  Public  Sector Undertakings  (DPSUs)/Ordnance  Factories  (OFs).    A  major  IPR  Awareness  Program  has been  launched  and  a  total  of  25000  personnel  have  been  trained  till  31  August,  2020.    A nodal Intellectual Property Facilitation Cell (IPFC) has been set under Directorate General of Quality Assurance to create awareness about IPRs.  A comprehensive policy on creation of IP and  Management  of  IPRs  in  DPSUs  and  OFs  has  been  promulgated  in  November,  2019. Innovative  research  in  DPSUs  and  Ordnance  Factories  has  enabled  the  development  of certain materials, components/assemblies/sub-assemblies that result in performance upgradation of existing  systems/platforms and simultaneously reducing India's dependence on imports.  Some of the challenges faced in attracting private and public sector entities for IPRs  is  the  risk  of  leakage  of  classified  information  regarding  defence  technology  due  to mandatory disclosures associated with IPR filing and for combating IPR infringement.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 628 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Setting up of National Recruitment Agency
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: Pritam Gopinath Munde, K. Subbarayan, Chandra Sekhar Sahu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 628

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.09.2020)

## SETTING UP OF NATIONAL RECRUITMENT AGENCY

## 628. DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE: SHRI SUBBARAYAN K.: SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has decided to set up a National Recruitment Agency (NRA) which  will  conduct  a  Common  Eligibility  Test  for  Government  jobs/all  non-gazetted posts including Railways, public sector banks and other public sector undertakings;
- (b) if so, the details and the salient features of such agency along with the fate of the existing central Government recruiting agencies like SSC, RRB etc.;
- (c) whether the allocation of existing recruitment agencies viz. UPSC, SSC, RRB, etc. will be diluted after operation of new NRA in the country; and
- (d) if so, the details 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) & (b):  Yes, Sir. In order to mitigate the hardships to candidates seeking Government jobs by providing the same platform to all candidates, and with a view to set a new standard of equity and  inclusiveness  in  recruitment,  Government  has  set  up  the  National  Recruitment  Agency (NRA), vide order, dated 28.08.2020. The NRA will be an independent autonomous organization to  conduct  the  Common  Eligibility  Test  (CET)  to  screen/shortlist  candidates  for  certain categories of posts in Central Government, for which recruitment is carried out through the Staff Selection  Commission  (SSC),  Railway  Recruitment  Boards  (RRBs)  and  Institute  of  Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS).

The  existing  Central  Government  recruiting  agencies  like  SSC,  RRBs,  &  IBPS  would continue to conduct domain-specific examinations/tests as per their requirement.

(c) & (d):  No, Sir. The NRA will conduct only the preliminary screening of candidates through the CET. Based on the score obtained in the CET conducted by NRA, candidates may appear in the domain-specific examinations/tests to be conducted by SSC, RRBs & IBPS respectively for the actual recruitment.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 626 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Vocal for Local
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Jayanta Kumar Roy, Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Bhola Singh, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Raja Amareshwara Naik, Sukanta Majumdar

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 626.

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

## VOCAL FOR LOCAL

## 626.   DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:

SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK:

DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

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

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether Government has launched compaign, 'Vocal for Local' for promotion of local brands and domestic manufacturing;
- (b) if so, the details thereof including the allocation of funds in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government has assessed the impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Industry;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether trade including export has significantly reduced during the lockdown and if so, the details thereto?

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

- (a) & (b): Yes. Local brands and domestic manufacturing are being encouraged via  marketing  initiatives  and  customized  incentives  by  the  different Ministries. Phased Manufacturing Programme and Performance Linked Incentives have been introduced for certain specified products. DPIIT is also  promoting  the  sale  and  manufacturing  of  Indian  toys  and  other Indian products.
- (c) & (d): Department  for  Promotion  of  Industry  &  Internal  Trade  (DPIIT)  has been regularly monitoring and analyzingthe impact of Covid-19 pandemic on Indian industry. Various sectors were affected due to the

nation-wide  lockdown.  However,  after  the  lockdown  was  relaxed,  we see significant improvement in several sectors of the economy.

- (e): Both  exports  and  imports  declined  during  the  lockdown  period.  The trade balance too declined and turned into a trade surplus during June, 2020. The global disruption of supply chains and the overall decrease in  demand  led  to  the  decline  in  exports.  However,  exports  are  now picking up and have almost reached the pre-covid levels.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 624 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Procurement of Pinaka Rocket Launchers
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Bhola Singh, Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Raja Amareshwara Naik, Sukanta Majumdar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.624

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 th  SEPTEMBER, 2020

## PROCUREMENT OF PINAKA ROCKET LAUNCHERS

## 624. SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR: SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK: DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

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

- (a) whether the Defence Ministry signed a deal with two leading domestic defence majors to procure Pinaka rocket launchers for six Army regiments and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Ministry  has  hastened the  process  of  restructuring  the  armed  forces  as  the new  air  defence  command  proposed  to  be  set  up  under  the  Indian  Air  Force  (IAF)  at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the other new steps being taken by the Ministry during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Country?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

- (a)  The Government of India has signed contracts with M/s Tata Power Company Limited (TPCL)  and  M/s  Larsen  &  Toubro  (L&T)  on  31 st August,  2020  for  supply  of  Pinaka Regiments.
- (b)  Creation of an Air Defence Command under Indian Air Force with integrated resources of the three Services is under consideration with Department of Military Affairs (DMA).
- (c)    MoD (Acq) has issued following orders on Force  Majeure (FM) in capital acquisition contracts with Indian Contractors/Sellers/Vendors due to COVID-19 measures:
- (i) Force majeure shall be applicable for a period of four months i.e. 25 th March, 2020 to 24 th July, 2020.

(ii)  Duration  of  this  Force  Majeure  will  be  excluded  while  calculating  the  delay  in delivery of contracted equipment/service and imposition of Liquidated Damages (LD) charges.

(iii)  Interim and Final Delivery Period of the stage(s) of the contract that affected by lockdown, will stand extended by four months without imposition of any LD charges. However,  the  Vendor  is  free  to  deliver  the  item  well  within  the  extended  Delivery Period (DP) on account of FM.

(iv)  No separate contract specific amendments are required to be made to give effect to this order.

(v)    The  vendors  to  be  intimated  about  the  above  mentioned  amendment  to  the concerned capital acquisition contracts on account of Force Majeure (FM).

*****