opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 259 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-03
Subject: Waste Management in Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Heena Vijaykumar Gavit, Hemant Patil, Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Unmesh Bhaiyyasaheb Patil, Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel, Sujay Radhakrishna Vikhepatil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.259

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2021

WASTE MANAGEMENT IN TRAINS

## 259. DR. HEENA GAVIT:

SHRI HEMANT SRIRAM PATIL:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI UNMESH BHAIYYASAHEB PATIL:

SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:

DR. SUJAY RADHAKRISHNA VIKHE PATIL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the current system of disposal/storage of food plates after use in  the  train  compartments  tantamount  to  unhygienic  conditions  in  the
- bogies and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Railways is planning to overhaul the aforesaid practice;
- (c) if so, the details in this regard; and
- (d) various measures taken/likely to be taken by the Railways for clean and
- effective waste management in trains?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a)  to  (c):  No,  Sir.  Detailed  instructions  on  Catering  Waste  Management System  for  collection  and  disposal  of  waste  arising  out  of  Pantry  Car services  have  been  provided  to  Zonal  Railways  and  Indian  Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) vide Commercial Circular nos. 45  of  2011  and  55  of  2016.  These  circulars  are  available  on  Indian Railways' website https://indianrailways.gov.in/. Compliance of these instructions is ensured through periodical inspections.

- (d): The various measures taken by Railways to ensure clean and effective management of waste in trains are as follows: (i)  Waste  generated  during  train  journey  is  collected  at  the  nominated stations.  Waste  collected  at  stations  is  disposed  off  to  the  nominated
- places/ authorised agencies of the Municipal/ local bodies.
- (ii)  Provision  of  Dustbins  has  also  been  extended  to  non-AC  coaches  in addition to AC coaches.
- (iii) En-route cleaning of waste generated including emptying of dustbins is  done  under  On  Board  Housekeeping  Services  scheme  (OBHS)  in important long distance Mail/ Express trains.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 258 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-03
Subject: Dak Pay
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel, Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 258 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  FEBRUARY, 2021

## DAK PAY

- †258.   SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL: SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has started its digital payment service 'Dak Pay' with an objective to provide advanced banking facilities to each and every person of the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the objective of this service is to provide door step financial services to the customers and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  persons  not  having  bank  account  in  the  IPPB  will  be  able  to  avail  the  benefit  of  the aforesaid services and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the number of districts of Gujarat in which people are likely to be benefitted from this service?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, EDUCATION AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

- (a) Yes Sir, DakPay is a digital payment app offering a suite of digital financial and assisted banking services provided by India Post & India Post Payments Bank through the trusted postal  ('Dak') network across the nation to cater to the financial needs ('Pay') of various unbanked sections of the society.

## Under DakPay suite of banking facilities, the following services are offered:

1.      DakPay UPI
2.      DakPay Postal Products Payments
3.      DakPay VDC (Virtual Debit Card)
4.      DakPay DMT (Domestic Money Transfer)
5.      DakPay Merchant/Bill Payments
6.      DakPayAePS (Aadhaar Enabled Payment System)

## The services under DakPay are offered through 3 channels

1.      DakPay Point - Counters at Post Office
2.      DakPay Mitra - Postman / Grameen Dak Sevaks at the Doorstep
3.      DakPay Self Service - Mobile app available in 13 regional languages
4. (b) Yes  Sir,  Banking  services  like  sending  money  (Domestic  Money  Transfer  -  DMT),  Utility  Bill Payments, providing interoperable banking services to the customers of ANY BANK through AePS will be provided at doorstep through DakPay App by DakPay Mitra (Postman/Grameen Dak Sevaks).
5. (c). Yes Sir, Anyone irrespective of whether he/she has an IPPB account can get access to services like DakPay UPI (PSP App), DakPay DMT and DakPay AePS (Out of the full suite).
6. (d) All districts of Gujarat will be benefitted from the DakPay services.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 257 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-03
Subject: Discussion with Sri Lanka
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: S. Gnanathiraviam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.257

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2021

## DISCUSSION WITH SRI LANKA

257. SHRI. GNANATHIRAVIAM S.:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Union Government held discussions with Sri  Lanka recently and stressed that the island nation will gain only from meeting Tamil concerns;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government's intiative on Tamil concerns in Sri Lanka was in response to growing calls in that country for the abolition of the   provincial   council   system   and   the   13 th   Amendment  to   the Constitution of that country; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN)

(a) to (d) The Government has consistently called upon Sri Lanka to fulfill its commitments on addressing the issues related to protecting the interest of T amils in Sri Lanka. This was reiterated during the recently held India- Sri Lanka Virtual Bilateral Summit on 26 September 2020 between the two Prime Ministers. EAM during his visit in January 2021  conveyed that it was in Sri Lanka's own interest that the expectations of the T amil people for equality, justice, peace and dignity within a united Sri Lanka were fulfilled. That applied equally to the commitments made by the Sri Lankan   Government   on   meaningful   devolution;   including   the   13th Amendment to the Constitution. India continues to remain engaged with Sri Lanka at all levels in its efforts to build a future that accommodates the aspirations   of   all   sections   of   society,   including   the   Sri   Lankan   T amil community, for a life of equality, justice, peace and dignity in a united Sri Lanka.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 256 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-03
Subject: Trains to District Headquarters
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Devendra (Alias) Bhole Singh Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 256 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2021

## TRAINS TO DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS

†256. SHRI DEVENDRA SINGH BHOLE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  State-wise  details  of  the  district  headquarters  where  train services are not available;
- (b) whether it is proposed to devise any work plan to connect all the district headquarters in the country with superfast train services;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to introduce any action plan to cover Kanpur  city and  Kanpur  dehat  district headquarters  with superfast train services?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS,  COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (d) Indian Railways do not operate train services on State-wise basis as railway network straddle across State boundaries. However, most  of  the  district  headquarters,  connected  by  Rail  head,  have connectivity by train services. In other cases,  connections  are generally available with changeover. Furthermore, improving connectivity  by  way  of  introduction  of  new  trains  and  extension  by existing  services,  including  those  for  Kanpur  area,  is  an  ongoing process on Indian Railways, which is dependent  inter-alia on factors like operational  feasibility, traffic justification and  availability of resources  etc.  Kanpur  is  very  well  connected  to  major  destinations like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and other major cities.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 255 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-03
Subject: Bullet-Proof Jackets
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Ramya  Haridas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.255

TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 rd   February, 2021

## BULLET-PROOF JACKETS

## 255. MS. RAMYA HARIDAS:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that there is a continuous decline in the quality of life saving bulletproof jackets meant for the Defence forces of the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the details of the manufacturer of these jackets along with the quality norms for it and the number of jackets provided to the Defence forces so far?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

- (a) & (b):  No, Sir.
- (c)  A contract for procurement of 1,86,138 Bulletproof Jackets (BPJs), through Capital route, has been concluded with M/s SMPP Pvt. Ltd., in April, 2018 and against it, 1,00,000 BPJs have been received so  far.    The  quality  assurance  of  BPJs  is  carried  out  by  Directorate  General  of Quality Assurance (DGQA) based on the parameters of General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQR) and Acceptance Test Procedures approved by DGQA.

*****

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)
Lok Sabha Question No. 252 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-03
Subject: Increase in Export
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Gopal Chinayya Shetty

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 252 (H) TO BE ANSWERED ON 03 rd FEBRUARY, 2021

## INCREASE IN EXPORT

## 252(H). SHRI GOPAL CHINNAYA SHETTY:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वा�ण�य  एवं  उ�योग  मं�ी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether export has increased during recent times;
- (b) if so, the time by which this increase has been recorded;
- (c) whether the Government has prepared any outline to increase exports; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Jh gjnhi flag iqjh½

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)

(a) & (b): The value of India's overall exports (merchandise and services) during first eight months of the current financial year, April-November 2020, was US$ 304.53 billion as compared to US$ 351.83 billion during same period of the previous year, showing a negative growth of 13.45%. During this period, India's overall exports were US$ 44.87 billion in September 2020 as compared to US$ 43.56 billion in September 2019, showing a positive growth of 3%. Merchandise exports were US$ 27.1 billion  in  December  2020,  showing a  positive  growth  of  0.14  %  as compared to the corresponding month of the previous year.

(c) & (d): Policy making is an ongoing exercise and steps are taken based on the prevailing economic scenario. The following  are some of the key steps taken by Government to increase exports:

- 1) Foreign Trade Policy (2015-20) extended by one year i.e. upto 31-3-2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
- 2) Interest Equalization Scheme on pre and post shipment rupee export credit has also been extended by one year i.e. upto 31-3-2021.
- 3) A new Scheme, Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) , has been launched with effect from 01.01.2021.
- 4) Common Digital Platform for Certificate of Origin has been launched to facilitate trade and increase FTA utilization by exporters.
- 5) A comprehensive 'Agriculture Export Policy' to provide an impetus to agricultural exports related to agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries and food processing sectors is under implementation.
- 6) Promoting and diversifying services exports by pursuing specific action plans for the 12 Champion Services Sectors.
- 7) Promoting districts as export hubs by identifying products with export potential in each district, addressing bottlenecks for exporting these products and supporting local exporters/manufacturers to generate employment in the district.
- 8) Active role of Indian missions abroad towards promoting  India's trade, tourism, technology and investment goals has been enhanced.
- 9) Package announced in light of the covid pandemic to support domestic industry through  various  banking  and  financial  sector  relief  measures,  especially  for MSMEs, which constitute a major share in exports.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 244 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-03
Subject: Trade Deficit between India and China
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Rajendra Agrawal

* Provisional

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 244 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03 rd FEBRUARY, 2021

## TRADE DEFICIT BETWEEN INDIA AND CHINA

## 244. SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वा�ण�य  एवं  उ�योग  मं�ी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps taken by the Ministry to bridge the trade deficit with China;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether there is a target year by the Ministry to bring the trade deficit with China at zero; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons thereof?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Jh gjnhi flag iqjh½

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINI STRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)

(a) to (d)    The details of export/import and trade deficit between India and China during the last three financial years and current financial year are given below: -

|                    | Trade in Million US$   | Trade in Million US$   |               |
|--------------------|------------------------|------------------------|---------------|
| Financial Year     | EXPORT                 | IMPORT                 | Trade Deficit |
| 2017-18            | 13333.53               | 76380.70               | 63047.16      |
| 2018-19            | 16752.20               | 70319.64               | 53567.43      |
| 2019-20            | 16612.75               | 65260.75               | 48647.99      |
| 2020-21 (Apr-Nov)* | 13639.18               | 38817.90               | 25178.72      |

(Source: DGCIS)

The Government of India has made sustained efforts to achieve a more balanced trade with China, including bilateral engagements  to  address  the  non  tariff barriers on  Indian exports  to China. Through these efforts, various protocols have been signed to facilitate export of Indian rice, tobacco, fishmeal /fish oil and chilli meal from India to China. The Government has also taken various  measures  to  extend  support  to  exporters  by  facilitating  Buyers  Seller  Meets  between potential  importers  of China  and  the  Indian  exporters  to  increase  exports.  In  addition,  Indian exporters are encouraged to participate in major trade fairs to showcase Indian products.

The Government has taken the initiative to sensitize the Export Promotion Councils /Trade Bodies to enhance export of Indian goods.

The Government has also implemented policies to promote domestic manufacturing through ease of  doing  business  and  creating  an  enabling  physical  environment  for  manufacturing,  through provision of developed land and infrastructure.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 242 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-03
Subject: Issue of Fisheries at WTO
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Geetha Viswanath Vanga, Kotha Prabhakar  Reddy

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 242 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03 rd FEBRUARY, 2021

## ISSUE OF FISHERIES AT WTO

242. SHRIMATI VANGA GEETHA VISWANATH: SHRI KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वा�ण�य  एवं  उ�योग  मं�ी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether small fishermen across the country have asked the Government not to support the ongoing fisheries negotiations at the WTO as they fear it could lead to curbing of the subsidies for the community and devastate their livelihood; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the present status thereof?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Jh gjnhi flag iqjh½

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMER CE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)

(a)  to  (b)  Representations  have  been  received  from  stakeholders,  raising  some  concerns  with respect to certain aspects of the fisheries subsidies negotiations.

India  is  participating  in  the  negotiations  as  per  the  mandate of  the  United  Nations  Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) 14.6 and the WTO Ministerial Conference (MC)-11 decision.India's  efforts  are towards  protecting  the  interests of  its  stakeholders,  especially  small fishermen, and pursue suitable provisions towards this end. Aquaculture and inland fisheries are excluded from the scope of the negotiations.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 240 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-03
Subject: Indias Trade Policy
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Margani Bharat

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 240 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03 rd FEBRUARY, 2021

## INDIA'S TRADE POLICY

## 240. SHRI MARGANI BHARAT:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वा�ण�य एवं उ�योग मं�ी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether India's Trade Policy has recently been reviewed at WTO;
- (b) whether it  is also true that US and EU have flagged trade barriers, including increase in import duties, recently;
- (c) if so, the details of items on which import duty has been increased and objections raised US and EU thereon;
- (d) whether  it  is  true  that  US  and  EU  have  asked  the  Indian  Government  to  reconsider  its agriculture support programme;
- (e) if so, the details of agriculture support programme that India is providing and its impact on WTO regulations; and
- (f) whether other WTO countries are opposing Indian MSP mechanism and if so, the details thereof and the Government reaction thereto?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Jh gjnhi flag iqjh½

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)

- (a)  : Yes, Sir. India's Trade Policy Review (TPR) has been carried out by the World Trade Organization  (WTO)  under  the  Trade  Policy  Review  Mechanism, wherein  the  trade related policies of Member countries are reviewed at regular intervals by the WTO. India's TPR meetings were held on 6th & 8th January 2021.
- (b) & (c) :   USA and the EU have flagged certain trade related issues, including increase in import duties, during the recently held TPR meetings.

Applied  rates  of  customs  duty  in  India  are  determined  keeping  in  view  the  overall economic and other policy objectives, which include enhancing domestic value addition, creating a level playing field, ensuring availability of raw materials at competitive prices, securing  economic  interests  of  the  country,  ensuring  supply  of  essential  items  at affordable prices. Import duties have been rationalized across a few sectors, which can be accessed at https://www.cbic.gov.in/.

- (d) to (f) : Some Member countries, including USA and the EU, raised certain questions regarding MFN applied tariff rates, agricultural support programmes such as  MSP, etc.   Replies thereto have been given to the WTO. The WTO Agreement on Agriculture provides the rules  for  trade  in  agriculture. India's  agriculture  support  programmes,  including  the support  through  MSP  mechanism,  are  consistent  with  India's  obligations  under  the Agreement and are being notified to the WTO as required therein.

************
Lok Sabha Question No. 239 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-03
Subject: Digital platform for legal aid
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Dipsinh Shankarsinh Rathod, Anil Firojiya, Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

******

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 239

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 3 rd  FEBRUARY, 2021 Digital platform for legal aid

†239. SHRI DIPSINH SHANKARSINH RATHOD: SHRI ANIL FIROJIYA: SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJI KUNDARIYA:

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

- (a) whether any measures have been taken to integrate legal expertise with digital technology for better functioning;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  any  digital  platform  has  been  introduced  for  providing  legal  aid  for rural areas and rural entrepreneurs;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the extent to which this digital platform is effective?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LAW & JUSTICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a) to  (e)  Digital  technology  has  been effectively  harnessed in the realm of legal aid. The government has launched the Tele-Law programme since 2017 which has  provided  an  effective  and  reliable  e-interface  platform  connecting  the needy  and  disadvantaged  sections  including  rural  populace  seeking  legal advice. Tele-Law aims to provide legal advice at the pre-litigation stage to the beneficiary by connecting them with Panel Lawyers via video conferencing and telephone facilities which are available at the Common Service Centers (CSC)

at Panchayat level. This service is free for persons entitled under Section 12 of Legal Services Authorities (LSA), Act 1987 and for others by paying Rs 30/- per consultation. Tele-Law programme is presently operational in 29,860 CSCs in 285  Districts  across  29  States/UTs.  As  on  31 st December,  2020,  5,26,132 advice  have  been  enabled  under  the  programme.  Another  notable  measure has been integration of technology to move Lok Adalat to the virtual platform. E-Lok Adalats have been organized in 24 States/UTs. As on 09.01.2021, more than 4.07 lakh cases have been disposed of by these E-Lok Adalats.

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