opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 5586 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-06
Subject: Online Harrassment of Women
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Vinod Chavda

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5586

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.04.2022

## ONLINE HARRASSMENT OF WOMEN

## 5586. SHRI VINOD L. CHAVDA:

Will the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  about  the  web  based  apps  which  are  targeting  women  by posting their morphed images and objectionable comments;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government has taken any action in this regard, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to  (c):The  Government  is  committed  to  ensure  that  the  Internet  in  India  is  Open,  Safe  & Trusted and Accountable for all users. As internet expands and delivers many benefits for citizens, the  Government is  also  aware of  growing phenomena of users harms caused by misuse of some social  media  /intermediaries  platforms  by  some  users  which  also  includes  crimes  against  women and children caused as a consequence.

Two such Apps with derogatory and malafide intentions against women, which came to the notice of  Government,  were  hosted  on  an  open-source  platform  namely  'GitHub'.  Both  the  Apps allegedly picked up the profiles of the women from social media platforms, and Twitter was used to promote the alleged content.

'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. The Law Enforcement Agencies take legal action as per provisions of applicable law. In the instant case, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) coordinated with service providers and provided technical information to law enforcement agency to facilitate investigation.

As  per  the  information  available  from  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs,  the  Delhi  Police  and  Mumbai Police have registered FIRs in the said matter under IPC 1860 and the Information Technology Act, 2000 and have arrested the accused.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5584 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-06
Subject: Non-Functioning Mines
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Rita Bahuguna Joshi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5584

ANSWERED ON 06.04.2022

## NON-FUNCTIONING MINES

## 5584. SHRIMATI RITA BAHUGUNA JOSHI:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of Government/PSU mines non-functioning or closed in India;
- (b)  whether  the  Government has  taken any steps to  start production  in  such  nonfunctional mines in India;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): A total of 147 mines in the Government sector (including Central and State public sector units) are not working as on 01.04.2021.
- (b) & (c): The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act, 1957 has been amended through the MMDR Amendment Act, 2021 which came into force w.e.f.  28.03.2021.  The  basic  objective  of  the  said  amendment  is  to  boost  mineral production and generation of employment in the mineral sector. Section 17A(4) of the Act  provides  that  the  reservation  of  mineral  bearing  areas  in  favor  of  government companies made under section 17A shall lapse, if mining lease is not granted within a period of five years from the date of such reservation. However, where this period of five years has expired before 28.03.2021 or expires within a period of one year from 28.03.2021, in all such cases the reservation shall lapse if mining lease is not granted within a period of one year from the date of commencement of the amended Act.

Further, sub-section (4) of section 4A of the said Act provides that where the holder of a mining lease fails to undertake production and dispatch for a period of two years after the date of execution of the lease or having commenced production and dispatch, has discontinued the same for a period of two years, the lease shall lapse on the expiry of the period of two years from the date of execution of the lease or, as the case may be, discontinuance of the production and dispatch.

However, in both the cases i.e. execution of mining lease under section 17A(4) as  well  as  production  &  dispatch  under  Section  4A(4)  of  the  MMDR  Act,  State Government has been empowered to relax the prescribed period by a further period of one year, if it is satisfied that the reasons for execution of the lease / starting of production and dispatch, as the case may be, are beyond the control of mining lease holder.

Further, the section 8A(4) of the  MMDR Act, 1957,provides that on the expiry of the lease period, the mining lease shall be put up for auction. Accordingly, mining leases of Government companies, which are lapsed as per the provision of the MMDR Act shall also be put up for auction.

- (d).      Do not arise in view of reply (b) & (c) above.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5583 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-06
Subject: Non-availability of Ticketing Facilities
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Kumbakudi Sudhakaran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5583 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.04.2022

## NON-AVAILABILITY OF TICKETING FACILITIES

5583. SHRI KUMBAKUDI SUDHAKARAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  there  are  no stoppage  of trains at  Chirakkal  and  Dharmadom  railway stations  in  Kannur  Lok  Sabha  constituency  due  to  the  nonavailability of ticketing facilities at these stations;
- (b)  if  so,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  re-instate ticketing facility and the timeline required for the same; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5583 BY SHRI KUMBAKUDI SUDHAKARAN  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  06.04.2022 REGARDING NON-AVAILABILITY OF TICKETING FACILITIES. (a): Yes, Sir. At present, there is reluctance on the part of existing halt  agents  at  Chirakkal  and  Dharmadom  halt  stations  to  take  up the  ticketing  activities  due  to  less  demand  compared  to  the  preCOVID level. As such, stoppages of the trains which were prevalent in pre- COVID era at these stations have not been restored.

(b):  This situation has arisen due to unprecedented COVID pandemic and  resultant  discontinuation  of  train  services  in  the  section  on which  these  halt  stations  fall.  Now,  train  services  are  gradually being restored and hence existing halt agents at these stations have been  asked  to  give  their  consent  to  operate  the  halt  and  to  sell tickets at the earliest.

(c):  Does not arise

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5580 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-06
Subject: Trade with Russia
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: A. Ganeshamurthi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5580 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 th  APRIL, 2022

## TRADE WITH RUSSIA

## 5580.    SHRI A. GANESHAMURTHI:

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

- (a) whether any proposal has been mooted with Russia to work out a mechanism using other currencies like Indian rupee for settlement of trade with that country, in view of payments stuck due to sanctions on Russian banks;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the total volume of bilateral trade with Russia during the last two years and the current year;
- (d) whether India would adopt floating exchange rate instead of fixed exchange rate since it is a fact that ruble has crashed recently; and
- (e) 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) & (b) : The regulatory framework for settlement of trade in INR and other currencies is  governed  by  the  Foreign  Exchange  Management  (Deposit)  Regulations,  2016, which permit a branch or correspondent outside India to open Vostro account with Authorised  Dealer  (AD)  bank  in  India.  Vide  AP  DIR  Circular  No.09  dated 22.11.2019,  the  scope  of  Special  Non-Resident  Rupee  (SNRR)  Accounts  was enhanced by RBI by permitting persons resident outside India (overseas buyers/sellers)  to  open  a  non-interest-bearing  SNRR  account  with  AD  Category-1 banks in India for undertaking bonafide transactions pertaining to trade/trade credits in INR.
- (c):  Bilateral trade with Russia during the last two years and the  current year is given below:

Value in USD million

| Years                   | Russia   | Russia   | Russia      |
|-------------------------|----------|----------|-------------|
| Years                   | Exports  | Imports  | Total Trade |
| 2019-2020               | 3,017.75 | 7,093.01 | 10,110.76   |
| 2020-2021               | 2,655.84 | 5,485.75 | 8,141.58    |
| April-February 2022 (P) | 3,180.48 | 8,688.52 | 11,869.00   |

(d) & (e) :  The exchange rate of the Rupee is largely determined by demand and supply conditions in the foreign exchange market. RBI maintain stability in the foreign market by  ensuring  orderly  conditions  without  targeting  a  pre-specified  level  or  band  for Rupee's exchange rate.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5577 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-06
Subject: Proposal of Underpasses in Nanded Division
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Hemant Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5577

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.04.2022

## PROPOSAL OF UNDERPASSES IN NANDED DIVISION

## †5577. SHRI HEMANT SRIRAM PATIL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the underpasses/railway level crossings sanctioned in Nanded Division of South Central Railway during the last three years and the current year;
- (b) the  details  of  the  funds  allocated  for  the  said  projects  and  the expenditure incurred therein; and
- (c) the  names  of  the  railway  sections  of  Nanded  Division  for  which the  proposal  of  underpasses/railway  level  crossings  are  under consideration of the Government?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  &  (b):  60  Nos.  of  underpasses  have  been  sanctioned  in  Nanded Division.  Total ` 194.45 crore have been allocated and an expenditure of ` 172.52 crore has been made during the last three years and current year.  As the level crossings (LCs) are potential safety hazard for both rail  and  road  users,    Railways  have  decided  that  no  new  LC  will  be provided on existing railway lines.
- (c):  There are 07 Level Crossings (LCs) i.e. LC No., 12, 14, 15, 28, 39, 81 & 127 which are under consideration for construction of underpasses on Manmad-Mudkhed section.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5573 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-06
Subject: Merger of BSNL and MTNL
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Nitesh Ganga Deb

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5573 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 TH  APRIL, 2022

## MERGER OF BSNL AND MTNL

## 5573. SHRI NITESH GANGA DEB:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any plans to merge BSNL and MTNL in future;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has plan to monetize MTNL properties to generate funds for bailing out MTNL; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the targets fixed by the Government for the year 202223?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) Government has approved the revival plan of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) on 23.10.2019 which inter-alia includes  in-principle  approval  for  merger  of  MTNL  and  BSNL.  Due  to  financial  reasons including high debt of MTNL, the merger of MTNL with BSNL is deferred.

(c) & (d) For monetization of Land/Building assets of MTNL, Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) approved monetization of 06 assets of MTNL  (tentative  value  Rs.  5,158  Crores)  in  phase-1  for  which  International  Property Consultants (IPCs) have been appointed. Out of these properties, 2 properties (reserved price of Rs 290 crores) have been taken for e-auction.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 5572 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-06
Subject: PM WANI
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Vinayak Bhaurao Raut, Malook Nagar, Sunil Kumar Singh, Omprakash Bhupalsinh alias Pawan Rajenimbalkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5572 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 TH  APRIL, 2022

## PM WANI

## †5572. SHRI VINAYAK RAUT:

SHRI MALOOK NAGAR:

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

## SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH alias PAWAN RAJENIMBALKAR:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the salient features of Pradhan Mantri WiFi Access Network Interface (PM WANI);
- (b) the district-wise number of Public WiFi network set up in Maharashtra and Jharkhand under this project as on date;
- (c) whether  the  Public  WiFi  Networks  would  be  set  up  in  every  part  of  the  country, particularly in rural areas and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the State-wise number of Public WiFi network established as on date;
- (e) whether the Government proposes to protect the data of consumers using Public WiFi network and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the number of companies which have shown interest in the said project?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The Pradhan Mantri WiFi Access Network Interface (PM WANI) framework enables provisioning  of  broadband  services  through  a  distributed  architecture  and  unbundling  of functions. App Providers, Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOAs) and Public Data Offices (PDOs) operating under the PM WANI framework are not required to pay any license fee to the Government.
- (b) District-wise  number  of  Public  WiFi  Access  Points  set  up  in  Maharashtra  and Jharkhand, under this framework, is available online on portal https://pmwani.gov.in/.
- (c) Entities registered under the PM WANI framework set up Public WiFi Access Points purely on commercial considerations. As such, under this framework, Government has not mandated them to set up Public WiFi Access Points in any specific area of the country.
- (d) State-wise  number  of  Public  WiFi  Access  Points  set  up  under  this  framework  is available online on portal https://pmwani.gov.in/.
- (e) Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued instructions to Service Providers  regarding  secure  use  of  public  Wi-Fi  networks.  Further,  detailed  guidelines including security conditions have been issued by the Department for the entities operating under PM WANI framework.
- (f) As  on  31.03.2022,  244  Public  Data  Office  Aggregators  (PDOAs)  and  111  App Providers have been registered under the PM WANI framework.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 5571 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-06
Subject: Restoration of Bedroll Facility
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Rakesh Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5571 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.04.2022

## RESTORATION OF BEDROLL FACILITY

- † 5571. SHRI RAKESH SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the facility of bedroll has been stopped for passengers in West Central Railway zone, Jabalpur in view of Corona pandemic;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether such facility has been restarted in other railway zones of the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the passengers have raised the demand for restarting the facility of bedroll in view of a decrease in Corona cases;
- (f) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  whether the Government has taken any decision in this regard; and
- (g) if so, the details thereof?

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

(a) to (g) As a part of passenger amenities linen/blankets/curtains are provided  in  AC  coaches  of  Indian  Railways.  However,  in  view  of

Pandemic  and  Covid  protocol  on  account  of  Covid-19,  in  May  2020, instructions were issued to all Zonal Railways that no linen/blankets/curtains shall be provided inside the train. The  issue  of  removal  of  aforesaid  restrictions  have  been  under consideration  for  some  time  and  with  the  easing  out  of  Covid  -19 situation now, it has been decided to withdraw the restriction imposed on  Railways  for  not  providing  Linen/  blankets/curtains.  All  Zonal Railways (including West Central Railway Zone) have been advised to take necessary action vide instructions dated 10.03.2022. Accordingly actions have been initiated by Zonal Railways to start linen/curtain at the earliest.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5570 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-06
Subject: Claims by Advertisements
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Jasbir Singh Gill

## Government of India

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5570

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.04.2022

## CLAIMS BY ADVERTISEMENTS

5570. SHRI JASBIR SINGH GILL:

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

- (a) whether hundreds of hygiene products, as per advertisements, claim that these products are 99.9 per cent bacteria, virus or Covid-19 resistant and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) whether there is any procedure/tests by labs or Government approval for such claims 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) & (b) : The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has taken cognizance of the matter on the basis of numerous complaints received as well as suomotu and issued show cause notices to various companies for misleading claims in reference to their products being 99.9 percent bacteria, virus or Covid-19 resistant.

Based  on  the  notices  issued  by  CCPA  against  such  misleading  advertisements  and investigation by DG (Investigation), 08 companies have withdrawn misleading advertisements and 3  companies  have  agreed  for  corrective  advertisement.  CCPA  has  also  issued  an  advisory  to industry  associations  highlighting  the  provisions  of  the  Consumer  Protection  Act  and  to  impress upon  their  members  to  cease  from  making  false  claims  about  effectiveness  against  corona  virus which are not supported by competent and duly authorized scientific advice.
Lok Sabha Question No. 5567 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-06
Subject: Vacant Posts of CSS Officers
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: Su Thirunavukkarasar, Ravneet Singh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5567

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.04.2022)

## VACANT POSTS OF CSS OFFICERS

## 5567. SHRI THIRUNAVUKKARASAR SU: SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that a large number of posts in CSS Cadre of the Central Government service, both at the gazetted and non-gazetted level are lying vacant in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, cadre-wise along with the reasons therefor;
- (c) the details of the impact on the efficiency in the administration and other adverse effects due to nonfilling of these posts;
- (d) whether the Government is taking any measures for filling up of all these posts in the Central Government services as well as awarding promotions to eligible employees; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a)  to  (e):      Occurrence  and  filling  up  of  vacancies  arising  out  of  retirement,  resignation, voluntary retirement, promotion, transfer on deputation, termination/dismissal of service, death, etc.,  is  an  ongoing  process  in  various  Central  Government  Ministries/Departments.  These vacancies are filled up from time to time through promotion and/or direct recruitment through open competitive examination, in accordance with the relevant recruitment rules and guidelines governing Central Secretariat Service.

Efficiency in administration is ensured through effective cadre management. There have been a series of litigation and directions of various Courts therein, related to promotions of the Central Secretariat Service officers. However, it has been the endeavour of the Government to carry out promotions as expeditiously as possible.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5566 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-06
Subject: You Tube Channel
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Karti P. Chidambaram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5566

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.04.2022

## YOU TUBE CHANNEL

## 5566.    SHRI KARTI P. CHIDAMBARAM:

Will the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  videos  uploaded  on  the  YouTube  Channel 'PMO India' are monetized;
- (b) if so, the details of revenue thus accrued; and
- (c) whether advertisements are permitted to run or screened on the channel videos and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) and (b): 'PMO India' YouTube Channel is not monetized.
- (c):  PMO  India  has  disabled  all  monetization  related  activities.  No  advertisements  are displayed on videos on PMO India YouTube Channel.

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