opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2783 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: FOBs in Telangana
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Venkatesh Netha Borlakunta, Kavitha Malothu, Gaddam Ranjith Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2783 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2021

## FOBS IN TELANGANA

2783. SHRI VENKATESH NETHA BORLAKUNTA: SHRIMATI KAVITHA MALOTHU: SHRI PASUNOORI DAYAKAR: DR. G. RANJITH REDDY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is true that 15 stations have been identified in Telangana for construction of Foot-Over-Bridges (FOBs);
- (b) if so, the details thereof, district-wise;
- (c) whether it is not a fact that these were supposed to be completed by March, 2021; and
- (d) if so, the reasons for delay and the time by when these are likely to be completed?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) and (b) Yes, Sir. The district wise details are appended.
- (c)  and  (d)  Yes,  Sir.  These  15  Foot  Over  Bridges  were  completed  till November, 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic situation during 2020-21 and 2021-22.

******

APPENDIX REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) AND (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2783 BY SHRI VENKATESH NETHA BORLAKUNTA, SHRIMATI KAVITHA MALOTHU, SHRI PASUNOORI DAYAKAR AND DR. G. RANJITH REDDY TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 15.12.2021 REGARDING FOBS IN TELANGANA

The number of Foot Over Bridges constructed in the state of Telangana till November, 2021 are as under:-

|   S.No. | Station Name      | District             |
|---------|-------------------|----------------------|
|       1 | Asifabad road     | Kumuram Bheem        |
|       2 | Chityala          | Nalgonda             |
|       3 | Kamareddi         | Kamareddy            |
|       4 | Moulaali          | Medchal-Malkajgiri   |
|       5 | Nagireddipalli    | Nalgonda             |
|       6 | Ramannapet        | Yadadri Bhuvanagiri  |
|       7 | Tipparthi         | Nalgonda             |
|       8 | Warangal          | Warangal             |
|       9 | Zahirabad         | Medak                |
|      10 | Bhadrachalam road | Bhadradri Kothagudem |
|      11 | Madhira           | Khammam              |
|      12 | Chintakani        | Khammam              |
|      13 | Pemberthi         | Jangaon              |
|      14 | Raigir            | YadadriBhuvanagiri   |
|      15 | Indalvai          | Nizamabad            |

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2782 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Personal Data Protection
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: D.K. Suresh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2782

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 15.12.2021

## PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION

## 2782.     SHRI D.K.SURESH:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to make an effective law on the Personal Data Protection of individuals in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is aware that there is a need of abovesaid law to facilitate individuals greater control over how their personal data is collected, stored and used and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government proposes to make the legislation in Parliament and if so, the details of the response of the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (c): Yes, Sir. The Personal Data Protection (PDP) Bill has been introduced in the Parliament during the winter session in 2019. The PDP Bill facilitates individuals' control over their personal data. The PDP Bill is presently with the Joint Committee of Parliament.

*********
Lok Sabha Question No. 2780 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Toilet Facility near Engines
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2780

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2021

## TOILET FACILITY NEAR ENGINES

†2780.  SHRIMATI RANJANBEN DHANANJAY BHATT:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is no facility of toilets near railway engines;
- (b) if  so,  whether  women  Loco  Pilots  are  facing  lot  of  difficulties  in  the absence of toilets;
- (c) if  so, whether the Government is seriously considering to provide the said facility;
- (d) the time by when the said facility is likely to be provided; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (d) Water Closets (Toilet) have been provided in 80 locomotives on trial  basis.    Based  on  feedbacks  from  users  i.e.  crew  and  maintenance staff and other stakeholders, decision on its proliferation shall be taken.

- (e)        Does not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2777 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Tele-density in Odisha
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Pinaki Misra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2777 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15 TH  DECEMBER, 2021

## TELE-DENSITY IN ODISHA

## 2777. SHRI PINAKI MISRA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the tele-density in Odisha, both in rural and urban areas;
- (b) the status of implementation of Phase II of the Provision of 'Mobile Services in Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas' scheme, and the details thereof;
- (c) the  number  of  mobile  towers  projected  to  be  constructed  in  Odisha  under  Phase  II  of  the aforementioned scheme;
- (d) the number of mobile towers requested to be constructed in Odisha by the State Government of Odisha under Phase II of the aforementioned scheme; and
- (e) the number of mobile towers projected to be constructed under Phase I of the aforementioned scheme, as compared to the number of mobile towers actually constructed, state/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The tele-density in service area of Odisha in rural and urban areas as on 30.09.2021 is 61.87% and 144.14% respectively.
- (b)  to  (d)                  Under  Phase  II  of  the  scheme  for  Provision  of  'Mobile  Services  in  Left  Wing Extremism (LWE) Affected Areas', work has been awarded for installation of 2542 mobile towers including  483  towers  in  Odisha.  As  per  the  list  of  tower  locations  provided  by  Ministry  of  Home Affairs  (MHA)  to  Department  of  Telecommunications  (DoT),  483  number  of  mobile  towers  are projected to be installed in Odisha and contract has been awarded for installation of 483 towers.
- (e)           Phase-I of the LWE scheme had 2355 mobile towers of which 2343 mobile towers have been installed. The details are as below:

| S.No.   | State          |   No. of tower location |
|---------|----------------|-------------------------|
| 1       | Andhra Pradesh |                      62 |
| 2       | Bihar          |                     250 |
| 3       | Chattisgarh    |                     525 |
| 4       | Jharkhand      |                     816 |
| 5       | Madhya Pradesh |                      22 |
| 6       | Maharashtra    |                      65 |
| 7       | Odisha         |                     256 |
| 8       | West Bengal    |                      96 |
| 9       | Uttar Pradesh  |                      78 |
| 10      | Telangana      |                     173 |
|         | Grand Total    |                    2343 |

12 towers (7 in Chhattisgarh and 5 in Odisha) could not be installed due to naxal activity and forest clearance permission.

*********
Lok Sabha Question No. 2776 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Payment Aggregators
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: D. Ravikumar

2776. SHRI RAVIKUMAR D.:

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

- (a) whether the guideline of Regulation of Payment Aggregators and Payment Gateways which will come into effect from the 1st of January, 2022 will impact the ability of consumers to get automated refunds for online transactions and if so, whether the Government intends to take measures to mitigate the same and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Ministry  was  consulted  by  the  RBI  to  understand  the  impact  of  these  guidelines  on customers; and
- (c) if  so,  whether  the  Ministry  has  made  any  representation  to  RBI  in  this  regard  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h (श्री अश्विनी क ु मार चौबे)

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) : As informed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), no such instruction has been issued. In terms of RBI circular CO.DPSS.POLC.No.S-516/02-14-003/2021-22 dated 07-09-2021 on 'Tokenisation -Card Transactions: Permitting Card-on-File Tokenisation (CoFT) Services',

- (i)    With  effect  from  January  1,  2022,  no  entity  in  the  card  transaction/  payment  chain,  other than  the  card issuers  and/  or  card  networks,  shall  store  the  actual  card  data.  Any  such  data  stored  previously  shall  be purged.
- (ii) For transaction tracking and/ or reconciliation purposes, entities can store limited data - last four digits of actual card number and card issuer's name - in compliance with the applicable standards.
- (b) & (c) : Policy decisions related to payment and settlement systems in the country are taken by the Board for Regulation and Supervision of Payment and Settlement Systems (BPSS), a sub-committee of the Central Board of the RBI. The Governor of the RBI is the Chairperson of BPSS.

Prior to issuance of guidelines on regulation of the Payment Aggregators (PAs) and Payment Gateways in March, 2020, RBI had placed a discussion paper in public domain. The feedback received on the same was submitted to the BPSS, and the subsequent guidelines were issued on the basis of the directions of BPSS.

*****

## Government of India

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2776

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2021

## PAYMENT AGGREGATORS
Lok Sabha Question No. 2775 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Delay in Paddy Procurement
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Manne Srinivas Reddy

\

i

## Mlt{lsTRY  oF coilsuMER AFFA|RS,  FOOD &  pUBLtC  DISTRTBUTTON

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIG DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTIOI{  NO.277 5 TO BE ANSWERED  ON lsrH DEcEtt,lBERr2Ozt

## DELAY IN PADDY PROCUREMENT

## 2775. SHRI MANiIE SRINIVAS REDDY:

Will the Minister of GONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD AilD PUBLtc DISTRIBUTION  5stirfil arr&, ur<-t  git{  Trffid, fif{ur d+ be pteased  to state:

- (a) whether paddy procurement  has been delayed in some States; and
- (b)  if so, the details thereof and reasons therefor, State-wise along with the corrective  steps being taken in this regard?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND coNsuMER AFFAIRS,  FOOD & PUBLIC D|STRIBUTION (sADHVr NTRANJAN JYOT!)

(a) and (b): There has been no delay in paddy procurement  during l[,MS 2021-22.  As  ,on  09.12.2021, Statewise paddy procured at Minimum Support Price (lUlSP)  for central pool during lf,imgi 20.21-22 is at Annexure.l.

AilNExURE REFERRED TO !N PART (a) & (b) OF THE UilSTARRED OUESTIOiI NO.2775 DUE FOR A]{SWER ON {5.{2.202{ Iil  THE LOK SABHA.

## PADDY PROCUREMENT DURING l(MS2021-22  for CENTRAL POOL (Fis. in LMT)

| STATES             | KMS 2021-22*   |
|--------------------|----------------|
| ANDHRA PRAI)ESH    | L88            |
| TELANGANA          | 32.30          |
| BIHAR              | 2.04           |
| CHANDIGARII        | 0.27           |
| CHHATISGAR]{       | 9.t2           |
| GUJARAT            | 0.34           |
| HARYANA            | 55.31          |
| IIIMACIIAL PRADESH | 0.26           |
| JAMMU & KASHMIR    | 0.33           |
| KERALA             | l .39          |
| MADITYAPRADESH     | 1.86           |
| MAIIARASHTNS,      | 1.03           |
| ODISHA             | 1.29           |
| PT]NJAB            | 186.86         |
| RAJASTHAN          | 0.07           |
| TAMILNADU          | 6.37           |
| UTTAR PRADESH      | 2t.16          |
| UTTRAKHAND         | 11.55          |
| TOTAL              | 333.43         |
Lok Sabha Question No. 2774 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Production of Copper
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shivkumar Chanabasappa Udasi, Ranjeetsingh Naik Nimbalkar, Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2774

ANSWERED ON 15.12.2021

## PRODUCTION OF COPPER

2774.  SHRI SHIVAKUMAR C. UDASI:

SHRI RANJEET SINGH HINDURAO NAIK NIMBALKAR: SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether India has become the net importer of copper during the last three years;
- (b) if  so,  the  reasons  for  reduction  in  the  production  of  copper  along  with  the  total production of copper during the last five years; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to re-start the closed copper factories at the earliest?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): The annual import and export of refined copper (in quantity terms) and trade balance from FY 2017-18 onwards are given below:

(Quantity in thousand tonne)

| Year    |   Export |   Import | Trade Balance (Export minus Import)   |
|---------|----------|----------|---------------------------------------|
| 2017-18 |  380.655 |   47.215 | (+) 333.440                           |
| 2018-19 |   49.65  |   95.713 | (-) 46.063                            |
| 2019-20 |   47.181 |  154.901 | (-) 107.720                           |
| 2020-21 |  125.825 |  156.724 | (-) 30.899                            |

Source: Department of Commerce

As  per  the  table  above,  though  India  has  been  a  net  importer  of  refined  copper during the last three years, volume of net import has decreased in 2020-21 after it had increased in 2019-20.

(b) & (c): The closure in May 2018 of the Smelter plant at Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu of M/s Sterlite Copper (a Unit of Vedanta Ltd), which has an annual production capacity  of  four  lakh  tonne,  has  affected  the  domestic  production  of  refined copper. The matter relating to re-start of the Smelter plant of M/s Sterlite Copper is sub judice. The total production of refined copper in the country during the last five years is as under:

| Year                                          |   2016-17 |   2017-18 |   2018-19 |   2019-20 |   2020-21 |
|-----------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Refined copper production (in thousand tonne) |   798.712 |   842.961 |   457.245 |   408.398 |   363.638 |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2773 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Revenue through Sale of Ethanol
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Su Thirunavukkarasar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA Mtl{lsTRY OF CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLTG DtSTRtBUTtOl{

## DEPATTTMENT  OF FOOD AND PUBLIG DISTRIBUTION

## LOX SABHA UNSTARRED SUESTION NO.2773 TO BE AI{SWERED ON {srH DECEMBER,  2021

## REVENUE  THROUGH SALE OF ETHANOL

## 2773. SHRI THIRIJNAVUKKARASAR SU:

Uvill the Minister of  GONSUMER AFFAIRS,  FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTIOil rtrerlar erri, uref-c dk  grffid-6,  fuf,{ur t'+ be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the sugar mills/distilleries  have generated huge amount of revenue from the rsale of ethanol  to Oil Marketing Gompanies(OMGs);
- (b)  if so, the details thereof for the last three years including current year, year-wise; and
- (c) the extent to which diversion of excess strgarcane to ethanol can ensure timely cane price payment to farmers?

MtNtsrER oF srArE ,o* ,?*|"l*It=ol RURAL DEvELopMENT  AND GOI{SUMER AFFAIRS,  FOOD & PUBLIC DTSTRIBUT|ON (SADHVI  NIRAITIJAN JYOTI)

(a)&  (b):  In Iast three Ethanol Supply Years(ESY) 2lD18,-19,  2O19-2O & 2O2O-21 revenue of about Rs. 8O79 crore  ,  Rs. 7823 crore & Rs. {3598 crore respectively have been generated by sugar mitls/ distitleries  from sale of ethanol to Oil Marketing Gompanies  (OMGs) which have helped sugarcane mills in making timely  payment of cane dues of fanmers.  lt is likely that more than Rs.{ SrllOO crore revenue  would be generated in current sugar season 2021-22.

(c):  In every susar season, production  of sugar is around 32O-33O  Lakh Metric Tonne (LMT) as against the domestic consumption  of 26O-27O LMT which results in huge carry oyer stock of sugar with mills. This excess stock of 60 LMT leads to blockage of funds & affects the liquidity of sugar mills resulting in accumulation  of cane price arrears. Divercion of excess sugar to ethanol would solve the problem of high inventories of sugar, improve liquidity of mills thereby help in timely payment of cane dues of farmers. In sugar season 2O2O-21, aboul 22 LMT of surplus sugar has been diverted to ethanol and about Rs.{3598 crore revenue  has been generated by sugar mills from sale of ethanol to OMCs. ln sugar season 2021-22,  it is likely that about 35 LMT of excess sugar would be diverted to ethanol. By 2025, al is targeted  to divert 50 LMT of excess sugar to ethanol, which would solve the problem of high inventories  of sugar, improve liquidity of mills thereby help in timely payment of cane dues of farmers.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2771 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Purchase for Buffer Stock
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Gurjeet Singh Aujla

## GOVERilMEIT  OF IIIDIA

## MtNtsTRy oF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,  FOOD &  puBLIC  DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIG DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.277 1 To BE ANSWERED oN {srH DEGEMBER,  2o2l

## PURGHASE  FOR BUFFER  STOCK

## 277T. SHRI GUR,JEET SINGH AUJLA:

Will the Minister of GONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND  pUBLlc DlsrRlBUTroN ssstrar rnri, sr<-c aik grffi*, frf{Er d'# be preased  to state:

- (a)  whether the Union Government has purchased produce from farmers at the same price during lockdown to maantain the buffer stock and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) the alterati,ns made in prices  at which f,arm produce was bought from farmerc to sltore in buffer at every stage of lockdown  ln 2O2O?

## AilSWER

## MII{ISTER OF $TATE FOR MINTSTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMET{T AT{D coI{suIUtER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD &  puBLrc  DISTRIBUTION (sADHVt  NTRANJAN  JYOTT)

- (a): Wheat and paddy has been procured at Minimum  Support  price (MSP) for central poor smoothly in 2o2o and 2021 including tockdown period. A quantity  of 389.92 LMT and 4s3,.44  LMT of wheat was procured in RMS 2O2O-21  and RMS 2021-22 respectively.  The quantum  of paddy procured under central pool during KMS 2O1g-2O,  I(MS 2O2O-2{ was 770.93 LMT and 894.{8 LMT respectivety.

During lockdown, the stock of wheat and rice was sufficient to maintain buffer stock, in-fact it was surptus.

- (b): No  alternations made in  price  during lockdown period. Procurement of wheat and paddy  for central pool were made at MSp announced by Govemment of lndia.

t***
Lok Sabha Question No. 2769 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Jewellery Parks
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Janardan Mishra

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2769 (H) TO BE ANSWERED ON 15 th  DECEMBER, 2021

## JEWELLERY PARKS

## 2769(H).     SHRI JANARDAN MISHRA:

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

- (a) whether the Government is considering to set up jewellery parks in various cities including Mumbai to promote gems and jewellery exports;
- (b) if  so,  whether such parks are also proposed to be set up in cities such as Delhi including Uttar Pradesh; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Jherh vuqfiz;k iVsy½

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a)to(c): At  present,  there  is  no  proposal  for  setting  up  of  Jewellery  Park  in  any  city  by  the Government.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2768 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Atal Tinkering Labs
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: Basanta Kumar Panda, Sunil Kumar Soni

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2768

TO BE ANSWERED 15.12.2021

## ATAL TINKERING LABS

## †2768. SHRI BASANTA KUMAR PANDA: SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SONI:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) the main objective of setting up of Atal Tinkering Laboratories;
- (b) the details of funds allocated along with the names of the schools where such laboratories are likely to be set up in the country, State/UT-wise and districtwise including districts of Chhattisgarh and Nuapada and Kalahandi districts of Odisha; and
- (c) the number and details of schools where proposal for setting up Atal Tinkering Labs are still under consideration, district-wise and State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS & 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) Government  of  India  is  encouraging  the  schools  to  provide  exposure  of  science  and technology to students so that they can be exposed with futuristic technology platforms. Government  has  setup  the  Atal  Innovation  Mission  at  NITI  Aayog.  The  objective  of establishing Atal Innovation Mission is to create scientific temper and cultivate the spirit of  curiosity  and  innovation  among  young  minds.  In  Schools,  Atal  Innovation  Mission facilitates to set up network of Atal Tinkering Laboratories in India. The vision of Atal Tinkering  Lab  initiative  is  to 'Cultivate  1  million  children  in  India  as  Neoteric Innovators' . The objective of this scheme is to foster curiosity, creativity and imagination in  young  minds  and  inculcate  skills  such  as  design  mind-set,  computational  thinking, adaptive learning, physical computing, rapid calculations, measurements etc.
- (b) Each school is sanctioned Grant in Aid of Rs. 20,00,000/- (Rupees Twenty Lakhs Only) over a period of five years as establishment and operational cost. Out of the total amount,

grant in aid of Rs. 12,00,000/- (Rupees Twelve Lakhs Only) is given as the first tranche, strictly subject to fulfilling the compliance process.

Atal Innovation Mission has been mandated to set up 10,000 Atal Tinkering Laboratories in schools across the country. Funds of Rs. 12,00,000 each have already been released to a total of 9,356 schools till date, out of 10,000 mandated schools for setting up of Atal Tinkering Labs, amounting to Rs. 112.27 crores.

The names of funded schools State/UT- wise and district-wise can be accessed on official Atal Innovation Mission website by accessing the following link: https://www.aim.gov.in/pdf/OperationalATLsInIndia.pdf

- (c) The  remaining  644  schools,  out  of  10,000  mandated  schools,  are  undergoing  the compliance  process  in  terms  of  laid  down  guidelines  for  setting  up  of  Atal  Tinkering Laboratories.

*****