opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2629 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-04
Subject: Abida Express
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ashok Kumar Rawat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2629 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2019

## ABIDA EXPRESS

†2629.  SHRI ASHOK KUMAR RAWAT:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken/proposes to take any steps to resume the operations  of  Abida  Express  which  used  to  run  between Kanpur-Balaman-Neemsar via  Shahjahanpur to Delhi;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (c)   No train service with the name 'Abida Express' has been operated between Kanpur and Delhi via Balamau-Shahjahanpur in the recent past. As such, its restoration is not possible. Further, introduction  of  a  train  between  Kanpur  and  Delhi  via  BalamauShahjahanpur is also not feasible, at present, due to operational and resource constraints.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2628 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-04
Subject: PSLV Mission
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: K. Muraleedharan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2628

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 04, 2019 PSLV MISSION

2628.   SHRI K. MURALEEDHARAN:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether  the  next  three  PSLV  missions  will  carry  14  small foreign satellites;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) Whether  ISRO  has  bagged  orders  from  four international customers in this regard; and
- (d)
- if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PG &

PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a) In  the  three  PSLV  missions  viz.  PSLV-C47,  PSLV-C48  and PSLV-C49,  a  total  of  27  foreign  customer  satellites  will  be launched as co-passengers to Indian national satellites.
- (b) Out of the 27 foreign customer satellites, 24 satellites belong to  USA  and  1  each  from  Israel,  Lithuania  and  Japan.  These foreign customer satellites are launched as part of commercial
- arrangements between NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and the foreign companies.
- (c) Towards launching these 27 foreign customer satellites, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) has entered into eight commercial launch service agreements with six foreign entities.
- (d) The  eight  commercial  launch  service  agreements  that  NSIL has entered into are with Planet Inc., USA (1); Spaceflight Inc., USA (3); Tyvak Nano Satellite Systems Inc., USA (1); NanoRacks  LLC,  USA  (1);  Municipality  of  Herzliya,  Israel  (1); and NanoAvionica LLC, Lithuania (1).

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2626 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-04
Subject: Expert Group for Evaluation of Poverty
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2626 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2019

## Expert Group for Evaluation of Poverty

## †2626. SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether NITI Aayog/erstwhile Planning Commission had constituted a expert group in June, 2012 to review the process of evaluation of poverty under the Chairmanship of Dr. C. Rangarajan;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether this group has submitted its report;
- (d) if so, the salient features of the said report; and
- (e) if not, the reasons for not presenting the report?

## 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  (e):  The  erstwhile  Planning  Commission,  in  June  2012,  constituted  an  Expert  Group under the Chairmanship of Dr. C. Rangarajan to Review the Methodology for Measurement of Poverty. The Expert Group submitted its report to erstwhile Planning Commission on 30th June 2014. The Government is examining the report submitted by the Expert Group.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2625 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-04
Subject: Religious Freedom
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Midhun Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2625 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2019

## RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

## 2625.  SHRI P. V. MIDHUN REDDY:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the United States have called upon India to uphold the universal   rights   to   religious   freedom   and   protect   vulnerable individuals;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the response of the Government thereto?

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

(a) to (c) Every year, the U.S. Secretary of State prepares and submits to the U.S. Congress an annual report on international religious freedom, which contains the U.S. Government's assessment of the state of religious freedom   in   every   country,   including   India,   drawing   upon   reports   on incidents   involving   alleged   violations   of   religious   rights   during   the reporting year. We consider such activities an internal exercise of the U.S. Government. We believe that, no foreign entity or Government has any locus standi to pronounce on our citizens' fundamental rights. India is a vibrant pluralistic society where the Constitution provides for freedom of religion,   and   where   democratic   governance   and   rule   of   law   further promote and protect all fundamental  rights.   The   Government   is   fully committed to the rights of Indian citizens enshrined in our Constitution and the laws.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 2624 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-04
Subject: Charges for Wi-fi Services
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Behanan Benny, Bheemrao Baswanthrao Patil, Khagen Murmu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2624

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2019

## CHARGES FOR WI-FI SERVICES

## 2624. SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:

SHRI B.B. PATIL:

SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning to introduce Wi-Fi services inside the trains and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  the  time  frame  by  when  Wi-Fi  service  inside  trains  will  be started;
- (c)  whether  the  passengers  will  be  charged  for  the  Wi-Fi  services inside the train and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the number of railway stations having free Wi-Fi services;
- (e)  whether  there  is  a  delay  in  providing  Wi-Fi  services  in  the remaining railway stations; and
- (f)  the routes and trains in which the said facility is planned to be provided?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a)  &  (b):  Ministry  of  Railways  have  been  exploring  suitable  cost effective  technology  for  providing  Wi-Fi  based  internet  facility  in trains.

As  a  pilot  project,  Wi-Fi  based  internet  facility  was  provided  in Howrah  Rajdhani  Express  Trains  through  Satellite  Communication technology.  This  technology  was  capital  intensive,  with  recurring costs  in  the  form  of  bandwidth  charges  and  thus  was  not  cost effective.  Also,  the  internet  bandwidth  availability  to  passengers was inadequate. Hence the project was dropped.

As and when suitable technology is available, necessary action for provision of facility shall be taken.

(c):  Decision  on  charging  for  Wi-Fi  facility  shall  be  taken  as  and when the facility is introduced in the trains.

(d):  Wi-Fi  services  have  been  provided  at  5463  stations  upto  26 th November, 2019.

(e): No, Sir.

(f):  This  facility  is  planned  to  be  provided  in  important  passenger carrying trains on Indian Railways, as and when suitable technology is available.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2621 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-04
Subject: Engineering Clusters under MIIUS
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2621.

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 04 TH  DECEMBER, 2019.

## ENGINEERING CLUSTERS UNDER MIIUS

## 2621.  SHRI JASWANT SINGH BHABHOR:

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

वाणिज्य

## एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether any engineering cluster has been set up under the Modified Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme (MIIUS) in Gujarat;
- (b) if  so,  the  district,  location  and  date-wise  clusters  set  up  and  the  funds sanctioned/allocated for this purpose; and
- (c) the  names of  the  clusters  that  have  started  functioning  and  their  objectives thereof?

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

- (a): No, Sir, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under Ministry of Commerce & Industry has not set up any engineering cluster under Modified Industrial Infrastructure  Upgradation  Scheme (MIIUS) in Gujarat.
- (b) & (c): Do not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2620 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-04
Subject: Puttur-Attipattu New Railway Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Durga Prasad Rao Balli

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2620 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2019

## PUTTUR-ATTIPATTU NEW RAILWAY LINE

2620. SHRI BALLI DURGA PRASAD RAO:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  sanction  New Railway line from Puttur-Attipattu via Nagalapuram, Pitchatur of Chittor District of Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  received  any  proposal  or  any request in this regard; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## 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.  2620  BY    SHRI  BALLI  DURGA  PRASAD RAO TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 04.12.2019  REGARDING PUTTUR-ATTIPATTU NEW RAILWAY LINE (a)  to  (d):  Attipattu-Puttur  new  line  project  via  Nagalapuram  and Pichachatur (88.30 Km) was sanctioned during 2008-09. Latest cost of this project is ` 1105 crore. An expenditure of ` 3.34 crore has been incurred upto March, 2019 and an outlay of ` 2 crore has been provided for this project for the year 2019-20. This  project  was  sanctioned  in  September,  2011  on  50:50  cost sharing with Ennore Port Trust (EPT), Ministry of Shipping. However, EPT in November, 2012 withdrew from the project and stated that they would not share the cost of the project as the anticipated traffic in the section is not expected to be realized. Final Location Survey  was  completed  and indent for land acquisition for 189.43 hectare was submitted to Government of Tamil Nadu  on 30.11.2011 and for 181.55 hectare was  submitted to Government of Andhra Pradesh on 13.03.2012. However, the Hon'ble High Court of Madras has declared Tamil Nadu  Industrial  Purposes  Act  1997  as  illegal  and  quashed  all  land acquisition  process  vide  judgement  dt.  03.07.2019  and  accordingly, land acquisition process could not be taken forward.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2618 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-04
Subject: Services and Efficiency of BSNL and MTNL
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Kotha Prabhakar  Reddy, Dayakar Pasunoori

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2618 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH   DECEMBER, 2019

## SERVICES AND EFFICIENCY OF BSNL AND MTNL

## 2618.   SHRI KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY: SHRI PASUNOORI DAYAKAR:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is satisfied with the telecom services being provided by BSNL and MTNL;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  the service and efficiency of BSNL/MTNL in each State in future;
- (c) whether the Government is satisfied with the services being provided by BSNL/MTNL through 4G and 5G network; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  &  (b)  Telecom  Regulatory  Authority  of  India  (TRAI)  monitors  the  performance  of  telecom  service providers  including  Bharat  Sanchar  Nigam  Limited  (BSNL)  and  Mahanagar  Telephone  Nigam  Limited (MTNL)  against the benchmark for various Quality of Service (QoS) parameters laid down by TRAI by way of QoS regulations issued from time to time, through Quarterly Performance Monitoring Reports (PMRs) and the performance is assessed for the service area as a whole.

As  per  PMR  issued  by  TRAI  for  the  quarter  ending  September  2019,  MTNL  is  meeting  all  the benchmarks for all the parameter in its Licensed Service Areas (LSAs).

As  per  PMR  issued  by  TRAI  for  the  quarter  ending  September  2019,  BSNL  is  meeting  all  the benchmarks for basic (wireline) and broadband services.  For Cellular Mobile Telephone Service, BSNL is meeting  the  benchmark  for  all  the  parameters  in  all  of  its  Licensed  Service  Areas  (LSAs)  except  for  the parameter for call drops in West Bengal service area only.

(c) & (d) At present, except at few places where BSNL is providing 4G services on limited scale, BSNL and  MTNL  are  not  providing  services  through  4G  and  5G  network.    The  Cabinet  in  its  meeting  held  on 23.10.2019 approved the revival plan for BSNL and MTNL which inter-alia, includes administrative allotment of spectrum to BSNL and MTNL for providing 4G services.

************
Lok Sabha Question No. 2616 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-04
Subject: Rules for Higher Officials
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Annpurna Devi, Giridhari Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2616 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH   DECEMBER, 2019

## RULES FOR HIGHER OFFICIALS

## †2616. SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI: SHRI GIRIDHARI YADAV:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  higher  officials  of  Ministry  of  Communications,  Bharat  Sanchar  Nigam  Limited (BSNL)  and  Mahanagar  Telephone  Nigam  Limited  (MTNL)  are  working  in  private  telecom companies  post  retirement  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons  therefor  along  with  the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (b) the details of rules and regulations, if any, for higher officials to work in any other company post retirement?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) Commercial employment of a pensioner before expiry of one year from the date of retirement,  who immediately before his retirement was a member  of Central Civil Service Group 'A' requires sanction of Government in terms of Rule-10 of Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 as amended from time to time. Further, post retirement commercial employment of BSNL and MTNL officials is regulated in terms of Rule 17(5) of BSNL CDA Rules, 2006 and Rule 13A of MTNL CDA Rules, 1998 respectively as amended from time to time.

As per available  records,  details  of  higher  officials  who  joined  commercial  employment  in private  telecom  companies  in  violation  of  Central  Civil  Service  (Pension)  Rules,  1972  and  action taken by Government are as under:

- i. Shri P K Khindri, former Chief General Manager, BSNL, T&D Circle, Jabalpur penalized with  stoppage  of  full  pension  for  a  period  of  two  years  for  joining  in  M/s  Reliance Industries.
- ii. Shri Shabbir Ahmed, former Director, BSNL Corporate Office, New Delhi penalized with deduction of 25% of pension for one year for joining M/s Reliance Infocomm. Limited.
- iii. Shri Satya Pal Kalsi, former Chief General Manager, BSNL, Uttar Pradesh (East) Circle penalized  with  deduction  of  25%  of  pension  for  one  year  for  joining  M/s  Reliance Infocomm. Limited.
- iv. Shri P. Harihar Kumar, Former General Manager, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL)  penalized  with  forfeiture  of pension  for the period  from  01.07.1999  to 24.05.2000 for joining M/s Bharti Cellular Limited.

************
Lok Sabha Question No. 2614 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-04
Subject: Flooding in Coal Mines
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Arun Sao

## 2614.   SHRI ARUN SAO:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

(a) whether on 29th September, 2019 Dipka coal mine of SECL was submerged in water due to the flood in Lilagar river in Kobra district of Chhattisgarh and as a result the water could not be pumped out of the mines and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the production of coal has been affected due to the flooding and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the power generation was halted in NTPC, Sipat for about a week due to nonsupply of coal as a result of which the target set for annual coal production is likely to be affected;

(d) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to avoid recurrence of such incidents along with the details of the enquiry conducted in this regard and the action taken against the responsible persons?

## ANSWER

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

(a): Yes Sir, there was heavy rainfall started from 03.00 AM on 29.09.2019 and continued till evening.  At  about  3.00  PM,  there  was  a  sudden  increase  in  water  level  of  Lilagar  river, located  about  60  mtrs.  from  the  mine  boundary  in  Surbhondi-Renki  side.  The  sudden increase of water  was so high and heavy that it over flew its banks in the mine side and breached  the  embankment  to  enter  the  mine  at  a  width  of  about  30  to  40  mtrs.  Power supply was also got disrupted due to damage of Poles and Switches/Cables. The inrush of water gradually diminished and embankment by dumping of earthen material with the help of Dozer was made against River which was further strengthened. The pumping operation was restored on 01.10.2019 and presently 24,000 GPM pumping is being done.  About 60% of water has been dewatered.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  2614 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4.12.209

## ' Flooding in Coal Mines'

(b):  The  coal  Production  from  the  mine  was  restarted  immediately  after  two  days  of the incidence i.e. from 02.10.2019.  Presently the mine is producing 70,000 Tonnes coal per day, which will further increase.

(c)  to  (d):  Power  generation  from  NTPC  Sipat  got  affected  during  September  2019  and October, 2019 due to flooding of South Eastern Coalfields Ltd. (SECL) Dipka mine on 29 th September, 2019. Coal production target is  likely  to  be  affected  due  to  flooding  of  mine. However, SECL has taken actions to make up the shortfall in production by starting a new section in the same mine.

(e): To prevent recurrence of the incidence, following steps have been taken:

1. New HFL (Highest Flood Level) has been physically demarcated and embankment above the new HFL has been made with earth material.
2. Scientifically designed structured embankment with stone pitching will be constructed and construction work will be completed before onset of next monsoon.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2613 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-04
Subject: Deepfake Technology
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: S. Jothimani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2613

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2019

## DEEPFAKE TECHNOLOGY

## 2613     MS.  S.  JOTHIMANI:

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

(a) whether Government is aware of the recent development in 'Deepfake technology' and if so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reaction  of  the  Government  thereto  along  with  the measures taken by the Government to prevent its misuse; and

(b)  the  salient  features  of  the  proposed  National  Programme  on  Artificial  Intelligence especially with regard to tackling fake news?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a):  Yes,  Sir.  Government  is  aware  of  'Deepfake  Technology'  which  enables  to  allows alter/create  the  image  or  video  media  of  a  person  with  any  other  person's  image  or  video using artificial neural networks and deep learning/machine learning techniques.  The following measures  have been taken by government  to address such challenges of misinformation and rumours spreading via online platforms:

- (i) Ministry  of  Electronics  &  Information  Technology  (MeitY)  and  Ministry  of  Home Affairs (MHA) are in regular touch with various social media platforms to effectively address the issue of removal of objectionable content, under the provisions of IT Act 2000.
- (ii) Based  on  our  emphasis,  Social  media  platforms  have  implemented  initiatives  to address  the  issue  of  fake  news  on  their  platform,  such  as  limiting  forwards  and promoting fact checking.
- (iii)    MeitY  through  a  program,  namely,  Information  Security  Education  &  Awareness (ISEA),  has  been  creating  awareness  among  users  and  advising  them  not  to  share rumors/fake news. A dedicated website for information security awareness (https://www.infosecawareness.in) provides relevant awareness material.
- (v) MHA has created a Twitter Handle 'Cyber Dost' to spread awareness on cyber safety and cyber security. MHA has also published a Handbook for Adolescents/Students on Cyber Safety.

(b):    The  following  are  the  major  objectives  of  the  proposed  National  Programme  on Artificial Intelligence; with regard to tackling fake news:

- To establish a sustainable ecosystem for Artificial Intelligence in the country
- To  facilitate  AI  innovation,  evolution,  wide  spread  use  and  implementation  on bringing its benefits to citizens by preparing standards and enabling reforms including requisite changes in policies and laws
- To foster research and development in Artificial Intelligence and related technologies
- To build the capabilities in Artificial Intelligence at National and State level
- To bring out the global best practices and successful use cases for Indian Context
- To promote responsible AI deployment for the masses and generate public awareness

*******