opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1326 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: M. Phil degrees in the National Education Policy 2020
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Devji Mansingram Patel, Arjunlal Meena, P.P. Chaudhary, Kaushal Kishore, Sunil Kumar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.1326

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.09.2020

## M. PHIL DEGREES IN THE NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY 2020

1326.   SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA:

SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY:

SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE:

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

Will the MINISTER OF EDUCATION  be pleased to state:

- (a) the rationale behind ending the M. Phil degrees in the National Education Policy 2020;
- (b) whether this cessation will apply for M. Phil, in all courses and subjects;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d)  whether  some  other  course  structure  is  to  be  instituted  as  a  bridge  course  between  post graduate and PhD courses; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

(a) to (e): The Ministry of Education has announced the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) on 29.07.2020 after obtaining approval of Cabinet. In the NEP, it has been specified that the  HEIs  will  have  the  flexibility  to  offer  different  designs  of  Master's  programmes:  (a)  there may be a 2-year programme with the second year devoted entirely to research for those who have completed  the  3-year  Bachelor's  programme;  (b)  for  students  completing  a  4-year  Bachelor's programme with Research, there could be a 1-year Master's programme; and (c) there may be an integrated  5Master's degree or a 4-year Bachelor's degree with Research. The M.Phil. programme shall be discontinued.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1325 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Change in Labour Laws
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Kaushal Kishore, Arjunlal Meena, P.P. Chaudhary, Sunil Kumar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1325 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.09.2020

## CHANGE IN LABOUR LAWS

1325. SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE: SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA:

SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY: SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

Will  the  Minister  of  LABOUR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)whether any long-term change in labour laws is planned to provide incentive for economic activity in the Country;
- (b)if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  measure  to  ensure  social security to workers, especially migrant workers, transient specialists in light of changes in labour laws in different States; and (d)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a) to (d): Reform  in  labour  laws  is  a  continuous  process,  therefore, Central Government strives on regular basis to update the legislative system as per the need of the hour. The Ministry has taken steps to simplify,  amalgamate  and  rationalize  the  relevant  provisions  of  the existing Central Labour Laws into 4 Labour Codes. Out of the 4 Labour Codes, the Code on Wages, 2019, was notified on 8th August, 2019 in the  Gazette  of  India.   The  rest  3  Codes  i.e.   the Occupational  Safety Health  &  Working  Conditions  Code,  2019,  the Industrial  Relations Code, 2019 and the Code on Social Security, 2019 had been introduced

in  the  Lok  Sabha  in  2019  and referred  to  the  Parliamentary  Standing Committee on Labour for examination. After receipt of the reports of the  Standing  Committee,  the  requisite  steps  have  been  taken  for reintroduction of all these Codes. Simplification of provisions related to licence, registration and filing return and other such regulations will reduce the cost of compliance of establishments substantially which would incentivize the economic activity in the country, thus catalyzing the creation of employment opportunities in the country.

The 4 Labour Codes also envisage to further strengthen the protection available to workers, including migrant workers, in terms of statutory minimum wage, industrial dispute mechanism,  social  security  protection  and  healthcare  of  workers. Also,  the  Occupational  Safety,  Health  and  Working  Conditions  Code provides for maintenance of data base or record for inter-state migrant workers, besides extending portability of benefits and other protections.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1323 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Rate of Interest of EPFO
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Sudheer Gupta, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Bidyut Baran Mahato, Shrirang Appa Barne

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1323

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.09.2020

## RATE OF INTEREST OF EPFO

## 1323. SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

Will  the  Minister  of  LABOUR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)the rate of interest paid to the Employees' Provident Fund subscribers during each of the last three years;
- (b)whether  the  Employees'  Provident  Fund  Organization  (EPFO)  has proposed  further  reduced  interest  rate  on  Employees'  Provident Fund for the Financial Year, 2020;
- (c)if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons  therefor  along  with  the interest  rate  being  provided  on  Employees'  Provident  Fund  at present;
- (d)the  number  of  employees  likely  to  suffer  loss  as  a  result  thereof; and
- (e)the  total  number  of  such  employees  contributing  regularly  to  this Fund, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a): The  details  of  rate  of  interest  paid  to  the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) subscribers during the last three financial years  are as under:

Contd..2/-

:: 2 ::

| Year    |   Rate of Interest per annum ( in per cent.) |
|---------|----------------------------------------------|
| 2016-17 |                                         8.65 |
| 2017-18 |                                         8.55 |
| 2018-19 |                                         8.65 |

- (b) & (c): The  rate  of  interest  to  be  credited  to  EPF  members' accounts  is  based  on  Incomes  and  Liabilities  for  the  particular financial year as per Paragraph 60(4) of the EPF Scheme 1952. In view of  exceptional  circumstances  arising  out  of  COVID-19,  the  agenda regarding Interest Rate was reviewed by the Central Board, EPF in its 227th  Meeting  held  on 9 th   September,  2020  and  it  recommended  the earlier  rate  of  interest  @  8.50%  for  the  financial  year  2019-20  to  the Central  Government.  The  recommendation  of  the  Central  Board  of Trustees requires approval of the Government.
- (d) & (e): The  declaration  of  EPF  Rate  of  Interest  is  a  dynamic exercise depending upon the earnings of the particular year. There is no  fixed/  standard  rate  of  interest  from  which  the  declared  EPF interest rate can be compared to arrive at gain/loss to employees.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1320 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Paperless office work
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Raja Amareshwara Naik, Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Bhola Singh, Jayanta Kumar Roy, Sukanta Majumdar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1320 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.9.2020

## PAPERLESS OFFICE WORK

## 1320.  SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK: SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR: SHRI BHOLA SINGH: DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY: DR. SUKANTA MAJUMADAR:

Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any policy for promoting paperless office work in Central Educational Institutions (CEIs) to avoid spread of COVID-19, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  implementing  E-office programme  in  its subordinate autonomous offices including KVS, if so, the details thereof?
- (c) whether the students and staff of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan have been consuming huge  amount  of  papers  for  different  activities  like  office  work,  different  applications forms, exams etc;
- (d) the details thereof including funds utilised during the last three years;
- (e) whether there is an urgent need for introduction of e-office having various modules like leave application for employees of the KVS and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the steps being taken by the Government to encourage paperless work culture in the KVS to save operational cost, reduces carbon footprint in the wake of COVID-19?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

(a) & (b): To promote paperless office work with a view to avoiding spread of Covid-19, the use of a digital workplace solution called e-office has been intensified in the Ministry of Education and the autonomous organizations such as Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, Central Board of Secondary Education and National Council of Educational Research and Training.  Accordingly, file movements, processing of leave applications etc. are done  through  e-office.  Correspondence  through  e-mail  has  also  been  increased.    In  the educational institutions, transaction of curriculum is done through online mode and use of digital devices  is  also  encouraged.  To  the  extent  possible,  official  meetings  are  organized  through video conferencing mode to minimize physical interface.

(c) to (f): KVS has been taking steps to reduce paper usage by uploading all relevant forms on the website. Further, official processes like admissions, transfers etc. have been made online. Assessments are also now being carried out online especially in the wake of COVID-19.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1319 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Tribal Diaries Mobile App
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Raja Amareshwara Naik, Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Bhola Singh, Jayanta Kumar Roy, Sukanta Majumdar

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1319

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.09.2020

## TRIBAL DIARIES MOBILE APP

1319 . SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK: SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR: SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO: SHRI BHOLA SINGH: DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY: DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)           whether the Government has launched a Tribal Diaries Mobile App to reach   out

the grievances of the tribal people and if so, the details thereof; (b)            the  number  of  grievances  of  tribals  that  have  been  received/uploaded  through the said mobile app and the number of grievances that have been sorted out of them; (c)           whether the Government has considered this Mobile App as a way to check  the functioning of the systems at the grass-root level; (d)           if so, the details thereof; and (e)           other steps being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI  ARJUN  MUNDA)

(a) :           No, Sir. (b) to (d) :  In view of (a) above, does not arise. (e) :      The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances has developed a Public  Grievances portal empowering  the  citizen  to  lodge  their  grievances / complaints online from anywhere anytime and also enabling Government Departments to take redress action  within  prescribed  time  limit.  It  has two  interfaces: (a) Public Grievance lodging and monitoring system for citizens, and (b) Centralized Public Grievance and Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) for Ministries / Departments / Organizations. CPGRAMS is a web-enabled single window system, providing online access to: (i) citizens to raise their grievances, and (ii)nodal Public Grievance Officers in Government Ministries/Departments  to  take prompt action for redress.

The  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs   receives  representations  /  grievances  through  post,  in person as well as CPGRAMS. The same are processed as per extent guidelines on the issues raised and are appropriately addressed. Grievances pertaining to other organizations are forwarded to them for appropriate action. Petitioners are also apprised about  action  taken  on  their  grievances.   The  status  of  disposal  of  grievances  is  also regularly reviewed by the Ministry.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1313 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Skill Voucher/Wallets
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Gautham Sigamani Pon, C.N. Annadurai, Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar, Dhanush M Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1313 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.09.2020

## SKILL VOUCHER/WALLETS

## 1313.  SHRI GAUTHAM SIGAMANI PON SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR

## Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state:

- (a)       whether the Government has recently introduced skill vouchers/skill wallets to incentivize aspirants to undertake skill programme of their own choice and if so, the details thereof along with  the  aims  and  objectives  behind  introducing  such  vouchers  along  with  the  details  of  the benefits that are likely to be attained;
- (b)        whether  the  Government  plans  to  shift  from  subsidy-based  system  to  incentive  based Skill India Mission if so, whether the Government has been able to achieve the objectives and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)         the  amount  of  fund  allocated  for  the  said  project  and  the  other  steps  taken  by  the Government to boost Skill India throughout the country?
- (d)        whether  issuing  skill  vouchers  to  youths  has  helped  in  undertaking  various  skilling programmes and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)       whether the Government has received any complaint from youths regarding redemption of skill vouchers/skill wallets and if so, the details thereof and the corrective steps taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI R. K. SINGH)

- (a)        Ministry  of  Skill  Development  and  Entrepreneurship  presently  is  not  implementing  any skill vouchers/skill wallets scheme.
- (b)      The Ministry is implementing its flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 2016-20 which is a grant based scheme. Incentive structure is built into the scheme, the incentive being dependent on the number of trained persons getting actually employed or self employed after training.

(c)        Under the PMKVY scheme, so far Rs. 6221.39 Cr. has been released to National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and States/UTs. In addition to PMKVY, the Ministry of Skill Development  also  runs  other  skill  development  schemes  such  as  Jan  Shikshan  Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), creation/improvement of long term training  infrastructure  of  Industrial  Training  Institutes  (ITI),  etc.  In  addition,  20  other  Central Ministries / Departments  are  also  implementing  more  than  40  other  skill  development programmes.

(d) and (e)      In view of (a), question does not arise.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1308 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Redraw norms for deemed to be Universities
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel, Hemant Patil, Sujay Radhakrishna Vikhepatil, Unmesh Bhaiyyasaheb Patil, Shrikant Eknath Shinde

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1308 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.09.2020

## Redraw norms for deemed to be Universities

## 1308 . S HRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:

SHRI HEMANT SRIRAM PATIL:

DR. SUJAY RADHAKRISHNA VIKHE PATIL:

SHRI UNMESH BHAIYYASAHEB PATIL:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

## Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is considering to redraw norms for deemed to be universities;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and by when the norms are likely to be put in place;
- (c) the total number of such universities in the country and the number of applications pending for grant of deemed to be University status;
- (d) whether the Government has consulted/ proposes to consult all the stakeholders for making entry norms more stringent; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

- (a) & ( b): At present, there is no such proposal under consideration.
- (c) : At present, there are 124 Institutions Deemed to be Universities in the country. Further, 06 applications are received online through Deemed to be university portal for granting of Deemed to be University status.
- (d) & (e):  The eligibility norms for an institution to be declared as  deemed to be university are  mentioned  at  Clause  4.0  of  the  UGC  [Institutions  of  Deemed  to  be  Universities] Regulations, 2019. The above UGC Regulations, 2019 was finalized after consultation with all stakeholders.

The UGC [Institutions of Deemed to be Universities] Regulations, 2019 is available at UGC website: ugc.ac.in.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1307 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Inclusion of Jhodia Community in ST List
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1307

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.09.2020

## INCLUSION OF JHODIA COMMUNITY IN ST LIST

1307. SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)        whether  the  Government  is  proposing  to  include  Jhodia  community  in  the  list  of Scheduled Tribes and;
- (b)       if so, the details thereof on the current status and;
- (c)       if not, the reason for non-inclusion and the process by which Jhodia community will be included in the list of Scheduled Tribes;
- (d) whether the Government is planning to consider including communities recommended by Odisha Government in the list of Scheduled Tribes; and
- (e)       if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI  ARJUN  MUNDA)

(a):  Recommendation  for  inclusion  of  Jhodia  community  in  the  Scheduled  Tribes  list  of Odisha were received from the State Government of Odisha till the year 2010.

(b) to (e): The Government of India on 15.6.1999 (further amended on 25.6.2002), has laid down the modalities for determining the claims for inclusion in, exclusion from and other modifications  in  the  Orders  specifying  list  of  Scheduled  Tribes.  According  to  these modalities,  only  those  proposals  which  have  been  recommended  and  justified  by  the concerned  State  Government/  Union  Territory  Administration  and  concurred  with  by  the Registrar General of India (RGI) and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes are to be  considered  for amendment  of  legislation. Proposals  for inclusion in and  other amendments in the list of Scheduled Tribes of any state are processed according to these modalities which is an on-going process.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1303 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Cooperative Banks
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Hanuman Beniwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. +1303

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19TH SEPTEMBER 2020/BHADRAPADA 28,1942 (SAKA) Cooperative Banks

## +1303. SHRI HANUMAN BENIWAL:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is & fact that the Government of India is contemplating any plan to cooperative banks under the Reserve Bank of India; biing
- (6) if the details thereof; SO,
- whether the Government proposes to wotk out any plan to comprehensive changes in cooperative banks; and biing
- (d) if the details thereof? SO,

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

- (a) and (): Since the amendments effected to the Banking Regulation 1949 by the Banking Companies   (Application to Co-operative  Societies) 1965, COoperative banks been under the regulatory purview of the Reserve Bank of India. Act, Act; have
- (c) and (d): Co-operative banks are autonomous entities governed by theit respective Boards, which draw up their own plans regarding any changes, subject to applicable law and regulatory norms, guidelines etc
Lok Sabha Question No. 1302 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: CSR Fund for NHD
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Sunil Baburao Mendhe

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1302 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.09.2020

## CSR FUND FOR NHD

## 1302.   SHRI SUNIL BABURAO MENDHE:

Will the Minister of Culture be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the  Government  has  proposed  special  incentives  for  companies  to invest CSR Funds in National Heritage development;
- (b) the amount  of  Corporate  Social  Responsibility  (CSR)  funds  on  National Heritage development during the financial years 2017-18 to 2019-20 especially in Bhandara and Gondiya districts of the state of Maharashtra;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER Minister of State (IC) for Culture & Tourism (Shri Prahlad Singh Patel)

- (a) The Government of India has set up National Culture Fund (NCF) as a Trust under the Charitable Endowment Act, 1890 through a Gazette Notification published in  the  Gazette  of  India  28th  November,  1996.  The  Fund  enables  institutions  and individuals to support arts and culture directly as partners with its government and serves as a funding mechanism distinct from the existing sources and  patterns of funding for the arts and culture in India. All contributions to NCF are given 100% tax exemption under Section 80 G (2) of the Income Tax Act of 1961.

Schedule  VII  of  the  Companies  Act,  2013  ('Act')  enlists  the  activities  which may be included by companies in their CSR policy. 'National Heritage' falls  under item (v) of Schedule VII of the Act which reads as ' Protection of national heritage, art and  culture  including  restoration  of  building  and  sites  of  historical  importance  and works of art; setting up public libraries; promotion and development of traditional arts and handicrafts ;'.

- (b) to (d) On the basis of filings made by the companies in MCA 21 registry, the CSR amount spent by companies under item (v) of Schedule VII of the Act in the state of Maharashtra is Rs.68,30,44,000 and Rs.5,00,000 in Bhandara district of the state of Maharashtra as on 31.03.2020.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1301 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-19
Subject: Reduction in GST
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: S. Jagathrakshakan, A.K.P. Chinraj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

*****

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1301

## TO BE ANSWERED ON SATURDAY THE 19 TH  SEPTEMBER, 2020 BHADRAPADA 28, 1942 (SAKA)

## REDUCTION IN GST

1301. SHRI S. JAGATHRAKSHAKAN: SHRI A.K.P. CHINRAJ:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Union  Government  has  received  any  request  from  the  Industry sector  to  substantially  reduce  the  GST  for  6  months  to  boost  demand  in  the aftermath of the COVID pandemic across the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  the  action  being  taken  or  proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  on  this request?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

(a)  and  (b): Requests  to  reduce  GST  rate  in  the  aftermath  of  COVID  has  been received from Industry and Industry associations like CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM etc.

(c): GST rates are prescribed on the basis of recommendations of the GST Council as made  from  time  to time. At present,  GST  Council  has  not  made  any recommendation in this regard.

*****