opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 583 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Revenue from Platform Tickets
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Deepak Baij

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 583 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2021

## REVENUE FROM PLATFORM TICKETS

†583. SHRI DEEPAK BAIJ:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

(a) the revenue generated by the Railways so far after fixing the price of platform ticket to Rs.30 during COVID-19 pandemic ;

(b) the revenue generated by the Railways after withdrawal of various concessions  on  tickets  due  to  the  operation  of  passenger  trains  as special trains; and

(c)  whether  additional  revenue  generated  after  the  withdrawal  of concessions on tickets and increase in the price of platform tickets has been utilized for the treatment of Corona virus?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (c) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 583 BY SHRI DEEPAK BAIJ TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 01.12.2021 REGARDING REVENUE FROM PLATFORM TICKETS

- (a): Ministry of Railways have delegated powers  to Zonal Railways  in  March  2015  to  increase  rate  of  platform  tickets beyond ₹ 10  to  regulate  rush  in  platforms  during  specific occasions    like  mela  etc.  Accordingly,  Railways  exercise these  powers  as  per  their  requirements.  Revenue  generated from sale of platform tickets during last two years and current year upto September-2021, is as under:

( ₹ in Crore)

| Financial Year                |   Revenue from Tickets | Platform   |
|-------------------------------|------------------------|------------|
| 2019-20                       |                 160.87 |            |
| 2020-21                       |                  15.48 |            |
| 2021-22(Upto September- 2021) |                  60.79 |            |

- (b):  Passenger  fare  is  highly  subsidized  and  revenue  generated from  passenger fare is less than the operating cost. Revenue foregone  due  to  concessions  on  passenger  fare  to  various categories  of  passengers  during  the  financial  year  2019-20 and 2020-21 is ₹ 2059 crore and ₹ 38 crore respectively. Total

revenue generated from sale of passenger tickets during last two years and current year (Upto September-2021) is as under: ( in Crore)

₹

| Financial Year                | Revenue from Passenger Traffic   |
|-------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| 2019-20                       | 50,669.09                        |
| 2020-21                       | 15,248.49                        |
| 2021-22(Upto September- 2021) | 15,434.18                        |

- (c): Additional revenue generated from revision of various charges are subsumed in total receipts of Railways and spent on ordinary working expenses, which include expenditure on health  services,  cleanliness/sanitation  and  medical  facilities including expenditure incurred on treatment of CORONA virus patients.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 582 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Sports Facility under CSR
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Hemant Tukaram Godse

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK   SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 582 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2021

## Sports Facility under CSR

## 582. SHRI HEMANT TUKARAM GODSE:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) and Government of Maharashtra is working on establishment of a Sports facility and other facilities under CSR in Maharashtra; and
- (b)  if so, the details thereof including target set and the budget allocated for the same?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): There is no proposal on establishment of a Sports facility and other facilities under CSR in Maharashtra by Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) and Government of Maharashtra.
- (b): Does not arise in view of reply given to part (a) above.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 581 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Broadband Connectivity
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 581 TO BE ANSWERED ON 1 ST  DECEMBER, 2021

## BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY

## 581. SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is meeting the targets set for BharatNet project and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of number of Gram Panchayats in the State of Jharkhand that lack broadband connectivity; and
- (c) the  details  of  the  areas  in  the  Jharkhand  identified  by  the  Government  for  BharatNet project and the time set by the Government for the completion of the projects?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) BharatNet  project  is  implemented  in  a  phased  manner  to  provide  broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country, including Jharkhand. On 30.06.2021, the  scope  of  BharatNetwas  extended  upto  all  inhabited  villages  beyond  GPsin  the  country, including Jharkhand. The target date for completion of the project is August, 2023.

In  Jharkhand,  4,049  GPs  are  Service  Ready,  out  of  4,395  GPs  under  BharatNet,  as  on 01.11.2021.

****

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 580 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Train to Dongargarh
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ashok Mahadeorao Nete

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS LOK  SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 580 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2021

## TRAIN TO DONGARGARH

†580. SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken or proposed to take any steps for providing railway facility between Gondia and Dongargarh from 10 a.m.  in  the  morning  to  4.00  p.m.  for  the  devotees  visiting  famous religious temple of Bamleshwari Mata situated in a very inaccessible place in Dongargarh area of the state of Madhya Pradesh; and

(b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  &  (b)  Presently,  out  of  the  15  pairs  of  Mail/Express  train  serving Gondia-Dongargarh  sector,  6  Mail/Express    service  leave  Gondia  for Dongargarh  between  10.00  hrs  and  16.00  hrs.  These  services  are adequately  catering  to  the  needs  of  this  sector.  Moreover,  to  clear extra  rush  of  passengers  and  facilitate  pilgrims,  Indian  Railways, subject  to  operational  feasibility  and  availability  of  resources,  also operates special trains.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 577 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Technology Upgradation and Modernization
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ramcharan Bohra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 577

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2021

## TECHNOLOGY UPGRADATION AND MODERNIZATION

†577. SHRI RAMCHARAN BOHRA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Railways  is  formulating  any  scheme  to  attract foreign  investment  in  sectors  like  technological  upgradation  and modernization;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Railways also proposes to privatize certain areas of its operation; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) and (b): Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has already been allowed 100% on automatic route in Railway Sector (except the prohibited activity  i.e.  Railway  Operation)  since  22 nd   August,  2014  as  per  the consolidated FDI Policy of Government of India. The major activities in Railway Sector where FDI is allowed 100% are:-

- (i)    Suburban corridor projects through PPP,
- (ii)   High speed train project;
- (iii)  Dedicated freight lines;
- (iv)  Rolling stock including train sets and locomotives/ coaches manufacturing and maintenance facilities;
- (v)   Railway Electrification;

- (vi)   Signalling systems;
- (vii)  Freight Terminals;
- (viii) Passenger terminals;
- (ix)   Infrastructure in industrial part pertaining to railway line/ sidings including electrified railway lines and connectivities to main railway line; and
- (x)    Mass Rapid Transport Systems.

As per the figure compiled by Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) the total FDI received in Railway sector since 2014-15 to 2021-22 (Upto June, 2021) is approx. 719.98 million

US dollars.

(c) and (d): There is no proposal to privatize any area of operation of Railways. However, Public Private Partnerships and out-sourcing of certain  facilities  like  cleaning,  pay  and  use  toilets,  retiring  rooms, parking  etc.  is  done  on  need  based  manner  to  improve  efficiency. There  is  a  proposal  to  use  Public  Private  Partnership  mode  for inducting  modern  rakes  to  run  passenger  trains  on  select  routes with an objective to provide improved service delivery to passengers.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 573 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: RUB at Shahjahanpur
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Arun Kumar Sagar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.573 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2021

## RUB AT SHAHJAHANPUR

## †573. SHRI ARUN KUMAR SAGAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is proposal to completely shutdown the unmanned crossing  halt  Gate  No.  41-C  and  Km  No.  44/89  by  the  railway department near village Chakasfaura in block Nigohi of Shahjahanpur Parliamentary constituency of Uttar Pradesh State;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  construct underpass/railway  crossing  on  railway  gate  at  Talgon-Rohania  link route and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  received  requests  in  this  regard from public representatives in July,2021; and
- (e)
- if so, the details thereof along with updated status?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (e):  Level Crossing (LC) No. 41/C at Km. 44/8-9 has already been closed  in  2019  with  consent  of  District  Administration  by  providing connecting  road  to  adjacent  Subway  constructed  in  lieu  of    LC  No. 42/C.

A letter has also been received from the Hon'ble Member of Parliament in this regard. However, there is no proposal to construct subway at location of LC No. 41/C by Railways.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 571 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Atmanirbhar Bharat
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Hasmukhbhai Somabhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 571

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 01/12/2021

## ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT

## 571. SHRI PATEL HASMUKHBHAI SOMABHAI:

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

- (a).  whether  Government  announced  'Swadeshi  Microprocessor  Challenge'  to  realize  the ambition of self-reliance and a momentous stride towards Atmanirbhar Bharat; and (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government has allocated funds for the above said scheme for the next five years and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a):     Yes, Sir. MeitY has announced Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge.
- (b): Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge was launched by MeitY on 18 th August 2020 towards strengthening  the  capacity  and  capability  in  India's  semiconductor  ecosystem  by  developing systems  and  solutions  around  two  indigenous  microprocessors  namely  SHAKTI  and  VEGA processors.

Under the Challenge, 6,170 Teams (having about 10,000 participants) had registered as Startups, Students from Education Institutions & Innovators from across the country. Hundred (100) teams were provided with financial support as well as the FPGA Hardware Boards ported with Swadeshi  Microprocessors  for  developing  innovative  Proof-of-Concept  innovative  solutions around Swadeshi Microprocessors. Besides this, mentorship support to Top 10 winners of the Challenge has been included for incubating their start-ups at identified Incubation Centre across the country for translating their Hardware Prototypes developed using Swadeshi Microprocessors.

- (c):    The total allocation for the Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge is Rs. 5.0 Crore.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 570 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Third Party Evaluation of the MPLADS works
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 570 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2021

## THIRD PARTY EVALUATION OF THE MPLADS WORKS

## 570. SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

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

(a)whether the  Government  has  approved  the  restoration  and continuation of Member of Parliament Local Area Development   Scheme  (MPLADS)  during  the  remaining  part  of Financial Year 2021-22 and upto 2025-26;

- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Ministry has conducted a Third Party Evaluation of the MPLADS works during 2021 in 216 districts across the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the Other steps being taken by the Government to enable MPs to recommend works of  developmental  nature  with  emphasis  on  the creation of durable community assets primarily in their Constituencies?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  OF  THE  MINISTRY  OF STATISTICS  AND  PROGRAMME  IMPLEMENTATION,  MINISTER  OF  STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  CORPORATE  AFFAIRS  (RAO  INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a)  &  (b)  Yes  sir.  The  Government  has  approved  restoration  of Member of Parliament Local Area Development  Scheme (MPLADS) during the remaining part of the Financial Year 2021-22 with release

of MPLADS fund at the rate of ₹ 2 crore per Member of Parliament in one instalment; and continuation of MPLADS from FY 2022-23 to FY 202526, with the annual entitlement of ₹ 5 crore per MP as per the extant  MPLADS  Guidelines,  with  a  total  financial  outlay  of  ₹ 17417.00 crore from 2021-22 to 2025-26. (c) & (d)  Yes sir. The Ministry has conducted a Third Party Evaluation of the MPLADS works created during the period from 01-04-2014 to 31-03-2019, in 216 districts across the country. The Evaluation was conducted  by  a  private  agency  in  the  year  2021  and  the  agency submitted its final report on 31-8-2021. (e)     Utilization of MPLADS funds is based on the recommendations by  Hon'ble  MPs  and  sanction  /  execution  of  works  by  the  District Authorities. Implementation of the works in the field is undertaken by the  District  Authorities,  as  per  t he  State  Government's technical, administrative  and  financial  rules  and  in  accordance  with   the Guidelines on MPLADS. To improve  the design and implementation of the Scheme, MPLADS Guidelines are modified from time to time .

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 566 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Online Ticket Payment Options
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Rajendra Dhedya  Gavit

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 566 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2021

## ONLINE TICKET PAYMENT OPTIONS

## †566.      SHRI RAJENDRA DHEDYA GAVIT:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  regarding  payment  gateways/e-wallets  which  have  been allowed on the official website for reservation of railway tickets and the conditions thereof;
- (b) whether there has been cases of failed transaction or failed payment at the time of payment on the IRCTC website from 1st of July, 2019 to till date along with the reasons for failure of such transaction;
- (c)  the  time  frame  for  the  refund  of  the  amount  in  the  account  of customers after the failed transaction and the number of customers who got their refund in time after the failure of the payment; and
- (d)  whether it is a fact that the time frame is one week or more and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (d):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 566 BY SHRI RAJENDRA DHEDYA GAVIT TO BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  01.12.2021  REGARDING  ONLINE TICKET PAYMENT OPTIONS.

- (a) At present, following payment modes are available on the official website of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC):

| Mode of Payment                  |   Number |
|----------------------------------|----------|
| Net banking                      |       18 |
| Payment Gateways                 |       04 |
| Multiple Payment Providers       |       06 |
| Wallet (prepaid instruments)     |       06 |
| Unified Payments Interface (UPI) |       01 |

The payment gateways/banks are onboarded based on the agreements between them and IRCTC.

- (b) Yes, Sir. During 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 (till October, 2021) 1,09,60,405  transactions  have  failed  which  are  7.54%  of  the  total transactions. The reasons for failure of transactions include:
-  No response from banks due to network issues.
-  Failed response from banks due to low balance, blocked cases etc.
-  Late response from the bank.
-  On PRS account due to non-availability of preferred berth etc.
- (c) IRCTC is processing the refund on account of failed transactions through  payment  gateways/  banks  which  the  users  have  opted  at  the time of e-ticket booking on T(transaction date) + 1 day basis which is the industry norm. The amount is credited to the customer's account within 7 days of transaction.

Refund of all the 1,09,60,405 failed transactions of the website was processed  by  IRCTC  on  the  next  day  of  transaction  and  sent  to concerned bank for grant of refund.

- (d) The time frame is within 7 days of transaction.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 565 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Scientists  of Indian Origin
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: Ramya  Haridas

- 565.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE LOK SABHA

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2021

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 565 SCIENTISTS OF INDIAN ORIGIN

- MS. RAMYA HARIDAS:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) The number of scientists of Indian Origin who have joined ISRO from foreign space agencies during the past five years; and
- (b) The number of scientists from ISRO who have left India to join foreign  space  agencies  during  the  past  five  years,  if  so,  the details of the organizations theses scientists have joined?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Nil.
- (b) Nil.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 563 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Quality of Civil Services Officers
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: Rajendra Agrawal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 563

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2021)

## QUALITY OF CIVIL SERVICES OFFICERS

## 563. SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  there  is  supposedly  a  decline  in  quality  of  civil  services  officers  over  the previous few years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to upskill them;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  in  the  process  of  implementing  any  reforms  in  the  civil services examinations for the same; and
- (e) if so, the details of reforms under consideration and reforms being implemented?

## 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.

(c): Government has approved the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) - Mission Karmayogi on 2 nd  September 2020 which aims to create a professional, well-trained  and  future-looking  civil  service  that  is  imbued  with  a  shared  understanding  of India's developmental aspirations, national programmes and priorities. The focus of NPCSCB is on promoting ease of living and ease of doing business, by considerably enhancing the citizengovernment  interface  through  upgradation  of  both  functional  and  behavioural  competencies among the civil servants. A Capacity Building Commission (CBC) has also been set up as part of this programme.

- (d)  &  (e): Examination  reforms  is  a  continuous  process  and  a  slew  of  changes  have  been introduced by the Government in the Civil Services Examination during the last few years which inter-alia include, removal of optional subject paper and introduction of Civil Services Aptitude Test  (General  Studies-II  paper)  in  Preliminary  Examination;  increase  in  number  of  General Studies papers (from 2 to 4) and removal of one optional subject (2 papers) in Main (Written) Examination.

*****