opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 4037 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-28
Subject: Recovery from Wilful Defaulters
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: S.R. Parthiban

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MNSTRY OF FINANCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-4037 ANSWERED ON 28/03/2022

## RECOVERY FROM WILFUL DEFAULTERS

4037 . SHRI PARTHBAN SR

- () the reasons behind the slow il-performing loan recovery rate;
- (6) whether despite the recent developments, the concerned authorities only managed to recover 40 percent of the loan amount from the loan fugitives; and" have
- (c) the corrective steps taken by the Government for the full/ maximum loan recovery from the wilful defaulters? being

## ANSWER

(DR BHAGWAT KARAD)

- (a) to (c)  As per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, recovery made by sector banks (PSBs) the financial year as a percentage of gross non-performing assets   (NPAs) as on beginning of the\_financial year (FY) has improved from 11.33% in FY2O17-18, to 13.52% in FY2018-19, to 14.69% in FY2019-20. In FY2020-21, despite widespread  impact of the COVID-19   pandemic on the economy and its cascading effect on the actions in respect of recovery measures, the   recovery the financial as a percentage of gross NPA as on beginning of the financial year was stillat 12.28%public during during year

With , regard to loan   recovery from the wilful defaulters, as per RBIs Master Circular on Wilful Defaulters, dated 1.7.2015, banks are to take steps to initiate the legal process, wherever warranted, against the borrowers/ guarantors for may also initiate criminal proceedings wilful defaulters, wherever   necessary: In with  these  instructions, banks   initiate recovery process under various recovery mechanisms, such as of a suit in civil courts or in the Debts Recovery Tribunals, action under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial and Enforcement of Interest 2002, of cases in the National Company Law Tribunal under the Insolvency and 2016,and through sale of NPAs. required they against line filing Assets Security \_ Act, filing Code,

Moreover; to deter wilful defaulters; as per RBIs instructions, wilful defaulters are (NBFCs) or financial institutions, and their unit is debarred from companies new ventures for five Further; vide   Securities and Board   of India (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2016, wilful . defaulters with wilful   defaulters as promoters/ directors have been debarred from accessing markets to raise funds; In addition, the Insolvency and 2016 has debarred wilful defaulters from participating in the insolvency resolution process floating\_ years. Exchange capital Bankruptcy Code, assets worth Rs 19,111 crore, up to 23.3.2022 , under the provisions of Prevention of Laundering 2002 in certain cases of loan fugitives, which is 84.61% of the defrauded amount of Rs. 22.586 crore in these cases  Further; Out of these attached assets, assets worth Rs; 15,113 crore; which is 66.91% of the defrauded amount; has been restituted to PSBs. Money Act,
Lok Sabha Question No. 4033 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-28
Subject: Medium of Instruction in Higher/Technical Education
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Vivek Narayan Shejwalkar, Rakesh Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4033 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2022

## Medium of Instruction in Higher/Technical Education

## †4033.   SHRI VIVEK NARAYAN SHEJWALKAR: SHRI RAKESH SINGH:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the medium of instruction of medical, engineering and other courses for graduation/post-graduation is English medium only and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the material of these courses of higher education is available in Hindi medium and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether a large number of students of Hindi medium and students from rural areas are deprived of these technical and other courses of higher education due to English medium of instruction as they face difficulties  in  reading,  understandig  and  writing  their  subjects  in  English  and  if  so,  the details thereof;

(d)  the  details  of  courses  of  higher  education  where  medium  of  instruction  is  both  in  Hindi  and English along with the details of such courses where the Government is considering to introduce medium of instruction as Hindi along with English; and

(e) the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to make necessary arrangements for study of various courses of technical and higher education through Hindi medium?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (DR. SUBHAS SARKAR)

(a)  to  (e)  :  National  Education  Policy  (2020)  envisages  imparting  more  programmes  in  higher education, using mother tongue/local language as medium of instruction, and/or offer programmes bilingually, in order to increase access and Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) and also to promote the strength, usage and vibrancy of all Indian Languages. Government of India has granted permission to 19 Engineering Colleges in 10 States to run 26 program in 6 Indian Languages.  Translation of 2744 lectures and validation of 2225 lectures into eight (8) different Indian regional languages has been completed for technical courses. 160 Technical Books have also been translated in Regional Languages.  All  India  Council  for  Technical  Education  (AICTE)  has  developed  a  tool  called 'AICTE Translation Automation Artificial Intelligence Tool' to translate English Language online courses into twelve different languages. The above are some efforts so that no student is deprived of Higher Education due to language limitation.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 4032 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-28
Subject: Impact of Rising Excise Duties and Taxes
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Pinaki Misra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4032

TO BE ANSWERED ON MARCH 28, 2022

## IMPACT OF RISING EXCISE DUTIES AND TAXES

4032. SHRI PINAKI MISRA:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has assessed the impact of rising excise duties and taxes on fuel/liquefied petroleum gas on income inequality;
- (b) if so, the details of the incidence of fuel excise duties on varying income groups of the population;
- (c) whether the Government has made any assessment about how rising fuel excise duties can increase costs of goods and inflation; and
- (d) if so, the detailed assessment of the impact of current fuel excise duties on inflation?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (d) No Sir. In fact, excise duty on petrol and diesel has not been increased after May 2020. On the contrary, with an increase in global crude oil prices,  Government reduced the Central Excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs. 5 and Rs. 10 per litre respectively with effect from 4 November, 2021 to provide relief  to  the  retail  consumers.  Following  this  reduction  in  Central  Excise  duty,  many  States/UTs  have also reduced the Value Added Tax on petrol and diesel. The average headline retail inflation rate based on  Consumer  Price  Index-Combined  (CPI-C)  during  2021-22  (April-February)  was  5.37  percent  as against 6.22 percent in the corresponding period last year.

Since  May,  2020,  there  is  no  subsidy  to  the  consumers  on  domestic  liquefied  petroleum  gas  (LPG). However, in far-flung areas and some other markets, there is some subsidy that varies from market to market mainly due to higher inland freight from port to bottling plant. In order to provide clean cooking fuel  to  poor  households,  in  May  2016  the  Government  launched  'Pradhan  Mantri  Ujjwala  Yojana' (PMUY) scheme to provide 5 crore deposit-free LPG connections, subsequently increased to 8 crore. The target of Scheme was achieved in September, 2019, 7 months ahead of the target. Implementation of  PMUY  majorly  contributed  to  increase  in  national  LPG  coverage  to  from  61.9  per  cent  as  on 01.04.2016 to 99.8 per cent as on 01.04.2021. Further, in budget speech made on 1st February, 2021, announcement was made to cover additional 1 crore beneficiaries under Ujjwala scheme. In its revised version, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was launched as Ujjwala 2.0, by Hon. Prime Minister in August 2021.  While  it  covers  all  existing  eligible  categories  of  beneficiaries,  Ujjwala  2.0  makes  specific relaxations for migrants who can submit a simple self-declaration as an address-proof, arranging which used to be a major hassle for migrant. Also, free first refill and stove are being provided to all Ujjwala 2.0 beneficiaries.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4030 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-28
Subject: Investment by LIC
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: S. Venkatesan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4030

ANSWERED ON - 28.3.2022

## INVESTMENT BY LIC

4030. SHRI S. VENKATESAN:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of investments made by LIC of India in State Government securities, Statewise; and
- (b) the details of the Railway projects executed from the funds given by the LIC of India during financial year 2015-2020?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (DR. BHAGWAT KARAD)

(a): State-wise details of investment by Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) in State Government securities outstanding as at 31.12.2021, are at Annex.

(b):  Ministry  of  Railways  has  informed  that  over  the  financial  year  2015-16  to  2019-20, ₹1,01,234  crore  were  provided  by  the  Indian  Railway  Finance  Corporation  for  financing railway projects, which includes ₹ 20,500 crore of funds invested by LIC. These funds were utilised in enhancement projects of railways, mostly doubling and electrification projects.

*****

## Lok Sabha unstarred question no. 4030, regarding "Investment by LIC"

## Investments made by LIC in State Government securities as on 31.12.2021

In crore Rupees

| State/ Union territory   | Investment amount   |
|--------------------------|---------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh           | 92,862.19           |
| Arunachal Pradesh        | 1,913.66            |
| Assam                    | 7,514.73            |
| Bihar                    | 31,897.43           |
| Chhattisgarh             | 8,862.51            |
| Goa                      | 5,226.16            |
| Gujarat                  | 43,310.68           |
| Haryana                  | 43,830.28           |
| Himachal Pradesh         | 11,110.71           |
| Jammu and Kashmir        | 11,295.85           |
| Jharkhand                | 17,295.19           |
| Karnataka                | 36,635.32           |
| Kerala                   | 55,517.81           |
| Madhya Pradesh           | 42,345.91           |
| Maharashtra              | 76,398.68           |
| Manipur                  | 2,800.29            |
| Meghalaya                | 2,664.71            |
| Mizoram                  | 686.38              |
| Nagaland                 | 3,541.26            |
| Odisha                   | 7,002.11            |
| Puducherry               | 1,505.88            |
| Punjab                   | 43,413.74           |
| Rajasthan                | 49,024.21           |
| Sikkim                   | 2,366.24            |
| Tamil Nadu               | 1,04,009.50         |
| Telangana                | 90,099.85           |
| Tripura                  | 3,946.58            |
| Uttar Pradesh            | 58,830.29           |
| Uttarakhand              | 12,502.15           |
| West Bengal              | 1,04,448.86         |

Source: Life Insurance Corporation of India
Lok Sabha Question No. 4029 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-28
Subject: Theft from Bank Lockers
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Gopal Chinayya Shetty

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †4029

To be answered on the 28 th  March 2022/ Chaitra 7, 1944 (Saka)

## Theft from Bank Lockers

## †4029 . SHRI GOPAL CHINNAYA SHETTY:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there has been an increase in cases of dacoity/theft of money and jewellery from the lockers of various branches of Nationalised Banks in different States during the last three years;
- (b) if so, the details of such incidents, Year/bank-wise;
- (c) whether enquiry has been conducted in each of these cases and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  complicity  of  bank  officers/  employees  has  been  reported  in  these cases; and
- (e) if so, the corrective action taken or being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (DR. BHAGWAT KARAD)

(a) to (e): No, sir. As per information furnished by nationalised banks, the number of cases of  dacoity  and  theft  from  lockers  in  branches  of  nationalised  banks  in  various  States decreased from five cases reported during the financial year (FY) 2018-19 to one case each reported during FY2019-20, FY2020-21 and FY2021-22 (up to 31.12.2021).

Nationalised banks have informed that in all the said cases, first information reports (FIRs) were lodged and the matter investigated. Connivance of bank employee was found in two cases during this period and action was taken by the bank as per extant policy guidelines on staff accountability.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 4027 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-28
Subject: Phasing out of Single Use Plastics
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Vishnu Dutt Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4027

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2022

## Phasing out of Single Use Plastics

## 4027.   SHRI VISHNU DATT SHARMA:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether phasing out of 20 listed single use plastics, from September 30, 2021 through July 1, 2022, is running as per schedule;
- (b) whether these 20 listed single use plastics for phasing out covers most of the part of total single use plastic pollution in the country; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a)to (c):  The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, on 12th August 2021, prohibiting manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified single use plastic items, with effect from the 1st July, 2022.

The  notification  also  prohibits  manufacture,  import,  stocking,  distribution,  sale  and use  of  plastic  carry  bags  having  thickness  less  than  seventy  five  microns  with  effect  from 30th September, 2021, and having thickness less thanthickness of one hundred and twenty microns with effect from the 31st December, 2022. Non-woven plastic carry bags of less than 60 gram persqm (GSM) is also prohibited from 30 th September 2021. The items prohibited under  Plastic  Waste  Management  Amendment  Rules,  2021,  namely,  ear  buds  with  plastic sticks,  plastic  sticks  for  balloons,  plastic  flags,  candy  sticks,  ice-cream  sticks,  polystyrene [Thermocol] for decoration; plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays, wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards,  and cigarette packets, plastic  or  PVC  banners  less  than  100  micron,  stirrers,  have  low  utility  and  high  littering potential. These items therefore contribute towards single use plastic pollution.The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also notified the Guidelines on the Extended Producer  Responsibility  (EPR)  for  Plastic  Packaging  vide  Plastic  Waste  Management Amendment Rules, 2022, on 16 th February, 2022.

In order to strengthen implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 and to also enforce the phasing out of identified single use plastic items, as per timelines,special Task Force under the chairpersonship of the Chief Secretary / Administrator has been set up in thirty two States/UTs, for elimination of identified single use plastic items pursuant to the directions  of  the  Ministry.  A  National  Level  Taskforce  has  also  been  constituted  by  the Ministry to ensure the implementation of the ban on single use plastic from 1 st July 2022.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4026 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-28
Subject: Constitutional Posts in NCST
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Raksha Nikhil Khadse

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 4026

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 28/03/2022

## CONSTITUTIONAL POSTS IN NCST

## 4026. SHRIMATI RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has initiated the process of filling up the Constitutional Posts of Vice-Chairperson  and  Two  Members  of  the  National  Commission  for  Scheduled  Tribes (NCST) which has been constituted under Article 338A of the Constitution of India;
- (b) whether the Government has framed any timeline for filling of these posts; and
- (c )  if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

- (a): The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) comprises a Chairperson, a ViceChairperson and three members for a period of three years from the date of assumption of charge. These are Constitutional Posts. At  present, the post  of Vice-Chairperson and two Members of NCST are lying vacant.
- (b) to (c): No such timeline has been framed for filling of these posts.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4024 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-28
Subject: Use of UPI
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Parvesh Sahib Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4024

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2022 / CHAITRA 7, 1944 (SAKA)

## Use of UPI

4024. Shri Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  number  of  countries  outside  India  which  are  using  the  Unified  Payments  Interface  (UPI)  for transactions and the quantum of outside-India transactions that have taken place during the last three years;
- (b) the details of measures adopted by the Government to expand the reach of UPI in other countries; and
- (c) the details of the initial performance and the quantum of funds transferred from the UPI123Pay service launched in March 2022?

## Answer

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (DR BHAGWAT KARAD)

(a) to (c) Various steps taken by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to expand the reach of UPI outside India are given below:

- NPCI  International  Payments  Limited  (NIPL),  a  wholly  owned  subsidiary  of  National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is devoted for internationalisation of UPI. NIPL has undertaken various initiatives  across  nations  to  enable  cross-border  acceptance  of  BHIM UPI QR at merchant establishment. These partnerships will facilitate Indian travellers to make  payments  using  the  BHIM  UPI  QR  for  all  their  retail  purchases  at  international merchant establishments.
- Currently, BHIM UPI QR has gained acceptance in Singapore (March, 2020), Bhutan (July, 2021)  and  recently  with  partners  in  UAE  and  Nepal  (February,  2022).  However,  travel restrictions owing to the pandemic over the last two years have impacted overseas use of this facility.
- In this regard, RBI has been facilitating engagements for the expansion of UPI in countries which have potential for collaboration. Various models of engagements being explored are as follows:
- a) Central Bank to Central Bank cooperation through an agreement or MoU;
- b) Central Bank facilitated discussion and agreement between the network and the Central Bank / Government Agency; and
- c) Network to network arrangement.

Further, the performance of UPI123Pay launched in March 2022 is as follows:

|                                             | March 2022*   |
|---------------------------------------------|---------------|
| Users on-boarded                            | 37,096        |
| Balance check                               | 31,473        |
| Successful transactions                     | 21,833        |
| Successful transactions value (Rs. in lacs) | 79.15         |

Source: RBI

*data is as on 21.03.2022

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4023 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-28
Subject: Preservation of Kalaripayattu
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: K. Muraleedharan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4023 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2022

## PRESERVATION OF KALARIPAYATTU

## 4023.      SHRI K. MURALEEDHARAN

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- a) whether the Government has any scheme for preserving Kalaripayattu which is a martial art designed  for the ancient battlefield  (the  word  "Kalari"  meaning  "battlefield"),  with  weapons and combative techniques that are unique to India; and
- b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE, TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION (SHRI G.KISHAN REDDY)

(a) & (b) In order to preserve and promote the rich and diverse Intangible Cultural  Heritage  of  India,  a  scheme  titled  'Safeguarding  the  Intangible Cultural Heritage and Diverse Cultural Traditions of India' is being run by Sangeet  Natak  Akademi,  an  autonomous  body  under  the  Ministry  of Culture,  Govt. of India. However,  there  is no  specific  scheme  for preserving 'Kalaripayattu' martial art. If a proposal is brought before the Ministry of Culture, we will consider it in terms of rules laid down for the same.
Lok Sabha Question No. 4019 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-28
Subject: Underwater Archaeology Wing
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: D. M. Kathir Anand

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4019

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2022

## UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGY WING

4019. SHRI D.M. KATHIR ANAND:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Underwater  Archaeology  Wing  of  the  Archaeological  Survey  of India (ASI) has not conducted and under water exploration during the last ten years and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether archaeological remnants belonging to Sangam period in ancient Tamil Nadu have been recovered from Tamil Nadu near Poompuhar and Korkai;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether ASI is willing to associate with the State Department of Archaeology, Tamil Nadu in the marine exploration works and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF CULTURE, TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a) Excavations  at  Poompuhar  were  conducted  by  the  Archaeological  Survey  of
- to India (ASI) between 1962 to 1968. Information about excavations carried-out at
- (d) the site during different seasons has been published in 'Indian Archaeology - A Review',  during  corresponding  years.  Later,  Tamil  Nadu  State  Archaeology Department also conducted excavation at this site.

Excavation  at  Korkai  was  undertaken  by  the  Tamil  Nadu  State  Archaeology Department and findings were also published.

ASI works in collaboration with institutions/governments in the field of excavation, on the basis of mutually agreed terms and conditions.