opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 4734 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-29
Subject: Shifting of Ticket Booking Window
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ashok Kumar Rawat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4734

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.03.2023

## SHIFTING OF TICKET BOOKING WINDOW

## †4734. SHRI ASHOK KUMAR RAWAT:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  Balamau  railway  station  is  an  important station  on  the  Lucknow-Delhi  (via Moradabad)   railway  route  in Misrikh parliamentary constituency and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the ticket booking window at Balamau Station is located opposite  side  to  the  main  city  and  the  passengers  have  to  walk about half  a  kilometre  to  go  to  the  other  side  of  the  station  after crossing the level crossing, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has received any requests from the public representatives regarding shifting of the ticket booking window by constructing a platform to the city side at Balamau Station;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4734 BY SHRI ASHOK KUMAR RAWAT  TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  29.03.2023  REGARDING SHIFTING  OF TICKET BOOKING WINDOW (a):  Balamau  station  is  categorised  as  Non-Suburban  Grade  (NSG)-5 category  Railway  station  based  on  passenger  earnings  and  outward passengers booked at the station.  The station has also been identified and developed as Adarsh station. (b): Both the sides of the Balamau station are populated.  On one side of the station, a booking window is available for booking unreserved tickets. With a view to facilitate passengers on the other side of the station, a Jan Sadharan Ticket Booking Sevak (JTBS) has been engaged. These arrangements are considered adequate. (c)  &  (d):    A  request  on  this  account  was  received  from  Sh.  Raj  Kumar Agarwal, MLA/Sandila, during the visit of Hon'ble Minister of Railways to Research Designs and Standards Organization (RDSO). (e): Augmentation/upgradation of passenger amenities at Railway stations is a continuous process depending upon the volume of passenger traffic, inter-se priority of works, subject to availability of funds.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 4733 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-29
Subject: Silver Line Semi-high Speed Rail Project
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Adoor Prakash

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4733

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.03.2023

## SILVER LINE SEMI-HIGH SPEED RAIL PROJECT

4733. ADV.  ADOOR PRAKASH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Railways  has  received  any  communication  from  the State Government of Kerala regarding withdrawal from the proposed Silver Line semi-high speed rail project;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that the State Government has frozen all activities related to land acquisition for this project and recalled officials deputed for the same;
- (d) whether the Railways has sought any clarification or received any update from the State Government after the decision to freeze the project; and
- (e)
- (a):
- (b):

## ANSWER

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

- No, Sir.
- Does not arise.
- (c): No,  Sir.    Kerala  Rail  Development  Corporation  Ltd.  (KRDCL)  has never  been  advised  by  Ministry  of  Railways  to  acquire  land  for  the project as the project is not sanctioned yet.  However, on the approval of Government  of  Kerala,  KRDCL  has  redeployed  the  officials  already deployed in land acquisition units to other important projects of KRDCL.
- (d):
- No, Sir.
- (e): Does not arise.
- if so, the details thereof?

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4731 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-29
Subject: Mobile Number Portability
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: S. Gnanathiraviam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4731 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 TH  MARCH, 2023

## MOBILE NUMBER PORTABILITY

## 4731. SHRI GNANATHIRAVIAM S.:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the subscribers are facing problems from the Mobile operators with regard to Mobile Number Portability (MNP); and

- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the action proposed to be taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) No, Sir. The Mobile Subscribers are not facing problems from the Mobile operators with regard to Mobile Number Portability (MNP).

- (b) Does not arise in view of (a) above.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4729 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-29
Subject: Stoppage of Train No. 12267/68
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4729 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.03.2023

STOPPAGE OF TRAIN NO. 12267/68

## 4729. SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJI KUNDARIYA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the Government  is  aware  that majority of population of Saurashtrians resides within the vicinity of Borivali and Malad Stations and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any representations have been received requesting for stoppage of  train  no.  12267/68  Mumbai  Central-Hapa  Duranto  Express  at  Borivali  or Malad;
- (c) if so, the details and the action taken thereon; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor and the time by which it is likely to be taken?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (d) Representations, including from the Hon'ble Member of Parliament, have  been  received  for  provision  of  stoppage  of  12267/68  Mumbai  CentralHapa  Duronto  Express  at  Borivali  station.  12267/68  Mumbai  Central-Hapa Duronto Express is a fast service with limited stoppages enroute. Proliferation of stoppages  enroute  the said train is operationally not expedient, at  present.  However,  provision  of  stoppages,  which  depends  on operational feasibility and commercial justification, is an ongoing process on Indian Railways.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4726 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-29
Subject: Blue Economy Policy
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Pinaki Misra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4726

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 29 th  MARCH, 2023

## BLUE ECONOMY POLICY

## †4726.     SHRI PINAKI MISRA:

## Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Blue Economy Policy has been finalised by the Government;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if not, the reasons and proposed timeline therefor;
- (d) whether the Government has examined the suggestions received on the draft Blue Economy Policy;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the details of the contribution of  the  Blue  Economy  to  India's  GDP  and the extent to which it is likely to increase on finalisation of the Blue Economy Policy?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER FOR STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) - (c)   A draft National Policy on Blue Economy for the country has been prepared.The draft Blue Economy Policy document has been circulated for inter-ministerial consultations.
- (d) - (e) Inputs/comments  from  18  Ministries/Departments  and  stakeholders  in  the  Ocean sector have been received. The relevant suggestions are being incorporated in the draft Blue Economy Policy document.
- (f) The draft Blue Economy policy estimates that the contribution of Blue Economy to India's GDP is about 4% and its finalization with implementation strategy would lead to significant increase in the contribution of Blue Economy to India's GDP.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4723 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-29
Subject: Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Harsimrat Kaur Badal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4723. TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 29 TH  MARCH, 2023.

## AMRITSAR-KOLKATA INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR

## 4723.  SHRIMATI HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state:

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether  reports  of  a  multi-crore  fund  embezzlement  from  Rs.  260  crore compensation given to five village panchayats for acquisition of construction of Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor in Punjab have come to the attention of the Government;
- (b) if  so,  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  step/action  in  this  regard  to recover the amount and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  State  Government  officials  are  also  allegedly  involved  in  this embezzlement and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to ensure judicious utilization of funds and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री ( श्री सोम प्रकाश ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI SOM PARKASH)

- (a): As  per  the  Institutional  and  Financial  Structure  approved  by  the Government of India for Industrial Corridor Projects, State Government  need  to  contribute  land  as  their  equity,  while  the contribution of the Government of India is in the form of funds, which is  to  be  utilized  for  the  development  of  trunk  infrastructure  namely roads,  underground  utilities,  power  distribution  network,  Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP), Common Effluent Treatment Plan (CETP), etc.

Further, the cost of land acquisition, if any, has to be borne by the State Government/Nodal Agency, and the concerned State Government also undertakes the land acquisition process.

- (b) to (d): Do not arise in view of (a) above.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 4722 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-29
Subject: Financial Assistance for Traditional Fabrics Manufacturing
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Vivek Narayan Shejwalkar

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4722 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.03.2023

## FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR TRADITIONAL FABRICS MANUFACTURING

## 4722. SHRI VIVEK NARAYAN SHEJWALKAR:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री be pleased to state :

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  received  any  proposal  from  the  Government  of  Madhya  Pradesh regarding setting up of Textile Park;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  the  details  of  financial  assistance  being  provided  by  the  Government  for  traditional  fabrics manufacturing?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र राज् य मंत्री ( श्रीमती दर्शना जरदोर् )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SMT. DARSHANA JARDOSH)

- (a) & (b): The  Government  has  approved  setting  up  of  7  (Seven)  PM  Mega  Integrated  Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks in Greenfield/Brownfield sites with world class infrastructure including  plug  and  play  facility  with  an  outlay  of  Rs.  4,445  crore  for  a  period  of  seven  years  upto 2027-28.  All states were requested to send proposals to the Ministry under the Scheme.  Against the 4 proposals received from the State Government of Madhya Pradesh for setting up of PM MITRA Parks at  (i)  Ratlam,  (ii)  Devas,  (iii)  Dhar  &  (iv)  Katni,  the  Government  has  finalised  the  site  of  Dhar  in Madhya Pradesh for setting of PM MITRA Park.
- (c): The Government is implementing National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) and Raw  Material  Supply  Scheme  for  development  and  production  of  handloom  sector  and  welfare  of handloom  weavers  across  the  country.  Under  these  schemes,  financial  assistance  is  provided  to  the eligible handloom agencies/weavers for raw material, common infrastructure development, marketing of handloom product in domestic/ overseas market, Weavers Mudra Loan etc. In addition, incentives to the  textile  industry  are  also  extended  through  other  schemes  including  Production  Linked  Incentive Scheme.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4715 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-29
Subject: Criteria for Mining Operations
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Arjunlal Meena

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4715 ANSWERED ON 29.03.2023

## CRITERIA FOR MINING OPERATIONS

†4715. SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has fixed any limit or criteria for the length, breadth and depth of mining operations in Udaipur division;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): As  per  sub-section  (1)  of  section  6  of  the  Mines  and  Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 [MMDR Act, 1957], no person shall acquire in respect of any mineral or prescribed group of associated minerals in a State, one or more mining leases covering a total area of more than ten square kilometers. The Central Government is empowered to increase the aforesaid area limit in the interest of the development of any mineral or industry, in so far as it pertains to any particular mineral, or to any specified category of deposits of such mineral, or to any particular mineral located in any particular area.

The  Ministry  of  Mines  has  relaxed  the  area  limit  for  mining  lease  for  mineral limestone to fifty square kilometers in the State of Rajasthan.

Further,  as  per  Rule  69  of  the  Minerals  (Other  than  Atomic  and  Hydro  Carbons Energy Minerals) Concession Rules, 2016, the boundaries of the area covered by a mining lease shall run vertically downwards below the surface towards the centre of the earth.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4714 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-29
Subject: Fiberised Towers
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: S. Jagathrakshakan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4714 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 TH  MARCH, 2023

## FIBERISED TOWERS

## 4714.   SHRI S. JAGATHRAKSHAKAN:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the fact that currently only 33% of the towers in India are fiberised as compared to 65% to 70% in South Korea and 80% to 90% in the U.S., Japan and China and if so, the details thereof; and

(b) the steps proposed to be taken by the Government keeping in mind that India needs at least 16 times more fibre to transition into 5G?

## ANSWER

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

(a) As on 31 st Dec 2022, 37.08% i.e. 8,84,237 of 23,84,451 of base transceiver station (BTS) are fiberized.

- (b) The Government has taken following  Steps  to facilitate more fiber:
- (i) The GatiShakti Sanchar portal (Centralized Right of Way Portal) has onboarded/integrated for all 36 States /UTs to accept, process and approve Right of Way (RoW) applications  for  both  Optical  Fiber  Cable  (OFC)  and  Towers  through single interface. The portal is also integrated with three central ministries, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways and Ministry of Defence. The portal enables applicants like  Telecom  Service  Provider/Infrastructure  Provider (TSP/IP) to apply for RoW approvals to various agencies of State/UT Governments, local  bodies,  and  Ministries  at  one  common/  single  portal.  A  dashboard  has  been enabled on the portal to view the State/ district wise status of applications, pendency, approvals etc. for monitoring at top level to ensure quick approvals happen.
- (ii) To facilitate faster and easier deployment of telecom infrastructure, Government has amended the Indian Telegraph Right of Way Rules, 2016 on 17th August 2022.   These amendments pave the way for deployment of 5G small cells and optical fibre cable on existing  street  infrastructure  and  also  rationalize  the  fees  and  charges  paid  by  the Telecom Licensees for the RoW permissions.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4712 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-29
Subject: Amendment of IT Act, 2000
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Chinta Anuradha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4712

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.3.2023

## AMENDMENT OF IT ACT, 2000

## 4712.   SHRIMATI CHINTA ANURADHA:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Government proposes to amend the Information Technology (IT)Act, 2000 in light of the emerging challenges in tech governance;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to conduct stakeholder consultations before finalizing the amendments;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether there is any estimated timeline by when these amendments will be finalised and introduced; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (f): The policies of the Government are aimed at ensuring an Open, Safe and Trusted and  Accountable  Internet  for  its  users,  keeping  in  view  emerging  challenges  in  tech governance. To  help achieve this aim, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology engages with and receives inputs from the public and stakeholders, including in respect of changes required to existing legislation and the need to introduce fresh legislation. Once a legislative  proposal  is  formulated,  in  accordance  with  the  Government's  policy  on pre-legislative  consultation,  proposed  legislation  is  published  in  the  public  domain  and feedback/comments  invited  from  the  public  before  finalising  the  legislative  proposal.  No draft legislative proposal to amend the Information Technology Act, 2000has been published for public/stakeholder consultations.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 4710 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-29
Subject: Disinvestment of Steel Plant
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Andimuthu Raja

4710. SHRI A. RAJA:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) the status of the proposed disinvestment of Salem Steel Plant of SAIL;
- (b) whether the State of Tamil Nadu is not giving consent and is insisting for all vacant lands to be returned to the State, as it was given at a concessional rate;
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the response of the Government in this regard;
- (d) whether the labour issues have been settled amicably with the trade unions; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF STEEL

## ANSWER

(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

- (a) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), in its meeting held on 27.10.2016, had accorded in-principle approval for Strategic Disinvestment, inter-alia, of Salem Steel Plant (SSP), Salem - a Unit of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). Expression of Interest (Eol) was floated on 04.07.2019 and multiple Eols have been received. The transaction is still active and at present, in Stage-II level.
- (b) The consent of State Government of Tamil Nadu for strategic disinvestment of Salem Steel Plant has not been sought.
- (c) In view of (b) above, question does not arise.
- (d)&(e): Legitimate concerns of the existing employees and other stakeholder including trade unions are suitably addressed during the disinvestment process.

*****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STEEL

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4710

## FOR ANSWER ON 29.03.2023

## DISINVESTMENT OF STEEL PLANT
Lok Sabha Question No. 4709 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-29
Subject: My Stamp Scheme
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, Sanjay(Kaka) Ramchandra Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4709 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 TH  MARCH, 2023

## MY STAMP SCHEME

## 4709.   SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY: SHRI SANJAY KAKA PATIL:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the current status of the My Stamp Scheme which was made accessible to the individuals and corporates in 2016;
- (b) whether there has been revenue generation by India Post under the said scheme in the fiscal year of 2019-20, if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the details of the steps that have been undertaken by the Government to make the scheme attractive and profitable?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) My Stamp Scheme was introduced in 2011 and is currently available for both individual and corporate customers.
- (b) During  2019-20,  Department  generated  a  revenue  of  Rs.5.85  crore  through  My  Stamp scheme.
- (c) The facility of My Stamp Scheme is available at major Post Offices & Philatelic Bureaux across the country. My Stamp counter is also made available at important public events, melas etc. so as to popularise this scheme.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4706 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-29
Subject: Regularising Telecom Tariffs
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Anto  Antony

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4706 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 TH  MARCH, 2023

## REGULARISING TELECOM TARIFFS

## 4706.   SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  Government  has  any  role  in  regularising  telecommunications  tariffs  in  the country;

- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  noticed  that  the  price  of  prepaid  mobile  connections  have increased more than 20% by the private companies;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government is aware of such huge hikes; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof along with the response of the Government thereon?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) The rates at which telecommunication services within India and outside India shall be provided are regulated by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) as per section 11 (2) of TRAI  Act,  1997.  The  existing  tariff  framework  for  telecommunication  access  service  is  under forbearance, except for services such as National Roaming and Rural Fixed Line Services, mobile number  portability  charges  and  leased  circuits.  'Nil'  tariff  has  been  prescribed  to  make  USSD services exempt to promote financial inclusion among rural unbanked feature phone users. Subject to compliance to extant regulatory provisions, service providers are free to design and offer tariff based on their understanding of the market situation and in their best commercial interest.

(c) to (f) The Telecommunications Tariff Order (TTO), 1999 (modified from time to time), inter alia, mandates that the service provider shall report to the Authority any new tariff for telecom services or any change there under within seven working days from the date of implementation.

*****