opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 4727 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Frequency of Samta Express
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Deepak Baij

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4727

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2021

## FREQUENCY OF SAMTA EXPRESS

†4727. SHRI DEEPAK BAIJ:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to run Samta Express once in a week  from  Jagdalpur  to  Delhi  via  Raipur  in  order  to  provide  direct benefit of rail facilities to North Indians;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the trains being run from tribal dominated Bastar to Delhi;
- (d) whether there is no direct train from Delhi to the said place; and
- (e) if so, whether the Government is going to consider running Samta Express once in a week for this place?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (e) Owing to operational and resource constraints including nonavailability of infrastructural facilities at Jagdalpur, there is no immediate proposal to operate 12807/12808 Visakhapatnam-H. Nizamuddin  Samta  Express  from  Jagdalpur  via  Raipur.    However, passengers of Jagdalpur area desirous of travelling to Delhi may do so by suitable changeover at Visakhapatnam/Rayagada. Besides, introduction/extension  of  train  services  over  Indian  Railways  is  an ongoing  process  subject  to  operational  feasibility,  traffic  demand, availability of resources, etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4721 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Shortage of Critical Minerals
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Ritesh Pandey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4721

ANSWERED ON 24.03.2021

## SHORTAGE OF CRITICAL MINERALS

## 4721. SHRI RITESH PANDEY:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  India  is  likely  to  face  an  acute  shortage  of  critical  minerals  necessary  for developing  a  clean-energy  application,  infrastructure  for  its  solar  mission  and  for manufacturing  high-technology  products  in  the  near  future  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b)  whether the country is likely to become largely dependent on China in  the coming years to source such materials for its manufacturing sector and at present is 100 per cent import-dependent for critical minerals and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  the  steps/measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  reduce  such  dependence and to develop mines and unleash the untapped potential of the vast mineral resources?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINES, COAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

- (a): The metallurgical  grade  silica  required  for  manufacturing  of  photovoltaic  ingots/ wafers/ cells/ modules has not been reported in any part of the country so far.
- (b) &(c): The Government has taken the following steps to enhance domestic solar PV manufacturing:
- (i) Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS) of Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology.
- (ii)  Production  Linked  Incentive  (PLI)  Scheme  for  High  Efficiency  Solar  PV Modules.
- (iii) Imposition of Safeguard Duty on import of solar PV cells & modules.
- (iv)  Preference  to  'Make  in  India'  in  Public  Procurement  in  Renewable  Energy Sector.
- (v)  Domestic Content Requirement - under the current schemes of MNRE, it has been mandated to source solar PV cells and modules from domestic sources.
- (vi) Increase of Basic Customs Duty: With effect from 02.02.2021, Basic Customs Duty  (BCD)  on  import  of  solar  inverters  and  solar  lanterns  /  lamps  has  been increased.
- (vii)  Discontinuation  of  Concessional  Customs  Duty  Certificates  for  solar  power projects.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4719 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: ROB at Shivanarayanpur Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ajay Kumar Mandal

- (a): No, Sir.
- (b) to (d): Do not arise.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4719 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2021

## ROB AT SHIVANARAYANPUR STATION

## †4719. SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received any proposal to construct Rail Over Bridge near Shivanarayanpur station of Malda division under Eastern Railway;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any agency has been appointed for the implementation of this scheme; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4718 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Use of Social Media as a Complaints Redressal Platform
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Arun Sao, Vijay Baghel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4718

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 24.03.2021

## USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AS A COMPLAINTS REDRESSAL PLATFORM

## 4718.   SHRI ARUN SAO: SHRI VIJAY BAGHEL:

Will the Minister of Electronics & Information Technology be pleased to state :

- (a) whether maximum people are using platforms of social media to raise their complaints and the Government has taken this medium in a position spirit;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government to exhort the officers/employees to make use  of social media platforms;
- (d)  whether  some  State  Governments  have  conducted  training  programmes  for  their officers for making use of the platform to establish dialogue with the people;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the measures taken by the Government to respond properly on the complaints raised on the said platforms?

## ANSWER

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

(a) and (b): Coupled with growth of Internet in India, the users of social media platforms including messaging platforms have increased exponentially. Social media platforms have empowered  people  to  express  their  views,  criticism  and  raise  their  concerns  besides bringing in a large number of innovative methods.

(c):Government Departments are making use of social media platforms for dissemination of their activities  and  initiatives.  Social  media  has  become  an  essential  tool  for communication  with  the  public  to  generate  mass  awareness,  public  participation,  seek public views & feedback, and promotion of various services and schemes.

(d),  (e)  and  (f):  Government  organisations  have  kept  a  dedicated  team to  internally manage  their  social  media  activities  and  brand  presence,  these  departments  are  held responsible for  media  &  communications  activities,  from  managing  and  publishing verified  content,  responding  to  queries  and  keeping  a  regular  tap  on  what  is  trending across  sectors. From  time  to  time,  training  on  social  media  for  various  Government departments have been organised by MyGov in MeitY also.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 4717 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Leakage of CGL Question Papers
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: Anumula Revanth Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

## (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL AND TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4717

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2021)

## LEAKAGE OF CGL QUESTION PAPERS

## 4717. SHRI ANUMULA REVANTH REDDY:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Question  Papers  of  each  and  every  shift  of  CGL  2017  Tier-II  Exam scheduled from 17.02.2018 to 21.02.2018 were leaked before the start of the exam;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of CBI Investigation regarding leakage of question papers and the action taken against responsible officials and others involved therein; and
- (d) the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  that  SSC  conducts  the examination in a fair and efficient manner, free from all malpractices?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) & (b):   No, Sir. However, there have been allegations of cheating/leakage of some questions of Combined Graduate Level (Tier-II) Examination, 2017 (Paper-I) scheduled for the first shift on 21.02.2018.

(c):    CBI  had  in  FIR  no.  RC  AC1  2018A  0009  dated  22.05.2018  filed  charge-sheet  on 02.08.2019  in  the  court  against  three  accused  (private  persons)  for  the  offences  punishable u/s120 B, r/w 420 of IPC, Section 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of the PC Act 1988 and Section 66-D of the IT Act.

(d):    The  Staff  Selection  Commission  maintains  a  high  standard  of  integrity,  discipline  and efficiency in the conduct of its examinations to ensure merit-based selection. To facilitate this process, the Commission has taken comprehensive measures which, inter-alia, include audit of examination  venues,  conduct  of  mock-tests,  deployment  of  Commission's  representatives  as Inspecting Officers at the examination venues, physical frisking of candidates with the help of Hand-Held  Metal  Detectors,  comprehensive  CCTV  coverage  of  the  examination  venues, biometric registration of candidates, deployment of low powered mobile jammers, etc.

No allegation of Question Paper leakage has come to the notice of the Commission with respect  to  the  examinations  conducted  subsequent  to  the  Combined  Graduate  Level  (Tier-II) Examination, 2017.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4716 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Content on Demand in Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Virendra  Kumar, Pratima Bhoumik

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4716 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2021

## CONTENT ON DEMAND IN TRAINS

4716. DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR:

MS. PRATIMA BHOUMIK:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Government is planning to start Content on Demand (CoD) in trains and if so, the details thereof and its launch date, zone-wise;
- (b) whether the Government is planning to give CoD as a free service to the passengers; and
- (c) if not, whether the Government has fixed any charge and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a): Yes, Sir. In the Proof of Concept (PoC) phase of the project, implementation  and  testing  is  underway  in  three  trains  of  Western  Railway, namely,  Mumbai  Rajdhani  12951/52,  August  Kranti  Rajdhani  12953/54  (five rakes) and one Suburban train (one rake), and in one train of Central Railway, namely, Chennai Express 12163/64 (four rakes). After successful operation of the  CoD  services  in  these  trains,  CoD  services  in  other  zones  shall  also  be installed in a phased manner.

- (b)  and  (c):  The  Content  on  Demand (CoD) services will be on free, paid and subscription-based  model  depending  upon  the  content  plan  opted  for  by  the passengers.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4715 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Commercializing Satellite Production
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: Anto  Antony

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4715 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021

## COMMERCIALIZING SATELLITE PRODUCTION

## 4715.  SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  policy  decision  to commercialize satellite production and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the criteria fixed for providing satellites to other countries;
- (c) the  measures taken to protect the security interests of India while providing commercialized satellite service to other countries;
- (d) whether there is any schedule of friendly countries and hostage countries and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the details regarding the purposes for which Indian satellites can be used by foreign countries;
- (f) the amount expected by ISRO to earn out of providing satellites to foreign countries; and
- (g) the details of existing bilateral agreements between India and other countries with regard to providing satellites?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PG & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a) Government  through  reform  of  Space  sector  has  allowed commercial production of satellites in the country. Government has created IN-SPACe for regulation, promotion, monitoring and hand  holding of Indian registered  companies  for  making commercial satellites.
- (b), (c) & (d)

IN-SPACe being regulatory and authorizing body shall formulate appropriate policies and shall lay down guidelines and criteria for providing satellites to other countries.

National  security  will  be  protected  while  allowing  satellite services to other countries through authorization and licensing process.

- (e)     The Indian satellites can be used by foreign countries for the purposes  of  Communication,  Remote  Sensing,  Navigation  & Science studies.
- (f) Post  reform  ISRO  is  mandated  to  focus  on  research  and development  activities  and  commercial  activities  are  to  be taken  up  by  CPSEs.  The  expected  earnings  are  driven  by existing market demand and dynamics.
- (g) No bilateral agreements between India and any other countries exists with regard to providing dedicated Commercial Satellite.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4711 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Details of Spectrum Auction
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: A. Ganeshamurthi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4711 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  MARCH, 2021

## DETAILS OF SPECTRUM AUCTION

## 4711.   SHRI A. GANESHAMURTHI:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  started  the  process  of  spectrum  auction  for  strengthening  of Telecom Services in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  total  number  of  channels  and  the  types  of  channels  to  be  auctioned  in  the  said  auction along with the fixed bid amount therein;
- (d) the total number of bidders who are enrolled for this auction; and
- (e) the total amount fixed and revenue expected through this auction to the Government?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) Government has  conducted  auction  of  spectrum  in  700  MHz,  800  MHz,  900  MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz bands on 1 st  and 2 nd  March, 2021. Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) was issued on 06.01.2021 in this regard. The Auction format was Simultaneous Multiple Round Ascending (SMRA) e-Auction.

- (c) & (e) A total  of  2308.80  MHz  spectrum  with  different  block  sizes  in  different  frequency bands, with total valuation of Rs. 400396.20 Crore at reserve price was put to auction. In the auction, bids for 855.60 MHz spectrum with a total valuation of Rs. 77,820.82 have been received.
- (d) Three bidders namely M/s Bharti Airtel Limited, M/s Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited and M/s Vodafone Idea Limited had submitted applications for participation in the auction and subsequently participated in the auction.

*****.
Lok Sabha Question No. 4707 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: National Broadband Mission in Maharashtra
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Sunil Baburao Mendhe

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4707 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  MARCH, 2021

## NATIONAL BROADBAND MISSION IN MAHARASHTRA

4707.   SHRI SUNIL BABURAO MENDHE:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the funds allocated to the State of Maharashtra under the National Broadband Mission;
- (b) the progress of the said Mission in terms of increased tower density, number of villages in the State provided with broadband services and the length of Optical Fiber laid down in the State during the last three years; and
- (c) the time by which all the villages in State are proposed to be provided with broadband access under the aforesaid mission?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) It is envisaged that the Government through the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) may invest approximately Rupees 70, 000 Crore under the National Broadband Mission, which will cover all the States of the country including the State of Maharashtra;
- (b) Data related  to  establishment  of  tower,  broadband  connectivity  and  Optical  Fiber  Cables (OFCs) laid in the State of Maharashtra during last three years are not available as the related data has been compiled on cumulative basis and not year-wise. As per the cumulative data, till date, in the State  of  Maharashtra,  68272  telecom  towers  have  been  established,    38631  villages  have  been provided with mobile coverage (as per the data collected from the Telecom Service Providers), and under BharatNet project, 70695 Km OFCs have been laid; and
- (c) The mission targets to provide broadband access to all villages of the country, including all villages of Maharashtra, by 2022.

.*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4706 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Vacancies of Statistical Officers
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: Asaduddin Owaisi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4706

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2021

## VACANCIES OF STATISTICAL OFFICERS

4706.  SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

Will the Minister of STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  different  Ministries  including  Finance  and  Health  have asked his Ministry to collect health related data for better management and to frame policies with regard to health especially keeping in view the preparedness of health related policies in the wake of the recent pandemic;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the recommendations made by different Ministries in this regard;
- (d)  whether there are a large number of vacancies in the grade of statistical  officers  in  order  to  start  such  survey  and  collect  data;
- and
- (e) if so, the steps taken or being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  OF  THE  MINISTRY AND MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  OF  THE  MINISTRY

OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION OF PLANNING (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a) to (c): National Statistical Office (NSO) takes up socio-economic survey  on   different  subjects  based  on  the  requests  of  various Ministries including health. The last survey on Health was conducted by NSO during July, 2017 -June, 2018 and the report of

the same has been published which is available at www.mospi.gov.in

- (d) & (e): Yes, all efforts are being made to ensure that there is no vacancy at the level of Senior Statistical Officer (SSO) and Junior Statistical  Officer  (JSO)  of  Subordinate  Statistical  Service  (SSS). The  Posts  of  SSOs  are  filled  through  promotion  from  the  post  of JSO.  During  2020,  the  promotion  to  SSO  from  JSO  have  been processed  for  the  entire  panel  year  of  2020,  keeping  in  view  the expected vacancies that may arise at the level of SSOs in 2020. The JSOs are recruited through the Combined Graduate Level Examination conducted by the Staff Selection Commission. However, the shortage of Statistical Officers of various surveys is met by hiring contractual staff i.e. Field Investigators, Field Officers and Consultants.
Lok Sabha Question No. 4704 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: 5G Spectrum Auction
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Balashowry Vallabbhaneni

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4704 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  MARCH, 2021

## 5G SPECTRUM AUCTION

## 4704.   SHRI BALASHOWRY VALLABHANENI:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of preparations by the Government for 5G spectrum auction;

(b) whether  the  Government  expects  to  earn  Rs.80,000  crore  from  the  first  round  of  spectrum auction and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the  number  of  bidding  to  be  held  in  the  spectrum  auction  and  the  base  price  set  by  the Government for the spectrum which are going to be auctioned; and

(d) whether  the  Government  expects  to  achieve  the  target  from  the  said  auction  and  if  so,  the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) Department  of  Telecommunications  (DoT)  had  sought  recommendations  from  Telecom Regulatory  Authority  of  India  (TRAI)  on  the  issues  involved  in  the  auction  of  spectrum.  TRAI provided its recommendations on 01.08.2018 and response to DoT's back-reference on 08.07.2019. TRAI recommendations and response were considered by the Digital Communications Commission (DCC). Based on the decisions of the DCC, issues related to auction of spectrum in 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz bands were placed before the Union  Cabinet.  In  accordance  with  the  Cabinet  approval,  Government  has  conducted  auction  of spectrum in 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz bands in  March,  2021.  Spectrum  acquired  through  auction  can  be  used  to  provide  services  using  any technology including 5G.

(b) Entire available 2308.80 MHz spectrum with total valuation of Rs. 400396.20 Crore at reserve price was put to auction. In the auction, bids for 855.60 MHz spectrum with a total valuation of Rs. 77,820.82 have been received.

- (c) A total of 3 bidders participated in the spectrum auction conducted in March-2021 and there were total 6 rounds of bidding. Spectrum was sold in 74 LSA-Band combinations. A total of 2308.80 MHz spectrum with total valuation of Rs. 400396.20 Crore at reserve price was put to auction.
- (d) Bids for 855.60 MHz spectrum with a total valuation of Rs. 77,820.82 have been received and a total of Rs. 21,918.48 Crore as upfront payment has been received in the financial year 2020-21, as per the terms and conditions of the Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) issued regarding conduct of spectrum auction.

.*****