opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 680 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-06
Subject: Education Cess
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu

## 680. Shri T.R. Balu

Will the Minister of Finance be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Education  Cess  collected  by  Government  is  transferred  to  the  Ministry  of Education in full every year;
- (b) if so, the details thereof for the last five years;
- (c) whether there has been any shortfalls any in transferring the said cess and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor ; and
- (d) the extent to which the realization of targets have been impacted because of the said shortfalls in transfer of education cess to the Ministry of Education?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (d)

Ministry  of  Education  is  eligible  for  60%  and  15%  of  the  total  proceeds  of  Health  & Education Cess to Prarambhik Shiksha Kosh (PSK) and Madhyamik and Uchchtar Shiksha Kosh (MUSK)** respectively. The following table shows the actual transfer of share to the Ministry of Education during last 5 years:

(Rs. in Crore)

| Financial Year   |   Cess Collected under Health &Education Cess |   Eligible percentage share of Ministry of Education | Total amount allocated to Ministry of Education   |
|------------------|-----------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
| 2018-19          |                                       41177.4 |                                              30883.1 | 25227.90                                          |
| 2019-20          |                                       39131.1 |                                              29348.3 | 41308.60                                          |
| 2020-21          |                                       35821.5 |                                              26866.2 | 50729.61                                          |
| 2021-22          |                                       52732.3 |                                              39549.2 | 56788.25                                          |
| 2022-23*         |                                       62500   |                                              46875   | 62350.00                                          |
| Total            |                                      231362   |                                             173522   | 236404.36**                                       |

Government of India Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 680 Answered on 6 th February, 2023

## Education Cess

## QUESTION
Lok Sabha Question No. 677 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-06
Subject: Validity of Gift Cards/Gift Cheques
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Thomas Chazhikadan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 677

To be answered on the February 6, 2023/Magha 17, 1944 (Saka) Validity of Gift Cards/Gift Cheques

## 677. SHRI THOMAS CHAZHIKADAN:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of gift cards/gift cheques being issued by the banks in India;
- (b) the validity of such gift cards/gift cheques;

(c) the estimated total value of unclaimed/ unutilised gift cards/gift cheques when these get expired over a specific period; and

(d) whether there is any provision for returning the money to the claimants or the person on whose behalf this has been issued if the person approaches the banks for its refund and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (DR. BHAGWAT KARAD)

(a) to (d): As per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines on 'Issuance and Operation of Prepaid Payment Instruments' (PPI), banks are permitted to issue prepaid gift instruments with maximum value of each prepaid gift instrument not exceeding ₹ 10,000/- with a minimum validity period of 1 year. Also, banks adopt a risk-based approach, duly approved by their Board, in deciding the number of such gift card/ gift cheques issued to the customer, transaction limits etc.

As per inputs  received  from  RBI,  as  on  31.12.2022,  total  number  of  expired  gift  cards  (with unspent balance) is 1.16 crore with outstanding balance amounting to ₹ 85.25 crore.

With regard to provisions related to returning the money to the claimants, as per RBI guidelines, cash-out or fund  transfer  is  not  permitted  for  such  instruments.  However,  the  funds  may  be transferred 'back to source account' (account from where Gift card was loaded) after receiving the consent of the pre-paid instrument holder. Further, the Gift cards are revalidated (including through issuance of new instruments) as and when requested by the gift card holder.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 675 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-06
Subject: Skill Development Training
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Kalaben Mohanbhai Delkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †675

ANSWERED ON 06.02.2023

## SKILL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING

†675. SHRIMATI DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI:

Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  institutes  engaged  in  imparting  skill  development  training  in various States of the country;
- (b) the total number of youths being trained and the various skills in which training is being imparted to them in the country including Dadar Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu; and
- (c) the district-wise details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF SKILL  DEVELOPMENT  AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

(SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR)

(a)    Under Skill India Mission, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) delivers  skill  training  through  a  comprehensive  network  of  skill  development centres/  institutes  across  the  country  under  various  schemes  viz.  Pradhan  Mantri Kaushal  Vikas  Yojana  (PMKVY),  Jan  Shikshan  Sansthan  (JSS)  Scheme,  National Apprenticeship  Promotion  Scheme  (NAPS)  and  Craftsman  Training  Scheme  (CTS) through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). Through these centres, training to candidates  is  imparted  in  employable  skills,  as  per  requirements  of  industry  and economy. The State-wise number of Training Centres is at Annexure-I .

(b)  and  (c)       The  number  of  youths  trained  in  various  skills,  district-wise  and  Statewise  including  Dadar  Nagar  Haveli  and  Daman  and  Diu  under  different  schemes  of MSDE  during  the  year  2021-22  viz.  PMKVY,  JSS,  CTS(ITIs)  are  at Annexure-II , Annexure-III and Annexure-IV . Since the details in the said Annexures are too lengthy, it is available on the website of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship at the following link https://msde.gov.in/en/useful-links/parl-ques/lok-sabha .

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 673 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-06
Subject: Employment to Local People
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Hanuman Beniwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 673 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2023

## EMPLOYMENT TO LOCAL PEOPLE

†673. SHRI HANUMAN BENIWAL:

Will  the  Minister  of  LABOUR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)whether it is true that the Government has started a survey on both demand  and  supply  side  for  making  evidence  based  policy  for employment;
- (b)if so, the time by which the survey will be completed and the details of progress made at present, in this regard;
- (c)the details of improvements that will occur after the said policy is
- formulated; and
- (d)whether  there  is  any  policy  or  rule  in  place  to  provide  priority employment  to  the  local  people  and  people  living  in  the  area  of operation of the private sector and heavy industry etc. and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

- (a) to (c): Periodic  Labour  Force  Survey  (PLFS)  is  conducted  by National  Statistical Office(NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation  is  a  household  based  survey  which  reflects  supply side of labour force. PLFS, inter-alia, provides estimates of employment  and  unemployment  indicators  for  both  rural  and  urban areas  in  India.  Till  date,  four  annual  PLFS  reports  from  2017-18  to 2020-21 has been released.

Labour Bureau, an office of Ministry of Labour and Employment is conducting survey of All India Quarterly Establishment based  Employment  Survey  (AQEES),  which  is  demand  side  survey  of the labour force. AQEES has two components:

- a)    Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) in respect of establishments employing 10 or more workers from the 9 selected sectors.
- b)   Area Frame Establishment Survey (AFES) in respect of establishments employing 9 or less workers from the 9 selected sectors.

Quarterly  Employment  Survey  (QES)  is  conducted  on quarterly basis. Till date, reports on four rounds of QES for the period April-June, 2021, July-September, 2021, October-December, 2021 and January-March, 2022 has been released.

- (d): There  is  no  such  proposal  under  consideration  of  the Government. Reservation is provided as per the reservation policy and rules framed by the Government from time to time.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 672 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-06
Subject: State Coastal Zone Management Authority
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Hibi Eden

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 672

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2023

## State Coastal Zone Management Authority

## 672. SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will the MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  fact  that  the  term  of  the  State  Coastal  Zone Management  Authority  (SCZMA)  of  Kerala  expired  on  October  28,  2022,  if  so,  the details in this regard including the reaction thereto;
- (b) whether the Government has received any proposal for reconstitution of the same, if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government is aware of the difficulties faced by the fishermen community in the absence of SCZMA, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to  (c).  The  Kerala  Coastal  Zone  Management  Authority  (KCZMA) was  constituted  by Ministry vide Notification S.O.No.3903(E) dated 30/10/2019 and it has expired on 29/10/2022. The  Government  of  Kerala vide its letter dated 25/01/2023 has sent the proposal for reconstitution of KCZMA.

As per the provisions contained in Section 4.2 (iv) of the CRZ Amendment Notification vide S.O.1393(E)  dated  03/05/2017,  in  case  the  CZMAs  are  not  in  operation  due  to  their reconstitution  or  any  other  reasons,  then  it  shall  be  responsibility  of  the  Department  of Environment in the State Government or Union territory Administrations, for consideration and recommendation  of  any  proposals  for  grant  of  CRZ  clearance,  including  from  the  fishermen community in terms of the provisions of the said notification.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 671 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-06
Subject: Old Pension Scheme
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Bhartruhari Mahtab

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES *****

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 671

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 th  FEBRUARY, 2023 (MONDAY)/ 17 MAGHA, 1944 (SAKA)

## OLD PENSION SCHEME

## 671. Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab

Will the Minister of Finance be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Old Pension Scheme (OPS) is being implemented in certain States of the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether the impact of OPS is likely to have on the State Government's exchequer;
- (d) whether the additional financial burden due to OPS is likely to push the State Governments into the debt and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (e) the steps taken by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (DR. BHAGWAT KARAD)

(a)  to  (e)  The  State  Governments  of  Rajasthan,  Chhattisgarh,  Jharkhand,  Punjab,  and  Himachal Pradesh  have  informed  the  Central  Government/Pension  Fund  Regulatory  and  Development Authority  (PFRDA)  about  their  decision  to  restart  Old  Pension  Scheme  (OPS)  for  their  State Government employees.

There is no provision under Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 2013 read along with PFRDA (Exits and Withdrawals under the National Pension System) Regulations, 2015, and  other  relevant  Regulations,  vide  which  the  accumulated  corpus  of  the  subscribers  viz Government  contribution,  Employees'  contribution  towards  NPS  along  with  accruals,  can  be refunded and deposited back to the State Government.

As per Reserve Bank of India's report titled 'State Finances: A Study of Budget of 2022-23', the annual saving in fiscal resources that reversion to the old pension scheme entails, is short-lived. By postponing  the  current  expenses  to  the  future,  States  risk  the  accumulation  of  unfunded  pension liabilities in the coming years.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 668 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-06
Subject: Study on Work from Home
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: Khagen Murmu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 668 ANSWERED ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 06, 2023 MAGHA 17, 1944 (SAKA)

## STUDY ON WORK FROM HOME QUESTION

668.  SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:

Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has conducted a study on challenges faced during Work From Home (WFH);
- (b) if so, the details and findings thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is planning to extend the option of WFH, even post COVID-
- 19, keeping in view that it will also have other benefits like less vehicles on road; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION; MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE

AFFAIRS

## [RAO INDERJIT SINGH]

- (a) to (d):- Ministry of Labour and Employment has stated that pursuant to Section 29 of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Central Government has published the draft Model Standing Orders (MSO) on 'service sector' in the official Gazette dated 31 st   December, 2020,  which  interalia  contains  the  provision  regarding  'Work  from  Home',  inviting suggestions/objections from all stakeholders including general public.  The draft MSO, interalia, permits 'Work from Home' subject to conditions of appointment or agreement between employer and workers and for such period or periods as may be determined by the employer.  However, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 has not come into effect till date.

The  Ministry  of  Electronics  &  Information  Technology  (MeitY)  had  stated  on 03.08.2022 that they had constituted an Inter-Ministerial Working Group to address the challenges  faced  by  IT/ITES  industry  in  implementing  Work  From  Home  for  their employees. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications has  issued  new  Other  Service  Providers  (OSPs)  guidelines  to  reduce  the  compliance burden for BPO and other IT enabled service providers. These guidelines have done away with the registration requirement for OSPs. Further, the guidelines have also removed several onerous provisions related to furnishing Bank Guarantees by the OSPs towards enabling work from home, providing relief to the entities providing voice-based services. Additionally, the guidelines have also enabled companies to adopt hybrid working models by en abling 'Work from Anywhere' in the country.

Further, the MeitY has stated on 02.02.2023 that they have not conducted any further study on the challenges faced during work from home.  Department of Personnel & Training vide order dated 06.02.2022 has conveyed the decision that all employees at all levels, without any exemptions, shall attend office on regular basis with effect from 7th February, 2022. Therefore, the facility of Work from Home in respect of Government employees had been withdrawn.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 667 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-06
Subject: Indian Students going Abroad
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh, Santosh Kumar, Dinesh Chandra Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 667

ANSWERED ON 06/02/2023

## Indian Students going Abroad

- † 667  SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH:

SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR:

SHRI DINESH CHANDRA YADAV:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note that Indian students are going abroad to get higher education and their numbers are increasing constantly every year, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  it  is  also  a  fact  that  quantum  of  amount  being  spent  by  the  Indian students  abroad  is  much  more  than  the  education  budget  of  the  country,  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has any proposal to establish International University of high standard to save the said funds of the country; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUBHAS SARKAR)

- (a)  to  (d)  Bureau  of  Immigration,  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  maintains  departure  and arrival data of Indians.  But there is no index for capturing the category of Indians going abroad  for  higher  education  purpose.    Purpose  of  Indians  going  abroad  for  higher education  is  captured  manually  based  either  on  their  verbal  disclosure  or  the  type  of visa of the destination country produced by them at the time of immigration clearance. The number of Indians, who disclosed their purpose of visit as Study/Education while going abroad from 2017 to 2022 is given below:-

| Year   | 2017     | 2018     | 2019     | 2020     | 2021     | 2022     |
|--------|----------|----------|----------|----------|----------|----------|
| Number | 4,54,009 | 5,17,998 | 5,86,337 | 2,59,655 | 4,44,553 | 7,50,365 |

The information on amount being spent by the Indian students is not maintained by this Department.  As  of  now  there  is  no  proposal  to  set  up  International  University  in  the country.  However,  University  Grants  Commission has  drafted  enabling  Regulations  to facilitate establishment of campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India. The  draft  University  Grants  Commission  (Setting  up  and  Operation  of  Campuses  of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions  In  India)  Regulations,  2023  was  placed  in  the public domain, vide public notice dated 5 th January, 2023, seeking feedback, suggestions, comments etc. from all the stakeholders by 18 th  January, 2023. However, in  view  of  the  requests  received  from  the  stakeholders,  the  last  date  for  receiving comments on the draft Regulations has been extended till 20 th  February, 2023.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 664 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-06
Subject: Compliance of CAQM Decisions
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Gaurav Gogoi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 664

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2023

## Compliance of CAQM Decisions

## 664. SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

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

- (a) whether any mechanism have been designed for the five States under the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to ensure maximum compliance to the decisions of the Commission;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether there is a third-party monitoring body to keep a check on the compliance level of the States and other stakeholders to the decisions of the Commission to meet the air quality targets set under the National Clean Air Programme;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) whether a period has been set by the Commission to hold meetings at regular intervals with stakeholders for the purpose of further discussions and plan of actions and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (e)

A special Task Force (Enforcement Task Force) has been constituted by Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)on 02.12.2021to monitor and supervise the implementation of the statutory directions issued. The Commission also constituted 40 flying squads / inspection teams to carry out incognito checks for identifying serious violations / statutory directions of the Commission and recommend appropriate action. The Enforcement Task Force continuously, through its regular meetings consider the recommendations of the flying squads / inspection teams and recommend appropriate directions on each of the inspection report.

8580  sites  were  inspected  and  among  those,  344  industrial  premises,  99  construction  & demolition  sites,  41  DG  sets  were  found  non-compliant  till  Oct.  2022.  In  view  of  noncompliance,  484  closure  directions  were  issued,  out  of  which  367  have  been  issued resumption orders.

The  Commission  has  been  constituted  with ex-officio members  from  several  Ministries  as well as representatives from the stakeholder States viz. members from the central government and  concerned  state  governments,  and  technical  members  from  Central  Pollution  Control Board,  Indian  Space Research Organisation, and NITI  Aayog.  It holds  meetings  at regular intervals for the purpose of plan of actionson the issue of air pollution in NCR and adjoining areas.

*****