opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 47 (STARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: National Social Registry
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Feroze Varun Gandhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *47

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 01.12.2021

## NATIONAL SOCIAL REGISTRY

## *47.   SHRI FEROZE VARUN GANDHI:

Will  the  Minister  of  ELECTRONICS  &  INFORMATION  TECHNOLOGY  be pleased to state: -

- (a) whether the Government is developing a National Social Registry;
- (b) if  so,  the  objectives  of  developing  and  maintaining  the  National  Social Registry;
- (c) the  citizen-related  details  that  the  Government  proposes  to  store  in  the National Social Registry;
- (d) whether the  Government is  aware  of  the  Supreme  Court's  observations  in the case of Puttaswamy vs. Union of India that the profiling of citizens by the State could result in discrimination based on religion, ethnicity and caste; and
- (e) the  measures  that  the  Government  is  adopting  to  check  the  breach  and misuse of data in the Registry?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED Q. NO *47 FOR 01.12.2021 REGARDING NATIONAL SOCIAL REGISTRY *******

(a) to  (c):  Currently  there  is  no  such  proposal  to  develop  a  'National  Social Registry'  by  the  Government.  Since  a  large  number  of  government  welfare programmes provide benefits to family as the unit, an accurate family database is considered important for administering such programmes. Various departments  of  State  and  Central  Governments  have  been  developing  such databases for specific schemes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Housing, Healthcare etc. To understand the feasibility of preparing a common data base with family as the unit, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India initiated Proof of Concept (PoC) in July, 2021. (d):Yes, Sir.Government is aware of the Hon'ble Supreme Court's observations in the case of Puttaswamy vs. Union of India.

(e):The  Ministry  of  Electronics  and  Information  Technology,  Government  of India has taken adequate measures to ensure integrity and security of data in the Proof of Concept(PoC) referred to above.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 45 (STARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Rolling Auctions
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Chinta Anuradha, Beesetti  Venkata Satyavathi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO.45 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2021

## Rolling Auctions

## *45      SHRIMATI CHINTA ANURADHA: DR. BEESETTI VENKATA SATYAVATHI:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government  has  introduced a mechanism  of  rolling auctions to expedite  the auction process in the coal mining sector;
- (b)        if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any new mines have been identified to become a part of this rolling auction process; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT IN REPLY TO THE LOK SABHA STARREED QUESTION NO. 45 ANSWERED  ON  01/12/2021  ASKED  BY  SHRIMATI  CHINTA  ANURADHA,  DR. BEESETTI VENKATA SATYAVATHI REGARDING ROLLING AUCTION

- (a)        Yes, Sir and Madam.

(b) In  order  to  bring  greater  transparency  in  the  selection  of  mines  and  expedite  the auction  process  to  carry  out  more  rounds  of  auctions  in  a  year,  a  mechanism  of  rolling auctions of coal mines has been taken up.  Under this mechanism, upon completion of the electronic auction process of a tranche, the next tranche of auction would be launched for the following mines:-

- a. Mines where no bid or only single bid was received in the previous tranche of auction (except for those mines where only 1 bid has been received and Ministry of Coal decides to go for second attempt of auction)
- b. New mines, if any, identified by Ministry of Coal
3. (c)        Yes, Sir and Madam.
4. (d):       In  the  currently  ongoing  auction  of  88  coal  mines  for  commercial  mining  in  13 th Tranche  under  the  Coal  Mines  (Special  Provisions)  Act,  2015  and  3 rd Tranche  under  the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957,  48 coal mines have been rolled over from the 12 th Tranche under CMSP Act, 2015 and 2 nd Tranche under MMDR Act, 1957 of auction.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 44 (STARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Container Manufacturing Facility
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Kuruva Gorantla Madhav, Talari Rangaiah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 44 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2021

## CONTAINER MANUFACTURING FACILITY

- *44.   SHRI KURUVA GORANTLA  MADHAV: SHRI TALARI RANGAIAH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  fact  that  Andhra Pradesh has 170 million tonnes cargo turnover which is second only to Gujarat in the country;
- (b)  if  so,  whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  of  setting  up  a container manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh; and
- (c)  if so, the details thereof and 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  REFERED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF STARRED QUESTION NO.44 BY SHRI KURUVA GORANTLA MADHAV  AND      SHRI TALARI RANGAIAH TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 01.12.2021 REGARDING CONTAINER MANUFACTURING FACILITY

(a) Ministry  of  Railways  does  not  have  any  specific  information about Cargo Turnover in a specific State. Indian Railway mobilizes the resources as per transport requirements of Zonal Railways.

(b) & (c) As of now containers are procured from industry. There are no plans for setting any container manufacturing facility by Indian Railways.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 43 (STARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Mini LPG Cylinder
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Kotagiri Sridhar, Reddeppa Nallakonda Gari

## GOVERNMEI{T  OF TNDIA

## MtNtsTRy OF CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD &  puBLtC  DtsTRtBUTtON DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DTSTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED  QUESTTON  NO.43 TO BE ANSWERED  ON {sr DECEMBER,2O?$

i

l

## MINI LPG CYLIIIDERS

- *43. SHRI SRTDHAR  KOTAGIRI:

SHRI N. REDDEPPA:

Wi[ the Minister of  GONSUMER  AFFA|RS, FOOD AilD  pUBLtc DrsrRrBUTrON  ,crfrfir erai*, arr-a  sit{ grffif Fff{ur  d* be preased  to state:

- (a)  whether the Government  has received  any pnoposar  from the oir Marketang  companies to sefl mini LpG cyrinders  through ration/fair price shops an the country;
- (b) if so, the details  thereof;
- (c) and whether this has been imptemented  in a pilot mode in the country;
- (d) if so, the details  thereof?

\

\

MtillsTER OF COMMERGE  & |NDUSTRY,  GoNSUMER  AFFATRS, FOOD & PUBLTC  DTSTRIBUTION  AND TEXTILES (sHR! PTYUSH  GOYAL)

## ANSWE R

(a)  to (d): A statement  is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) To (d) oF THE STARRED QUESiTION NO.43 DUE FOR ANSWER ON O{.12.2O2I IN THE LOK SABHA.

- (a)  to (b): As per  the Targeted  public  Distribution  system (TpDs) Gontro! order 2o15, the ricenses to the Fair  price  shop (Fps) ownerc shar! be issued by the respective state Governments  keeping  in view the viabirity of the FPSS. Further, the state/UT Governments  are empowefed  to artow sare of commodities  other than the foodgrains  distributed under the Targeted Public Distribution  system (TpDs) at the Fps to improve  the viabirity  of fair price  operations, l
- 2' As pa,n  of efforts to herp improve the financiar viabirity  of Fpss, Department of Food &  pubtic  Distribution  has exprored  differcnt avenues with other Ministries/Departments  of Government of rndia and states/UTs.
3. The Ministry of  petroleum  and r{aturar Gas (Mopr{G)  has supported  the initiative  regarding  sare of mini LpG cytinderc at Fpss. sursequeitty  as per the advice of MopNG, this Depattment  convened a meeting wath MopI{G, state/UT Governments and oir Marketing  Gompanies  (oMcs) and it has been agreed  that the oMGs wifl provide  att necessary  support for seiling mini LpG Gylinders  through ration/Fpss to interested  state/ur governments.
- (c)  to (d): l{o sir, ailowing  the sare of other essentiat commodrties  at Fpss is within the powers  of state/ur  Govemments.  Accordingry,  the states of Maharashtra,  Goa and Raiasthan  have arready alowed the Fpss to sert Mini LPG cylinders. However,  Department  of Food and  pubtic  Distribution  has ftrrther provided  a common  meeting ground  to states/UTs and the oil Marketing Gompanies  to take the initiative of sate of Mini LpG cyrinders at FPS, forward.
Lok Sabha Question No. 690 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Electric Locomotives
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Vincent H Pala

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 690 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2021

## ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES

690.  SHRI VINCENT H. PALA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of passenger trains with electric locomotives that are currently deployed in NER;
- (b) whether  there  are  plans  to  introduce  more  such  locomotives and if so, details thereof;
- (c) the  details  of  the  amounts  sanctioned  and  disbursed  for electrification  of locomotives, State-wise; and
- (d) whether the Railways has an estimated time for completion of these projects?

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

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 690 BY SHRI VINCENT H. PALA TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  01.12.2021  REGARDING  ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES

(a): As on date, there are 152 pairs of trains originating/terminating in  North  Eastern  Railway  (NER)  and  52  pairs  of  trains  passing through NER, being operated by electric locomotives.

(b): Taking over of passenger trains on electric traction depends on commissioning of additional electrified sections and traffic demands based on viability of operation of such trains in the region.

(c):  Funds  for  Railway  Electrification  are  sanctioned  on  pan  India basis  and  not  State-wise;  Budget  allocation  of ₹ 7,542  crore  has been kept for Railway Electrification projects during 2021-22. Expenditure of ₹ 3,261 crore has been incurred up to 31.10.2021.

(d):    The  completion  of  Electrification  project  depends  on  various factors like clearances from the concerned  Departments/State Governments/  Central  Ministries,  completion  of  Transmission  Line works by State Power Utilities and resolution of law & order issues during  execution,  which  are  beyond  the  control  of  Ministry  of Railways. Therefore, it is not feasible to fix time lines for completion of the project.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 689 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Google and Facebook
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION 689

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2021

## GOOGLE AND FACEBOOK

## 689. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

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

- (a) whether the Ministry has taken cognizance of the draft law proposed in  Australia and other similar moves to make platforms such as Google and Facebook pay for news and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Ministry  has  taken  any  steps  towards  regulating  this  feature  in  a  similar manner and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether  the  Ministry  has  any  concerns  about  the  market  power  and  dominance  of platforms  such  as  Google  and  Facebook  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a): It is informed that the Australian Parliament had in February 2021 enacted a law, called the 'News Media and Digital Platform Mandatory Bargaining Code',requiring global digital companies to pay for local news contents.

(b)and  (c):  Government  is  aware  of  the  growing  risks  of  dominance  of  various  big  tech platforms  on  the  Internet  and  is  deploying  tools  and  capabilities  to  deal  with  the  same including actively working with social media intermediaries. Presently, there is no proposal forenactment of a law by this Ministry in this regard.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 688 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Details of Service Providers
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Devji Mansingram Patel, Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 688 TO BE ANSWERED ON 1 ST  DECEMBER, 2021

## DETAILS OF SERVICE PROVIDERS

## 688. SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of service providers who provide optical fiber high speed internet connections in rural areas of the country; specially in Rajasthan State;
- (b) the reasons for absence of optical fiber high speed internet services in rural and interior areas of the country; and
- (c) remedial steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) As  per  the  extant  licensing  framework,  Access  Service  Providers  and  Internet Service  Providers  can  provide  optical  fiber  based  high  speed  internet  connections  in  their respective  License  Service  Area.  Service  area  to  be  covered  and  the  type  of  technology  to  be used for delivering high speed internet services are decided by each licensee based on its techno commercial assessment. As on 30-9-2021, 321 licenses for Access Service and 2254 licenses for Internet Service are working in the country; out of which 15 licenses for Access Service and 297 licenses for Internet Service are working in the State of Rajasthan.

- (c) BharatNet  project  is  being  implemented  in  a  phased  manner  to  provide  broadband connectivity  to  all  Gram  Panchayats  (GPs)  in  the  country.  The  infrastructure  created  under BharatNet  project  is  a  national  asset,  accessible  on  a  non-discriminatory  basis  to  the  Service Providers. The scope of BharatNet has been recently extended upto all inhabited villages beyond GPs. As on 01.11.2021, by laying about 5.52 lakh km Optical Fibre Cable (OFC), around 1.62 lakh GPs have been made Service Ready on OFC media in the country. In Rajasthan, by laying about 30,156 km Optical Fibre Cable (OFC), around 8739 GPs have been made Service Ready on OFC media.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 687 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Priority list under NFSA
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Dean Kuriakose

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## M|NISTRY OF CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLTG  DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD ]AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO.687 TO BE ANSWERED  ON IST DECEIIIIBER,  2O2I

## PRIORITY LIST UNDER NFSA

## 687. ADV. DEAN ]'(URIAKOSE:

Will the  Minister of  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIG DISTRIBUTION  lvttt6l Trri,  qr(q  s+{ l{r&oa-{, ffr{ur d+ be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Govemment has received any proposa!/request  to increase tlre number of beneficiaries in the priority list under National  food Security  Act, 2O{3, with respect to the state of Kerala;
- (b) if so, the details of the action taken in this regard;
- (c) whether  the Government has received any proposal/pet:tion  to include more Jaya and Surekha  rice varieties instead of Sona Masuri in the PDS; and
- (d) if so, the details of the action taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMER aFFA!RS, FOOD & PUBLTG DISTRIBUTION

(SADHVI  NIRANJAN JYOTI)

- (a) & (b):  Yes Sir. lt was informed that the National Food Security Act, 2Ol3 (NFSA) provides for coverage of upto 75"/o oi the rural and 5O7o of the urban population, at the all lndia level, for receiving  highly subsidized  foodgrains. Gorresponding  to  this coverage, State/UT-wise  percentage  coverage was determined  by the then Planning Commission (Now NlTl Aayog), using 68th round of NSSO Household  Gonsumption Expenditure Survey  (2011-'121.  Further, Section 9 of the NFSA provides  that the percentage coverage under the Targeted Public Distribution  System in rural and urban areas for each State shall be determlned by the Central Government  and the tolal number of persons to be covered ln the State shall be calculated  on the basis of the population  estimates as per the census of which the relevant  figures have been published. Therefore, any revision in the coverage  under the NFSA shall be possible only after the relevant data of next population  Census is published. As the criteria for determination of State/UTwise coverage  is uniformly applicable for all the States/UTsr it is not possible  to revise  the coverage qf a particular State/UTs.
- (c) & (d): Yes Sir. Food Gorporation  of India proeures' distributes  and stores rice in only two category that is "Rice Grade A & Rice Common" based on length and breadth ratio as per specifications  communicated  by Department of Food & Public Distribution.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 686 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Shortage of BSNL Towers
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Prajwal Revanna

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 686 TO BE ANSWERED ON 1 ST  DECEMBER, 2021

## SHORTAGE OF BSNL TOWERS

## 686. SHRI PRAJWAL REVANNA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  shortage  of  BSNL  Towers  and  network  related issues  in  Hassan  district  of  Karnataka  particularly  in  hilly  and  forest  areas  of  Alur  and Sakaleshapura blocks which is causing inconvenience to public and impacting the functioning of government offices;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken or being taken by the Government to solve this problem; and
- (c) the details of BSNL towers approved, sanctioned and funds sanctioned, utilised in Hassan district?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) BSNL has informed that it augments its mobile network in its areas of operation including  Hassan  district  of  Karnataka  based  on  techno-commercial  considerations.  Telecom Regulatory  Authority  of  India  (TRAI)  monitors  the  performance  of  the  Telecom  Service Providers (TSPs) including BSNL against the benchmark for various Quality of Services (QoS) parameters laid down by TRAI by way of QoS regulations issued from time to time, through Quarterly Performance Monitoring Reports (PMRs). As per PMR for quarters ending June, 2020 to  June,  2021,  BSNL  is  meeting  all  the  QoS  parameters  for  its  cellular  and  basic  services  in Karnataka.

- (c) The total number of  3G towers commissioned through redeployment in Hassan district is 33. Rs. 27,80,588 has been utilised against sanctioned budget of Rs. 39,20,600 for this purpose.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 685 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Ration for Persons with Disabilities
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Rajmohan Unnithan

## MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTR|BUTIOI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMEI{T  OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTIOT{

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.685 TO BE ANSWERED  ON  .tsr  DECEMBER,2O21

## RATION FOR PERSOI{S  WITH OISABILITIES

## 585. SHRI RAJMOHAN  UNNITHAN

Will the Minister of  GONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLTC

DISTRIBUT|ON  rctfrar arri, ar6a sit{ sr+sfrfi kf,rur d* be pleased to state:

- (a)  the number of persons  with disabilities who were provlded ration under PDS during the ongoang pandcmic;  and
- (b) if so, the number of persons with disabilities who are covered under
- PDS?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPi'IENT AND GONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD &  pUBLtc  DISTRIBUTION (sADHVt NtRAilJAN JYOTT)

- (a) & (b): To minimize the food security hardships of around 8O crore National Food Security  Act (NFSA)  beneficiaries  in the country during the time of COVID-{9 crisis, the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yolana (PMGKAY) was designed in such a manner to provide additional free of cost foodgrains at the scale of 5 kg per penson per month to all such NFSA beneficiaries,  over and aboye the regular foodgrain entitlements  as per their Antyodaya Anna Yoiana (AAY) or Priority Household (PHH) ration card issued under the Act. PMGKAY has been extended until March, 2O22 with an overall expenditure of nearly Rs 2.6O lakh crore on all phases, Coverage for NFSA beneficiaries  are around 8O.OO  Grore including  disabled persons. However, no separate  data base is maintained  for disabled persons.
Lok Sabha Question No. 684 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Revamping BSNL
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Dinesh Chandra Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 684

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 1 ST  DECEMBER, 2021

## REVAMPING BSNL

## †684. SHRI DINESH CHANDRA YADAV:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is considering is to revamp BSNL;
- (b) whether it is a fact that Government's communication system is totally dependent on BSNL and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether Government proposes to make BSNL functional at par with private mobile companies and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the number of officers and employees working in BSNL currently;
- (e) the present financial status of BSNL; and
- (f) the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) The Government approved the revival plan for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) on 23.10.2019. The revival plan inter-alia, includes measures to reduce the Staff cost through a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) for employees of age 50 years and above, administrative allotment of spectrum for providing 4G services with funding through budgetary allocation, monetisation of non-core and core assets to generate resources to retire debt, meet CAPEX and  other  requirements,  debt  restructuring  by  raising  of  Sovereign  Guarantee  Bonds  and  inprinciple  approval  for  merger  of  BSNL  and  MTNL.  These  measures  are  expected  to  help  BSNL  turn around and remain competitive.

BSNL plays  a  significant  role  in  providing  communication  systems  under  various  projects  of Government  inter-alia  Bharatnet,  Network  for  Spectrum  for  Defence,  for  improving  communication systems in North Eastern Region,  Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas, border areas and other inaccessible areas.

(d). Total number of officers/employees in BSNL as on 31.10.2021 are 63,010 (Executive-29,832 and Non-Executive-33,178).

- (e) to (f) The financial Status of BSNL as on 31.03.2021 is as under:

( Amount in Rs Cr)

| Year               | 2020-21   |
|--------------------|-----------|
| Total Income       | 18,595    |
| Total Expenditure  | 26,036    |
| Net Profit/ (Loss) | (7,441)   |

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