opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1206 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: Financial Assistance to Folk Art Groups
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: ABHISHEK SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1206 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

## Financial Assistance to Folk Art Groups

## 1206. SHRI ABHISHEK SINGH:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a)      whether the Government provides any monetary help or Pension to various Folk Art groups especially from Tribal community and if so, the details thereof.
- (b)    the steps taken by the Government to promote such Folk Art groups on various National and International platforms;
- (c)     whether any inter-cultural festival has been organized by the Government to cherish rich cultural heritage of the country during the last four years and the current year; and
- (d)     if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR CULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a)    Yes  Madam,  the  Govt.  is  implementing  a  Scheme  namely  Scheme  for  Pension  and Medical  Aid  to  Artistes  to  improve  financial  and  socio-economic  status  of  the  old  aged artistes and scholars including various Folk Artists who have contributed significantly in their specialized fields of arts, letters etc., but leading a miserable life.
- (b)  To  promote  &  preserve  various  forms  of  art  including  Folk  and  Tribal  Art,  the Government of India has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) with headquarters at Patiala,  Nagpur,  Udaipur,  Prayagraj,  Kolkata,  Dimapur  and  Thanjavur.  These  ZCCs  are organizing  various  programmes  and  events  in  its  member  States  to  promote  cultural development programmes.

(c) & (d)  To promote the inter-cultural activities of our country, the Government of India has organized  Rashtriya  Sanskriti  Mahotsavs  (RSMs)  at  New  Delhi  (November,  2015  and October,  2016),  at  Varanasi  (December,  2016),  at  Bengaluru  &  Tawang  (March,  2017)  at Gujarat  (October,  2017),  at  Karnataka  (January,  2018)  and  at  Madhya  Pradesh  (February, 2018). A Sanskriti Mahotsav was also organized at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh during February, 2018.  In  addition  to  these  Mahotsavs,  these  ZCCs  organize  various  cultural  activities  and programmes on regular basis throughout the country for promotion of culture wherein artist from the various parts of the country participated.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 1205 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: Grant to Maharashtra
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAJAN BABURAO  VICHARE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No.1205

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

## GRANT TO MAHARASHTRA

## 1205.  SHRI RAJAN VICHARE:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether  the  Union  Government  has  received  any  proposal  from  the  Government  of Maharashtra for release of grant of Rs. 16808.95 lakhs (75%) Central share and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the above proposal of the Maharashtra Government has been accepted by the Union Government and the total amount of the grant released to the State Government so far; and
- (c) if not, the time by which the grant is to be sanctioned and released to the State Government?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI JASWANTSINH BHABHOR)

(a) to (c): This Ministry has received a proposal from Govt. of Maharashtra for release of central share of Rs.19898.50 lakh (75% of estimated expenditure) for the year 2018-19 under the scheme of Post Matric Scholarship for ST students. The proposal of Govt. of Maharashtra was considered and an amount of Rs.4974.62 lakh (25% of central Share) was sanctioned on 23.10.2018 as 1 st Installment  for  the  year  2018-19.  Release  of  balance  amount  for  the  year  2018-19  is  to  be considered by the Ministry once the enrollment, verification process is completed by the State Govt.  and  the  details  of  assessment  based  on  the  enrollment/verification  is  furnished  to  this Ministry.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1203 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: Creche Facilities for Employees
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: T.G. VENKATESH BABU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1203 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

## CRECHE FACILITIES FOR EMPLOYEES

1203. SHRI VENKATESH BABU T.G.:

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

- (a)whether  the  Government  has  directed  all  the  employers  both  in private and public sectors to provide creche facilities for employees in the office premises;
- (b)if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the action proposed to be taken against the defaulters;
- (d)whether  there  are  reports  that  women  who  return  to  work  postdelivery  are  not  adequately  provided  with  nursing  breaks  by  the employers; and
- (e)if so, the details thereof along with the corrective steps taken/being
- taken by the Government in this regard? ANSWER

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

(a) to (e): The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 is enforced and implemented  by  the  respective  State  Governments  in  all  sectors except  in  the  Mines  and  Circus  Industries.    As  per  the  Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, it has been made mandatory for the establishments  employing  50  or  more  employees  to  provide  crèche facility,  either  separately  or  along  with  common  facilities  within  a prescribed  distance.  Time  to  time,  advisories  are  issued  to  State Governments for strict enforcement and compliance of the provisions of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961. Government does not maintain data of  defaulters  centrally.    Implementation  of  provisions  relating  to nursing  breaks  are  also  enforced  by  State  Governments,  except  in case of mines and circus.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1202 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: Setting up of NTA
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: JANAK RAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1202 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

## Setting up of NTA

## †1202. SHRI JANAK RAM:

Will  the  Minister  of  HUMAN  RESOURCE  DEVELOPMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any steps to set up National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct test for admission in higher education institutes;
- (b) if so, the time by which this work is likely to be completed along with the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the time by which this work is likely to be completed?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a) to (c): In pursuance of the Budget Announcement 2017-18, the Government has  established  National  Testing  Agency  (NTA)  as  an  autonomous  and  selfsustained premier testing organization to conduct those entrance examinations which  were  hitherto  being  conducted  by  the  Central  Board  of  Secondary Education (CBSE) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). NTA is fully  functional  with  necessary  infrastructure  and  manpower  in  place.    It  has successfully conducted UGC (NET) in December, 2018, JEE (MAIN), CMAT and GPAT in January, 2019.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1201 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: Import of LNG
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: RAM CHARITRA

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1201 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

Import of LNG

## 1201. SHRI RAM CHARITRA NISHAD:

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS पेट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the country's LNG imports jumped 20 per cent year on year basis during the first half of the current year on strong growth demand and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether LNG is the only option in boosting the country's gas demand during the next few years and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the country's gas market has relatively low penetration of around 6.5 per cent of energy mix as against the Government's target of 15 per cent by 2020 and if so, the details thererof; and
- (d) whether this is due to inadequate infrastructure of pipeline for LNG expansions and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

## (a) Country's LNG imports jumped 15.5 per cent year on year basis during the first half of the current year is as given below:

| LNG Import   |   H1 2018-19 |   H1 2017-18 |   %Change |
|--------------|--------------|--------------|-----------|
| Qty(MMSCM)   |        14085 |        12195 |      15.5 |

(b) to (d) Gas  supplies  to  different  sectors  are  made  from  (i)  Domestic  sources  i.e. Natural  Gas  produced  within  the  country  and  (ii)  Imported  Liquefied  Natural  Gas  (LNG). Domestic natural gas is allocated as per the prevailing gas allocation policy depending upon the availability and balance demand is being met through the import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) which is imported under open general license on the terms and conditions mutually agreed upon between the buyers and sellers.

The  present  share  of  Natural  gas  of  India  in  primary  energy  basket  is  6.2%  as  per  BP Statistical Review of World Energy, June 2018. The target is to increase this share to 15% by 2030.

Government  is  promoting  expansion  of  Natural  Gas  Infrastructure,  i.e.  pipeline,  LNG Terminals, City Gas Distribution & Compressed Natural Gas retail network in the country. CGD  networks  ensure  the  supply  of  cleaner  fuel  (i.e.  PNG)  to  households,  industrial  & commercial  units  as  well  as  transportation  fuel  (i.e.  CNG)  to  vehicles  and  has  also  taken policy decisions to boost Exploration and production activities.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1198 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: Establishment of IIM
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1198 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

## Establishment of IIM

## 1198. SHRI PRABHAKAR REDDY KOTHA:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any plan for the establishment of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Telangana during the current year;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the funds allocated/spent during the current year for the purpose; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## A N S W E R MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

- (a) to (c): At present,  there  is  no  plan  to  establish  Indian  Institute  of  Management (IIM) in the State of Telangana in the current year.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1197 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: Allocation of Budget
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAJESHBHAI NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1197 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

## Allocation of Budget

## 1197. SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the  total  budget  allocated  and  spent  on  education  during  the  last  three  years,  its percentage  in  terms  of  Gross  Domestic  Product  (GDP)  and  the  action  plan  of expenditure  to  be  hiked  on  education  in  terms  of  percentage  of  GDP  during  the  last three years;
- (b) the  time  by  which  Higher  Education  Financing  Agency  (HEFA)  would  be  set  up  to increase research facilities in centrally aided institution and higher education; and
- (c) the amount likely to be provided to HEFA, the rate on which loan would be provided to teaching institutions through HEFA and the ways through which thisinterest would be borne?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a) As per analysis of  Budgeted  Expenditure on  Education published  by MHRD for  the  Year  2014-15  to  2016-17,  Expenditure  on  Education  by  the  Government  over education and as percentage of GDP is as follows:

| 2014-15                 | 2014-15   | 2015-16 (RE)            | 2015-16 (RE)   | 2016-17 (BE)            | 2016-17 (BE)   |
|-------------------------|-----------|-------------------------|----------------|-------------------------|----------------|
| Expenditure (Rs. Crore) | As % GDP  | Expenditure (Rs. Crore) | As % of GDP    | Expenditure (Rs. Crore) | As % of GDP    |
| 506849.14               | 4.07      | 587439.55               | 4.27           | 668395.12               | 4.39           |

Government expenditure on education both in absolute terms as well as %age of GDP has been increasing over the last three years.  As far as  the  hike in education  expenditure  is concerned,  the  budget  for  education  in  India  is  finalized  and  decided  by  Ministry  of Finance and the State Governments.

(b) & (c) Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) has been set upwith Government equity of Rs.6000 crore with Canara Bank  as joint promoterand is operational. Incorporated as a Section 8 Company, the entity, with a total authorized equity capital of Rs.10,000 crore, would leverage additional resources from themarket, to finance projects for development of world class facilities and Labs inhigher, school and medical education institutions. HEFA has, so far, approvedprojects of higher, school and medical education institutions amounting toRs.31207.02 crore with total sanctioned loan amount of Rs.15819.74 Crore.The present rate of interest is 8.5% per annum, subject to revision from time totime. The interest obligation on the loan from HEFA by the institutions is borne by theGovernment.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1196 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: MSME Export
Ministry: MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: ANTO  ANTONY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION 1196 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

## MSME EXPORT

1196.      SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

Will the Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  statistics  regarding  the  revenue  generated  through Export by MSME sector;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the details of the revenue generated during the past six years, year-wise;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  noticed  the  decline  in  export  revenue  by  the  MSME sector; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to enhance export by MSMEs?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH)

(a)  to  (c):          As  per  the  information  received  from  Directorate  General  of  Commercial Intelligence  &  Statistics  (DGCI&S),  the  revenue  of  Export  of  specified  MSME  related products are as follows:

|   S.No. | Year    |   Revenue Generated through Export by MSMEsector ( Value in USD Million) |
|---------|---------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | 2017-18 |                                                                   147390 |
|       2 | 2016-17 |                                                                   137069 |
|       3 | 2015-16 |                                                                   130769 |
|       4 | 2014-15 |                                                                   138897 |
|       5 | 2013-14 |                                                                   133313 |
|       6 | 2012-13 |                                                                   127993 |

- (d):      Government of India has taken several measures to enhance the exports by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).  These include efforts made under Make in India Programme, Promotion of Ease of Doing Business, improved availability of credit through MUDRA,  Stand  up  India, schemes  such  as  'Merchandise  Exports  from  India  Scheme' (MEIS) for incentivising export of specified goods to specified markets and 'Service Exports from India Scheme' (SEIS) for increasing exports of notified services from India, 2 percent interest subvention for all GST registered MSMEs on fresh or incremental loans and increase in  interest  rebate  from  3  percent  to  5  percent  for  exporters  who  receive  pre-shipment  and post-shipment loans.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1195 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: MoUs with Monument Mitras
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: SHASHI THAROOR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1195 ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

## MOUs WITH MONUMENT MITRAS

## 1195. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government undertook a study of the Red Fort to determine  the  timeline  for  installation,  implementation  and commissioning of various activities, as specified in AnnexureII  of  the  MoU  with  Dalmia  Bharat  Limited,  dated  13th  April, 2018;
- (b)
- (c)
- if so, the details thereof;
- if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to amend the said MoU and other MoUs with Monument Mitras to ensure that professionals and experts in the field of conservation of heritage sites, with proven track records, are made members of the Oversight and Vision Committee; and
- (e)
- if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI K.J. ALPHONS)

(a)  to  (c):  Under  the  'Apni  Dharohar,  Apni  Pehchaan  -    Adopt  a Heritage Project', the Monument Mitras submit their Vision Bid after performing need-gap analysis in consultation with the Asset Owner. Thereafter,  the  Oversight  &  Vision  Committee  deliberates  on  the Vision Bid and provides approval on timelines of various activities.

(d)  &  (e):  Under  the  'Apni  Dharohar,  Apni  Pehchaan  -  Adopt  a Heritage Project', the Monument Mitras are responsible for development, operation & maintenance (O&M) of tourist amenities at heritage sites. Conservation of heritage sites is not a part of this project.  The  amenities  are  approved  by  the  Oversight  &  Vision Committee (O&VC), which has members from Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, ASI and also representatives from other Ministries/departments who can be co-opted as and when required for consultation.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1193 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: Moral Education
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1193 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

## Moral Education

## † 1193. SHRIMATI DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH:

## Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  start  teaching  of  moral education in higher education sector such as medical and engineering and in day-today life; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the objectives behind the proposal?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

- (a) & (b): The Government is in the process of formulating a New Education Policy to meet the changing dynamics of the population's requirement inter-alia including quality education.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1192 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-11
Subject: Setting up of HECI
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: C. MAHENDRAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1192 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2019

## Setting up of HECI

## 1192. SHRI C. MAHENDRAN:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  establishment  of  Higher  Education  Commission  of  India  (HECI)  for higher education will ensure that HECI focuses single-mindedly on academics;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether HECI will have the power to act against institutions in case of violation of norms;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e)  whether  it  brings  in  provisions  to  'mentor'  deficient  institutes  rather  than  order closure is also a new approach to upping quality; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

- (a) & (b): Entry No. 66 of List I in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, mandates  upon  the  Central  Government  for  co-ordination  and  determination  of standards in institutions for higher education or research and scientific and technical institutions. Accordingly, the Ministry has prepared a draft Higher Education Commission of India Bill to repeal the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, 1956 and  for  establishment  of  the  Higher  Education  Commission  of  India  (HECI)  for promoting the quality of academic instruction, improving academic standards, providing autonomy to good performing higher educational institutions for free pursuit of  knowledge,  innovation,  incubation,  skills  and  entrepreneurship,  for  facilitating access,  inclusion  and  opportunities  to  all,  and  also  for  providing  for  comprehensive and  holistic growth  of higher  education  and  research  in  a competitive global environment.
- (c)  &  (d):  As  per  the  draft  Bill,  the  proposed  HECI  may  impose  penalties  on  higher educational institutions for non-compliance of the provisions of the proposed Act.
- (e)  &  (f):  The  draft  Bill  provides  for  mentoring  of  institutions  found  to  be  failing  in maintaining the required academic standards so that they can improve their quality of education.

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