opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3448 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-23
Subject: Passenger Amenities at Stations
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Bhavana Gawali (Patil), Krupal Balaji Tumane

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3448 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2022

## PASSENGER AMENITIES AT STATIONS

†3448. SHRIMATI BHAVANA PUNDALIKRAO GAWALI: SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  Whether  the  Railways  has  recently  announced  several  passenger amenities at various railway stations of the country; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  &  (b):  Augmentation/Improvement of passenger amenities on Indian Railways is a continuous and on-going process. At the time of construction of station, Minimum Essential Amenities (MEA) are provided as  per  norms  based  on  the  category  of  station.  Recommended  and Desirable Amenities are further escalated from time to time with growth in passenger traffic at stations, based on needs and expectations of the travelling public and availability of funds.

At present development of railway sations is also undertaken under Adarsh  Station  Scheme  based  on  identified  need  of  providing  better enhanced passenger amenities at stations. Various passenger amenities such as improvement to façade of the station building, retiring room, waiting  room (with  bathing  facilities),  separate  waiting  room  for ladies, computer based public address system, landscaping of circulating  area,  signages,  Pay  &  Use  toilets,  water  coolers,  ramps  at entry  to  station  for  Divyangjan  and  Senior  Citizens  etc.  are  provided depending  upon  the  respective  category  of  the  station  identified  and developed under this scheme. Modern facilities like lifts, escalators etc. are also set up depending upon the priority of the station concerned.

However, with a view to meet the expectations of the rail users, Indian Railways is making all out efforts to provide improved amenties/facilities  at  railway  stations    and  works  in  this  regard  are undertaken depending upon volume of the passenger traffic and inter-se priority  subject to availability of funds.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3446 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-23
Subject: Innovation Values
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Francisco Cosme Sardinha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3446 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2022

## INNOVATION VALUES

3446.   SHRI COSME FRANCISCO CAITANO SARDINHA:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ǒव£ान और Ĥौƭोिगकȧ मंğी be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the various initiatives taken up by the Government for boosting India's entire innovation value chain comprising researchers and  research  institutes  keeping  in  view  the  COVID-19  and  tackling  the pandemic;
- (b) the  details  of  the  various  institutes/organisations  involved  in boosting the innovation values; and
- (c) the details of the programmes/schemes developed by the Government for these purposes?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY & EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

ǒव£ान और Ĥौƭोिगकȧ तथा पृØवी ǒव£ान मंğालय क े राÏय मंğी ( èवतंğ Ĥभार) ( डॉ. ǔजतɅġ िसंह )

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

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3445 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-23
Subject: Funds to Assam for Rice Distribution
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Pallab Lochan Das

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DTSTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD A}ID PUBLIG DTSTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTIOil  NO.3445

TO BE ANSWERED  ON 23RD MARCH, 2022

## FUNDS TO ASSAM FOR RIGE DISTRTBUTTON

## 3445. SHRI PALLA.B LOGHAN DAS:

Will the Minister of GONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND  pUBLtc DISTRTBUTION  stIfrtrT  qmt, qrs  oi-<ffffifiG-{iqq* be pteased  to state:

- (a) the funds allocated by the Government  to Assam for distribution of rice under Nationa! Food Security AcI(NFSA) and other welfare schemes in 2O2{; and
- (b) the number of beneficiaries under NFSA in Assam, District-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ]UIINISTRY  OF RURAL DEVELOPi'ENT AND CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (sADHVr NTRANJAN JYOTI)

(a): The detalls of funds released  to State Govemment  of Assam under the scheme of  (Assistance  to State Agency towards intra-State  movement & handling of foodgrains  and falr price shop dealerst margin under the NFSAT for meetlng the expendlture towards lntra.State movement &  handllng of foodgralns and fair prlce shop dealers, margin under the Natlonal Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) and Pradhan Mantrl Garlb Katyan Anna Yolana (PMGKAY) durlng the flnanclal  year 2021-22, are as follows:

(ln crore)

|    NFSA |   PMGKAY |   Total |
|---------|----------|---------|
| 220.791 |   324.96 |  545.75 |

- (b): The number of beneficlaries covered under the National Food Securltyr Act, 2013 in the State of Assam is as follows:

(ln lakh)

| Antyodaya Anna Yojana   | Antyodaya Anna Yojana   | Number of persons under priority households   | Total number of percons under NFSA   |
|-------------------------|-------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| Number of households    | Number of Persons       | Number of persons under priority households   | Total number of percons under NFSA   |
| 6.92                    | 28.08                   | 223.O4                                        | 251.17                               |

District  wise data is not maintained  by the Central  Govemment.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3444 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-23
Subject: Passenger Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Suresh Chanabasappa Angadi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3444 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2022

## PASSENGER TRAINS

3444.  SHRIMATI ANGADI MANGAL SURESH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) the  passenger  trains  in  all  the  States  which  stopped  plying owing to Covid-19 pandemic and have started plying again; and

(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  and  (b)  To  prevent  the  spread  of  COVID-19  pandemic,  Indian Railways  had  discontinued  all  regular  passenger  carrying  trains w.e.f. 23rd March, 2020. Since November, 2021 Mail/Express trains are  being  operated  with  regular  numbers,  rationalised  time  table and with fares and categorisation as applicable.  Indian Railways do not operate trains on State-wise basis, as Railway network straddles  across  State  boundaries.    As  on  15.03.2022,  on  a  daily average basis, 8971 trains which includes 1734 Mail/Express trains, 5437 Suburban trains and 1800 passenger trains were operated over Indian  Railways.    Besides,  passenger  train  services  are  being restored in a phased manner.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3441 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-23
Subject: Shortage of Guards
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Kaushalendra Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3441 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2022

## SHORTAGE OF GUARDS

- † 3441. SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  goods  trains  are  being  run  during  night  hours  without guards and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether there is a shortage of guards as per the claims made by Moradabad Division and if so, the facts thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  also  contemplating  on  running  trains without guards;
- (d) if  so,  whether the Government has taken any steps in this matter till now and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  such  a  situation  be  a  reasons  for  any  major  railway incident and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a): Some goods trains are being run without guards during night hours in  case of  operational exigencies with extensive safety precautions as laid down under General and Subsidiary rules (G&SR).

(b): Presently  there  is  some  shortage  of  Guards.  Against  the  total sanctioned  strength  of  843  Guards,  currently  there  is  vacancy  of  169 Guards in Moradabad Division. (c) & (d): End of Train Telemetry (EoTT) system has been provided as a Pilot Project on some of the freight trains. (e): No untoward incident has been reported in the last three years on this account.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3440 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-23
Subject: VRS in BSNL
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Thomas Chazhikadan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3440 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 RD  MARCH, 2022

## VRS IN BSNL

## 3440.   SHRI THOMAS CHAZHIKADAN:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it has come to the notice of the Government that there is delay and deficiency in the services provided by BSNL due to the implementation of Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) in BSNL;
- (b) if so, the corrective action taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any study regarding the impact of lack of sufficient number of human resources due to mass voluntary retirement scheme; and
- (d) the details of the action taken by the Government to fill up the vacancies in BSNL?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)

(a) to (c) Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) was implemented in Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) on 31.01.2020. There is no delay or deficiency in services provided by BSNL due to implementation of VRS.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) monitors the performance of the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) including BSNL against the benchmarks for various Quality of Service (QoS) parameters laid down by TRAI by way of QoS regulations issued from time to time, through Quarterly Performance Monitoring Reports (PMRs). As per PMR for quarter ending Sep 2021, BSNL is meeting, in general, most of the QoS parameters for its cellular and basic services in its areas of operation.

- (d) Current strength of employees is sufficient for operation of BSNL.

****

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3439 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-23
Subject: Reforms in the Telecom Sector
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Hema Malini

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3439 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 RD  MARCH, 2022

## REFORMS IN THE TELECOM SECTOR

## 3439.   SHRIMATI HEMA MALINI:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government recently has approved a number of structural and procedural reforms in the telecom sector for boosting employment, growth, competition and consumer interests;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the reforms are focused to ensure that affordable telecom services are reaching the poor households; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)

(a) & (b) For  boosting  employment,  growth,  competition  and  consumer  interests  in  the  telecom sector, structural and procedural reforms have been approved by the Government on 15 th  September 2021. These reforms include Rationalization of Adjusted Gross Revenue; Rationalization of Bank Guarantees(BGs);  Rationalization  of  interest  rates  and  removal  of  penalties;  Dispensing  with  the requirement of BGs (for auctions held henceforth) to secure instalment payments; Increasing spectrum tenure from 20 years to 30 years(in future auctions); Permission for surrender of spectrum after 10 years (in  future  auctions);  Dispensing  with  the  requirement  of  Spectrum  Usage  Charge  (SUC)  for  spectrum acquired in future spectrum auctions; Removal of additional SUC of 0.5% for spectrum sharing; Permission for 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in telecom sector under automatic route subject to safeguards; Fixed time for spectrum auctions (normally in the last quarter of every financial year); Requirement of licenses  under  1953  Customs  Notification  for  wireless  equipment  replaced  with  self-declaration; Permission for Self-KYC; e-KYC rate revised to only one Rupee; Dispensing with the requirement of fresh KYC for shifting from Prepaid to Post-paid and vice-versa; Replacement of paper Customer Acquisition Forms with digital storage of data; Easing SACFA clearance for telecom towers; and Addressing liquidity requirements of the Telecom Service Providers by way of moratorium/deferment.

(c) & (d) These reform measures have potential to boost proliferation of telecom connectivity across the country, create an enabling environment for investment. Above have potential to promote competition and customer choice, antyodaya for inclusive development and bringing the marginalized areas into the mainstream and universal broadband access to help connect the unconnected.

****

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3438 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-23
Subject: e-Commerce Companies
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: K. Shanmuga Sundaram

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3438 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2022

## E-COMMERCE COMPANIES

3438.  SHRI SHANMUGA SUNDARAM K.:

## Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that some of the e-commerce companies are not displaying the mandatory requirement of country of origin under the Legal Metrology Rules, 2011;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has laid down several restrictions on import from China, however these ecommerce companies are marketing Chinese origin products;
- (d) whether the Government is likely to allow the ecommerce companies to market their products, if the county of origin as China is mentioned; and
- (e) if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h (श्री अश्विनी क ु मार चौबे)

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a)  to (e) : The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 provides, in the case of imported products, for mandatory declaration of country of origin, on the digital and electronic networks used for e-commerce transactions, Further, the Legal Metrology Act 2009 provides for penal provisions in case of violations and also authorizes the State Governments to take action thereon. The Legal Metrology Office of the Department of Consumer Affairs has issued 270 notices since 1 st January 2021 to e-commerce entities for violation of provisions pertaining to Country of Origin and an amount of approximately Rs. 56,40,500/- in the form of compounding fees has been realized from such e-commerce companies.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3437 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-23
Subject: Promotion of Handloom Sector
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Girish Chandra

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3437 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2022

## PROMOTION OF HANDLOOM SECTOR

## 3437. SHRI GIRISH CHANDRA:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री be pleased to state :

(a) whether the Government has taken any steps to promote Uttar Pradesh's rich handloom sector on the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi;

- (b) if so, the details thereof and
- (c) the names of programmes developed and the funds allocated therefor by Government in this regard?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र राज् य मंत्री ( श्रीमती दर्शना जरदोर् )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SMT. DARSHANA JARDOSH)

(a) to (c): The Government of India and Uttar Pradesh Government undertook various activities to promote  handloom  sector  across  the  country  on  the  150 th birth  anniversary  of  Mahatma  Gandhi. Weavers' Service Centres (WSCs) at Varanasi and Meerut organised the following activities:

-  Live  demonstration  for  spreading  awareness  about  using  environment-friendly,  safe  for  skin vegetable dyes.
-  Showcasing use of khadi yarns, display of khadi dress materials and stoles prepared by WSC, Varanasi.
-  Live demonstration of khadi weaving.
-  Dissemination of information on Handloom schemes implemented by Ministry of Textiles.
-  An  exhibition  was  organized  by  Khadi  and  Village  Industries  Commission,  Varanasi  on  2 nd October 2019. WSC Varanasi participated in the exhibition.

Further, to promote the handlooms and welfare of weavers across the country, Ministry of Textiles is implementing the following schemes:

- 1) National Handloom Development Programme;
- 2) Raw Material Supply Scheme;

Under the above schemes, financial assistance is provided to the eligible handloom agencies/weavers for raw materials, common  infrastructure development, marketing of handloom products in domestic/overseas markets, Weaver MUDRA Loans etc.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3433 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-23
Subject: Demand of Steel
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Anumula Revanth Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STEEL

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3433

FOR ANSWER ON 23/03/2022

## DEMAND OF STEEL

## 3433.  SHRI ANUMULA REVANTH REDDY:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

the details of the demand and production of steel in India since 2014, yearwise?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STEEL

(SHRI RAM CHANDRA PRASAD SINGH)

Details of Production of crude steel along with the production and consumption of total finished steel in India from FY2014 to FY2021 are given as follows:-

| Year                                | Crude steel                         | Total Finished Steel                | Total Finished Steel                |
|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
|                                     | Production (in MT)                  | Production (in MT)                  | Consumption (in MT)                 |
| 2013-14                             | 81.69                               | 75.16                               | 74.09                               |
| 2014-15                             | 88.98                               | 81.86                               | 76.99                               |
| 2015-16                             | 89.79                               | 81.90                               | 81.52                               |
| 2016-17                             | 97.94                               | 91.54                               | 84.04                               |
| 2017-18                             | 103.13                              | 95.01                               | 90.71                               |
| 2018-19                             | 110.92                              | 101.29                              | 98.71                               |
| 2019-20                             | 109.14                              | 102.62                              | 100.17                              |
| 2020-21                             | 103.54                              | 96.20                               | 94.89                               |
| Source: Joint Plant Committee (JPC) | Source: Joint Plant Committee (JPC) | Source: Joint Plant Committee (JPC) | Source: Joint Plant Committee (JPC) |

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3431 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-23
Subject: Vande Bharat Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ravi Kishan Shukla, Ravindra Kushawaha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3431 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2022

## VANDE BHARAT TRAINS

†3431. SHRI RAVI KISHAN:

SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to introduce the Vande Bharat
- Trains through out the country in the coming years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  replace  Rajdhani,  Shatabdi and Duranto trains with Vande Bharat Trains;
- (d)  if  so,  whether  the  operation  of  these  trains  is  likely  to  be discontinued completely; and
- (e) if so, the action plan chalked out in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (e)  Presently,  02  pairs  of  Vande  Bharat  Express  namely, 22435/22436 New Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express and 22439/22440  New  Delhi-Shri  Mata  Vaishno  Devi  Katra  Vande  Bharat Express  are  in  operation.  Operation  of  Vande  Bharat  trains  and replacement of services, over Indian Railways network, is an ongoing process  subject  to  operational  feasibility,  commercial  justification, availability of rolling stock etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3430 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-23
Subject: Illegal use of Aadhaar Biometrics
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: M. Selvaraj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3430

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2022

## ILLEGAL USE OF AADHAAR BIOMETRICS

## 3430. SHRI M. SELVARAJ:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received complaints regarding illegal use of Aadhaar biometrics in the country;
- (b) if so, the details on attempting unauthorised authentication and impersonation therein;
- (c)  the  details  of  such  modus  operandi  and  the  financial  loss  incurred  thereon  during  the  last  three years; and
- (d) the action taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR  ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR)

(a) to (c): Some cases have been reported of attempted unauthorized access to the authentication system using a gummy finger of an authorized operator/personnel.In all such cases FIR have been lodged for unauthorized authentication cases. UIDAI has a strong and rigorous process of identifying such types of cases and ensuring that these are reported to the concerned Law Enforcement Agencies for necessary action.

The data, as available with NPCI, for the frauds reported to it by member banks for the past 3 years is as follows:

| FY          |   Unique Customer Count |   Transaction Count |   Amount (Lacs) |
|-------------|-------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|
| FY-19-20    |                     497 |                1370 |              94 |
| FY-20-21    |                    1200 |                3755 |             268 |
| FY21-22     |                    2391 |                8739 |             648 |
| Grand Total |                    4088 |               13864 |            1010 |

(d):UIDAI uses various methods/audits/advocacy to ensure that Aadhaar system is robust and highly secure. The security of its entire authentication system is reviewed from time to time.

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