opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2506 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-03
Subject: Smuggling of Drugs and Arms
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Rama Devi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2506

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 03 RD  AUGUST, 2021/ SRAVANA 12, 1943 (SAKA)

SMUGGLING OF DRUGS AND ARMS

†2506.     SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  smuggling of  drugs and arms is still  going  on  in  the  borders areas of the country despite deployment of security forces;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the details and the number of smugglers arrested during the last three years; and

(d) the steps taken by the Government to prevent smuggling in the border areas?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) to (c): Drugs like charas, ganja, brown sugar, heroin, opium, marijuana, etc.,  and  arms  have  been  seized  along  Indo-Pakistan,  Indo-Bangladesh, Indo-Nepal,  Indo-Bhutan  and  Indo-Myanmar  Borders  by  the  concerned Border Guarding Forces, viz., Border Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal and Assam Rifles.

## L.S.US.Q. NO.2506 FOR 03.08.2021

The number of smugglers arrested by the Border Guarding Forces from 2018 to 2020 are as follows:

|   S. No. | Name of Border         | Number of smugglers arrested   |
|----------|------------------------|--------------------------------|
|        1 | Indo-Pakistan          | 69                             |
|        2 | Border Indo-Bangladesh | 298                            |
|        3 | Border Indo-Nepal      | 1069                           |
|        4 | Indo-Bhutan            |                                |
|        5 | Border Indo-Myanmar    | 1629                           |

Border

- (d): The following measures have been taken to prevent smuggling along the border areas:
- (i) Detailed  vulnerability  mapping  of  Border,  deployment  of  additional manpower, special surveillance equipments;
- (ii) Round the clock surveillance of the border through patrolling, laying Nakas,  installation  of  border  fence  and  flood  lights,  introduction  of force  multipliers  and  Hi-tech  surveillance  equipments  such  as  Hand Held Thermal Imager (HHTI), Night Vision Device (NVD), Long-Range Reconnaissance  and  Observation  System  (LORROS),  Battle  Field Surveillance Radar (BFSR), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), etc;
- (iii) Upgradation  of  intelligence  network  and  coordination  with  sister agencies;

## L.S.US.Q. NO.2506 FOR 03.08.2021

- (iv) Conduct of special operations along the border and in depth areas;
- (v) Establishment  of  observation  posts,  Areas  Domination  Patrols  along the  border,  use  of  water  craft  and  boats  for  domination  of  riverine area of International Border, etc.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2504 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-03
Subject: Unfilled Vacancies for SC/ST/OBC
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Thirumaa Valavan Thol

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2504 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2021

## UNFILLED VACANCIES FOR SCISTIOBC

## 2504. SHRI THIRUMAAVALAVAN THOL:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of unfilled vacancies reserved  for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward classes during the last five years;
- (6) whether the Government has filled the vacancies O initiated any action plan with time limit to fill such unfilled vacancies;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) ifnot; the reason therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI A NARAYANASWAMY)

- (a) to (d): The Department of Personnel & Training monitors the progress in filling up of backlog reserved vacancies for SCs, STs ad OBCs with ten Ministries/Departments, having category-wise data, as received from Ministries/Departments on backlog reserved vacancies; as on 01.01.2017 to 01.01.2020, is at Annexure:

The Department of Personnel and Training issued instructions vide O.M. dated 16.12.2014, to all   Ministries/Departments to constitute an in-house Committee for   identification of backlog reserved vacancies, to study the root cause of such vacancies, to initiate measures to remove the factors causing such vacancies and to fill them up through Special Recruitment Drives.

## Annexure

## Annexure to the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2504 to be answered on 03.08.2021

| As on 31.12.2016   | As on 31.12.2016   | As on 31.12.2016   | As n 31.12.2017   | As n 31.12.2017   | As n 31.12.2017   | As on 31.12.2018   | As on 31.12.2018   | As on 31.12.2018   | As on 31.12.2019   | As on 31.12.2019   | As on 31.12.2019   |
|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
| SC                 | ST                 | OBC                | SC                | ST                | OBC               | SC                 | ST                 | OBC                | SC                 | ST                 | OBC                |
| 8223               | 6955               | 13535              | 15090             | 13040             | 16078             | 13560              | 12679              | 15591              | 14366              | 12612              | 15088              |

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2503 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-03
Subject: Damage of Paddy Crop
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: E. T. Mohammed Basheer

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2503

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 RD  AUGUST, 2021

## DAMAGE OF PADDY CROP

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष और कसान कयाण be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government    is  aware  that  heavy  loss  of  paddy  cultivation  has  been incurred in the kole land of Ponnani and Thrissur in Kerala due to continuous rains;
- (b) if so, whether the Government will extend any financial support to compensate for the

2503.   SHRI E.T. MOHAMMED BASHEER: मंी losses; and

- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष और कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR) (a)  to  (c):  Crop  area  affected  due  to  hydro-meteorological  calamities/hazards  during 2021-22 in Kerala is 0.24 lakh hectares. Further, it is informed that crop-wise details of crop area affected due to natural calamities are not centrally maintained. The Primary responsibility for disaster management  rests with the State Governments.  The State Governments undertake assessment of damages and provide financial   relief   in   the   wake   of   12 notified natural disasters, from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) already placed at their disposal. Additional financial assistance is extended from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) as per the established procedure in case of disaster of severe nature. An amount of Rs.335.20 crore (central share: Rs.251.20 crore and state's share: Rs.84.00  crore)  has  been  allocated  to  Kerala  during  2021-22  under  SDRF.  The  1 st installment of central share amounting to Rs.125.60 crore has been released.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2502 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-03
Subject: Millets production
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Arvind Kumar Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2502

TO BE ANSWER ON THE 3 RD   AUGUST, 2021

## MILLETS PRODUCTION

2502.  DR.ARVIND KUMAR SHARMA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी

- (a) the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to promote and increase

be pleased to state: mass awareness about millets; and

- (b) the  steps  taken  to  increase  production  of  millets  and  to  develop  new  varieties  of millets in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR) such as ragi, sorghum, bajra and small millets  through demonstration and training. hybrids, Integrated Nutrient and Pest Management techniques, improved

(a)  &  (b)  The  Government,  under  the  Sub  Mission  on  National  Food  Security  Mission (NFSM)- Nutri Cereals is creating awareness among farmers for Nutri Cereals (Millets) Under  NFSM-Nutri  Cereals,  incentives  are  provided  to  the  farmers,  through  the state  governments,  on  crop  production  and  protection  technologies,  cropping  system based demonstrations,  production  & distribution  of  seeds  of    newly  released  varieties/ farm implements/tools/  resource  conservation  machineries,  water  saving  devices,  capacity building  of  farmers  through  trainings  during  cropping  season,  organizing  events  / workshops, distribution of seed minikits, publicity through print and electronic media etc. The interventions such as formation of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) for Nutri Cereals, setting up Centers of Excellence (CoE) and seed hubs for Nutri Cereals have also been supported under NFSM.

The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare also provides support to the States under  a Centrally Sponsored Scheme  'Support to State Extension Programme for  Extension Reforms' ,  different  extension  activities  like  Farmers'  Training,  Exposure visits, Demonstrations, Kisan meals, Kisan Ghostie,  farmers - Scientists - Interaction, Mobilization of Farmers Interest Groups and setting up of Farm Schools in the field of awardee  /  progressive  farmers  are  implementation    to  promote  modern  agriculture technologies including Millets cultivation.  Further, the States can promote Nutri Cereals (Millets) under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)  and      Mission  Organic  Value  Chain  Development  for  North  Eastern  Region

(MOVCDNER).

Under All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Small millets, Sorghum and Pearl millet, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) provides support to 45 collaborating Centers located in different State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and ICAR Institutes for development of new varieties / hybrids of nutri cereals (millets).

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2499 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-03
Subject: Crops Damaged by Fall Armyworm
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Jamyang Tsering Namgyal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2499

TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 rd  AUGUST, 2021

## CROPS DAMAGED BY FALL ARMYWORM

2499. SHRI JAMYANG TSERING NAMGYAL:

Will the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  crops  have  been  getting  damaged  across  the  Union Territory  of  Ladakh  in  recent  years  due  to  the  infestation  of  fall  armyworm  which causes extensive damage to crops;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  the  details  of  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural Research in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) & (b) No crop damage has been reported in the Union Territory of Ladakh due to Fall Army Worm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda in recent years.
- (c)  The  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  has  undertaken  following measures regarding Fall Armyworm:
- (i) ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research organized meetings on 'Integrated Pest Management  (IPM)  for  Maize  Crop  with  special  reference  to  Fall  Army  Worm  in North  Western  Himalayan  region' for  the  Agricultural  Extension  officers  of  State Departments  and  Scientists  of  ICAR/KVK/SAU  of  Jammu  and  Kashmir  on  18 th August, 2020 and 10 th September, 2020. The updated package of practices (POP) for management of FAW on maize was shared regularly with Dry Land Agricultural Research Station, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science & Technology (Kashmir).
- (ii) ICAR- National Research Centre for Integrated Pest Management (NCIPM), New Delhi,  in  collaboration  with  ICAR-Indian  Institute  of  Maize  Research,  Ludhiana;

ICARNational Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources (NBAIR), Bengaluru; Maize Research  Centre,  Professor  Jayashankar  Telangana  State  Agricultural  University (PJTSAU), Hyderabad, (Telangana) and Zonal Agricultural  Research Station, Chhindwara  -  Jawaharlal  Nehru  Krishi  Vishwa  Vidyalaya  (JNKVV),  Jabalpur  has initiated  a  project  since  2019  on  'Development,  Validation  and  Promotion  of  IPM strategy  in  maize  with  special  focus  on  Fall  Army  Worm  (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda management' at Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh and Hyderabad, Telangana.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2497 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-03
Subject: Foreign Funding to NGOs/VOs
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2497

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 03 RD  AUGUST, 2021/ SRAVANA 12, 1943 (SAKA)

FOREIGN FUNDING TO NGOs/VOs

†2497.     SHRI SUKHBIR SINGH JAUNAPURIA:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  total  number  of  registered  and  unregisterd  Non-Governmental Organizations  (NGOs),  voluntary  organizations  (VOs),  schools,  Madarsas who have received/ are receiving foreign funds from abroad during the last three years;
- (b)  whether  cases  of  using  such  funds/donations  to  spread  terrorist activities came to light;

(c) if so, whether the Government is taking action to ban such NGOs/VOs; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a): As per available information, there are presently about 22,691 active organisations registered under The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, which have received/ are receiving foreign funds from abroad during the last three years.

Details  of  the  voluntary  organisations  not  registered  under  The  Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 are not maintained by this Ministry.

## L.S.US.Q. NO.2497 FOR 03.08.2021

(b), (c) and (d): Whenever any inputs pertaining to use of foreign donations to spread terror activities are received by  this Ministry, appropriate action under  The  Foreign  Contribution  (Regulation)  Act,  2010  and  other  extant laws and rules is taken. Earlier an NGO  called 'Islamic  Research Foundation'  (IRF)  which  was  registered  under  The  Foreign  Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 had come to notice for maintaining links with terror outfits.  This  NGO  has  been  proscribed  under  the  Unlawful  Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) as an Unlawful Association. Further, its Registration  Certificate  was  also  cancelled  for  violation  of  provisions  of The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2493 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-03
Subject: ONORC in West Bengal
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Locket Chatterjee

## GOVERilMENT OF INDIA

## MINTSTRY OF GONSUMER AFFA!RS, FOOD &  pUBLtC  DISTRIBUT|OI DEPARTMEilT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED OUESTIOI{  t{O. 2493

TO BE ANSWERED  ON 3RD AUGUST,  2O2{

## ONORC IN WEST BENGAL

## 2493. MS. LOGKET GHATTERJEE:

UUill  the Minister of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD AND  pUBLtC

DtsTRlBUTlol{ 5lTsrt+dr  ffrd,  srGF st{ Tn{dfrfi Fit{q d*  be pteased  to state:

- (a) whether the State of West Bengal Is implementing Ono Nation One Ration
- Gard (ONORG) Echeme,  If so, the detaits thereof;
- (b) the impact of delay in amplementation  of ONORC in West Bengat;
- (c) the funds sanctioned, allocated and utilized under this scheme wathin West
- Bengal, so fa6 and
- (d)
- the details of the target set and achlevements made so far within West Bengal along with its resutts?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTEY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT  AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD &  pUBLtC  D|STRIBUTION

(sADHVr I{IRANJAN JYOTT)

- (a):  l{o Sir. The One Nation One Ration Card (ONORG)  plan is not yet enabted  by the Government  of West Bengal.
- (b): Since the ONORC plan empowerc all Nationat Food Security Act, 20{ 3 (NFSA)  beneficiafes, particularly  migrant beneficiaries,  to tift thear entifled foodgra:ns, from any electron:c Point of Sale (ePoS) enabled Fair Price Shop (FpS) of choice anywhere in the country  or withln the State/DistrlcUTownAf  illage  -  by using their same existing ration card or Aadhaar  number,  the magrant NFSA beneficiaries,  as may be in West Bengal and vice-versa shall remain deprived from accessing  their quota of subsidised  foodglains from any nearby FPS, due to non. availability of ONORG facility in the State.
- (c):  lmplemcntation of ONORG plan ls a key component  of a Centrat Sector
- Scheme, namely  -  lntegrated  Management  of Public Distribution  System (IM.PDS). So far, for the implementation of scheme and release of central funds, the Govemment  of West Eengal has not yet slgned the lltfemorandum of Understanding (MoU) with this Department.
- (d): The requasite ePoS devices with biometlic authentication  facilataes
- are avaatable in  all  Fair Price Shops of  West Bengal. Further, the Department has regularly pursued with the State Government to enable the ONORC plan for the benefit of migrant NFSA beneficiaries at the earliest.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 2491 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-03
Subject: Farmers Benefited through MSP
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Rodmal Nagar, Kunwar Danish Ali

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2491

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 RD  AUGUST, 2021

## FARMERS BENEFITED THROUGH MSP

2491.  SHRI  RODMAL NAGAR: KUNWAR DANISH ALI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कल् याण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) the percentage of farmers benefited through Minimum Support Price (MSP) along with the details thereof;
- (b) the  scheme  of  the  Government  for  those  farmers  who  have  not  got  the benefit of Minimum Support Price (MSP) along with the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes any scheme/legal provision for criminal action against defaulting buyers/companies to prevent the procurement of produce at the price lower than the MSP;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कल् याण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a)  &  (b):  The  procurement  at  Minimum  Support  Price  (MSP)  is  being  done  by Central and State Agencies under various schemes of Government. Besides, the overall market also responds to declaration of MSP and Government's procurement operations which results in private procurement on or above the MSP for  various  notified  crops.  Therefore,  accurate  number  of farmers benefiting from MSP  declaration  is  difficult  to  assess.  However,  the  farmers  benefitted  from Government procurement at MSP is as under:-

| Year          | 2018-19     | 2019-20     | 2020-21     |
|---------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
| No of Farmers | 1,71,50,873 | 2,04,63,590 | 2,10,07,563 |

(c) to (e): Government of India announces Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 22 major agricultural commodities of Fair Average Quality (FAQ) each year in both the Crop seasons after taking into account the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural  Costs  and  Prices  (CACP).  Government  also  extends  remunerative price to farmers through its various interventions schemes. For  making  effective  procurement  by  Government  agencies  at  MSP  and providing  maximum  benefits  of  MSP  to  the  farmers,  procurement  centres  are opened by respective State Government Agencies and Central Nodal Agencies like NAFED,  FCI  etc.  after  taking  into  account  the  production,  marketable  surplus, convenience  of  farmers  and  availability  of  other  logistics  /  infrastructure  such  as storage and transportation etc. large number of the purchase centres in addition to the existing Mandis and depots / godowns are also established at key points for the convenience of farmers to ensure procurement at MSP.

Moreover, if the farmers gets favourable terms to sell his produce or better price than MSP, they are free to sell their produce anywhere other than the Govt agencies.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2489 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-03
Subject: Import of Chemicals and Petrochemicals
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Mahendra Singh Solanky

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICALS & PETROCHEMICALS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 2489

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2021

## Import of Chemicals and Petrochemicals

## 2489:   SHRI MAHENDRA SINGH SOLANKY:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the import of chemicals and petrochemicals has increased during the last three years;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether there is a decline in domestic production of chemicals and petrochemicals during the said period; and
- (d) if so, the reasons therefor along with the details of the remedial measures taken to meet the growing domestic demand; and
- (e) the details about the Covid impact on import of chemicals thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

(a) & (b)   The import of chemicals and petrochemicals during the last three years is as under:

| Year      |   Import (Rs in Crore) |
|-----------|------------------------|
| 2018-19   |                 394834 |
| 2019-20   |                 359660 |
| 2020-21 # |                 373708 |

(Source: DGCIS, M/o Commerce and Industry)

# Data for the year 2020-21 is provisional

The import of Chemicals and Petrochemicals increased in the year 2020-21 compared to  2019-20 due to  insufficient  domestic  production  capacity  and  comparatively  higher cost of production, COVID-19. However, import in 2020-21 is less compared to 201819.

- (c) & (d) Based  on  the  data  for  domestic  production  of  major  chemicals  and petrochemicals  monitored  by  the  Department,  production  of  major  chemicals  and petrochemicals in last three years is as under:

| Production ( in 000'         | MT)     | MT)     | MT)       |
|------------------------------|---------|---------|-----------|
|                              | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 # |
| Chemicals and Petrochemicals | 49108   | 55467   | 53348     |

# Data for the year 2020-21 is provisional

The  domestic  production  of  major  chemicals  and  petrochemicals  in  2020-21  has increased compared to 2018-19.  However, the marginal decline in domestic production in the year 2020-21 compared to 2019-20 is due to prevalent Covid-19 pandemic. In this regard, steps have been taken to increase production by rationalization of customs duty on  the  feedstock/building  blocks/Intermediates  as  well  as  certain  chemicals  and petrochemicals.  In  addition,  various  conferences/webinar  such  as  'India  Chem  2021' have  been  organized  in  hybrid  model  (physical  &  virtual)  with  stakeholders  and overseas manufacturers for boosting investment in chemical sector.

- (e) Due to Covid-19 pandemic, import of chemicals has increased from Rs.359660 crore in 2019-20 to Rs.373708 crore in 2020-21. However, import of chemicals in 202021 has not increased compared to 2018-19.

*****