opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2570 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-04
Subject: Splitting of Supreme Court
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Gaddam Ranjith Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2570

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 04.08.2021

## Splitting of Supreme Court

## 2570. DR. G. RANJITH REDDY:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether three Law Commissions (11th, 10th and 18th) have recommended  for  splitting  of  Supreme  Court  into  Constitutional  Court  and Court of Appeal at Delhi and later one each in four parts of the country;
- (b) if so, the reasons for delay in implementing this recommendation;
- (c) the details of hurdles that the Ministry is facing and the manner in which it is planning to overcome them;
- (d)  whether  there  have  been  demands  and  that  18th  Law  Commission  has recommended setting up of a Southern Bench of Supreme Court at Hyderabad since it is centrally located; and
- (e) if so, the details of the action taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE

## (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

- (a) to (e):  Article 130 of the Constitution of India provides that the Supreme Court shall sit in Delhi or in such other place or places as the Hon'ble Chief Justice of India may, with the approval of the Hon'ble President, from time to time, appoint.

The Eleventh Law Commission in its 125 th Report titled 'The Supreme Court  -  A  Fresh  Look',  submitted  in  1988,  reiterated  the  recommendations made by Tenth Law Commission in its 95th Report for splitting the Supreme Court  into  two  namely  (i)  Constitutional  Court  at  Delhi  and  (ii)  Court  of Appeal or Federal Court sitting in North, South, East, West and Central India. The Law Commission opined that this will reduce the distance travelled and the cost borne by the litigants. The recommendations of the Law Commission's 95 th and  125 th Report  are  available  on  Law  Commission  of  India  website https://lawcommissionofindia.nic.in/.

The Eighteenth Law Commission in its 229 th Report had also suggested that a Constitutional Bench be set up at Delhi and four Cassation Benches be set up in the Northern region at Delhi, Southern region at Chennai/Hyderabad, Eastern region at Kolkata and Western region at Mumbai. The recommendations of the Law Commission's 229 th Report is available on Law Commission of India website https://lawcommissionofindia.nic.in/.

The matter was referred to the Chief Justice of India, who has informed that after consideration of the matter, the Full Court in its meeting held on 18 th February, 2010, found no justification for setting up of benches of the Supreme Court outside Delhi.

In Writ Petition WP(C) No. 36/2016 on establishment of National Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court vide its judgment dated 13.07.2016 deemed it proper to refer the aforementioned issue to Constitutional Bench for authoritative  pronouncement.  The  matter  is  sub-judice  before  the  Supreme Court.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2568 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-04
Subject: Robot Soldiers
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Ritesh Pandey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEFENCE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2568

TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 th  August, 2021

## ROBOT SOLDIERS

2568. SHRI RITESH PANDEY:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO)has undertaken a project to develop robot soldiers to beef up unmanned fighting capabilities of the country in difficult warfare zones;
- (b) if so, the details of the project indicating the time schedule set for its implementation, estimated total cost and capabilities of such robotic soldiers; and
- (c) the names of the countries which are already using robot soldiers?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI AJAY BHATT)

- (a)  &  (b):  DRDO  has  not  undertaken  a  project  to  develop  robotic  Soldiers.  However, DRDO has taken initiative to develop technologies required for robotic systems.
- (c)  Information not available on the matter.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2566 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-04
Subject: Internet Connection to Financially Backward Families
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Abdul Majeed Ariff

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2566 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  AUGUST, 2021

## INTERNET CONNECTION TO FINANCIALLY BACKWARD FAMILIES

2566. ADV. A.M. ARIFF:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the State of Kerala is implementing an ambitious project for providing internet connection to thirty lakh financially backward families free of cost and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to emulate the aforesaid project across the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  received  any  proposal  from  the  State  of  Kerala  for providing  financial  assistance  under  Universal  Service  Obligation  Fund  (USOF)  for  the  said project and if so, the action taken by the Government thereon?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) As informed by Electronics & IT (B) Department of Government of Kerala, Kerala Fibre Optic  Network  (K-FON)  is  a  State  Government  project  to  provide  high-speed  internet connectivity  to  30,000  Government  offices  and  Educational  institutions  all  over  the  State. Simultaneously, it aims to provide free internet access to around 20 lakh economically backward families and internet services for others at a lower rate.
- (b) & (c) A proposal was received from the State of Kerala seeking central assistance for the  Kerala  Fibre  Optic  Network  (K-FON),  to  setup  overhead  Fibre  Network  to  extend  fibre connectivity  to  every  home  and  interconnect  all  the  Government  Institutions.  The  K-FON proposal is beyond the scope of BharatNet which is to provide broadband connectivity to every Gram Panchayat  (GP).  However,  the  scope  of  BharatNet  has  been  recently  extended  upto  all inhabited villages beyond GPs.  Union Cabinet has also accorded approval for a revised strategy for  implementation of  BharatNet through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in 16 States (including Kerala) of the country, covering about 3.61 lakh villages including GPs. The Request for Proposal (RFP) has been floated on 20.07.2021 for implementation of PPP model.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2564 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-04
Subject: Redressal of Consumer Grievances
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Shivkumar Chanabasappa Udasi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2564 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  AUGUST, 2021

## REDRESSAL OF CONSUMER GRIEVANCES

## 2564. SHRI SHIVAKUMAR C. UDASI:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  made  provisions  for  proper redressal  of  consumer grievances relating to mobile, landline and internet services;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has laid down any quality standards/benchmarks for the telecom service providers; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has mandated all Telecom Service Providers to establish a two-tier complaint/grievance redressal mechanism  for handling consumer complaints through the Telecom Consumers Protection and Redressal of Grievances Regulations, 2012.

In  terms  of  this  Regulation,  a  consumer  can  lodge  service-related  complaints  at  the complaint centre of their Telecom Service Providers (TSPs). In case complaint is not redressed satisfactorily, an appeal can be registered with Appellate Authority of the TSPs.

In  case  a  grievance  is  not  redressed  even  after  exhausting  the  two  tier  procedure  as prescribed  by  TRAI,  the  complainant  may  approach  Public  Grievance  wing  of  Department  of Telecommunications (DoT), for non-redressal of grievance at concerned Service Provider level. Complainant may also submit this grievance through the Centralized Public Grievance Redressal And Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) Portal (www.pgportal.gov.in).

TRAI has laid down various quality standards/benchmarks for telecom Service Providers, through the following Regulations: -

- i. Quality of Service of Broadband Service Regulations 2006 (11 of 2006) and two amendments
- ii. The Standards of Quality of Service of Basic Telephone Service (Wireline) And Cellular  Mobile  Telephone  Service  Regulations,  2009  (7of  2009)  and  seven amendments
- iii. The Standards of Quality of Service for Wireless Data Services Regulations, 2012 (26 of 2012) and one amendment.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2563 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-04
Subject: Vaccine to Diplomats
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Mala Roy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2563 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2021

## VACCINE TO DIPLOMATS

## 2563. SHRIMATI MALA ROY:

## Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether foreign diplomats posted in India received COVID screening;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the   extent   of   coverage   of   fully   vaccinated   foreign   diplomats currently in India, along with the number and percentage thereof; and
- (d) the details of places from where these vaccine were sourced from?

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## ANSWER [SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

(a) to (d)  As a public health measure, it was decided to offer vaccinations to foreign personnel of Embassies, Consulates, United Nations offices and their specialized agencies and other international organizations located in India.

A total of 3751 such foreign personnel registered with the Ministry of External Affairs for COVID19 vaccination as per details below:

| Delhi                    |   2518 |
|--------------------------|--------|
| UN ORG/IO/Other entities |    350 |
| Mumbai                   |    386 |
| Kolkata                  |    191 |
| Hyderabad                |     79 |
| Bangalore                |     35 |
| Chennai                  |    132 |
| Thiruvananthpura m       |     19 |
| Goa                      |      7 |
| Guwahati                 |     10 |
| Chandigarh               |      3 |
| Agartala                 |     21 |
| Total                    |   3751 |

They were offered vaccination facilities at any of the vaccination centres in their respective cities.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2560 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-04
Subject: Releasing the MPLADs Funds
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: Kanimozhi Karunanidhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2560 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2021

## RELEASING THE MPLADS FUNDS

2560 : SHRIMATI KANIMOZHI KARUNANIDHI:

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

- (a)   whether  the  Government  has  considered  releasing  the  MPLADS funds for the  years 2020-21 and 2021-22 in a time bound manner, as most of the development works in the constituencies are affected by the suspension of the Scheme;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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) No Sir.
- (b) In view of the reply of part (a) above, question does not arise.
- (c)  The  Cabinet  in  its  meeting  held  on  6 th  April  2020,  decided  not  to operate MPLADS for the Financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22 and place the MPLADS funds for these two years at the disposal of Ministry of Finance to meet the emergent needs of people arising due to COVID

pandemic. The funds saved from the MPLAD Scheme have been utilized to enhance the allocation of funds for improving health infrastructure, provide free ration under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, and free vaccination for  the  people.  However,  the  Government  released  Rs.  1107.5  crore against the pending instalments of 2019-20 and previous years during March, 2021 to clear the committed liabilities and help the people during the covid-19 pandemic. The Government has also decided to release all pending instalments of 2019-20 in respect of Members of Parliament of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha during 2021-22, subject to the fulfilment of eligibility  criteria  and  submission  of  eligible  documents  by  district Authorities, as per the MPLADS guidelines.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2556 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-04
Subject: Funds for Coal Industries
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Narendra Kumar

- (a): No Sir.
- (b): Does not arise in view of reply part (a) above.
- (c): Financial  Assistance  is  given  through  CCDAC  (Coal  Conservation  and  Development Advisory Committee) to develop the rail/road infrastructure to all coal/lignite mines throughout India.  The  Coal/Lignite  mine  has  to  submit  their  proposals  to  Coal  Controller's  Organization (CCO) which is  placed  then  before  the  CCDAC  headed  by  Additional  Secretary,  Ministry  of Coal. If the proposal/project is approved by the CCDAC, the claim of the Coal/Lignite company is reimbursed by the Ministry of Coal.

***

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2556 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04/08/2021

## Funds for Coal Industries

## 2556. SHRI NARENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  provided  any  funds  to  the  State  of  Rajasthan  to  develop infrastructure for coal industries;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

- (c) if not, the manner in which the Government proposes to develop the infrastructure for coal industries in the State of Rajasthan?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)
Lok Sabha Question No. 2555 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-04
Subject: MoU on Migration
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Sanjeev Kumar Singari, Midhun Reddy, Chandra Sekhar Bellana, M V V Satyanarayana, Kotagiri Sridhar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTATTED QUESTION NO.2555 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2021

## MoU ON MIGRATION

## 2555. DR. SANJEEV KUMAR SINGARI:

## SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY:

## SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR BELLANA:

SHRI M.V.V. SATYANARAYANA:

## SHRI SRIDHAR KOTAGIRI:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has recently approved the signing of MoU on 'Migration and Mobility Partnership' between India and Northern Ireland;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the issuance of visas will promote mobility of students, researchers and skilled professionals on both sides and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether   the   MoU   is   likely   to   strengthen   cooperation   on   issues related to irregular migration, human trafficking, etc. and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## [SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

(a) to (d) India and the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland (UK) have signed an MoU on 'Migration and Mobility Partnership' on 4 May 2021 to promote opportunities for each other's students (for higher education, internship and post study work), academics, researchers and skilled professionals and facilitate the issuance of appropriate visas as per applicable national laws and regulations. In addition to this, the MoU also provides for a new Young Professional Scheme under which every year up to 3000 young professionals from India can avail employment opportunities for a period of two years in the UK, on a reciprocal basis. The MoU also aims to improve cooperation between India and the UK on illegal migration and facilitate the return of each other's nationals who do not meet or no longer meet the provisions   for   legal   entry   into   or   legal residence to remain in the territory of the other country through the

setting   up   of   streamlined   procedures   for   nationality   verification   and readmission.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 2554 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-04
Subject: Escalator at Stations
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Geeta Kora, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Dileshwar Kamait

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2554 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2021

## ESCALATOR AT STATIONS

†2554.SHRIMATI GEETA KORA: SHRI JUGAL KISHORE SHARMA: SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to State:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  escalators  at  all  the railway stations with footfall of more than 25000 persons and if so, the details in this regard;
- (b)   whether the Government has prepared any list of all those railway stations  with  footfall  of  more  than  25000  persons  and  whether  any budgetary allocation has been made for the said project;
- (c)   if so, the amount of funds allocated for the said purpose during the current financial year; and
- (d)  the time limit set by the Government to complete the said project?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  Indian  Railways  intends  to  provide  escalators  at  railway  stations where  the  average  foot-fall  is  more  than  25,000  per  day,  subject  to station layout and techno-economic feasibility.

(b)  and  (c)    List  of  all  the  railway  stations  with  foot-fall  of  more  than 25,000  per  day is available. Based  on  feasibility at site, relative importance of projects and availability of funds, works are sanctioned by Railways from time to time on the basis of which budgetary allocation is done. About ₹ 133.84 Crore has been allocated for provision of Escalators for the current financial year.

- (d)    No  time  limit  has  been  set.  This  will  depend  upon  the  technoeconomic feasibility and availability of funds.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2553 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-04
Subject: Commercial Coal Mining
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Arun Sao, Vijay Baghel, Sunil Kumar Soni

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 2553

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2021

## COMMERCIAL COAL MINING

2553.   SHRI ARUN SAO:

SHRI VIJAY BAGHEL:

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SONI:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  regarding  commercial  mining  of  coal  and  the  steps  being  taken  by  the Government for its implementation;
- (b)  the  manner  in  which  coal  sector  as  well  as  the  country  is  likely  to  be  benefited  by commercial mining; and
- (c) the status of commercial mining in South Eastern Coalfields Limited?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): Methodology  for  auction  of  coal  and  lignite  mines/blocks  for  sale  of  coal/lignite  on revenue sharing basis was issued on 28.05.2020. Twenty coal mines have been successfully auctioned for sale of coal. Further, 67 coal mines have been offered in the current, ongoing tranche of auction for sale of coal.
- (b): Auction of coal mines for sale of coal would create a market place for coal with multiple producers  to  drive  competition  and  adopt  best  practices  in  mining  as  well  as  environment management. Auction of coal mines for sale of coal in a transparent manner is expected to encourage transparent pricing of coal, based on market forces. It would make maximum coal available in the market at the earliest.
- (c):  Number  of  operational  coal  mines  of South  Eastern  Coalfields  Limited (SECL)  as  on 01.04.2021 is  67.  Details  of  production  and  supply  of  coal  by  SECL  during  the  last  three years is tabulated below:

| Year    | Coal Production (in MT)   | Coal Supply (in MT)   |
|---------|---------------------------|-----------------------|
| 2018-19 | 157.35                    | 156.03                |
| 2019-20 | 150.55                    | 141.94                |
| 2020-21 | 150.61*                   | 138.78*               |
Lok Sabha Question No. 2550 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-04
Subject: Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay a Sanchar Kaushal Vikas Pratisthan Scheme
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2550 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  AUGUST, 2021

## PANDIT DEEN DAYAL UPADHYAYA SANCHAR KAUSHAL VIKAS PRATISTHAN SCHEME

## †2550. SHRI JASWANT SINGH BHABHOR:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) the  objectives  of  the  Pandit  Deen  Dayal  Upadhyaya  Sanchar  Kaushal  Vikas  Pratisthan Scheme;

(b) whether this Scheme provides livelihood to the youths of the states especially of Gujarat by imparting training to them for the development of telecom-sector; and

- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) A  pilot scheme to open 'Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya  Sanchar Kaushal Vikas Pratisthans' was launched by Department of Telecommunications for skill development training in  telecom  sector,  which  envisaged  to  train  10,000  candidates  in  one  year  at  10  centres.  The scheme was implemented through Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) using its infrastructure.  The  Ten  centres  were  opened  for  the  pilot  scheme  at:  1.  Jabalpur  (Madhya Pradesh)  2.  Mysore  (Karnataka)  3.  Bhubaneswar  (Odisha)  4.  Ranchi  (Jharkhand)  5.  Nagpur (Maharashtra)  6.  Rajpura  (Punjab)  7.  Pune  (Maharashtra)  8.  Ghazipur  (Uttar  Pradesh)  9. Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) 10. Kalyani, Kolkata (West Bengal).

(b) This  scheme  provided  skill  development  training  to  youths  of  nearby  area  of  above mentioned ten centre locations. This scheme catered the needs of skilled manpower for various telecom projects.

No centre was opened in Gujarat in this pilot scheme.

- (c) Not applicable in view of (b) above.

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