opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1147 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-24
Subject: Assessment of Parliamentary Business
Ministry: PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
Asked by: PARASURAMAN K.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1147 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2018

## ASSESSMENT OF PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS

## 1147. SHRI K. PARASURAMAN:

Will the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs be pleased to state:-

- (a) Whether fresh initiatives have been taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to discuss  in  the  Parliament    the  holistic  assessment  of  efficiency  based  on  different parameters  like  the  number  of  sittings,  Bills  passed,  Bills  held  up,  the  extent  of participation of members , duration of debates on each Bill etc.; and
- (b) If so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION.

## (ShriArjun Ram Meghwal)

- (a) Discussions  on  the  floor  of  the  Houses  are  governed  as  per  Rules  of  Procedure  and Conduct  of  Business  of  the  respective  Houses  and  comes  under  the  purview  of  the Presiding Officers of the two Houses. Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs has no role in the matter.
- (b) The Question does not arise
Lok Sabha Question No. 1146 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-24
Subject: Linkage of Rural Agriculture Markets
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: R. GOPALAKRISHNAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1146

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  24 TH  JULY, 2018

## LINKAGE OF RURAL AGRICULTURE MARKETS

1146.  SHRI R. GOPALAKRISHNAN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE   ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  a  proposal  to  link  all  the  rural  agriculture  markets  in  the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the present status of implementation of the said proposal; and
- (d) the  time  by  which  all  the  rural  agriculture  markets  in  the  country  will  be  completely  come under the network?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ Àã·¾ã ½ãâ¨ããè ( SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) & (b): As per Union Budget Announcement, 2018-19, Government has decided to develop and upgrade existing 22,000 rural haats into Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs). In these GrAMs, physical  infrastructure  will  be  strengthened  using  Government  Schemes  such  as  MGNREGA (Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act).  These GrAMs are to be exempted from  regulations  of  Agriculture  Produce  Marketing  Committee  (APMCs)  and  linked  to  e-NAM  to provide farmers facility to make direct sale to consumers and bulk consumers.
- (c): Both  Ministry  of  Rural  Development  and  Department  of  Agriculture,  Cooperation  and Farmers' Welfare, Government of India (GoI) are working in coordinated manner to implement the proposal  through  concerned  State/Union  Territories  (UTs)  Governments  being  in  their  domain. Government of India has already requested States/UTs to exempt GrAMs from the ambit of APMC regulations.  Directorate  of  Marketing  and  Inspection  (DMI),  an  attached  office  of  Department  of Agriculture, has surveyed 9477 existing village haats through questionnaire method for finding their exact location, status of infrastructure, type of commodities  etc., so  as to achieve  better convergence  of  various  Schemes.    Further,  Department  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare, Government of India has verified 1878 rural Haats on the request of Ministry of Rural Development, GoI, which are outside the purview of APMC Act. In turn, Ministry of Rural Development has already requested the States/Union Territories to develop and strengthen these aforesaid haats on priority basis as verified by DMI.
- (d): Agricultural  marketing  is  a  State  subject  and  it  is  for  states  to  develop  these  haats. Government of India is to extend all necessary support to States for developing these rural haats.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1140 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-24
Subject: Metro Rail Networks
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAMACHANDRAN MULLAPPALLY

- (a) No, Madam.
- (b) Does not arise.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1140

TO BE ANSWERED ON JULY 24, 2018

## METRO RAIL NETWORKS

No. 1140   SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN:

Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  set  up  a  committee  to  review  the performance standards of metro rail networks in the country; and
- (b) If so, the details thereof along with the structure and functions of
- the said committee?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

(SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 1138 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-24
Subject: Liberalised Arms Rules
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: (ADV.) JOICE GEORGE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1138

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24 TH JULY, 2018/ SHRAVANA 2, 1940 (SAKA)

LIBERALISED ARMS RULES

1138. ADV. JOICE GEORGE:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  liberalised  Arms  Rules  to  encourage investments  in  manufacture  of  arms,  ammunition  and  weapons  system recently;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether this liberalization will make India a regional leader in supplying small arms to neighbouring countries as well as an export hub;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether  the  liberalised  rules will give boost  to  'Make  in  India' manufacturing policy and promote employment generation in this field; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a) to (f): The Arms Rules, 2016 have been notified on 15.07.2016. Under the  purview  of  these  Rules,  a  number  of  steps  have  been  taken  in  this direction such as;

(i) Fee structure of licenses has been rationalized.

(ii) Procedure of application has been simplified.

(iii) Departments  dealing  with  the  cases  of  licences  are  working  in coordination for expeditious decision on application.

This Ministry has so far issued 14 licences for the manufacturing of arms and ammunition.  This is expected to enhance the productive capacity in the arms manufacturing sector in the country.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1137 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-24
Subject: New Drug Policy
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: P. KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1137 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24 th  July, 2018

## New Drug Policy

1137. SHRI P. KUMAR:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to introduce a new Drug Policy;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the time by which this new Drug Policy is likely to come into effect?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS; MINISTRY  OF  SHIPPING  AND  MINISTRY  OF  CHEMICALS  AND  FERTILIZERS (SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

- (a),  (b)  &  (c):  At  present  there  is  no  concrete  proposal  of  a  new  drug  policy  at Governmental level. A discussion draft eliciting the basic contents that should go into  a  draft  pharmaceutical  policy  was  discussed  amongst  some  stakeholders which included:
-  Making essential drugs accessible at affordable prices to the common masses;
-  Providing a longer term stable policy environment for the Pharmaceutical sector;
-  Making India sufficiently self-reliant in end to end indigenous drug manufacturing;
-  Ensuring world class quality of drugs for domestic consumption & exports;
-  Creating an environment for R&D to produce innovator drugs;
-  Ensuring growth and development of the Indian Pharma Industry.

It was a preliminary discussion and no timeline has been fixed in this regard.

xxxxx
Lok Sabha Question No. 1134 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-24
Subject: Validity Period to Lift Wheat
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: ARJUNLAL MEENA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1134

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  JULY, 2018

## VALIDITY PERIOD TO LIFT WHEAT

## 1134. SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state the time by which  necessary  amendments  are  likely  to  be  made  by  the  Government  to extend the validity period to lift the allocated wheat?

A N S W E R MINISTER OF STATE FOR  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

As per the Targeted Public Distribution (Control) Order, 2015, State Governments are required to lift foodgrains from FCI godowns by the last day of the month preceding the allocation month and any extension of time for lifting  can  be  considered  by  FCI  and  the  Department  of  Food  &  Public Distribution  in  rare  and  deserving  cases.  The  delegated  powers  of  General Manager and Executive Director, FCI, to grant extension of 15 days each are therefore  meant  to  meet  only  unforeseen  circumstances  causing  delay  in lifting,  and not to be resorted in a routine manner. For further extension of validity period, the State Government has to approach this Department. The Department of Food & Public Distribution considers extension of time only for rare and deserving cases.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1133 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-24
Subject: Welfare Schemes for OBCs
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: RODMAL NAGAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. +1133 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2018

## WELFARE SCHEMES FOR OBCs

1133. SHRI NAGAR RODMAL:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the schemes being implemented for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) students through Dr: BR. Ambedkar Foundation;
- (b) the number of students benefited through the said foundation in Madhya Pradesh;
- (c) whether any local organisation r agency is involved in proper and smooth implementation of the schemes through the said foundation; and
- (d) if the details thereof? SO,

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)

- (a) to (d): No Scheme for the students belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) is implemented by the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation. being
Lok Sabha Question No. 1129 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-24
Subject: Selling of Girls on pretext of Employment
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †1129

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24 TH JULY, 2018/ SHRAVANA 2, 1940 (SAKA)

SELLING OF GIRLS ON PRETEXT OF EMPLOYMENT

†1129. DR. RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  minor  girls  belonging  to  the  Scheduled  Tribe  dominated regions  of  Jharkhand  State  are  being  sold  on  the  pretext  of  providing employment which has came to the knowledge of Jharkhand CID also;

(b)  if  so,  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  take  action  against  the responsible NGOs and the operators of placement services; and

(c) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a) to (c): The Criminal Investigation Department of Jharkhand has informed  that  incidents  of  selling  of  minor  girls  belonging  to  Scheduled Tribe dominated regions of Jharkhand on the pretext of providing employment  have  come  to  their  notice.    The  Government  of  Jharkhand have constituted 'Anti Human Trafficking Unit' Police Stations in 8 districts to  take  action  against  the  NGOs  and  operators  of  placement  services involved in trafficking of minor girls. The District Development Commissioner and District Welfare Officer have been assigned the responsibility of prevention of trafficking of minor girls. Police Department, District Welfare Officer and District Labour Officer have been assigned  the  responsibility  of  rescuing  trafficked  children.  The  District Education Officer, District Welfare Officer and Assistant Labour Commissioner  have  been  assigned  the  responsibility  of  rehabilitation  of trafficked children.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1127 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-24
Subject: Deep Sea Fishing
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: R.K. BHARATHI MOHAN, V. SATHYABAMA, PR. SENTHILNATHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE& FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, DAIRYING & FISHERIES LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No.1127

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  JULY, 2018

## DEEP SEA FISHING

## 1127.       SHRI BHARATHI MOHAN R.K.: SHRIMATI V. SATHYA BAMA: SHRI PR. SENTHIL NATHAN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  provide  specially  built  large  vessels  for fishermen of Tamil Nadu for deep sea fishing;
- (b) if so, whether any funds have been earmarked by the Government to meet the project and the time by which these deep sea fishing vessels will be handed over to fishermen of Tamil Nadu, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  any  funds/permissions to build such vessels have  been  sanctioned by the Government to other States under similar project during the last three years;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the expected increase in fish catch and revenue generation after the use of these large vessels by fishermen?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE & FARMER's WELFARE:

(SMT. KRISHNA RAJ)

(a) & (b)    A  sub  component  on  'Assistance  for  Deep  Sea  Fishing'  has  been  introduced under the Central Plan Scheme  on 'Blue Revolution: Integrated  Development and Management of Fisheries' to provide Deep Sea Fishing Vessels to the traditional fishermen, their  societies,  associations,  Self  Help  Groups  (SHGs)  and  Fishers  Producer  Organizations (FPOs) for deep sea fishing. Under the Central Plan Scheme, a sum of Rs.300 crore has been released to the Government of Tamil Nadu during 2017-18 for procurement of Tuna Long Liners  for  traditional  fishers  and  for  construction  of  a  fish  landing  centre  at  Kunthakal  in Rameshwaram District of Tamil Nadu.

(c ) & (d):  Central Financial Assistance under the sub component on 'Assistance for Deep Sea Fishing' has also been released to the Government of Andhra Pradesh (Rs.259.20 Lakh) and Government of Gujarat (Rs. 211.20 Lakh).

(e)    As  per  the  'Report  of  the  Working  Group  for  Revalidating  the  Potential  of  Fishery Resources  in  the  Indian  Exclusive  Economic  Zone'  (2011),  the  potential  yield  of  oceanic resources is estimated at 2,16,500 tonnes, which shall be targeted by the Deep Sea Fishing Vessels introduced under the sub component on 'Assistance for Deep Sea Fishing'.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1126 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-24
Subject: National Policy on Fertilizer Supply
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: NARANBHAI KACHHADIA, CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI

## ANNEXURE - A

Table  1:  The  projected  requirement,  availability  &  sales  of  fertilizers  [Urea, P&K(DAP, MOP & NPK)] in the year 2017-18

<Figures in Lakh MT>

Table  2:  The  projected  requirement,  availability  &  sales  of  fertilizers  [Urea, P&K(DAP,  MOP  &  NPK)]  in  the  current  year  upto  June  (from  April'18  to June'18)

| Product              |   Requirement |   Availability |   Sales |
|----------------------|---------------|----------------|---------|
| Urea                 |        298.52 |         317.06 |  303.06 |
| P&K (DAP, MOP & NPK) |        229.47 |         226.17 |  212.34 |

<Figures in Lakh MT>

| Product              |   Requirement |   Availability |   Sales |
|----------------------|---------------|----------------|---------|
| Urea                 |         66.93 |          82.76 |   64.61 |
| P&K (DAP, MOP & NPK) |         53.58 |          66.37 |   44.85 |

It  can  be  seen  from  the  tables  above  that  there  is  no  shortage  of  any fertilizer as availability is more than the sales.

## ANNEXURE - B1

| Year                    | From OMIFCO   | Through STEs   | Total Import (LMT)   | Value (in Million US$)   |
|-------------------------|---------------|----------------|----------------------|--------------------------|
| Year                    | (LMT)         | (LMT)          |                      |                          |
| 2015-16                 | 20.78         | 63.96          | 84.74                | 2,087.61                 |
| 2016-17                 | 20.02         | 34.79          | 54.81                | 1,047.28                 |
| 2017-18                 | 20.92         | 38.83          | 59.75                | 1,295.72                 |
| 2018-19 (upto June, 18) | 5.23          | 16.18          | 21.41                | 532.10                   |

## ANNEXURE - B2

## <Figures in Lakh MT>

| Year                    |   DAP |   NPK | MOP*    |
|-------------------------|-------|-------|---------|
| 60.08                   |  6.29 | 32.43 | 2015-16 |
| 43.85                   |  5.21 | 37.36 | 2016-17 |
| 42.17                   |  4.99 | 47.36 | 2017-18 |
| 2018-19 (upto June, 18) | 20.63 |  2.17 | 13.04   |

- ANNEXURE - C

<Rs. In Crores>

| Year                    | Indigenous Urea   | Imported Urea   | Indigenous P&K   | Imported P&K   | City Compost   |
|-------------------------|-------------------|-----------------|------------------|----------------|----------------|
| 38,200.00               | 16,400.00         | 11,969.00       | 9,968.56         | -              | 2015-16        |
| 40,000.00               | 11,256.59         | 11,842.88       | 6,999.99         | 0.55           | 2016-17        |
| 36,973.70               | 9,980.00          | 14,337.00       | 7,900.00         | 7.26           | 2017-18        |
| 2018-19 Upto June, 2018 | 4915.87 3,641.12  | 4,532.35        |                  | 3,705.75       | 0.24           |

***********
Lok Sabha Question No. 1123 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-24
Subject: Aadhaar Enabled Fertilizer Distribution System
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: BHAVANA GAWALI (PATIL), KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE, ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT

## Status of DBT Rollout in Pilot Districts

|   Sr. No | District               | Go live Status        |
|----------|------------------------|-----------------------|
|        1 | Krishna (AP)           | Live (1 st Oct. 2016) |
|        2 | West Godavari (AP)     | Live (1 st Oct. 2016) |
|        3 | Una (HP)               | Live (1 st Jan. 2017) |
|        4 | Hoshangabad (MP)       | Live (1 st Jan. 2017) |
|        5 | Pali (Rajasthan)       | Live (1 st Jan. 2017) |
|        6 | Kishanganj (Bihar)     | Live (1 st Feb. 2017) |
|        7 | Karnal (HR)            | Live (1 st Feb. 2017) |
|        8 | Kurukshetra (HR)       | Live (1 st Feb. 2017) |
|        9 | Nasik (Maharashtra)    | Live (1 st Feb. 2017) |
|       10 | Raigarh (Maharashtra)  | Live (1 st Feb. 2017) |
|       11 | Rangareddy (Telangana) | Live (1 st Mar. 2017) |
|       12 | Tumkur (Karnataka)     | Live (1 st Mar. 2017) |
|       13 | Narmada, (Gujarat)     | Live (1 st Mar. 2017) |
|       14 | Thrissur, (Kerala)     | Live (1 st Mar. 2017) |
|       15 | Dhanbad, (Jharkhand)   | Live (1st Aug. 2017)  |
|       16 | Begusarai, (Bihar)     | Live (1st Aug. 2017)  |
|       17 | Gorakhpur, (UP)        | Live (1st Aug. 2017)  |
|       18 | Malda, (WB)            | Live (1st Feb. 2018)  |
|       19 | South 24Parganas, (WB) | Live (1st Feb. 2018)  |

## Annexure-I

## Phase-wise Pan India roll out of DBT

|   S. No | Name of States / UT's                                                           | GO Live Date         |
|---------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|
|       1 | NCT of Delhi                                                                    | 1 st September, 2017 |
|       2 | Mizoram, Daman & Diu, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Manipur, Nagaland, Goa, Puducherry,   | 1 st October, 2017   |
|       3 | Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Assam, Tripura. | 1 st November, 2017  |
|       4 | Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Chhattisgarh and MP                            | 1 st December,2017   |
|       5 | Kerala, Bihar, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Telangana, and TN                          | 1 st January, 2018   |
|       6 | Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal, Odisha and Himachal Pradesh                | 1 st February, 2018  |
|       7 | Jammu & Kashmir                                                                 | 1 st March, 2018     |

*********

## Annexure-II
Lok Sabha Question No. 1121 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-24
Subject: Scheduled & Non-Scheduled Drugs
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA, George Baker, ANIL SHIROLE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1121 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 th  July, 2018

## Scheduled & Non-Scheduled Drugs

†1121. SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA: SHRI GEORGE BAKER: SHRI ANIL SHIROLE:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  scheduled  and  non-scheduled  drugs  across  the  country, State/UT-wise;
- (b) the details of the drugs linked with Wholesale Price Index (WPI) across the country, State/UT-wise;
- (c) the  details  of  the  drugs  not  linked  with  Wholesale  Price  Index  across  the country;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  planning/proposing  the  feasibility  of  linking  the permitted annual increase in prices of non-scheduled formulations to the WPI;
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (f) the time by which it is likely to be linked?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ROAD  TRANSPORT  AND HIGHWAYS;  MINISTRY  OF  SHIPPING  AND  MINISTRY  OF  CHEMICALS  AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

- (a): As  per  Drugs  (Prices  Control)  order  2013,  scheduled  formulations  are formulations  which  are  included  in  Schedule  I  of  DPCO  2013.  Non-scheduled formulations are formulations which are not included in Schedule I of DPCO 2013. This list is applicable for whole of the country and there is no state-wise schedule.
- (b) & (c): The  maximum  retail  price  (MRP)  of  scheduled  formulations/drugs  is linked  with  Wholesale  Price  Index  (WPI)  and  the  manufacturers  may  increase  the MRP once in a year, in the month of April, on the basis of the wholesale price index with respect to previous calendar year and no prior approval of the Government in this regard shall be required.

In  case  of  non-scheduled  drugs,  no  manufacturer  increases  the  maximum retail price of a drug more than ten percent of maximum retail price during preceding twelve  months  and  where  the  increase  is  beyond  ten  percent  of  maximum  retail price, it shall reduce the same to the level of ten percent of maximum retail price for next twelve months

- (d):There is no such proposal of linking the permitted annual increase in prices of non-scheduled formulations to the WPI.
- (e) & (f):In view of reply at (d) above, occasion does not arise.

*******