opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 893 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Foreign Aid to Fight Corona Pandemic
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Haji Fazlur Rehman

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 893 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH FEBRUARY, 2021

## FOREIGN AID TO FIGHT CORONA PANDEMIC

## 893. SHRI HAJI FAZLU R REHMAN:

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

(a)  whether  the  Central  Government  has  received any  financial  assistance  from  the  foreign countries for the implementation of health projects during Corona pandemic, if so, the details the reof;

(b) the names of the programmes started with this aid; and

(c) the details of the assistance received by the Central Government in the health sector from World Health Organisation during Corona pandemic?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) & (b) :Official Development Assistance (ODA) Grants and ODA loans have been received from  Japan  to  support  COVID - 19  crisis.  In  addition,  ventilators,  test  kits  etc.  have provided by Germany, United States of America (USA), France and Israel.

(c) :World Health Organisation (WHO ) has provided technical assistance in training of exper and  develop  technical  guidance;  support  in  surveillance,  contact  tracing  and  contai activities;  lab  testing  capacity  building  and  quality  assurance,  strengthening  of tion prevention, vaccination campaign and research & innovation.
Lok Sabha Question No. 890 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Increase in Carbon Stock
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Anubhav Mohanty

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 890

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2021

## Increase in Carbon Stock

## 890. SHRI ANUBHAV MOHANTY:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether the Government has taken note of the increase in the carbon stock in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has taken decisions to reduce the carbon stock; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a)  and  (b)  Yes  Sir.  Details  of  changes  in  the  carbon  stock  are  informed  to  the Government through the biennially published 'India State of Forest Report'(ISFR) since 2013 by the Forest Survey of India. The details of the increase in the carbon stock are shown in Table 1 of Annexure. The increase in carbon stock is attributed to the increase in the forest cover and corresponding increase in the growing stock, as published in the ISFRs from 2013 to 2019.

- (c)  No  Sir.  The  Government  has  not  taken  any  decision  to  reduce  the  carbon  stocks. Rather, it aims to increase the carbon stocks in the country, particularly in its forests and also through trees outside forests.
- (d) Does not arise.

***

Table 1. Change in Carbon Stock in India (million tonne)

|   Sl. No. |   ISFR Year |   Carbon Stock (million tonne) | Change (million tonne)   |
|-----------|-------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------|
|         1 |        2013 |                           6941 | -                        |
|         2 |        2015 |                           7044 | 103                      |
|         3 |        2017 |                           7082 | 38                       |
|         4 |        2019 |                           7125 | 43                       |

Annexure
Lok Sabha Question No. 884 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Steep rise in prices of Cotton
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Ravneet Singh

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 884 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2021

## STEEP RISE IN PRICES OF COTTON

## 884.   SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the difficulties faced by fabric makers/garment exporters in Punjab in meeting the demand owing to steep rise in cotton prices;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

- (c)  whether  the  Government  is  taking  any  measures  to  make  the  entire  textile  value  chain  more competitive  by  extending  help  to  the  fabric  makers/garment  exporters  across  the  country  in  this regard;and

(d) if so, the details thereof; and if not, the reasons therefor?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र मंत्री ( श्रीमती स्मृतत ज़ूबिन इरानी )

## MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) & (b): There is no information available about the difficulties faced by fabric markers/garment exporters in Punjab. As regard steep rise in cotton prices, it is intimated that the Cotton is an agricultural commodity and price of cotton fluctuates on day to day basis due to various market dynamics. Based on the  demand  and  supply  situation,  Cotton  price  has  increased  by  17%  to  20%,  as  compared  to  rate prevailing on 1 st September 2020. The average cotton price of J-34 variety cotton grown in the state of Punjab was Rs. 43502/- per candy in January 2020 whereas at present, the cotton price is ruling at Rs. 42936/-  per  candy.  Therefore,  current  cotton  prices  are  lower  as  compared  to  prevailing  in  the corresponding  period  of  last  year.  Also,  the  Indian  cotton  is  still  cheaper  as  compared  to  the International prices.

(c) & (d): In order to make the textile value chain more competitive, Government has approved the scheme  for  Remission  of  Duties  and  Taxes  on  Exported  Products  (RoDTEP)  to  all  export  goods including Readymade Garments (RMG) and made-ups with effect from 1 st January 2021.
Lok Sabha Question No. 880 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Setting up of Projects in Islands/Deep Sea Areas
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Kalyan Banerjee

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 880

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2021

## Setting up of Projects in Islands/Deep Sea Areas

## 880. SHRI KALYAN BANERJEE:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any special permission and clearance is required from the Government to set up industries or projects in island territories and deep sea areas of the country;
- (b) whether  it  is  also  a  fact  that  apart  from  environment  feasibility,  seismographic  and volcano-seismic  signals  various  clearance/comply  reports  area  also  required  to  set  up such projects therein, if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the number of clearance certificates issued during previous three years?

## ANSWER MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

- (a) Yes Sir. The Island Protection Zone (IPZ) Notification, 2011 permits developmental activities  to  be  carried  out  in  Andaman  &  Nicobar  and  Lakshadweep  Islands  as  per  the approved  Island  Coastal  Regulation  Zone (ICRZ)  Plan/Integrated  Island  Management  Plan (IIMP) and requires prior clearance from this Ministry, as may be applicable.
- (b) As per the extant provisions, the consideration of project proposal by Ministry shall require  various  documents  viz.  (a)  Form-1,  (b)  CRZ  map  indicating  HTL  and  LTL demarcated by one of the authorized agency (1:4000 scale) with the project site superimposed on the above map, (c) Recommendation of the State Coastal Zone Management Authority, etc. The proposed developmental activities in the low and medium eroding stretches within CRZ  areas,  may  also  require  cumulative  EIA  studies,  Disaster  Management  Report,  Risk Assessment Report and Management Plan, on case to case basis, as applicable.
- (c) Eleven  (11)  clearances  were  issued  by  this  Ministry  under  IPZ  Notification,  2011 during previous three years.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 878 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Nutritional Security in India
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Harsimrat Kaur Badal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 878

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2021

## NUTRITIONAL SECURITY IN INDIA

## 878.   SHRIMATI HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) status of nutritional security being provided to children for age group 0-14 years in the country;
- (b) the special plans envisaged/formulated by the Government in the last one year to provide nutritional security to children in the age group 0-14 years;
- (c) whether the Government has launched any special plan for providing nutritional security to the girl child; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) & (b) The National Food Security Act, 2013 provides food and nutritional security in human life cycle approach by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable  prices.  Children  in  the  age  group  of  6  months  to  14  years  are  entitled  to meals as per prescribed nutritional norms under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Mid-Day Meal (MDM) schemes.

For children below 6 months of age, exclusive breastfeeding is promoted and for children in the age group of 6 months to 6 years, Supplementary Nutrition is provided in the  form  of  Take  Home  Ration,  Morning  Snacks  and  Hot  Cooked  Meals  under  the Anganwadi Services of the Umbrella ICDS Scheme.

Government   also  implements  the  National  Programme  of  Mid-Day  Meal  in Schools  which  is  a  Centrally-sponsored  Scheme  covering  all  children  studying  in Classes I-VIII (for 6-14 years age group) of Government, Government-Aided Schools, Special Training Centres, etc., supported under Samagra Shiksha.

(c) & (d)  Government also implements a Scheme for Adolescent Girls with an aim to break the inter-generational cycle of nutritional and gender disadvantage thus providing a supportive environment for self-development of adolescent girls. Under the Nutrition Component of  the  scheme,  out-of-school  adolescent  girls  in  the  age  group  of  11-14 years  are  provided  supplementary  nutrition  in  the  form  of  Take  Home  Ration  or  Hot Cooked Meal.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 877 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Handloom cluster in Madhya Pradesh
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Krishna Pal Singh Yadav

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 877 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2021

## HANDLOOM CLUSTER IN MADHYA PRADESH

## 877.   DR. KRISHNA PAL SINGH YADAV:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री be pleased to state :

(a) whether the Union Government has received any proposal from the State government of Madhya Pradesh for sanctioning handloom apparels in the State;

- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (d)  the  extant  position  of  major  handloom  clusters  in  the  country  particularly  in Ashoknagar district of Madhya Pradesh?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र मंत्री ( श्रीमती स्मृतत ज़ूबिन इरानी )

MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (c): No  proposal  for  sanction  of  handloom  apparels  has  been  received  so  far from the State Government of Madhya Pradesh.

(d): Government of India has been implementing Block Level Cluster, a component of National  Handloom  Development  Programme  (NHDP)  and  Comprehensive  Handloom Cluster Development Scheme(CHCDS) since 2015-16 for holistic & integrated development  of  handloom  weavers  which  inter-alia  provides  financial  assistance  upto Rs.2.00  crore  per  cluster  for  implementation  of  various  interventions  such  as  skill upgradation, Hathkargha Samvardhan Sahayata(HSS), product development, construction of  workshed,  project  management  cost,  design  development,  setting  up  of  Common Facility Centre (CFC) etc.  The proposals are recommended by the State Government.

So far 440 Block Level Clusters have been sanctioned in the country, which includes 6 Block Level Clusters in the state of Madhya Pradesh. No proposal for sanction of cluster in Ashok Nagar District has been received so far from the State Government of Madhya Pradesh.
Lok Sabha Question No. 876 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: CoWIN Application
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Pradyut Bordoloi, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 876 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH FEBRUARY, 2021

## COWIN APPLICATION

## 876. SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLO I: SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU:

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

- (a) the details of the developers of the Covid Vaccine Intelligence Network(CoWIN) Application and the list of external developers who contributed to the development of the app lication;
- (b) whether Aadhaar is mandatory for CoWIN application, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the costs incurred in the development of the CoWIN application; and
- (d) whether any privacy impact assessments were carried out to develop the application and if so, thedetails thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a):    The  Co - WIN  portal  has  been  developed  by  the  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare, Government of India with support from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), India Office.
- (b):   No, Aadhaar is not mandatory for registration on Co - WIN portal.
- (c):   INR 58.90 lakh has been incurred on Co - WIN, as on 1 st February 2021.
- (d):Yes, privacy impact assess ments were carried out for Co - WIN portal. For data safety, the data is encrypted using a highly secure key, no unauthorised access to database on AWS ser allowed and restricted  access to relational database service (to decrease the risk of activities).  The  Co - WIN  Application  follows  the  privacy  policy  as  stated  in  National  Digit Health Mission (NDHM).
Lok Sabha Question No. 867 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Promotion of AYUSH Sector
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Anil Firojiya, Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya, Dipsinh Shankarsinh Rathod

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH)

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 867 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH February, 2021

## PROMOTION OF AYUSH S ECTOR

## 867. SHRI ANIL FIROJIYA: SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJI KUNDARIYA: SHRI DIPSINH SHANKARSINH RATHOD:

Will  the  Minister  of AYURVEDA,  YOGA  AND NATUROPATHY,  UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any scheme for the development of AYUSH entrepreneurship is being chalked outto promote AYUSH sector in the country, State/UT - wise particularly in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  any  proposal  has  been  formulated  to include  youth  and  scientists  in  nation building opportunities  in  various  se ctors  like  research,  innovation, management,  medical, higher education etc.; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS AND ADDITIONAL CHARGE OF MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

- (a): Yes,
- ( b) : The  Government  have  launched  a  Central  Sector  Scheme  during  2020 - 21  to encourage private investors to invest in AYUSH sector to establish world class, state art super specialty  hospitals and  day care centres of the systems recognized under Medicine Central Council(IMCC) Act, 1970  or Homeopathic Central Council (HCC) Act, 1973 for promoting export  of medical value travel services. Interest subsidy will be for construction of the hospital building and purchasing of equipments.
- ( c) : Yes,
- ( d) : The  Government  have  established  Research  Councils  and  National  Institutes  i various parts of the country in order to undertake research and impart higher educatio various AYUSH systems. The youths get opportunities for being recruited and serve in these organizations to ensure the optimal development, propagation and popularization of AYU systems to make them the preferred system of medicine.
Lok Sabha Question No. 866 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Funds for Research and Development
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: S. Venkatesan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 866

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05/02/2021

## FUNDS FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

866.  SHRI S. VENKATESAN:

Will  the  Minister  of  SCIENCE  AND  TECHNOLOGY वान और ौयोगक मंी be pleased to state:

- (a)      the  details  of  funds  allocated,  sanctioned,  released  and utilized in his Ministry for research and development during the last five years; and
- (b)     the quantum and percentage of such funds in terms of GDP?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE; MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

वाय और परवार कयाण मंी , वान और ौयोगक मंी और पृ वी वान मंी ( डॉ . हष वधन )

- (a)      The  details  of  funds  allocated  and  utilized  under  Ministry  of  Science  and Technology for research and development during last five years is as under:

(Rs. in Crore)

| Depart- ment   | 2016-17   | 2016-17   | 2017-18   | 2017-18   | 2018-19   | 2018-19   | 2019-20   | 2019-20   | 2020-21   |
|----------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|                | Allocated | Utilized  | Allocated | Utilized  | Allocated | Utilized  | Allocated | Utilized  | Allocated |
| DST            | 4467.71   | 4217.08   | 4726.71   | 4595.73   | 5114.79   | 4912.54   | 5480.93   | 5453.03   | 5012.10   |
| DSIR/ CSIR     | 4062.80   | 4030.48   | 4629.70   | 4618.83   | 4572.84   | 4548.78   | 4883.24   | 4872.51   | 4251.86   |
| DBT            | 1917.24   | 1895.50   | 2260.11   | 2331.42   | 2411.53   | 2379.10   | 2381.10   | 2358.77   | 2300.00   |
| Total          | 10447.75  | 10143.06  | 11616.52  | 11545.98  | 12099.16  | 11840.42  | 12745.27  | 12684.31  | 11563.96  |

Source:  Demands  for  Grants  of  Central  Government,  Expenditure  Budget,  GoI (relevant years)

Note: 1. Allocated represents Revised Estimates, Utilized represents Actual Expenditure

2. DST- Department of Science and Technology
3.  DSIR/CSIR-  Department  of  Scientific  &  Industrial  Research  /  Council  of Scientific & Industrial Research
4. DBT- Department of Bio-Technology
4. (b)      The details of Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) in S&T (including expenditure by Ministry of Science and Technology) and percentage of GERD to GDP are as under:

| Year                          |   2014-15 |   2015-16 |   2016-17 |   2017-18 |   2018-19 |
|-------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| GERD (Rs. in Crore)           |   87473.4 |   95452.4 |  103099   |  113825   |  123848   |
| GERD as percentage of GDP (%) |       0.7 |       0.7 |       0.7 |       0.7 |       0.7 |

Note:  Based on the latest figures available in R&D Statistics, 2019-20, DST, GoI.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 865 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Implementation of POSHAN Abhiyan
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Subhas Sarkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 865

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2021

## IMPLEMENTATION OF POSHAN ABHIYAN

## 865.   DR. SUBHAS SARKAR:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  deaths  of  several  members  of Shabar  community  in   Lalgarh  area  due  to  starvation  and  malnutrition  during the last three years and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  any  information  regarding  non  adoption  of Poshan  Abhiyan  by  the  Government  of  West  Bengal  and  if  so,  the  details thereof  including  the  reasons  for  non  adoption  of  the  scheme  by  the  State Government;
- (c) whether the Government of West Bengal has adopted any other schemes to substitute the Poshan Abhiyan programme and if so, the details thereof along with  the  details  of  funds  utilized  for  implementing  such  schemes in  last  three years by the State Government; and
- (d) whether the children under the age of five across four districts of West Bengal are  facing  problems  of  stunting,  if  so,  details  thereof  along  with  the  remedial steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to  (d)    As  per  a  media  report,  there  were  certain  cases  of  death  of   Sabar community due to hunger in West Midnapore, West Bengal. Government implements POSHAN Abhiyaan to address the problem of malnutrition in the country. The goals of POSHAN Abhiyaan are to achieve improvement in nutritional status of Children from 0-6 years, Adolescent Girls, Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers in a time bound manner.

Government of West Bengal has not started implementation of POSHAN Abhiyaan. State has informed that the State Nutrition Mission is implemented in West Bengal. Community  Based  Events  for  improvement  of  nutritional  status  of  pregnant  and lactating  women and children have been held since July, 2019 with a theme based monthly calendar.

As per the National Family Health Survey-5 data released recently, 33.8 % of children below  5  years  in  the  State  of  West  Bengal  are  stunted.  Under  the  Supplementary Nutrition  Programme,  Take  Home  Ration  and  Hot  Cooked  Meals  are  provided  to registered beneficiaries in AWCs in the State.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 860 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Relief for Print Media
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Manne Srinivas Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 860 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2021

## RELIEF FOR PRINT MEDIA

860.  SHRI MANNE SRINIVAS REDDY:

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state :

- (a) whether  the  Indian  Newspaper  Society  and  other  related agencies  have  sought  relief  from  the  Government  in  view  of the Newspapers forcing on cost cutting measures and resulting in not sending newspapers to rural areas; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and action taken thereon ?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE; MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES {SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR}

(a)  &  (b):  This  Ministry  had  received  representations  from  The Indian  Newspaper  Society  (INS)  for  withdrawal  of  10%  Basic Custom Duty (BCD) on newsprint, which was forwarded to Ministry of  Finance  for  consideration.  The  Government  has  reduced  the

Basic Custom Duty on newsprint from 10% to 5%.

*****