opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1243 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-09
Subject: Stoppage at Karimganj Railway Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Kripanath Mallah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1243 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2022

## STOPPAGE AT KARIMGANJ RAILWAY STATION

1243. SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware about a long pending demand of the  people  of  Karimganj  for  stoppage  of  Train  No.  15625/15626  and 13173/13174 at Karimganj Railway Station instead of New Karimganj;

(b) if so, whether the Government is also aware that a large number of devotees from Karimganj and neighbouring areas travel every week to and fro to Deoghar to perform rituals, but for quite some time they are finding it inconvenient due to the distance to New Karimganj Railway Station for their journey during night hours;

(c) if so, whether the Government is planning to consider this proposal; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

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

(a)  to  (d)  Request  for  provision  of  stoppage  of  15625/15626  DeogharAgratala  Express  and  13173/13174  Sealdah-  Agartala  Kanchenjunga Express at Karimganj/ New Karimganj has been examined but not found operationally feasible, at present. However, provision of stoppage is an ongoing process on Indian Railways, subject to operational feasibility and commercial justification.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1242 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-09
Subject: Frequency of Train
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Devji Mansingram Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1242 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2022

## FREQUENCY OF TRAIN

†1242. SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether thousands of people  belonging to Uttar  Pradesh, Bihar and other  States  living  at  Abu  Road  and  Pindwara  tehsils  face  lot  of difficulties as train no. 19409/19410 Ahmedabad-Gorakhpur Express runs only twice a week; and
- (b) if so, whether the Government proposes to run the said train on daily basis in view of problems being faced by the commuters and heavy load of traffic and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  and  (b)  Ahmedabad-Gorakhpur  sector  is  presently  being  served  by  04 pairs  of  trains,  of  which  02  pairs  operate  on  the  Ahmedabad-Abu  RoadPindwara-Gorakhpur sector, catering inter alia to the needs of passengers of Abu  Road/Pindwara.      Increase  in  frequency  of    19409/19410  AhmedabadGorakhpur  Express  is  not  feasible,  at  present  due  to  operational  and resource  constraints.      However,  increase  in  frequency  of  existing  train services  is  an  on-going  process  on  Indian  Railways  subject  to  operational feasibility, traffic justification etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1240 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-09
Subject: Agricultural Trade
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Amar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1240 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09 th  FEBRUARY, 2022

## AGRICULTURAL TRADE

## 1240.   DR. AMAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the agreements aimed at expanding the scope of agricultural trade between India and other countries during the last three years;
- (b) the details of the nation's stance at the WTO negotiation table for agricultural trade of other countries with India;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any studies to measure the country's capabilities in agricultural exports along with its future prospects; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Jherh vuqfiz;k iVsy½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a): Under the India-Mauritius Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA)  signed  in February  2021 and  implemented  with  effect  from April  2021,  Mauritius  has offered import duty concessions to India's agricultural products

(b): At the WTO negotiations, India has been making efforts to obtain a permanent solution to the issue of public stockholding for food security purposes. On the issue of agricultural domestic support, India is of the view that the WTO Agreement on Agriculture provides considerable flexibility to the developed members to provide huge trade distorting domestic support and further, to concentrate the subsidies on a few products. This asymmetry needs to be addressed on priority in agricultural reform, however, without shifting the burden of reduction of agricultural subsidies to developing countries and preserving the special and differential treatment provisions in the agreement. In addition, India, along with  other  members,  has  been  demanding  Special  Safeguard  Mechanism  (SSM)  for  developing countries, which is another mandated issue for agricultural negotiations at the WTO.

(c) & (d): A High-Level Advisory Group (HLAG) was constituted by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to assess the global environment and make recommendations for boosting India's share and importance in global merchandise and services trade; managing pressing bilateral trade relations; and mainstreaming new age policy making. HLAG submitted its report in September 2019 containing macro  recommendations  as  well  as  sector-specific  recommendations,  including  for  the  agriculture sector.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1239 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-09
Subject: Information of Various Schemes
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Mahua Moitra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1239.

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 9 TH     FEBRUARY, 2022.

## INFORMATION OF VARIOUS SCHEMES

## 1239.  SHRIMATI MAHUA MOITRA:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  planing  to  make  information  and  incentives available in various schemes to MSMEs;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether there is a special reduced compliance mechanism in these schemes for MSMEs and startups;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether it is possible for SEZs, Bonded Manufacturing Zones, Export Oriented Units,  etc.  to  work  in  a  way  that  allow  them  to  sell  goods  and  services internationally  and  domestically  without  going  through  difficult  processes  of selling to the Domestic Tariff Area; and
- (f) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री ( श्री सोम प्रकाश ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI SOM PARKASH)

- (a) & (b): Central  Government  follows  the  principle  of  'Minimum  Government  Maximum Governance', under which efforts are being made to reduce public interface with government authorities and provide information, as far as possible through online modes. The details about the schemes of Ministry of MSME are made available through the web portals of Ministry and  its  attached  and  field  offices.  The  field  offices  of  the  Ministry  of MSME, located in various States and Union Territories inter-alia also create awareness about the schemes through seminars/workshops and meetings with Industry Associations.
- (c) & (d): Government  has  undertaken  a  systematic  exercise  across  Central Ministries/Departments and States/UTs to eliminate or reduce compliances  which  have  an  adverse  impact  on  time  and  cost  of businesses including MSMEs and Startups.
- (e) & (f): Special  Economic  Zones  (SEZs)  have  the  facility  of  single  window clearance mechanism along with a dedicated Customs wing for faster approval and clearance of goods and services supplied by the SEZ units for export as well as to Domestic Tariff Area (DTA). As far as EOUs are concerned, faster clearances are available for export and there is also time-bound procedure for DTA sale permission, which is granted within 2 days as per the provisions contained in existing Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20 read with Handbook of Procedures.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1238 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-09
Subject: Financial Assistance from LIC of India
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: S. Venkatesan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1238 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2022

## FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM LIC OF INDIA

1238.    SHRI S. VENKATESAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether MoU was signed between Railways and LIC of India in 2015  for  financial  assistance  of  Rs.  1,50,000  crore  in  five  years  for infrastructure development in Railways;
- (b) if so, the details of financial assistance sought by Railways and funds provided by the LIC of India in the Financial Years (FYs) 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020;
- (c) whether the said MoU is still in force or has been renewed;
- (d) if  so,  the  number  of  years  of  the  contract  and  the  amount  of financial assistance involved therein; and
- (e) the details of projects undertaken with the help of LIC of India funds from FY 2016 to FY 2020, year-wise?

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

(a):  Yes, Sir.

(b):  Railways sought E 1,50,000 crore as financial assistance from Life Insurance  Corporation  of  India  (LIC).  The  funds  provided  by  LIC  to Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited (IRFC) from Financial Year (FY) 2016 to 2020 are as under:-

| Financial Year   | Funds provided by LIC ( E in crore)   |
|------------------|---------------------------------------|
| 2015-16          | 7000                                  |
| 2016-17          | 3000                                  |
| 2017-18          | 6200                                  |
| 2018-19          | NIL                                   |
| 2019-20          | 4300                                  |
| Total            | 20500                                 |

(c):  No, Sir. The said Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) ended on 31 st  March 2020.

(d):  Does not arise.

(e): From FY 2016 to FY 2020, E 1,01,234 crore were provided by IRFC for  financing  Railway  Projects  which  includes E 20,500  crore  of  LIC funds. These funds were utilized in throughput enhancement projects of Railways, mostly Doubling and Electrification projects.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1236 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-09
Subject: Caegorisation of Railway Bridges
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: B. Y. Raghavendra, Sanganna Amarappa Karadi, Prathap Simha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1236 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2022

## CATEGORISATION OF RAILWAY BRIDGES

1236. SHRI B.Y. RAGHAVENDRA: SHRI SANGANNA AMARAPPA: SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is formulating any plan to review the existing system of categorising railway bridges;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is  planning to formulate any new policy  regarding    inspection  and  maintenance  of  bridges, by taking into consideration the life-span of bridges; and
- (d) if so, the details  thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) & (b): No, Sir. There is no plan to review the existing system of bridge classification.
- (c) & (d): No, Sir.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1233 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-09
Subject: Rehabilitation Package for Telecom Operators
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Andimuthu Raja

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOKSABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1233 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 TH FEBRUARY, 2022

## REHABILITATION PACKAGE FOR TELECOM OPERATORS

## 1233. SHRI A. RAJA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has formulated a rehabilitation package for Telecom Operators;
- (b) if so, the salient features of the proposed scheme;
- (c) the cumulative burden on the exchequer in rupees for implementation of the scheme; and
- (d) whether the Government is going to bear this huge loss in revenue and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) The government has recently approved various reform measures to reduce financial stress in the Telecom Sector inter-alia including:
- i. Rationalization of Definition of Adjusted Gross Revenue.
- ii. Moratorium/Deferment of up to four years in annual payments of dues arising out of the AGR judgement and spectrum purchased in past auctions.
- iii. Option to the TSPs to pay the interest amount arising due to the said deferment of payment by way of equity.
- iv. Rationalization  of Interest rates and removal  of Penalties for delayed payments  of License Fee (LF)/Spectrum Usage Charge (SUC).
- v. Reduction in  BG requirements  to  20%  of  the  stipulated  amount  against  License  Fee  (LF)  and other similar Levies.
- vi. Removal  of  levy  of  Spectrum  Usage  Charges  (SUC)  on  the  spectrum  to  be  acquired  in  future auctions.
- vii. Removal  of  requirement  for  submitting  a  Financial  Bank  Guarantee  (FBG)  to  securitize  the annual deferred spectrum instalments in future.
- viii. Increasing the validity period of spectrum acquisition in future auctions from 20 to 30 years.
- (c)& (d) The  moratorium  scheme  is  revenue  neutral.  TSPs  are  not  exempted  from  paying  their dues. Interest is applicable on deferred payment, keeping the Net Present Value (NPV) protected.

****

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1232 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-09
Subject: Yarn Prices
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Manickam Tagore B

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1232 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2022

## YARN PRICES

## 1232. SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B.:

## Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री

be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Government held discussions with representatives of the textiles and clothing sector to discuss the issue of rising raw cotton and yarn prices;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has urged the textile mills to consider the present situation and take the required steps, so that yarn prices could be brought under control and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether it is a fact that the garment exporters in Tiruppur were in strike for two days demanding measures to control the prices of cotton and yarn; and
- (e) if so, the steps taken in this regard?

## उत्तर

ANSWER

## वस्त्र राज् य मंत्री ( श्रीमती दर्शना जरदोर् ) THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES

## (SMT. DARSHANA JARDOSH)

(a) to (e): Ministry is constantly engaged with various stakeholders across the entire cotton value chain in respect of the prices of cotton and cotton yarn to harmonize their interest. As per media report, the garment exporters in Tirupur were on strike for two days. Prices are affected by market forces of demand  and  supply.  In  addition,  cotton  being  an  internationally  traded  commodity,  its  price  is  also affected by the price in the international market. Prices of cotton yarn also moves in tandem with the prices of raw cotton.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 1231 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-09
Subject: Standard Developing Organisation
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Kuruva Gorantla Madhav, Sanjeev Kumar Singari, Midhun Reddy, Maddila  Gurumoorthy

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1231

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2022

## STANDARD DEVELOPING ORGANISATION

1231.   SHRI KURUVA GORANTLA MADHAV: DR. SANJEEV KUMAR SINGARI: SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY: SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY:

## Will  the  Minister  of  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of proposals for declaration of Standard Developing Organisation under One Nation One Standard mission of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS);
- (b) whether the Government contemplates to define standard development activities and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government plans to undertake assessment for identification and categorization of such activities to attain One National Standard for One Subject and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h (श्री अश्विनी क ु मार चौबे)

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) :    A  number  of  government organizations have applied to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for recognition under the BIS scheme of Standards Development Organizations (SDOs). The Research Design and Standards Organization (RDSO), Ministry of Railways, has been granted the first recognition under the Scheme for Recognition of SDOs in the country.
- (b) &  (c) :  At present, there are a number of domain specific Standards Developing Organizations (SDOs) in the country that develop standards in their respective areas. With increasing convergence of technologies, there is also a need for better coordination of work among all standardization bodies in the country working in different sectors.

As per BIS Act, 2016, BIS may recognize or accredit any institution in India or outside which is engaged in standardization. As the National Standards Body, it is the responsibility of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), to ensure that there is synergy in the standardization work taking place in the country and that there is no overlap or duplication of the work carried out by other Standards Developing Bodies.

With the objective of ensuring one national standard for one subject in the country, BIS has launched a scheme for recognition of SDO's as the umbrella organization for steering India's standardization efforts, by recognizing these bodies and wherever necessary, recognizing the standards developed by these bodies as Indian Standards.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1227 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-09
Subject: Hospitals run by CIL
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Mahesh Sahoo

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK   SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1227

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2022

## Hospitals run by CIL

## 1227.  SHRI MAHESH SAHOO:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a)       the details of number of hospitals run by Coal India Ltd across the country;
- (b)      the  details  of  total  sanctioned  strength  of  doctors  in  all  the  hospitals  run  by  it  and  the number of existing vacancies particularly in Odisha, hospital-wise;
- (c)       whether  the  Government  proposes  to  raise  the  retirement  age  of  doctors  in  Coal  India Hospitals from 60 years to 65 years and bring it at par with the retirement age of doctors across the country;
- (d)     if so, the time by which decision in this matter will be taken; and
- (e)      if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): A total of 70 Hospitals are run by Coal India Ltd (CIL) across the country. In addition to the Hospitals, 359 Dispensaries are also being run by CIL.
- (b ):  As  per  the  approved  manpower,  the  total  sanctioned strength  of   doctors  in  CIL  &  its Subsidiaries are 1568. The vacancy position of one of the Subsidiaries of CIL located at Odisha (MCL) is 82 (sanctioned is 173 and working is 91). Hospital wise vacancy in Odisha is annexed.
- (c): No Sir.
- (d): Does not arise in view of answer to part (c) above.
- (e): There  is  no  DPE  guideline  issued  on  the  enhancement  of  superannuation  age  from  the current 60 years in CPSES without which the superannuation age cannot be enhanced in CIL.

****

ANNEX

## HOSPITAL AND DISPENSARY WISE VACANCY POSITION OF DOCTORS OF MCL

| Name of Hospital                         |   Vacancy |
|------------------------------------------|-----------|
| CENTRAL HOSPITAL, IBVALLEY               |        18 |
| NEHRU SHATABDI CENTRAL HOSPITAL, TALCHER |        13 |
| BASUNDHARA HOSPITAL                      |        16 |
| LAKHANPUR HOSPITAL                       |        14 |
| ANANDVIHAR HOSPITAL,MCLHQ                |         3 |
| REGIONAL HOSPITAL, TALCHER               |         1 |
| DEULBERA HOSPITAL, LINGARAJ AREA         |         3 |
| LINGARAJ TOWNSHIP DISPENSARY             |         1 |
| JAGANNATH DISPENSARY                     |         2 |
| BHUBANESWARI DISPENSARY                  |         1 |
| ANANTA DISPENSARY                        |         1 |
| BHARATPUR DISPENSARY                     |         2 |
| CENTRALCOLONY DISPENSARY                 |         1 |
| BALARAM DISPENSARY                       |         1 |
| NANDIRA DISPENSARY                       |         1 |
| SAMLESWARI DISPENSARY                    |         0 |
| BUDHIJAM DISPENSARY                      |         1 |
| RAMPUR DISPENSARY                        |         1 |
| MCLDISPENSARY, BBSR                      |         1 |
| KANIHA AREA                              |         1 |
| TOTAL                                    |        82 |
Lok Sabha Question No. 1223 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-09
Subject: Optical Fibre Laid
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Jyotirmay Singh Mahato

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOKSABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1223 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 TH FEBRUARY, 2022

## OPTICAL FIBRE LAID

## †1223. SHRI JYOTIRMAY SINGH MAHATO:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  optical  fibre  cable  laid  in  West  Bengal  so  far  under  National  Optical Fibre Network project;
- (b) the details of the number of Gram Panchayats in Purulia district of West Bengal that have been connected with broadband and Wi-Fi hotspot so far under the said project; and
- (c) the reasons for the number of Gram Panchayats not been connected to the said services in abovesaid district of West Bengal under the said project so far?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) BharatNet (earlier known as National Optical Fibre Network) project is implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country. As  of  December  2021,  9303  km  Optical  Fibre  Cable  (OFC)  has  been  laid  under  BharatNet project in West Bengal.
- (b) In  Phase-I,  out  of  170  GPs  taken  up  for  implementation  in  Purulia  District  of  West Bengal, 155 GPs have been made Service Ready. Wi-Fi hotspots have been installed in 100 GPs.
- (c) 15  GPs  have  not  been  connected  in  Purulia  District  due  to  OFC  cuts,  Right  of  Way permission issues, pending Acceptance Testing, etc.

****

****