opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 518 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Vacancies in Indian Legal Services
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Talari Rangaiah, Geetha Viswanath Vanga

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE

## DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL AFFAIRS

*****

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 518

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 4 th  FEBRUARY 2022

## VACANCIES IN INDIAN LEGAL SERVICES

## 518. SHRI  TALARI RANGAIAH :

## SHRIMATI  VANGA GEETHA VISWANATH :

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

- a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  that  nearly  50  percent  posts  in Indian Legal services are lying vacant, if so, the reasons therefor;
- b) whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  consultation  with  concerned agencies, like DoPT, UPSC and SSC in this regard, if so, details thereof; and
- c) the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  expedite  the  recruitment process and filling up these vacancies in a time-bound manner?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE

## (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

- (a) to (c) - Presently around 64 out of 157 posts in the Indian Legal Services cadre are vacant, which works out to 41% of the total cadre strength in the Indian Legal Services cadre.  DPC proposals for filling-up vacancies falling under  promotion  quota  out  of  these  vacancies  are  regularly  taken  up  with UPSC, the nodal authority to recommend appointments.  Necessary steps to expedite  filling-up  of  these  vacancies  expeditiously  are  carried  out  on  an ongoing basis.
Lok Sabha Question No. 506 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Indian Investments in Afghanistan
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Pinaki Misra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.506

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2022

## INDIAN INVESTMENTS IN AFGHANISTAN

506.      SHRI PINAKI MISRA:

Will the Minister of External Affairs be pleased to state :

- (a) the names and investment details along with the present status of all developmental projects which were under construction while Taliban took over Afghanistan;
- (b) whether these works are in progress now and if so, the expected date of completion of each of these projects; and
- (c) if not, the steps taken by the Government to resume the work?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

(a) to (c) India   has   been   engaged   in   a   development   partnership   with Afghanistan, which includes more than five hundred projects spread across each of the 34 provinces of the country in critical areas of power, water supply, road connectivity, healthcare, education, agriculture and capacity building. In all, more than USD 3 billion have been invested in the welfare of the people of Afghanistan.

The vast majority of the projects committed to by the Government of India in Afghanistan have been completed and handed over.

As a neighbor and long-standing partner of Afghanistan, India is concerned about recent developments in Afghanistan, and will continue to monitor the situation there.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 505 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Ayushman Bharat Yojana Cards
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Vinayak Bhaurao Raut

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 505 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022

## AYUSHMAN BHARAT YOJANA CARDS

## 505. SHRI VINAYAK RAUT:

Will the Minister of Health and Family Welfare be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of cards issued under Ayushman Bharat Yojana in Maharashtra;
- (b)  the  number of beneficiaries  who  have  been benefitted therefrom during last three years;
- (c) the number of private and government hospitals of Maharashtra included under the said Scheme; and
- (d) the details of amount provided to patients as assistance under the said Scheme?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a)  to  (d):  Ayushman  Bharat-Pradhan  Mantri  Jan  Arogya  Yojana  (AB-PMJAY)  was launched  on  23 rd September  2018  to  provide  health  coverage  up  to  Rs.  5  lakh  per annum  per  beneficiary  family  to  around  10.74  crore  poor  and  vulnerable  families identified  from  Socio  Economic  Caste  Census  (SECC)  data  of  2011  on  the  basis  of select deprivation and occupational criteria across rural and urban areas respectively. As  of  31 st January  2022,  the  number  of  beneficiaries  verified  and  provided  with Ayushman cards in Maharashtra is 74 lakh. As of 31 st January 2022, approximately 4.39 lakh  hospital  admissions  worth  Rs.  1,142  crore  are  authorized  under  the  converged scheme in  Maharashtra  during  the  financial  years  2019-20,  2020-21  and  2021-22.  A total of 970 hospitals are empanelled under the scheme in Maharashtra. This includes 671 private and 299 Government hospitals.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 504 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Haemophilia Patients
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Vellalath Kochukrishnan Nair. Sreekandan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 504 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2022

## HAEMOPHILIA PATIENTS

## 504. SHRI V. K. SREEKANDAN :

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note that Haemophilia patients in the  country  are facing acute shortage of anti haemophilia factor, a life saving drug;
- (b) If so, the details thereof;
- (c) Whether the Haemophilia Federation of India has urged the Government to make urgent intervention to make the drug available immediately; and
- (d) If so, the steps taken in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (d):

As  per  information  provided  by  Department  of  Pharmaceuticals,  such  complaint  of shortage  of  anti  Haemophilia  factor,  a  life  saving  drug,  has  not  been  received  in  National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) under the Department of Pharmaceuticals.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 502 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Revival of Kolkata Port
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Sisir Kumar Adhikari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 502

ANSWERED ON O4IO2I2O22

## REVIVAL  OF KOLKATA  PORT

## 502. SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI:

## Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS  be pleased to state:

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- (a) whether the Government proposes  to revive Kolkata Port, now known as Syama Prasad  Mookerjee Port (SPMP) and the action plan formulated therefor;
- (b) whether it is a fact that due to silt the ports of sPMP are going to high and will dry within  few years;
- (c) if so, the details of suggestions  received from various  stakeholders  along with the action taken  thereon;  and
- (d) whether the crisis has built up over the years due to failure of DCI to deploy enough dredgers and delay in clearing the River Regulatory  Scheme meant for improving the navigability of river Ganga?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

- (a) The syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SPMP),  Kolkata is thriving  and vibrant Port and its performance  is on the up-swing;
- (b) The Government  has engaged National  Technology  centre  for Ports,.Waterways and coasts  (NTCPWC), llT Madras  for long and short term study of the river system leading upto sptrltp. rurcpwc  has made no such forecast for the ports of sPMP drying up within  few  years;
- (c) Regular interaction with stakeholders are held and suggestions acted upon.

ln order to further improve the performance of sPMP several initiatives have been taken as under:-

- (i) Literage  operation  of cape sized vessels in the deep water anchorages, within port limit;

- (ii) Ship{o-Ship op"r",,on of LPG vessels in the deep water anchorages;
- (iii) Mechanisation of Jetties and Be(hs both at Kolkata Dock System & Haldia  Dock System of SMPK;
- (iv) Outsourcng of Khidderpore Docks-l (West)  through PPP mode for better productivity;
- (v) Construction  of Outer Terminal-2 at Haldla Dock Complex for handling of Liquid Bulk;
- (vi) Liquid Cargo Handling  facility at Shalukkhali;
- (vii) lmprovement of Road Connectivity at Kolkata  Dock System.

(d) The problem of siltation  and maintenance  of adequate  draft in the Hooghly  river and Haldia Channel has been effectively managed by deploying optimum number of dredgers of Dredging Corporation  of lndia and by adopting various river regulatory measures suggested by NTCPWC etc..
Lok Sabha Question No. 501 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Pricing Policy of Costly Medicines
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Ashok Kumar Rawat

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 501 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 04 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022

## Pricing Policy of Costly Medicines

## †501. SHRI ASHOK KUMAR RAWAT:

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

(a) whether the Government has announced/ proposes to announce the pricing policy of costly medicines in the country considering huge gap between the cost of manufacturing and market price of the medicines; and

- (b) if so,the details thereof as on date?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

(a) & (b): The  extant  National  Pharmaceutical  Pricing  Policy  (NPPP),  notified  on  7 th December, 2012, has been formulated with an objective to put in place a regulatory framework for pricing of drugs so as to ensure availability of essential medicines at reasonable prices while providing  sufficient  opportunity  for  innovation  and  competition  to  support  the  growth  of pharma industry. The policy made a shift from earlier 'cost based' pricing  under the Drug Policy, 1994 to 'market based' pricing.

In pursuance of NPPP, 2012, the Government notified the Drugs (Prices Control) Order,  2013  (DPCO-2013).  As  per  the  provisions  of  DPCO,  2013,  the  ceiling  price  of  all scheduled formulations appearing in National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), are fixed by National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) and are uniform throughout the country. All the manufacturers of these drugs are required to sell their product equal to or lower than the ceiling price. Further, NPPA monitors the prices of non-scheduled drugs so as to ensure that the increase in their Maximum Retail Price (MRP) is not more than 10% of what was prevalent during preceding twelve months.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 500 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Recruitment in Defence Forces
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Hanuman Beniwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 500

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022

## RECRUITMENT IN DEFENCE FORCES

## 500. SHRI HANUMAN BENIWAL:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  number  of  pending  recruitments  of  Army,  Navy  and  Air  Force  in  the  case  of  which examinations have not been conducted or the results of the examinations have not been declared in various States of the country including Rajasthan;
- (b) the time by which the results of such pending recruitments are likely to be declared;
- (c)  whether the Government proposes to organize Army Recruitment Rally observing COVID protocol in Nagaur and other places in Rajasthan so that the desire of the youth to join the army can be fulfilled; and
- (d) if so, the time by which it is likely to be organized and if not, the reasons therefor?

## A  N  S  W  E  R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI AJAY BHATT)

- (a)  &  (b):  Four  Army  recruitment  rallies  have  been  carried  out  in  Recruiting  Year  2021-22. However, due to COVID-19 pandemic, all recruitment activities have presently been put on hold by the Indian Army.

The COVID-19 pandemic had an adverse impact on recruitment of officers and sailors into  the  Indian  Navy  resulting  in  'Batch  Holiday'  for  recruitment  of  sailors  and  delay  in commencement of training for officer trainees since mid-2020. There are no pending recruitment examinations conducted by Indian Navy whose result declaration is held up.

There  are  no  inductions  pending  in  the  officer  cadre  of  the  Indian  Air  Force  (IAF). Provisional Select List (PSL) for enrolment of Airmen into IAF intake 02/21 was published on 31 st May, 2021. Scheduled Test for Airmen Recruitment (STAR) 01/21 for intake 01/22 has also been completed on 18 th July, 2021.

- (c)  &  (d):  All  recruitment  rallies  planned  by  Area  Recruitment  Offices/  Zonal  Recruitment Offices of Indian Army have been suspended till further orders due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the country, including Rajasthan, till the situation improves.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 499 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Affiliation of Schools to Sainik Schools
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Venkatesh Netha Borlakunta, Gaddam Ranjith Reddy, Dayakar Pasunoori, Kavitha Malothu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 499

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022

## AFFILIATION OF SCHOOLS TO SAINIK SCHOOLS

499. SHRI VENKATESH NETHA BORLAKUNTA:

DR. G. RANJITH REDDY:

SHRI PASUNOORI DAYAKAR:

SHRIMATI KAVITHA MALOTHU:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  received  three  proposals  from  the  State  Government  of Telangana for affiliation of schools to Sainik School society;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the action taken by the Government thereon?

## A  N  S  W  E  R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI AJAY BHATT)

- (a) No, Sir.
- (b) 01 application has been submitted online through State Government School and 04 from private school/Society as per details furnished hereunder:-

|   Sl. No. | Organisation Name                                  | Organisation Type   | City               |
|-----------|----------------------------------------------------|---------------------|--------------------|
|         1 | Sucheta Society                                    | Society             | Kamareddy          |
|         2 | Jawaharlal Nehru Educational Society               | Society             | Rajanna Sircilla   |
|         3 | Springdales School                                 | Private             | Rangareddy         |
|         4 | Telangana Social Walfare Residential Sainik School | State Government    | Karimnagar         |
|         5 | Veula Raghavareddy Lakshmamma Educational Society  | Private             | Medchal Malkajgiri |

(c) Schools  will  be  shortlisted  through  a  process  of  evaluation,  subject  to  meeting  of qualifying requirements framed for the purpose and willingness to agree to the approval by-laws and  signing  of  Memorandum  of  Agreement  with  the  Sainik  Schools  Society.    An  evaluation committee,  constituted  for  the  purpose  will  carry  out  evaluation  of  the  applicant  school  in association with the school at the local level, based on details submitted by such schools in their application  form.    The  report  of  the  evaluation  committee  will  be  considered  at  the  Sainik Schools Society, through a committee formed for the purpose who will consider each application on merit and submit its comments for approval of the competent authority.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 498 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Standardization of Ayurvedic Medicines and Practices
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.498 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 th February, 2022

## 'STANDARDIZATION OF AYURVEDIC MEDICINES AND PRACTICES' 498. SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken any steps for standardization of Ayurvedic medicines and practices in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise; and

(c) steps being taken to stop production of spurious Ayurvedic medicines?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF AYUSH (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a)Yes  Sir,  for  standardization  of  Ayurvedic,  Siddha,  Unani  and  Homoeopathy  (ASU&H) medicines  in  the  country,  the  Government  has  established  Pharmacopoeia  Commission  for Indian  Medicine  and  Homoeopathy(PCIM&H)  under  the  Ministry  of  AYUSH.  The  prime mandate of the Commission is to publish and revise Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API), Siddha Pharmacopoeia of India (SPI), Unani Pharmacopoeia of India (UPI) and Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India (HPI). The Pharmacopoeia standards are basic need to ensure quality, safety and efficacy of ASU&H medicines.

(b)  The  standards  of  ASU&H  medicines  are  published  by  the  PCIM&H  in  the  countrywhich becomes part of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945 for ascertaining the quality standards  of  raw  materials/drugs  and  implemented  uniformly  across  India.  Standards  are  not developed by the State/UT thus the State/UT wise details are not available. However, the details of Ayurvedic standards published by Government of Indiais as under:-

Ayurvedic Formulary of India (Part I-III) containing 986 Formulations, Monographs of quality standards of 645 Single drugs and 203 Formulations of Ayurveda.

(c) The licence of Ayush products are granted by the concerned State Licensing Authorities in accordance with the provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules made thereunder.As  per  the  provisions  of  Drugs  and  Cosmetics  Rules,  1945,  the  manufacture  of Ayurvedic (Including Siddha) or Unani drugs are to be carried out in such premises and such hygienic  conditions  as  are  specified  in  Schedule-T  (Good  Manufacturing  Practices).  It  is mandatory for the manufacturer ofAyurvedic drugs to obtain licence from the concerned State Licensing  Authority  (SLA)  and  comply  with  the  prescribed  Good  Manufacturing  Practices (GMP) and quality standards of drugs given in the respective Pharmacopoeias.

In  order  to  enhance  testing  facilities  of  Ayurveda,  Siddha,  Unani  and  Homoeopathy (ASU&H) drugs  to  stop  production  of  spurious  Ayurvedic  medicines,  35  State  Drug  Testing Laboratories  have  been  funded  by  the  Ministry  of  Ayush  through  Central  Sector  Scheme  of Quality control of ASU&H drugs and further through Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush Mission.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 496 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: High Costs of RT-PCR Tests
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: M. P. Abdussamad Samadani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 496 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2022

## 'HIGH COST OF RT-PCR TESTS'

## 496. DR. M.P. ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI:

Will the Minister of HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a)  Whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  that  the  passengers  are  compelled  to  pay  high amount for the RT-PCR test that is conducted at the airports;

(b) If so, the reasons for the higher rate, compared to the test done outside the airport;

(c)  Whether  the  Government  proposes  to  take  necessary  steps  to  make  the  rate  equal  to  the normal rate which is prevalent outside the airports; and

(d) If so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE ( DR BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (d): The testing at airports is coordinated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation wherein the rates for RT-PCR / Rapid RT-PCR are primarily either as per the rates notified by the respective State/UTs wherein the airports are located or through a tender by the respective airports.

The  rates  of  testing  at  airports  have  also  decreased  with  time  with  the  wider  availability  of Rapid RT-PCR/RT-PCR machines and reagents across the country.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 490 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Soldiers Imprisoned in Pakistani Jails
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Arun Kumar Sagar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.490 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2022

## SOLIDERS IMPRISIONED IN PAKISTANI JAILS

490.  SHRI ARUN KUMAR SAGAR:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether   a   number   of   Indian   soldiers   are   currently   imprisoned illegally in Pakistan Jails;
- (b) if   so,   the   details   of   such   Indian   prisoners   held   in   Pakistani   jails, illegally and the dates since when they are inmates;
- (c) the number of representations received by the Union Government from family members of imprisoned Indian soldiers to get them released from jails;
- (d) whether   the   Government   has   taken   any   steps   or   has sought/considering to seek attention of International organisations to ensure release of imprisoned Indian citizens and soldiers from Pakistan; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof along with the effective steps being taken by the Government to get Indian citizens and soldiers released from Pakistan's jails?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [SHRI V.MURALEEDHARAN]

(a) to (e) As per available information, 83 Indian defence personnel, including prisoners of war, are believed to be in Pakistan's custody, but their   presence   has   not   been   acknowledged   by   Pakistan   so   far.   The Government has been consistently taking up the matter of release and repatriation   of   the   missing   defence   personnel   with   Pakistan   through diplomatic channels. The matter was last raised by the High Commission of India in Islamabad with the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its communication dated 01 January 2022.

The Government, upon receipt of reports of apprehension of Indian prisoners and fishermen, immediately takes up the matter with Pakistan through diplomatic channels and seeks consular access and their early release and repatriation. Government's persistent efforts have succeeded in   repatriation   of   2193   Indian   prisoners,   including   fishermen,   from Pakistan's custody since 2014.

***