opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1021 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-07
Subject: Recruitment Policy of Forest Department
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Manickam Tagore B

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1021

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2020

## Recruitment Policy of Forest Department

## 1021. SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B.:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

| (a)   | whether the Government has observed that the recruitment policy of the forest department provides more opportunities to general graduates rather than forestry graduates;   |
|-------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| (b)   | if so, the details thereof;                                                                                                                                                 |
| (c)   | whether it is fact that the number of forestry graduates recruited to the forest departments is very less;                                                                  |
| (d)   | if so, the details thereof and whether the Union Government has issued any guidelines to the State Governments in this regard;                                              |
| (e)   | if so, the details thereof;                                                                                                                                                 |
| (f)   | if not, the reasons therefor; and                                                                                                                                           |
| (g)   | the details of other professional courses approved by the Government for recruitment in forest departments?                                                                 |

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

- (a) The  recruitment  to  Indian  Forest  Service  (IFS)  is  governed  by  the  rules  for Competitive  Examination  to  be  held  by  the  UPSC  and  notified  from  time  to  time  by  this Ministry. In terms of Rule 7 of the said notification ' A candidate must hold a Bachelor's degree with at least one of the subjects, namely: Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics and Zoology or Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Forestry or in Engineering of any University incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India or other educational institutions established by an  Act  of  Parliament  or  declared  to  be  deemed  as  a  University  under  Section  3  of  the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 or possess an equivalent qualification. '
- (b) Does not arise.
- (c) to (f)    The Ministry has not observed any such fact.
- (g)             As mentioned in Point (a) above.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 1020 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-07
Subject: Sex Ratio at Birth
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Rajiv Pratap Rudy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1020

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2020

## SEX RATIO AT BIRTH

## 1020.  SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there has been improvement in the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) across the country, on account of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Abhiyan;
- (b) if  so,  the  details thereof along with the details of districts with the most marked improvement in SRB across the country;
- (c) whether the Government has noticed any improvement in the literacy rate of girls as a result of this campaign; and
- (d) if  so,  the  details thereof along with the average female literacy rate before and after  the  implementation  of  the  Beti  Bachao,  Beti  Padhao  Abhiyan,  State/UTwise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a) to (b) Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme was launched during F.Y. 2014-15 with overall  goal  to  celebrate  the  girl  child  and  enable  her  education.  Sex  Ratio  at  Birth (SRB) is showing improving trends and has increased from 918 to 931 at National level during  the  time  period  between  F.Y.  2014-15&  2018-19.Out  of  640  districts  (as  per census 2011),395 districts have shown improvement in SRB during this period, as per reports  of  Health  Management  Information  System  of  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family Welfare
- (c)  to  (d)      The  literacy  data  in  the  country  is  collected  through  decennial  census conducted by Registrar General of India.  The female literacy rate in the age group of 7 and above as per last Census 2011 is 64.63 percent.  Gross Enrolment Ratio of girls at secondary education level was 80.51% in 2017-18 (provisional) as per Unified District Information System for Education (U-DISE).

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1018 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-07
Subject: Lithium Batteries
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Nihal Chand Chauhan, Jaskaur Meena

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.1018 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07/02/2020

## LITHIUM BATTERIES

## †1018. SHRI NIHAL CHAND:

## SHRIMATI JASKAUR MEENA:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY वान और ौयोगक मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) the quantum of lithium battery imported during the last three years and the current year;
- (b) the details of expenditure incurred on the import of these batteries during the said period, State-wise including Rajasthan;
- (c) the details of the measures being taken by the Government to cut the import thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to start any mission across the country in this regard;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the details of the estimated expenditure thereon?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE; MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

वाय और परवार कयाण मंी ; वान और ौयोगक मंी ;

और पृ वी वान मंी

डॉ. हष वधन

- (a) & (b):  The quantity of lithium batteries imported and expenditure thereon during the financial years 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 (upto 30 th Nov 2019) is 17,46,81,591 units valued at US$  383.80  million,  313324427  valued  at  US$727.24  million,  712576757  valued  at  US$  1254.94 million and 45,03,38,559 units valued at US$ 929.26 million, respectively.
- (c) Development  of  lithium  ion  cells  and  battery  technology  has  been  taken  up  indigenously which has been successfully used for space applications.
- (d)  to  (f):  The  Union  Cabinet  on  8 th March  2019  approved  setting  up  of  a  National  Mission  on Transformative  Mobility  and  Battery  Storage  in  NITI  Aayog  to  drive  clean,  connected,  shared, sustainable and holistic mobility initiatives.

The Mission is supported by an Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee chaired by CEO, NITI Aayog and comprising of the Secretaries of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Power, Ministry of  New  and  Renewable Energy,  Department of  Heavy Industry, Department of Science and Technology, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade  and Director General, Bureau of Industrial Standards.

No separate budget has been earmarked for the Mission.

*********
Lok Sabha Question No. 1017 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-07
Subject: Cities Identified under National Clean Air Programme
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Jayadev Galla, Balashowry Vallabbhaneni

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION N0. 1017

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2020

## Cities Identified under National Clean Air Programme

## 1017.  SHRI JAYADEV GALLA:

## SHRI BALASHOWRY VALLABHANENI:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Guntur and Krishna districts in AndhraPradesh have been identified under National  Clean  AirProgramme  to  tackle  air  pollution  and  bring  downparticulate matter to acceptable levels;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the goals setto be achieved under the programme by 2024;
- (c) the  details  of  city-specific  Action  Plan  preparedby  the  Government  to  achieve  the goals set by 2024; and
- (d) the details of funds allocated, approved, releasedand spent for this purpose so far?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO )

(a) to d) The Central Government launched National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) as a longterm,  time-bound,  national  level  strategy  to  tackle  the  air  pollution  problem  across  the country in a comprehensive manner with targets to achieve 20 % to 30 % reduction in PM10 and  PM2.5  concentrations  by  2024  keeping  2017  as  the  base  year  for  the  comparison  of concentration. Under NCAP, 102 non-attainment cities have been identified including Guntur and Vijayawada from Guntur and Krishna districts respectively in Andhra Pradesh based on ambient air quality data  for  the  period  2011  -  2015  and  WHO report  2014/2018.  The city specific Action Plans have been prepared which inter-alia include measures for strengthening the monitoring network, reducing vehicular/industrial emissions, increasing public awareness etc.

For  the  cities  with  million  plus  population  and  PM10>90µg/m³,  MoEF&CC  has  earmarked ₹10 Crores for various components that inter-alia includes Installation and commissioning of Continuous  Ambient  Air  Quality  Monitoring  Stations  (CAAQMS),  Creating  green  buffer zone along the roads, Mechanical street sweeper, Mobile Enforcement Unit, Public awareness and capacity building activities, Water sprinkler.  For the cities with population, less than 5 lakhs, funds of ₹10 lakhs per city has been allocated and for cities with a population of 5 to10

lakhs,  ₹20  lakhs  per  city  has  been  allocated  for  capacity  building  and  public  awareness programs.    Further,  under  NCAP,  Committees  at  State  level  namely  Steering  Committee, Monitoring  Committee and  Implementation  Committee  have  been  constituted  for  effective implementation and monitoring of the city specific action plans to reduce air pollution.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 1012 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-07
Subject: Media Houses
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Mahua Moitra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1012 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2020

## MEDIA HOUSES

## 1012. SHRIMATI MAHUA MOITRA:

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

The  number  and  names  of  all  news  channels,  newspapers,  radio  outlets  and  other media  houses  providing  news  and  permitted  to  operate  in  India  along  with  their ultimate beneficiary ownership details including shareholdings and intermediaries?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE; MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER  OF  HEAVY  INDUSTRIES  AND  PUBLIC  ENTERPRISES (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR) As  on  31.1.2020,  there  are  386  Private  Satellite  News  Channels permitted by Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. Details of all the permitted news channels are available on http://broadcastseva.gov.in/webpage-User-tvchannels. As per the record of Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI), 1,44,893 newspapers/periodicals have been registered as on 20.1.2020. Updated list of registered newspapers is available on the website of RNI i.e. www.rni.nic.in. Under the FM Radio Phase III policy guidelines, Private FM Radios are permitted to carry the news bulletins of All India Radio.

- …….
Lok Sabha Question No. 1011 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-07
Subject: Paid News
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: P.R. Natarajan

## PAID NEWS

1011.  SHRI NATARAJAN P. R.

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION & BROADCASTING be pleased to state:-

- a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  emergence  of  'Paid  News' phenomenon  in  media  world  is  distorting  parliamentary  democracy  in India and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- b) the number of such cases brought to the notice of the Government and the names of the media channels/ houses who have been found involved therein; and
- c) the action taken/ being taken by the Government to curb this phenomenon in the Indian media?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE: MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES {SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR}

(a)  to  (c)  The  Press  Council  of  India  (PCI)  has  an  institutional mechanism  for  redressing  any  complaint  including  complaints  on 'Paid  News'  and  the  same  is  dealt  in  accordance  with  the  Press Council (Procedure for Inquiry) Regulation, 1979 which enables it to warn, admonish or censure a newspaper, news agency, editor or a journalist. Adjudications done by PCI are available on the website of PCI http://presscouncil.nic.in.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.1011 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2020

Election  Commission  of  India  (ECI)  has  a  well-structured mechanism  at  the  national,  state  and  district  levels  to  receive complaints  relating  to  'Paid  News'  and  take  necessary  remedial action. The expenditure involved in these cases is included in the election expenditure of the candidates against which the paid news cases are confirmed. The  Election  Commission  of  India  has  informed  that  a  large number of cases of paid news have been reported to it during the year 2017 to 2019 in the General election to the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies as under:

| General Elections to         |   No. of cases reported |
|------------------------------|-------------------------|
| State Legislative Assemblies |                     799 |
| Lok Sabha - 2019             |                    4302 |

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1008 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-07
Subject: Hospitals under National Rural Health Mission
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Sanjay(Kaka) Ramchandra Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1008 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7 th FEBRUARY, 2020

## HOSPITALS UNDER NATI ONAL RURAL HEALTH MI SSION

## 1008. SHRI SANJAY KAKA PATIL:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to make any provisions to modernise and mechanise the rural hospitals of Maharashtra under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM);
- (b)  whether  the  Gover nment  has  provided  or p oposes  to provide  funds  district - wise  in Maharashtra;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  the  details  of  the  guidelines  of  the  Government for  contractual  recruitment  of skilled/professional employees under NRHM?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (c): National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) has now subsumed under National Health Mission (NHM). Under NHM, support is provided to States/ UTs including State of Maharashtra  for  strengthening  of  their  healthcare  system  including  upgradation  of public health facilities. This support is based on the proposals received from State form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs). The proposals are a ppraised in National Programme  Coordination  Committee  (NPCC)  meetings  and  approvals  are  accorded  to States/ UTs in the form of Record of Proceedings (RoPs).

Public Health and Hospitals, being a State subject, the States are fully invol implementati on of NHM and have the flexibility to plan and implement state specific act plans. The State PIPs are envisaged to be an aggregate of the district/city health acti and include activities to be carried out at the state level.

The District specific RoPs are released and implemented by respective States/ U Central share under NHM is released to the respective States, which in turn releases Districts.

- (d): 'Public  Health  Hospitals'  being  a  State  subject  and  the  implemen tation  of  NHM including contractual  recruitment  of  skilled/professional  employees  is  done  by  respect States/ UTs as per their guidelines and policies.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1007 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-07
Subject: Drugs under Strict Prescription Norms
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Andimuthu Raja

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1007 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7 th FEBRUARY, 2020

## DRUGS UNDER STRICT P RESCRIPTION NORMS

## 1007. SHRI A. RAJA:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of drugs put under strict prescription norms and without prescription norms across the country including Tamil Nadu;
- (b) whether the cases of selling the restricted drugs withou t prescription have come to the notice of the Government in some of the States/UTs;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the action taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (e) the steps being taken by the Government to curb such ases in future?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (e): Sale and distribution of drugs is regulated in terms of the provisions Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Drugs & Cosmetics Ru les, 1945 made thereunder through a system of licensing and inspection.

As per the provisions of the Act and Rules, drugs included in Schedule H, H1 an are required to be sold by retail only on the prescription of Registered Medical Prac ners (RMP). This provision is applicable to the State of Tamil Nadu also. The State Lice Authorities are empowered to take action on any violation of the conditions of sale lic

Concerns have been received from time to time regarding sale of prescription drug retail without prescription of Registered Medical Practitioners. Accordingly, State/U Controllers are requested to sensitize their enforcement officials fro m time to time to keep strong vigil to ensure that such drugs are not sold by retail without prescription of Medical Practitioners and that they are sold in accordance with Drugs and Cosmetics 1940 and Rules thereunder.

In this rega rd, various advisories have been issued to all stakeholders including Sta UT Drug Controllers and the last such advisory was issued on 23.12.2019.

me

As per the information received from the Government of Tamil Nadu, 282 cases hav been filed, durin g the period from 01.04.2019 to 31.01.2020, against the sale concerns having sold the prescription drugs without the prescriptions of registered practitioners.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1005 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-07
Subject: Amendment in Cinematograph Act
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1005 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2020

## AMENDMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPH ACT

1005.  SHRI HIBI EDEN

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government proposes to amend Cinematograph Act and Rules in order to implement the recommendations of Shyam  Benegal led panel completely;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the report submitted by Shyam Benegal Committee of Experts has been examined clause-wise in the Ministry and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has decided to include new categories of certification of items viz. UA12+, UA15+ and AC (Adult with caution); and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE; MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR):

(a) to (e) The  Shyam  Benegal  Committee  report  was  examined clause-wise in the Ministry. Consultation with other concerned Ministries and Stakeholders also conducted.

The  Amendment  to  the  Cinematograph  Act  and  Rules  is  under consideration of the Lok Sabha Standing Committee of Information and Technology.

No proposal to include new categories of certification  of  items viz. UA12+, UA15+ and AC (Adult with caution) is under consideration of the Government.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1004 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-07
Subject: Ban on Normal Cigarettes and Bidis
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Faizal P.P. Mohammed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1004 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7 th FEBRUARY, 2020

## BAN ON NORMAL CIGARE TTES AND BIDIS

## 1004. SHRI MOHAMMED FAIZAL P.P.:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to prohibit use of normal cigarettes and bidis in similar way as that of Electronic Cigarettes/Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems, if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) the reasons for banning some of the tobacco pr du ts which Heat but not Burn when similar tobacco products like cigarettes are already under control of the provisions of statutes like the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA)?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a): No such specific proposal is under consideration at present. However, smoking in public places is prohibited under COTPA, 2003, provided that in a hotel having thirty rooms or a restaurant having seating capacity of thirty persons or more and in the airports, a provision for a designated smoking area or space may be made.
- (b): Heat not Burn are battery operated devices and hence a reincluded in the definition of e -cigarettes  as  per  Section  3(d)  of  The  Prohibition  of  Electronic  Cigarettes  (Prod Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) 2019.