opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2775 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-11
Subject: Modernisation of Armed Forces
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Hemant Patil, Unmesh Bhaiyyasaheb Patil, Sujay Radhakrishna Vikhepatil, Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel, Shrikant Eknath Shinde

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2775

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 th  March, 2020

## MODERNISATION OF ARMED FORCES

2775. SHRI HEMANT SRIRAM PATIL:

SHRI UNMESH BHAIYYASAHEB PATIL:

DR. SUJAY RADHAKRISHNA VIKHE PATIL:

SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government,  keeping  in  view  the  current  scenario,  proposes  to provide latest technology to the Armed Forces;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has allocated funds for modernisation and upgradation of Armed Forces;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  the  details  of  funds  utilised  and  the  extent  to  which  modernisation  of  Armed Forces have taken place?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

रक्षा राज्य मंत्री

( श्री श्रीपाद नाईक )

<!-- image -->

- (a)  to (e):  Government is taking measures for modernization of the Armed Forces, through procurement of new equipment and upgrading of existing equipment so as to ensure  that  the  Armed  Forces  are  equipped  to  meet  the  entire  spectrum  of  security challenges.    The  modernization  projects  are  progressed  as  per  the  approved  Capital Acquisition Plans and in terms of the extant Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP).

Capital procurement of defence equipment is undertaken from various domestic as well as foreign vendors, based on threat perception, operational challenges  and  technological  changes  and  to  keep  the  Armed  Forces  in  a  state  of readiness.

During  the  last  three  years  and  in  the  current  year,  197  contracts  have  been signed for capital procurement/upgradation of defence equipment for Armed Forces such as Missiles, Aircraft, Artillery guns, Assault Rifles, Radars, Rockets, Helicopters, Weapons,  Simulators,  Ballistic  Helmets, Bullet Proof Jackets and Electronic Fuzes and Ammunition.

The  Budget  Allocation  and  Expenditure  under  Capital  Budget  Head  under Defence Services Estimates are given below:-

(Rs. in Crore)

| Year                         | Budget Estimates   |   Expenditure |
|------------------------------|--------------------|---------------|
| 2017-18                      | 86488.01           |       90438.4 |
| 2018-19                      | 93982.13           |       95229.1 |
| 2019-20 (upto January, 2020) | 1,03,394.31        |       91863   |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2773 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-11
Subject: World Class Railway Stations under PPP
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Badruddin Ajmal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2773

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.03.2020

## WORLD CLASS RAILWAY STATIONS UNDER PPP

## 2773.  SHRI M. BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of Railway stations in the country identified to be developed as world class railway stations under Public Private Partnership (PPP);
- (b) the funds allocated/released for the schemes during the last three years;
- (c)  whether  the  works  under  the  scheme  have  started  in  the country; and
- (d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  number  of  stations which  have  already  been  developed  under  this  scheme,  Statewise?

## 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.  2773  SHRI  M.  BADRUDDIN  AJMAL  TO  BE ANSWERED IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  11.03.2020  REGARDING  WORLD  CLASS RAILWAY STATIONS UNDER PPP (a) and (b): Station redevelopment is planned by leveraging real estate potential of sparable land and air space in and around the stations.  It is Railway's  endeavour  to  generally  develop  stations  at  no  cost  to Railways  on  PPP  mode.  For  this,  Railway  conducts  techno-economic feasibility  studies  of  stations  across  the  country.    Based  on  the outcome  of these feasibility studies, stations are taken up for redevelopment in phases. (c)  and  (d):  At  present  the  works  of  station  redevelopment  have  been taken up at Habibganj (Madhya Pradesh) on PPP mode. *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2772 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-11
Subject: Visakhapatnam Navy Base
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Jayadev Galla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2772

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 th  March, 2020

## VISAKHAPATNAM NAVY BASE

2772. SHRI JAYADEV GALLA:

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

- (a) the reaction of the Indian Navy on the proposed Secretariat at Millennium Towers and its likely impact on defence establishment in Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) whether it is a fact that Visakhapatnam is in the hit list of Pakistan due to Indian Navy's establishment and making it the capital is likely to bring in a lot of population and make it more sensitive and vulnerable; and
- (c) if so, the reaction of the Government in this regard?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

रक्षा राज्य मंत्री

( श्री श्रीपाद नाईक )

<!-- image -->

- (a)    to  (c):    Indian  Navy  has  not  received  any  proposal  regarding  setting  up  of  a Secretariat  at  Millennium  Towers  in  Visakhapatnam,  by  Government  of  Andhra Pradesh.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2771 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-11
Subject: Impact of Smuggling on Indian Economy
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Sukanta Majumdar, Bhola Singh, Raja Amareshwara Naik, Jayanta Kumar Roy

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2771. TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE  11 TH   MARCH, 2020.

## IMPACT OF SMUGGLING ON INDIAN ECONOMY

## 2771.  SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK:

DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:

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

वाणिज्य

## एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether  the  Federation  of  Indian  Chambers  of  Commerce  and  Industry (FICCI) has released its study titled 'Invisible Enemy: Impact of Smuggling on Indian Economy and Employment';
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  smuggling  of  goods  in  various  industries  including  textiles, readymade garments, cigarettes, machinery and parts and consumer electronics prevented India from adding over 16 lakh jobs in 2017-18 as per the above study;
- (d) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (e) whether 11.35 lakh job opportunities were lost because of backward linkages and multiplier effects as finished products were smuggled into India;
- (f) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (g) the  details  of  the  corrective  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  for  the identification of such issues and providing remedy in this regard?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज ् य एवं उद्योग मंत्री श्री पीयूष गोयल THE MINISTER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

( ) (SHRI  PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (g):

Yes Sir, the Study is under examination.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2767 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-11
Subject: Authority for Cyber Security
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: S. Muniswamy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2767

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 11.03.2020

## AUTHORITY FOR CYBER SECURITY

## 2767. SHRI S.  MUNISWAMY:

Will the Minister of Electronics & Information Technology

- (a) whether the Government has any plan to set up any authority for cyber security in the country;
- (b) if  so,  the details thereof and the steps taken / being taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (c)              the  composition  of  the  said  authority  along  with  the  criteria  laid  down  by  the Government for the selection in the said authority.

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

(a)  to  (c):    Under  the  provisions  of  section  70A  and  section  70B  of  the  Information Technology  (IT)  Act,  2000,  Government  has  established  National  Critical  Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) for protection of critical information infrastructure in the country, and the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) for incident response. These two agencies  perform as per the rules notified under section 70A and 70B namely  'Information  Technology  (National  critical  Information  Infrastructure  Protection centre  and  manner  of  performing  function  and  duties)  Rules,  2013'  and  'Information Technology  (The  Indian  Computer  emergency  response  team  and  manner  of  performing function and duties ) Rules,2013' respectively.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2766 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-11
Subject: Roadmap for Revival of BSNL
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Nisith Pramanik

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2766 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH  MARCH, 2020

## ROADMAP FOR REVIVAL OF BSNL

## 2766. SHRI NISITH PRAMANIK:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has laid down any roadmap for the revival of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  considered  the  future  prospects  of  BSNL's  current employees and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government for the welfare of BSNL's current employees?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The  Government  has  approved  the  revival  plan  for  Bharat  Sanchar  Nigam  Limited (BSNL) on 23.10.2019. The revival plan inter-alia, includes the measures to reduce the Staff cost through a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) for the employees of age 50 years and above, administrative allotment of spectrum to BSNL for providing 4G services, monetisation of assets of BSNL, and debt restructuring by raising of sovereign guarantee bonds.
- (b) & (c) Government  has  taken  following  steps  to  make  BSNL  competitive  and  selfsustaining that will ensure welfare and future prospects of current employees:
- (i) Reduction in staff cost through Voluntary Retirement Scheme to improve financials of BSNL;
- (ii) Administrative allocation of spectrum for 4G services to increase the market share of mobile business and higher Average Revenue per User (APRU).
- (iii)   Monetisation of sparable land and buildings so as to address the liquidity requirement and re-payment of borrowings so far made.
- (iv) Sovereign guarantee bonds to restructure existing borrowing and support CAPEX/OPEX.

**********
Lok Sabha Question No. 2765 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-11
Subject: Space Debris
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: Pinaki Misra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2765 SPACE DEBRIS

- 2765   SHRI PINAKI MISRA:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Ministry maintains a repository of the space debris being generated;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if not, whether the Government prop oses to create such a repository and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  there  is  any  plan  to  tackle  the  problem  of  growing space debris floating around the earth's orbit, as these debris could interfere with the launch of new satellites or collide with already functioning satellites in space; and
- (e) 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) Yes  Sir,  ISRO  does  maintain  a  repository  of  the  space  debris being generated.

(b) ISRO Space Situational Assessment 2019 was created, providing  details  of  Indian  space  objects  including  operational spacecraft, non-functional spacecraft, rocket bodies and fragments.  This  report  also  contains  the  details  of  mitigation measures taken by ISRO in 2019 with regard to Space Debris to safeguard our space assets.

- (c) Does not arise.
- (d) & (e)

ISRO  has  been  following  UN  guidelines  for  the  mitigation  of space debris threats to safeguard Indian space assets. Day-today analysis is carried out to assess the collision threats, and in case of critical collision threat, maneuvers are designed and carried out after proper analysis.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2764 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-11
Subject: Posts of Judges Vacant in High Court
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Vinayak Bhaurao Raut, Sanjay Kumar Bandi, Komati Reddy Venkat Reddy, Gaddam Ranjith Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2764

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 11.03.2020

## Posts of Judges Vacant in High Court

† 2764.  SHRI VINAYAK RAUT: SHRI BANDI SANJAY KUMAR: SHRI KOMATI REDDY VENKAT REDDY: DR. G. RANJITH REDDY:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE

be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  a  large  number  of  Judges  vacancies  in  High  Courts including High Court of Telangana   and Maharashtra;
- (b)  if  so,  the  time  since  when  these  posts  are  lying  vacant  and  the reasons therefor;
- (c)  the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  fill these vacant posts in a time-bound manner; and
- (d) whether preference is given from the eligible candidates from their respective States and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) to (d): As on 01.03.2020, against a sanctioned strength of 24 there is a vacancy of 11 Judges in Telangana High Court and, against a sanctioned strength  of  94  judges,  there  are  23  vacancies  of  Judges  in  the  Bombay High Court. As  per  the  Memorandum  of  Procedure,  for  the    appointment  of Judges  of  High  Court,  the  Chief  Justice  of  the  High  Court  is  required  to initiate  the  proposals  in  consultation  with  two  senior-most  Judges  from amongst the eligible candidates from the  Bar and concerned State Judicial Service six months prior to the occurrence of vacancies. Filling  up  of  vacancies  is  a  continuous,  integrated  and  collaborative process between the Executive and the Judiciary. It requires consultation and approval from various constitutional authorities both at the State and Centre  level.  Hence,  the  time  frame  for  filling  up  vacancies  of  Judges cannot  be  indicated.  While  every  effort  is  made  to  fill  up  the  existing vacancies  expeditiously,  vacancies  do  keep  on  arising  on  account  of retirement,  resignation  or  elevation  of  Judges  and  increase  in  Judge

Strength.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 2763 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-11
Subject: Bharat Net Project in Maharashtra
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Rekha Arun Verma, Vinayak Bhaurao Raut

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2763 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH  MARCH, 2020

## BHARAT NET PROJECT IN MAHARASHTRA

## †2763. SHRIMATI REKHA VERMA: SHRI VINAYAK RAUT:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the time by which all gram panchayats in Maharashtra will be connected under Bharat Net Project;
- (b) whether the Government has achieved the target of providing broadband connectivity to two lakh fifty thousand gram panchayats under Bharat Net Project;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a)to (c) BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all the Gram  Panchayats (approx. 2,50,000) in the country, including Maharashtra.

In  Maharashtra,  the  Phase-I  is  being  implemented  through  Bharat  Sanchar  Nigam Limited (BSNL) and as on 28.02.2020, by laying 33,828 km Optical Fibre Cable (OFC), a total of 15,282 Gram Panchayats (including BHQs) have been connected, out of which 15,219 GPs (including  BHQs)    have  been  made  Service  Ready.  BharatNet  Phase-II  is  being  implemented through State Government in Maharashtra and  as on 28.02.2020, by laying 23,932 km Optical Fibre  Cable  (OFC),  a  total  of  4,324  GPs  have  been  connected,  out  of  which  451  Gram Panchayats (GPs)  have been made Service Ready.

At pan-India level, as on 28.02.2020, by laying 4,24,299 km Optical Fibre Cable (OFC), a  total  of  1,50,029  GPs  have  been  connected,  out  of  which  1,34,906  Gram  Panchayats  (GPs) have been made Service Ready. In addition, 1787 GPs have been provided connectivity through satellite media. A total of 1,36,693 GPs  have been made Service Ready.

The broadband connectivity to all the 2.5 lakh (approx.) GPs in the country, including Maharashtra, is targeted to be provided by August 2021.

(d) BharatNet  is  a  project  of  mega  nature  and  the  GPs  are  widely  dispersed  across  the country in rural and remote areas. All out efforts are being made to expeditiously implement the project. The delay in the implementation of the project is mainly on account of:

- (i) Delay in the initial commencement of the project as the work on the project began in the second half of 2014 due to field survey of GPs and pilot testing of the technology model.
- (ii) In  Phase-I,  only  one  media  that  is  underground  OFC  to  cover  GPs,  and  Right  of Way (RoW) issues.
- (iii) Under Phase-II, about 65,000 GPs in 8 States are being implemented under Stateled  model,  and  delay  in  their  implementation  is  also  adversely  affecting  the completion of the Project.

**********
Lok Sabha Question No. 2761 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-11
Subject: Wi-Fi at Railway Stations
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Umesh G. Jadhav, A. Ganeshamurthi, Kotha Prabhakar  Reddy, Geetha Viswanath Vanga

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No.2761 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.03.2020

## WI-FI AT RAILWAY STATIONS

2761.    DR. UMESH G. JADHAV: SHRI A. GANESHAMURTHI: SHRI KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY: SHRIMATI VANGA GEETHA VISWANATH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Union Government is aware of the fact that Google has recently made an announcement that it is shutting down its free Wi-Fi programmes in 400 railway stations across the country;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) the alternative steps being taken in this regard to work with other partners to continue the existing facilities in future; and
- (d) the funds sanctioned and spent in this regard during the last five years, zone/year-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a)  to  (c)    RailTel  Corporation  of  India  Limited,  a  Public  Sector Undertaking  under  Ministry  of  Railways  has  partnered  with  various at Railway Stations so as to create digital inclusion platform. Google, in partnership  with  RailTel,  has  provided  Wi-Fi  services  at  416  Railway Stations and they will maintain the same  upto 29 th  May 2020, as per organizations including Google  to provide free Wi-Fi services the agreement with RailTel. After the exit of Google, RailTel shall

continue to maintain and provide free Wi-Fi services at these Railway stations.

(d) No separate funds have been sanctioned by Indian Railways for this purpose.  Wi-Fi  services  have  been  provided  at  198  rural  stations  by RailTel  under  an  agreement  with  Ministry  of  Communications  under Universal Service obligation Fund (USOF).  For these 198 rural stations, funds of ₹ 27.77crore have been provided by Ministry of Communications.  Wi-Fi services have been provided at another 5430 stations  till  03.03.2020,  in  collaboration  with  M/s  Google,  M/s  Tata Trusts & M/s Power Grid Corporation of India under Corporate Social Responsibility/Charity funding.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 239 (STARRED), answered on 2020-03-06
Subject: Telecast of Obscene Content
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Sumedhanand Saraswati

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 239 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06/03/2020

## TELECAST OF OBSCENE CONTENT

## *239. SHRI  SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  obscene  content  is  telecast  on various channels;
- (b) if so, the steps taken by the Government to ban such content;
- (c) whether the Government has formulated any guidelines in this regard; and
- (d) if  so,  the  number  of  channels  against  which  action  has  been  taken  for violation of the said guidelines during the last three years and the current year along with the details of the action taken?

## ANSWER

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 (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

- **********

STATEMENT  AS REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 239 FOR ANSWER ON 06.03.2020

(a) to (d): All private satellite TV channels are required to adhere to  the  Programme  and  Advertising  Codes  as  prescribed  in  the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and the Rules framed  thereunder,  as  well  as  the  Uplinking  and  Downlinking Guidelines 2011 issued by this Ministry.

The  Programme Code, under the said Act and the Rules, inter-alia,  prohibit  telecast  of  a  programme  which  contains anything  obscene,  defamatory,  deliberate,  false  and  suggestive innuendos and half-truths.  The Advertising Code under the said Act  and  the  Rules,  inter-alia,  stipulates  that  indecent,  vulgar, suggestive, repulsive and offensive themes or treatment shall be avoided in all advertisements.

Appropriate  action  is  taken  against  TV  channels  in  case violation  of  the  aforesaid  Programme  &  Advertising  Codes  is established.  Action against TV channels may extend from issue of warnings or advisories to comply with the Programme/Advertising Codes or directing channels to run apology scrolls on their channels and can extend up to taking the channels off air temporarily for varying period depending on the gravity of the violation. Details of action taken against telecast of obscene content by private satellite channels during the last three years and the current year are as under:

| Sl.   | Action taken                      |   Number of Channels |
|-------|-----------------------------------|----------------------|
| 1.    | Advisories                        |                   05 |
| 2.    | Warnings                          |                   04 |
| 3.    | Orders for running apology scroll |                   10 |
| 4.    | Off Air Orders                    |                   02 |
| TOTAL | TOTAL                             |                   21 |

*********