opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 133 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-19
Subject: Quality of Education during COVID-19
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Kanakmal Katara

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †133

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2021

## QUALITY OF EDUCATION DURING COVID-19

†133. SHRI KANAKMAL KATARA:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

the details of the steps taken to impart quality education to the children of Scheduled Tribes and poor families who do not possess smart mobile phones?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SMT. RENUKA SINGH SARUTA) :

In  view  of  the  unprecedented  Covid  19  crisis,  providing  quality  education  to  tribal students has been a big challenge. Concerted efforts were made to ensure that academic process in schools do not get affected to a very large extent. In this regard, EMRSs adopted a blended model  of  learning  combining  both  online  and  offline  mode.  Many  schools  during  lockdown, made  use  of  technological  platforms  as  Youtube,  DIKSHA,  Whatsapp,  Google  Classroom, Mobile Apps (StepApp) etc..   Some of the processes adopted by States to reach out to students where availability of smart device or connectivity was a challenge are as follows:

- a. Delivery of study materials to the houses of students including postal delivery.
- b. Telephonic counselling and guidance by teachers and principals.
- c. Special  campaigns  for  reaching  the  doorstep  of  students  and  providing  them  with  the required  learning  materials  including  books,  etc.,  like  Shikshan  Setu  Abhiyan,  Project Unlock Learning, School on Wheels.
- d. Physical  visit  by  teachers  to  the  villages  of  students  for  guiding  the  students  through Village Learning Circles, Alternate Mentorship and Learning Programmes (ALMP)
- e. In case of availability of televisions, students were encouraged to make use of satellite TV channels like EDUSAT, Gyan Darshan etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 131 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-19
Subject: Area Development Programmes
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Ramesh Chandra Majhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 131

TO BE ANSWERED Monday, July 19, 2021/Ashadha 28, 1943 (Saka)

## Area Development Programmes

## 131. SHRI. RAMESH CHANDRA MAJHI:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government, appreciating the genuine concerns of the State Government, restores  the  provisions  for  area  development  programmes  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether discontinuance of central assistance for area development programmes like special plan for KBK, Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) and Integrated Action Plan(IAP) for affected districts has affected the Development Programmes for some of the most vulnerable and backward regions of Odisha;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government has provided a special package to the State for continuation of these programmes from the budget provision available with NITI Aayog; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (c): Following the 14 th Finance Commission recommendations, the scheme - 'Backward Regions  Grant  Funds'  has  been  delinked  from  support  from  the  Centre  since  2015-16. Further,  the  12 th Five  Year  Plan  committed  liabilities  of  Union  Government  towards  the Special  Plan  for  the  KBK  districts  of  Odisha  have  been  discharged  by  releasing  'Special Assistance'  of  Rs.132.07  crore  in  2015-16  and  Rs.367.93  crore  in  2016-17  to  the  State  of Odisha.

(d) & (e): As per the Union Budget: 2021-22 documents, there is no separate budget line with NITI Aayog for financial assistance to States.

******

## ANSWER
Lok Sabha Question No. 128 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-19
Subject: Economic Crisis
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Rajendra Dhedya  Gavit

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.128

TO BE ANSWERED ON JULY 19, 2021

## ECONOMIC CRISIS

128 SHRI RAJENDRA DHEDYA GAVIT:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the concrete and positive steps being taken to check the skyrocketing prices of petroleum products, food items, electronics and many other goods under prevailing circumstances in the country;
- (b) whether financial decisions taken by the Government during the last few years has resulted in the present economic crisis; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Government regularly monitors the price situation and takes measures from time to time to stabilize prices of the items showing persistent high inflation rates. Government has eased the import restriction to enhance domestic availability of pulse Tur, Urad and Moong and also entered into MoUs with Myanmar, Malavi, Mozambique for pulses import. The dynamic buffer stock  of  pulses  and  onion  have  been  used  to  tackle  price  volatility  of  these  commodities. Stock limits were imposed for all pulses except Moong from 2.7.2021 to 31.10.2021. Duty of crude palm oil and refined palm oil have been reduced. Steps have been taken to promote electronics  manufacturing  in  the  country  with  efforts  such  as  the  National  Policy  on Electronics,  2019  and  schemes  namely,  (i)  Production  Linked  Incentive  Scheme  (PLI)  for Large  Scale  Electronics  Manufacturing,  (ii)  Scheme  for  Promotion  of  Manufacturing  of Electronic Components  and  Semiconductors (SPECS)  and, (iii) Modified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC 2.0) Scheme.
- (b) and (c) No sir. The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 has affected economies across the globe including India.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 127 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-19
Subject: Financial Assistance for developing Covid Vaccine
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Anto  Antony

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-127 (FOR ANSWER ON-19.07.2021)

## 'FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR DEVELOPING COVID VACCINE'

## 127.  SHRI ANTO ANTONY

## Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has provided financial assistance to any firm for developing Covid-19 vaccination;
- (b) if so, the details thereof including the amount so far disbursed to such firms;
- (c) whether the Government has any statistics regarding the amount earmarked for covid19 vaccination purpose;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government has decided to provide free vaccination for all; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and the estimated cost of vaccination for all?

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

(a)  and  (b)  Yes  Sir,  the  Department  of  Biotechnology  (DBT),  Ministry  of  Science  & Technology,  through  its  Public  Sector  Undertaking,  the  Biotechnology  Industry  Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), has provided financial support to public research institutes and industry for COVID-19 Vaccine Development. Financial support was provided to nearly 09 private  industries  for  the  development  of  vaccines  for  COVID-19,  whereby  an  amount  of Rs.489 Cr., has been allocated and an amount of Rs. 148 Cr. has been disbursed.

(c)  and  (d)  In  the  Union  Budget  2021-22,  an  Outlay  of  Rs  35,000  crore  has  been  made towards COVID-19 vaccination.

(e)  and  (f)  Yes,  all  citizens  are  entitled  to  free  vaccination.  In  financial  year  2021-22,  a provision  of  Rs.  35,  000  Cr  has  been  made  for  Covid-19  vaccination.  Apart  from  this,  if required,  the  Government  has  also  committed  to  provide  additional  funds  for  this  as announced  in  para  number  38 of the  Budget  Speech  of  Hon'ble  FM  for the  financial  year 2021-22.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 123 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-19
Subject: Funds Spent under Seva Bhoj Yojana
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Sunil Baburao Mendhe

## FUNDS SPENT UNDER SEVA BHOJ YOJANA

## 123: SHRI SUNIL BABURAO MENDHE:

Will the MINISTER OF CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  provides  any  grant  to  the  institutes  under  Seva  Bhoj  Yojana scheme;
- (b) if  so,  the  funds  utilized/spent/re-imbursed  under  the  Seva  Bhoj  Yojana  in  the  State  of Maharashtra during the last two years;
- (c) the list of religious institutions empanelled and being run under the said scheme, State-wise; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  allows  Non-Governmental  Organizations  distributing  food  to reimburse their claim under the scheme and if so, the details thereof especially in the State of Maharashtra?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE, TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a)      Yes Sir, grant is provided under Seva Bhoj Yojana to charitable/religious institutions serving free food to at least 5000 persons in a calendar month.
- (b)      No grant to any charitable/religious organization under Seva Bhoj Yojana has been provided in the State of Maharashtra during the last two years.
- (c)     Under the Seva Bhoj Yojna, charitable /religious organizations are neither empanelled nor being run by the Government. Only those organizations which fulfill the eligibility criteria are reimbursed Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and Central Government's share of Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) paid by them on purchase of specific raw food items  for  distributing free food  to  public.  The  state-wise  list of  charitable/religious institutions provided grant under Seva Bhoj Yojana since inception is Annexed .
- (d) Under  the  Scheme  of  'Seva  Bhoj  Yojna',  Charitable/Religious  Institutions,  which  are generally Non-Governmental Organizations are reimbursed Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and Central Government's share of Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) paid by them on purchase of specific raw food items for distributing free food to public.

No Non-Governmental organization has been provided grant under Seva Bhoj Yojna in the State of Maharashtra.

## State-wise list of Charitable/Religious Institutions

1.  Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh
2.  Sri Venkateswara Annaprasadam Trust, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh
3.  Sikh Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Punjab
4.  Dreams & Beauty Charitable Trust, Ludhiana, Punjab
5.  Durgiana Temple, Amritsar, Punjab
Lok Sabha Question No. 122 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-19
Subject: Unified District Information System for Education
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Ritesh Pandey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 122 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2021

## Unified District Information System for Education

122. SHRI RITESH PANDEY: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a)  whether  some  indicators  and  table  values  in  the  Unified  District  Information System  for  Education  (  UDISE+)  2019-20  Report  have  been  reported  in  absolute numbers rather than as percentages; (b) if so, the details of the indicators reported in absolute numbers and the reasons for reporting these in absolute numbers instead of percentages in the UDISE+ 2019-20 Report; (c) whether some indicators and outcomes in the report have been compared with or based on 2012-13 data, while other indicators and outcomes have been compared with or based on more recent data; and (d)  if  so,  the  list  of  indicators  compared  with  or  based  on  2012-13  data,  and  the
2. justification for treating 2012-13 as the base year for comparisons in these indicators?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) and (b) In 2012-13, the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) was launched by integrating the District Information System for Education (DISE) and Secondary  Education  Management  Information  System  (SEMIS).    Since  then  the UDISE reports contain both absolute numbers and percentages. Similar practice has been followed in UDISE+ 2019-20 Report. As per usual practice, absolute numbers have  been  reported  for  number  of  schools,  number  of  teachers  and  students enrolment.

(c)  and (d) Since UDISE was launched in 2012-13 by integrating the DISE and the SEMIS, comparison of indicators was made with respect to the year 2012-13 as well as  recent  data  namely,  2018-19  and  2019-20  at  all-India  level.  The  indicators compared  were  enrolment  of  students,  number  of  teachers,  school  infrastructure, gross enrolment ratio (GER), gender parity index (GPI) and pupil teacher ratio (PTR).

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 121 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-19
Subject: Recovery under IBA Code
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Mala Roy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-121

ANSWERED ON- 19/07/2021

## RECOVERY UNDER IBA CODE

## 121. SHRIMATI MALA ROY

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:-

- Code, 2016 upto 30 June, 2021;and
- () the details of the total amount due verses amount recovered under the said code during the said period, per centage-wise?

## ANSWER

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

(a): The Indian Banks Association has that it has not formulated any such code. apprised
Lok Sabha Question No. 120 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-19
Subject: History Textbooks
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah, Pushpendra Singh Chandel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.120 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2021

## HISTORY TEXTBOOKS

## †120. SHRIMATI MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH: SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken any remedial measures to rectify distortion of facts made in history in the past and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government is proposing any plan to evaluate more fairly facts and information in the history about the local kings of North-South India of medieval period; and (c)  if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) to (c):  The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), as a regular activity,  update  their  textbooks  before  these  are  reprinted  every  year  keeping  in  view  the comments, suggestions and grievances received from different stakeholders. The Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) has been undertaking various research projects/seminars/lectures /workshops  with  a  focus  to  bring  out  the  authenticated  history  of  different  regions  of  India. Further, consequent upon announcement of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, a new National  Curriculum  Framework  (NCF)  will  be  prepared  followed  by  development  of  new textbooks in all subjects, including History, after extensive research and consultation.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 119 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-19
Subject: Filing of Tax Returns
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Chandra Prakash Joshi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.119

(TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY THE 19 th  July 2021) 28, ASHADA 1943 (SAKA)

## FILING OF TAX RETURNS

## 119. SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI :

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state :

- (a) whether there has been an increase in the number of tax returns filed during the last three years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to simplify the procedure for filing Income Tax Return by removing its complexities; and
- (d) the relaxation provided by the Government to encourage filing of Income Tax Return and the outcome thereof?

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

- (a) Yes Sir.

(b)

| Financial Year   | Total Number of ITRs Filed (Including Revised Returns)   |
|------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|
| 2018-19          | 6,74,22,661                                              |
| 2019-20          | 6,78,97,450                                              |
| 2020-21          | 7,38,94,135                                              |

- (c) The Government has taken the following steps to simplify the procedure for filing Income Tax Returns :
- i. Pre-filling of various schedules of the Income Tax Returns (ITRs) which will reduce the time and effort required to fill the ITRs on the part of the taxpayers.
- ii. Actively promoting  e-Verification  of ITRs  and  establishing  complete  (100%) paperless environment.
- iii. Providing  online  access  to  taxpayers  of  their  Tax  Deducted  at  Source(TDS),  tax payments, specified financial transactions and other information by bringing  about amendments in Form 26AS thereby helping them file their ITRs easily.
- iv. Reducing processing time of returns on year-on-year basis.
- v. Educating and empowering the tax payers by pro-actively engaging with tax payers through digital media and enhancing transparency.
- (d) (i) The Government has increased the total income limit for availing rebate under section 87A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 from Rs.3,50,000/to Rs.5,00,000/- with effect from Assessment Year 2020-21. Taxpayers can avail the rebate under 87A of the Act without paying taxes on income of upto Rs.5,00,000/provided they file their ITRs.
- (ii) Further, on consideration of difficulties being faced by the taxpayers in filing of ITRs within the prescribed statutory time-limits under the Act, the time limits have been extended from time to time during the last three years. This has enabled taxpayers to file their original returns without payment of late fee and file belated returns or revised returns which was otherwise not permissible after expiry of statutory time limits.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 114 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-19
Subject: Problems in Online Exams
Ministry: Education
Asked by: P.P. Chaudhary

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 114

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 / 07 / 2021

## Problems in Online Exams

## 114. SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware of the problems faced by students in online exams;

(b) if so, the steps taken/proposed to be taken to address these problems along with relevant data; and

(c) whether the Government has considered conducting exams offline; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a)  to  (d):    In  order  to  address  the  problems  faced  by  the  students  in  online exams, as well as to ensure continuation of academic activities, the University Grants Commission  (UGC)  has  issued Guidelines dated 29.04.2020 on Examinations and Academic Calendar for the Universities in view of COVID19 Pandemic and subsequent Lockdown. This provides for online/offline/blended mode of examination.

In  addition,  the  University  Grants  Commission  (Open  and  Distance  Learning Programmes  and  Online  Programmes)  Regulations,  2020  also  prescribes  for Conduct of Examination and Minimum Standards for Examination Centres.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 112 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-19
Subject: Export of Finished Steel
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Ramya  Haridas, Vishnu Dutt Sharma

THE MINISTER OF STEEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STEEL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.112

FOR ANSWER ON 19/07/2021

## EXPORT OF FINISHED STEEL

112. MS. RAMYA HARIDAS:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) the present status of finished steel exports as compared to imports ;
- (b) whether it  is  a  fact  that  the  country's  exports  of  finished  steel  are  presently falling and if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) whether any action has been initiated by the Government to reverse this trend with any new policies and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

(SHRI RAM CHANDRA PRASAD SINGH)

- (a) Details of export of finished steel as compared to imports is given as follows: -

(in Million Ton)

| Year              | Total Finished Steel   | Total Finished Steel   |
|-------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
|                   | Import                 | Export                 |
| 2020-21           | 4.75                   | 10.78                  |
| April-June, 2021* | 1.16                   | 3.56                   |

*Provisional, Source: Joint Plant Committee (JPC)

(b)&(c):  Steel is a de-regulated sector.  Commercial decisions such as exports are taken by the steel companies. The details of export of finished steel during 2020-21 and current year, month-wise, areas follows:-

(in Million Ton)

| Month     | Export   | Export   |
|-----------|----------|----------|
|           | 2020-21  | 2021-22* |
| April     | 0.43     | 0.95     |
| May       | 1.28     | 1.24     |
| June      | 1.55     | 1.37     |
| July      | 1.38     | -        |
| August    | 1.04     | -        |
| September | 0.86     | -        |
| October   | 0.55     | -        |
| November  | 0.60     | -        |
| December  | 0.62     | -        |
| January   | 0.52     | -        |
| February  | 0.65     | -        |
| March     | 1.29     | -        |

*Provisional, Source: Joint Plant Committee (JPC)

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 111 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-19
Subject: Halt on Pucca Road due to Pipeline work
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Krupal Balaji Tumane

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.111 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 th  JULY, 2021

## HALT ON PUCCA ROAD DUE TO PIPELINE WORK

## 111.   SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE:

## पैोलयम और ाक ृ तक गैस मंी

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a)  Whether  it  is  a  fact  that  55  feet  unmelted  road  from  Delhi  Dwarka  Mor  to Bhagwati  Garden  is  not  being  converted  into  a  pucca  road  due  to  ongoing pipeline work of Indian Oil Corporation, if so, the reasons therefor;
- (b)    Whether  the  land  has  been  acquired  by  Indian  Oil  Corporation  along  with  the details of conditions laid down at the time of land acquisition;
- (c)  Whether the Indian Oil Corporation proposes to lay tiles etc. on this unmetalled road for the convenience of the people at this place;
- (d)  If so, the time by which it is likely to be done and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e)  The  steps  taken  by  the  concerned  department  to  address  the  inconvenience being faced by the people using this unmetalled road?

## ANSWER

## पैोलयम और ाक ृ तक गैस मंालय म राय मंी ( ी रामेवर तेल )

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a) to (e)  The  RoU (Right of User) from Delhi Dwarka Mor to Bhagwati Garden was acquired  by  IOCL  in  1980  as  per  provision  of  PMP  (Petroleum  and  Minerals Pipelines) Act 1962. Two strategic Oil pipelines i.e. Mathura Jalandhar Pipeline and Panipat Bijwasan ATF (Aviation Turbine Fuel) Pipeline are passing through this 55 ft wide stretch. For accessibility for maintenance activities, safety and security of these important pipelines, the area under this RoU is maintained as encumbrance free in un-metalled/ un-tiled condition which is as per the provisions mentioned in Section 9 of PMP Act of 1962 prohibiting permanent construction in the RoU.