opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 882 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-23
Subject: Shortage of Teaching Staff
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAHUL KASWAN

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †882 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2018

## Shortage of Teaching Staff

## †882 . SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of acute shortage of teaching staff in Government higher education institutes;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the measure adopted by the Government to reduce such shortage?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) : Yes, Madam.
- (b): The details of sanctioned posts and vacant posts in higher educational institutes having high percentage of vacancies is given below:
- (c): Government has adopted various measures to reduce shortage of teaching staff. The heads of Universities and Engineering institutes have been requested to prepare a time bound action plan indicating the timeline for advertisement of posts, scrutiny of applications, calling of interviews, selection/appointments of candidates etc. Wherever, the Universities/ Institutes are

| S.No   | Institutes                        |   Sanctioned posts |   Vacant posts |
|--------|-----------------------------------|--------------------|----------------|
| 1      | Central Universities              |              17092 |           5606 |
| 2      | IITs                              |               8230 |           2802 |
| 3      | NITs                              |               7435 |           3235 |
| 4      | IIIT - Centrally funded           |                308 |            135 |
|        | IIIT - Public Private Partnership |                328 |            242 |

facing the difficulty in getting eligible candidates, they have been requested to make rolling advertisements run on the website throughout the year. The institutes such as IITs, NITs and IIITs are also taking measures to attract quality faculty, which include year -round open advertisements, invitation through search -cum -selection procedures to alumni/ scientists/faculty, advertisements in international journals, and appointments of NRIs and OCIs to faculty positions on the same terms as applicable to regular faculty. They are also engaging contract, adjunct and visiting faculty as well as using the online mode of teaching to overcome these shortages. The Government has also launched schemes like 'Global Initiative for Academic Networks' (GIAN) and the 'Trainee Teachers Scheme' to address the faculty shortage issue.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 871 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-23
Subject: Acquisition of State PSUs
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: R.K. BHARATHI MOHAN, V. SATHYABAMA, PR. SENTHILNATHAN

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 871 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2018 Acquisition of State PSUs

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

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS पेट्रोल ियम और प्राक ृ तिक गैस मंत्री be pleased to state:

(a) Whether  the  Government  has  given  nod  for  the  acquisition  of  certain  State  Public  Sector Undertakings and allied companies with ONGC and if so, the details thereof along with the funds allocated for the purpose;

(b) the effective steps taken by the Government to make such projects economically viable and profit making; and

(c) the steps taken by the Government for the smooth execution of mergers and acquisitions of companies by ONGC in near future?

## ANSWER

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

(a) With  due  facilitation  from  Government,  Oil  and  Natural  Gas  Corporation  (ONGC)  acquired 51.11%  equity  stake  in  Hindustan  Petroleum  Corporation  Limited  (HPCL)  from  Government  of India on January 31, 2018 by paying 36,915 crore. The acquisition was funded by ONGC through internal accruals of 12,034 crore and external borrowing of 24,881 crore.

(b) & (c) This acquisition in the oil sector created a vertically integrated public sector 'Oil Major' company having presence across the entire value chain,  giving  ONGC enhanced capacity to bear higher risks and take higher investment decisions.  The acquisition of HPCL by ONGC will result in significant synergies, in terms of optimization of logistics costs, research & development activities, economies of scale of purchase of crude oil and optimization in refinery operations.  An in principle agreement  was  arrived  at  in  a  meeting  held  on  17.04.2018  to  merge  Mangalore  Refinery  and Petrochemicals  Limited  (MRPL)  and  ONGC  Mangalore  Petrochemicals  Limited  (OMPL)  with HPCL.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 863 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-23
Subject: Funds Provided to Western Region Cultural Centre
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK, ARJUNLAL MEENA, BANSHILAL MAHTO, PRABHAS KUMAR SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 863

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 RD JULY, 2018

## FUNDS PROVIDED TO WESTERN REGION CULTURAL CENTRE

## † 863.    SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK:

SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA:

DR. BANSHILAL MAHATO:

DR. PRABHAS KUMAR SINGH:

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

- (a) whether the Government has any work plan to promote and preserve Indian folk art, culture and music at national and international level;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether  the  Government  or  any  of  its  autonomous  organizations organizes cultural activities  and  programmes  for  promotion  and development  of  art  and  culture  in  various  towns  and  cities  of  the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the  funds allocated and expenditure incurred by the Government for organising  such  programme  during  the  last  three  years  in  various States of the country, State-wise;
- (e) whether  the  Government  provides  funds  for  promotion  of  art  and culture to Western Region Cultural Centre and if so, the details thereof along with the details of the funds provided to the office of western region in Udaipur during the last four years; and
- (f) the  financial  assistance  provided  by  the  Government  during  the  last three years to the economically backward artists in the country, Statewise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR CULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST & CLIMATE CHANGE

(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) to (f) The information is  being  collected  &  compiled  and  will  be  laid  on  the Table of the House.
Lok Sabha Question No. 861 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-23
Subject: Irregularities in Vehicle Permit to Visit Rohtang Pass
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: RAJU ALIAS DEVAPPA ANNA SHETTI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.861 ANSWERED ON 23.07.2018

## IRREGULARITIES IN VEHICLE PERMIT TO VISIT ROHTANG PASS

## 861.  SHRI RAJU SHETTY:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  tourism  department  is  aware  of  the  vehicle  permit required to see Rohtang Pass near Manali, Himachal Pradesh;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  procedure  laid  down  to give daily permit to vehicles by the authorities;
- (c) whether irregularities have been noticed/reported in distribution of such vehicle permits to visit Rohtang Pass and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has received any complaints and has taken note of the news recently published in some renowned news  papers  regarding  irregularities  found  in  distribution  of permits to vehicles visiting Rohtang Pass; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a) and (b): Yes Madam. Government of Himachal Pradesh has informed that in compliance with the directions of Hon'ble National Green  Tribunal  in  OA  No.237/2013,  permits  are  issued  online, through the dedicated portal, to the vehicles visiting Rohtang Pass. Average  number  of  1200  permits  are  issued  per  day  (excluding Tuesdays, being maintenance day) as per the details given below-

- 1.
- 2.
- 800 Permits per day - Petrol Vehicles.
- 400 Permits per day - Diesel Vehicles.
3. The permit portal opens at 10 AM and 4 PM daily. 4. In  addition  to  the  above  1200  permits,  100  Special Permits per day are being issued as per the directions of the Hon'ble Tribunal. Out of this, 75 permits (vehicles of the  state)  &  25  permits (Intrastate  vehicles  coming  to Kullu district) are issued. by furnishing required details like registration number, type
5. Any person can apply for the permit online of vehicle and name of driver etc.

(c): Government of Himachal Pradesh has informed that there have been  some  complaints  of  technical  issues  with  the  online  permit portal,  with  respect  to  the  double  debit  of  permit  fee  or  heavy congestion at the permit portal etc. which were resolved expeditiously.

(d) and (e): Ministry  of  Tourism  has  not  received  any  such complaint.

*********
Lok Sabha Question No. 859 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-23
Subject: Establishment of Cultural Centres
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 859

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 rd JULY, 2018

## ESTABLISHMENT OF CULTURAL CENTRES

## † 859.    SHRI SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY:

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

- (a) whether the Government has established/proposes to establish cultural centres  in  various  States  for  creating  awareness  among  people  about cultural heritage of our country; and
- (b) if so, the State-wise and Union Territory-wise details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR CULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST & CLIMATE CHANGE

(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) & (b) To  protect,  preserve  &  promote  various  forms  of  folk  art  and  for creating  awareness  among  people  about  cultural  heritage  of  our  country,  the Government of India has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) with headquarters at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Allahabad, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur. These  ZCCs  organize  various  cultural  activities  and  programmes  throughout  the country on regular basis for which annual grant-in-aid is provided to these ZCCs.
Lok Sabha Question No. 856 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-23
Subject: Trade Deficit
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: RAM KUMAR SHARMA KUSHWAHA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 856(H) TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 rd  JULY,2018

## TRADE DEFICIT

## 856(H). SHRI RAM KUMAR SHARMA:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाͨणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंğी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that in foreign trade country's imports are higher than its exports;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of country's  foreign trade deficit during the years 2015-2016, 2016-17 and 2017-2018;
- (d) whether  there  was  a  decline  in  the  value  of  rupee  as  compared  to  dollar  due  to foreign trade deficit; and
- (e) if so, the details of annual decline in the value of rupee during the said years?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Jh lh- vkj- pkS/kjh½

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (c): Yes  Madam,  India's  overall  imports  (merchandise  and  services)  are  higher than overall exports. The details of India's overall exports, imports and trade deficit for last three years are as follows:

(Value in US$ billions)

| Years   |   Export |   Import |   Trade deficit |
|---------|----------|----------|-----------------|
| 2015-16 |   417.43 |   466.73 |          -49.3  |
| 2016-17 |   436.53 |   479.83 |          -43.3  |
| 2017-18 |   478.14 |   570.79 |          -92.65 |

Source: DGCI&S, Kolkata and RBI

(d) & (e): Foreign trade too is a factor amongst the various factors having effect on the exchange rate. The annual change in the value of Rupee against US$ during 2015-16 to 201718 is as follows:

| Date           |   USD/INR Closing Rate | (+) Appreciation/ (-) Depreciation of INR on year-on-year basis   |
|----------------|------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
| March 31, 2015 |                  62.49 | --                                                                |
| March 31, 2016 |                  66.25 | (-) 6.02%                                                         |
| March 31, 2017 |                  64.85 | (+) 2.11%                                                         |
| March 31, 2018 |                  65.18 | (-) 0.51%                                                         |

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 855 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-23
Subject: Technical Knowledge
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KAUSHAL KISHORE

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 855 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2018

## Technical Knowledge

## 855. SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken any steps to improve the technical knowhow and  knowledge  of  the  engineering  professionals  who  are  graduating  from various colleges of the country to enable them to compete at the world level;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the time by which it is likely to be implemented?

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

## (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

- (a) to (d): With a view to improve the standards of technical knowhow and knowledge of engineering  professionals  who  are  graduating  from  various  colleges  to  enable  them  to compete at the global level, the following package of measures have been approved by the AICTE:-
1.  Perspective Plan for Technical Education; 2.  Introduction of Induction programme for engineering  students;  3.  Revision  of  Curriculum;  4.  Mandatory  internships;  5.  Industry readiness  by  imparting  technical  and  soft  skills;  6.  Promoting  Innovation/Start-ups;  7. Examination  reforms;  8.  Training  of  teachers;  9.  Mandatory  accreditation  of  all  the programmes through the National Board of Accreditation before 2022.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 854 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-23
Subject: Sale by KVIC
Ministry: MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: NEELAM SONKER

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTIONNO. 854 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2018

## SALE BY KVIC

## 854.    SHRIMATI NEELAM SONKER:

Will  the  Minister  of  MICRO,  SMALL  AND  MEDIUM  ENTERPRISES  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Khadigramodyog  purchases  products  from  private  Institutions and sell them and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether certain private Institutions also supply ayurvedic medicines and if so, the details of such Institutions; and
- (c) whether the Government conducts any quality check of such ayurvedic medicines from time to time and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a): Khadi  and  Village  Industries  Commission  (KVIC)  does  not  buy  any products from  private  organizations,  neither  does  it  sell  such  products.  KVIC only facilitate marketing of products produced by Khadi and Village Industries Institutions  and  Rural  Employment  Generation  Programme  (REGP)/Prime Minister's  Employment  Generation  Programme  (PMEGP)  Units  assisted  by KVIC,  State  Khadi  and  Village  Industries  Boards  (KVIBs)  and  District Industries Centres (DICs) through KVIC Departmental Sales Outlets (DSOs).

- (b): No.
- (c): Does not arise.

* * *
Lok Sabha Question No. 853 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-23
Subject: Harassment on Basis of Casteism
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RATTAN LAL KATARIA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 853 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.7.2018

## HARASSMENT ON BASIS OF CASTEISM

## 853. SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA:

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

- (a)  whether  some  of  the  Scheduled  Castes/Scheduled  Tribe  (SC/ST)  employees  have  lodged complaints for harassment on the basis of casteism in various Department of the Ministry;
- (b) the details of the mechanism adopted for redressal of grievance/ complaints representations of SC and ST Employees;
- (c)  the  number of complaints received and disposed of during the last four years, departmentwise; and
- (d) the details of the steps taken/being taken in the Ministry to their speedy disposal and also time  taken  to  dispose  these  cases  and  to  safeguard  the  interest  of  SC/ST  employees  in  the Ministry?

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

(a)  to  (d)  The  Centrally  funded  institutions  of  MHRD  are  autonomous  bodies  which  are governed by their own Acts, Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations made there under. The Acts of the respective institutions, stipulate that the institutions shall not discriminate on grounds of caste, religion. Institutions are competent to take all administrative decisions including to prevent all kinds of harassment and discrimination against any section of employees/students. Accordingly, complaints received in this Ministry are forwarded to concerned Autonomous Bodies /Educational Institutions for appropriate action. UGC informed that in few cases of complaints, comments/views are sought from the concerned University/College and on the receipt of the reply the same is forwarded to the applicant for his/her information. Data on caste-based harassment/discrimination is not centrally maintained.

Centralized  Public  Grievance  Redress  and  Monitoring  System (CPGRAMS)  is  the platform based on web technology which primarily aims to enable submission of grievances by the aggrieved citizens including employee  from  anywhere  and  anytime (24x7) basis to Ministries/Departments/Organisations who scrutinize and take action for speedy and favorable redress  of  these  grievances.  Tracking  grievances  is  also  facilitated  on  this  portal  through  the system generated unique registration number.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 850 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-23
Subject: Construction of ESIC Medical Colleges
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: MALLIKARJUN  KHARGE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 850 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2018

## CONSTRUCTION OF ESIC MEDICAL COLLEGES

850. SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE:

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

- (a)the  number  of  ESIC  Medical  Colleges  sanctioned  in  the  country, State/UT-wise;
- (b)whether  there  has  been  delay  in  construction  of  ESIC  Medical Colleges in the country;
- (c)if so, the details along with the present status of these colleges and the reasons therefor, State/UT-wise; and
- (d)the  details  of  amount  collected  in  the  ESIC  from  Insured  Persons and  the  expenditure  incurred  therefrom,  during  each  of  the  last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (d): The information is  being  collected  and  will  be  laid  on  the Table of the House.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 849 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-23
Subject: National Mission for Manuscripts
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: P. C. MOHAN

## 849. SHRI P.C. MOHAN:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has launched a National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) to identify, collect and  preserve  records  of  historical  importance  with  an  aim  to  reconstruct  the  past  for  the  future generations;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the total amount released by the Government for this project and the actual amount spent thereon;
- (c) whether these rare archives, documents and other manuscripts will be digitalized and made public;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR CULTURE & MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST & CLIMATE CHANGE

## (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

## ANSWER

- (a) In 2003, National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM), a Mission mode Project, was launched by the Ministry of Culture for documentation, conservation, preservation and digitization of manuscripts.
- (b) Till  date  NMM  has  documented  43.16  lakh  manuscripts,  conserved  434.56  lakh  folios  of  manuscripts, digitized 283 lakh pages of 2.96 lakh manuscripts and published 44 rare and unpublished manuscripts.

From its inception in 2003 to 31 st March, 2018, an amount of 9666 lakh was released by the Ministry of Culture and an amount of 9544 lakh was spent on it.

- (c)   The manuscripts documented and digitized by the NMM will be made available to researcher and scholars through a Trusted Digital Repository.
- (d)    The  ultimate  object  of  the  Mission  is  to  establish  a  Digital  Manuscripts  Repository  at  IGNCA  in  which researchers and scholars can view and consult the manuscripts to understand our past in its totality.
- (e)  Does not arise.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 849 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2018

## NATIONAL MISSION FOR MANUSCRIPTS
Lok Sabha Question No. 847 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-23
Subject: RCEP
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: ASADUDDIN OWAISI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 847 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 rd  JULY,2018

## RCEP

## 847. SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाͨणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंğी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Asian  Trade  Ministers  of  16  nations  met  recently  in  Tokyo  for  creating world's biggest trading block called Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RECP);
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the detailed roadmap chalked out in this regard;
- (c) the details of extent to which this trade block is likely to pressurize US not to dictate its trade policy in the present scenario of US-China trade war; and
- (d) the extent to which India is likely to be benefited to allow free movement of skilled manpower in other countries?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Jh lh- vkj- pkS/kjh½

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a) to (c):  Trade Ministers from 16 Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)  Countries    participated  in  the  5 th RCEP  Intersessional  Ministerial  Meeting held on 1 July 2018 in Tokyo, Japan. The RCEP Trade Ministers took stock of the progress  in  RCEP  negotiations  and  gave  directions  on  the  way  forward  consistent with the Guiding Principles and Objectives for Negotiating the RCEP with a view to concluding negotiations early. The Ministers reaffirmed their resolve to work together against growing protectionism in the form of unilateral actions against free trade.
- (d):  India  seeks  liberalization  of  Services  sector  in  RCEP  in  view  of  its  increasing contribution  to  GDP  and  job  creation  in  member  countries.  With  a  large  pool  of English  speaking  skilled  manpower  proficient  in  IT  and  ITeS,  India  enjoys  a comparative advantage in Services.

******