opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 177 (STARRED), answered on 2022-03-14
Subject: GST on Diamonds and Life Saving Medicines
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: T. R. Paarivendhar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

*****

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO.*177

## TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY THE 14 TH  MARCH, 2022 PHALGUNA  23, 1943 (SAKA)

## GST ON DIAMONDS AND LIFE SAVING MEDICINES

## *177. DR. T.R.PAARIVENDHAR:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  recently  reduced  the  Goods  and  Services  Tax (GST) to 0.25 per cent from the existing 3 per cent for diamond industry;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has any proposal to reduce/exempt GST on any other products particularly life saving medicines both imported and Indian  made medicines;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTRY OF FINANCE (MS. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a), (b), (c), (d) and (e): A statement is placed on the Table of the House.

*****

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  THE  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION NO.*177 RAISED BY DR. T.R. PAARIVENDHAR FOR 14TH MARCH, 2022 REGARDING GST ON DIAMONDS AND LIFE SAVING MEDICINES

(a) and (b): GST rates on various commodities are prescribed based on the recommendation of the GST Council comprising members of both the Union and the States. At the roll out of GST, the Council had recommended 0.25% GST rate on non-industrial rough diamonds and 3% GST rate on all other diamonds including industrial rough diamonds and cut and polished diamonds. Subsequently, on the basis of recommendations of GST Council, GST rate was reduced  from  3%  to  0.25%,  initially  for  industrial  rough  diamonds  (with  effect  from 22.09.2017)  and  later,  for  all  other  diamonds  including  cut  and  polished  diamonds  (with effect from 25.01.2018). Since then, GST rate on diamonds have remained unchanged.

(c), (d) and (e): GST rates on all goods including Life Saving Medicines are prescribed on the recommendations of GST Council. A large number of lifesaving medicines are already at the lower rate of 5%. Others attract 12% GST rate. Further, certain exemptions from IGST to a few pharmaceutical products have also been given as follows:

- (i) Imports of Medicines/drugs/vaccines supplied free of cost by United Nations International  Children's  Emergency  Fund  (UNICEF),  Red  Cross  or  an  International Organization subject to specified conditions.
- (ii) Imported  Lifesaving  Medicines  for  personal  use  supplied  free  of  cost  by  overseas supplier, subject to specified conditions.
- (iii) Zolgensma  and  Viltepso  medicines  used  against  Spinal  Muscular  Atrophy,  a  lifethreatening disease affecting especially children, when imported for personal use.
Lok Sabha Question No. 172 (STARRED), answered on 2022-03-14
Subject: National Curriculum Framework
Ministry: Education
Asked by: P. C. Mohan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *172

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 th  MARCH, 2022

## National Curriculum Framework

## *172. SHRI P.C. MOHAN:

- Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a)  whether  the  National  Council  of  Educational  Research  and  Training  (NCERT)  has been  given  a  mandate  to  prepare  the  National  Curriculum  Framework  for  school education or whether the Government proposes to give the responsibility of curriculum formulation to another body; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c)  whether  NCERT  has  established  a  Department  of  Curriculum  Studies  and  also  a Curriculum Group; (d) the difference between the mandates of the said Department and the Group; and (e)  the  names  of  academic  members  of  the  Department  and  Group  respectively  along
- with their qualifications to be the part of the Curriculum Group?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

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

**********

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (A)  TO  (E)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 172 ASKED BY SHRI P.C. MOHAN, HON'BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT REGARDING NATIONAL CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK.

- (a) & (b) Yes, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has been  given  the  mandate  to  prepare  the  National  Curriculum  Framework  for  school education under para 4.30 of National Education Policy 2020. The National Curriculum Framework  is  being  prepared  by  NCERT  under  the  guidance  of  National  Steering Committee set up by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
- (c) & (d) There is a Department of Curriculum Studies and Development in NCERT which looks after curriculum matters.
- (e) The  details  of  the  members  of  the  Department  of  Curriculum  Studies  and Development are as follows:
1. Dr. Ranjana Arora (Professor in Education and Head of Department)
2. Mr. R.R. Koireng (Associate Professor, Physics)
3. Dr. K.V. Sridevi (Assistant Professor, Education)
4. Dr. Sharad Kumar Pandey (Associate Professor, History)

The  other  details  on  Department  of  Curriculum  Studies  and  Development  are available at NCERT website, which can be accessed here: https://ncert.nic.in/dcs/facultymembers.php

**********
Lok Sabha Question No. 171 (STARRED), answered on 2022-03-14
Subject: Promotion of Tourism in Jaunpur
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shyam Yadav Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *171 ANSWERED ON 14.03.2022

## PROMOTION OF TOURISM IN JAUNPUR

*171 SHRI SHYAM SINGH YADAV:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

(a) the  details  of  the  schemes  being  run  by  the  Government  for the  promotion  of  tourism  in  the  district  of  Jaunpur  in  Uttar Pradesh; (b) the  names  of  places  in  Jaunpur  district  which  have  been selected  as  tourist  spots  and  the  places  where  development related works are being undertaken; and (c) the details of funds allocated and released by the Government for Jaunpur along with the details of funds spent since June,

- 2019?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF TOURISM                                (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

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

******

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*171 ANSWERED ON 14.03.2022 REGARDING PROMOTION OF TOURISM IN JAUNPUR (a):   The Ministry of Tourism promotes India as a holistic destination.  As  part  of  its  on-going  activities,  Ministry  of  Tourism releases  domestic  and  international  print,  electronic  and  online media campaigns under the 'Incredible India' brand-line, to promote various tourism destinations and products of the Country. In addition, the India Tourism Offices in India and overseas undertake various promotional activities with the objective of showcasing the tourism  potential  of  the  different  States.  Promotions  are  also undertaken through the Website and Social Media accounts of the Ministry. (b): The  selection  of  places  for  development  as  tourist  sites  is primarily the responsibility of the State Government / Union Territory Administration. However, the Ministry of Tourism under its schemes of Swadesh Darshan and National Mission  on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) provides financial assistance to State Governments / Union Territory Administrations / Central Agencies etc. for development of tourism infrastructure  in  the  country.  The  projects  sanctioned  under  the schemes  are  identified  for  development  in  consultation  with  the State Governments/UT Administrations and are sanctioned subject to  availability  of  funds,  submission  of  suitable  Detailed  Project Reports and adherence to Scheme Guidelines. (c): No  funds  have  been  released  by  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  for Jaunpur since June 2019.

**********
Lok Sabha Question No. 170 (STARRED), answered on 2022-03-14
Subject: GST Compensation
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Y. S. Avinash Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO-170 ANSWERED ON-14/03/2022

## GST COMPENSATION

170. SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the Government  has  received  proposals  from the  State  Governments requesting for extension of payment of Goods and Services Tax(GST) compensation to the States for another five years keeping in view the difficulties caused by Covid-19 Pandemic;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the stand of the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE (MS. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

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

*****

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 170 FOR ANSWER ON 14 TH  MARCH, 2022

(a)  to  (c):Yes  Sir.  Many  States  have  requested  for  extension  of  the  compensation  period during the deliberations in GST Council and in letters addressed to the Central Government. In this  regard,  it  is  stated  that  as  per  Section  18  of  the  Constitution  (One  Hundred  and  First Amendment) Act, 2016, Parliament shall, by law, on the recommendation of the Goods and Services  Tax  Council,  provide  for  compensation  to  the  States  for  loss  of  revenue  arising  on account of implementation of the goods and services tax for a period of five years from the date of implementation of GST. During transition period, the States' revenue is protected at 14% per annum  over  the  base  year  revenue  of  2015-16.  Central  Government  is  committed  for  GST compensation to States/UTs for 5 years as per the Constitutional provision.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 168 (STARRED), answered on 2022-03-14
Subject: Development of Assam
Ministry: DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION
Asked by: Badruddin Ajmal

## Government of India Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*168

To be answered on Monday, March 14, 2022/Phalguna 23, 1943 (Saka)

## QUESTION Development of Assam

*168.  SHRI M. BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

Will the Minister of DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Assam  is  one  of  the  most  backward  States  in  the  country  which  is suffering  from  slow  economic  growth  for  various  reasons  including  limited  transport system, lack of infrastructure, lack of income resources and also due to poor climate;
- (b) if so, the steps taken/being taken by the Government  for reduction of backwardness of Assam during the last three years; and
- (c) the funds sanctioned/utilised for the Centrally sponsored schemes for development of Assam during the last three years and the current year, Scheme/yearwise?

## ANSWER

## The Minister of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region [Shri G. Kishan Reddy]

- (a) to (c) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

## Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *168 for answer on 14.03.2022

(a)  to  (c) Government  of  India  has  been  giving  a  special  thrust  to  development  of North  Eastern  Region  (NER),  including  State  of  Assam.  As  per  the  NITI  Aayog's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) India Index, which measures the development status of States and UTs of India in social, economic and environmental sectors, the composite score of Assam which was 49 in the year 2018-19 has improved to 55 in 2019-20 and further to 57 in 2020-21.

Government of India is also implementing various flagship and other schemes for the development  of  the  States  including  Assam  through  the  respective  administrative Ministries/Departments within the approved financial outlays as per scheme design. The data on funds sanctioned/utilized for the Centrally Sponsored Schemes by States & UTs is not maintained in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. However, as per extant policy, each non-exempted Central Ministries/ Departments is mandated to spend  at  least  10%  of  its  Gross  Budgetary  Support  (GBS)  to  Central  Sector  and Centrally  Sponsored  schemes  for  NER.  The  actual  expenditure  in  NER  including Assam, under 10% GBS by non-exempted Ministries/ Departments is as follows:

| Year                      |   Amount (Rs. Crore) |
|---------------------------|----------------------|
| 2018-19                   |              46054.8 |
| 2019-20                   |              48533.8 |
| 2020-21                   |              48563.8 |
| 2021-22 (upto 31.12.2021) |              38455.6 |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 167 (STARRED), answered on 2022-03-14
Subject: Human-Wildlife Conflict
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 167

TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2022

## Human-Wildlife Conflict

## *167.   SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJI KUNDARIYA: SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

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

- (a) whether the Government has issued any advisory that empowers Gram Panchayats in dealing with the problem of wild animals and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether there is any proposal to utilise the add-on coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana for crop compensation against crop damage due to human-wildlife conflict and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government has decided that payment of a portion of ex-gratia as interim relief  is  to  be  undertaken  within  twenty-four  hours  of  the  incident  to  the  victim/ family?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)

- (a) to (c) A statement is laid on the Table of the House

****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a), (b) AND (c) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *167 REGARDING 'HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT' BY SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJI KUNDARIYA AND SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA FOR REPLY ON 14.03.2022.

- (a) An advisory  to  deal  with  Human  wildlife  conflict  was  issued  by  the  Ministry  of Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  to  all  States/UTs  on  06.02.2021.  The advisory suggests that the State Chief Wild Life Wardens may utilise the Panchayati Raj  Institutions  and  authorize  the  Sarpanch  or  any  other  representative  of  Gram Panchayat  for  dealing  with  problematic  wild  animals  under  Section  11(1)  (b)  of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
- (b) Under  the  revamped  operational  guidelines  of  Pradhan  Mantri  Fasal  BimaYojna (PMFBY) issued by the Government of India (effective from the year 2020), States may provide add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals.
- (c) The Advisory issued by the Ministry to States/UTs on 06.02.2021 suggests that a suitable  portion  of  ex-gratia  relief  should  be  paid  within  24  hours  to  the  affected persons in the case of death and injury to persons.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 165 (STARRED), answered on 2022-03-14
Subject: Reservation to EWSs
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Chunni Lal Sahu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. 165 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2022

## Reservation to EWSs

†*165. SHRI CHUNNI LAL SAHU:

- Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) whether it has been made necessary to reserve 25 per cent seats for the students of Economically  Weaker  Sections  (EWSs)  in  all  the  private/unaided  schools  under  the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c)  whether the Government has taken any concrete steps to ensure that there is no
- violation by the School administration in this regard; and
- (d) the details of the percentage of seats reserved by the schools in Chhattisgarh for the children of EWSs as well as the number of children benefitted as a result thereof during the last two years?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

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

****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (D)  OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 165 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 th  MARCH, 2022 ASKED BY HON'BLE MP SHRI CHUNNI LAL SAHU REGARDING RESERVATION TO EWSs (a) to (d): The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, mandates  the  appropriate  Government  to  provide  free  and  compulsory  elementary education to every child of the age 6 to 14 years in a neighbourhood school.  The RTE Act is applicable throughout the country. Section  12(1)(c)  of  the  RTE  Act,  2009  provides  for  admission  of  children belonging to weaker sections and disadvantaged groups in the schools specified in subclauses (iii) and (iv) of clause (n) of section 2 in Class I (or below) to the extent of at least 25 percent of the strength of that class. Education is in the Concurrent List of the Constitution and majority of schools are under the jurisdiction of the respective  State  Government  and Union  Territory Administration  which  are  the  appropriate  Government  for  implementation  of  the provision of  the  Act  and  are  required  to  notify  the  disadvantaged groups  and  weaker sections, per child cost and start admissions as per the laid down procedure and have a grievance redressal mechanism in place. Ministry of Education has requested States/UTs to carry out a ground assessment of private unaided schools across the country to ensure compliance with the  provisions  of  Section  12  of  the  RTE  Act,  2009.  Further,  Ministry  of  Education,  in various meetings like State Education Secretaries Conference, Regional/State workshops,  Project  Approval  Board  Meetings,  has  been  advising/  guiding  State/  UT Governments on implementation of Section 12 of the RTE Act, 2009. The number of children admitted during 2019-20 and 2020-21 under Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act in the State of Chhattisgarh are 276037 and 276961 respectively.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 162 (STARRED), answered on 2022-03-14
Subject: School Going Children of Labourers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Sadashiv Kisan Lokhande

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 162 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2022

## SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN OF LABOURERS

†*162. SHRI SADASHIV KISAN LOKHANDE:

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

- (a)whether  the  Government  has  data  of  such  school  going  children who are also involved as labourers with their families and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)the number of such children who could not go to school due to the said reason; and
- (c)whether  the  Government  has  any  scheme  to  send  such  children back to school by limiting their involvement as labourers with their families  or  by  compensating  their  families  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)

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

*                                                *****

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 162 FOR 14.03.2022 RAISED BY SHRI SADASHIV KISAN LOKHANDE REGARDING SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN OF LABOURERS.

(a) & (b): No Sir, no such data is maintained centrally by this Ministry.

(c): The Government is pursuing multipronged strategy to eliminate child labour and has  taken  comprehensive  measures  which  include  legislative  measures,  rehabilitation  strategy, providing right of free education and general socio-economic development so as to eliminate the incidence  of  the  child  labour.  The  details  of  statutory  and  legislative  measures,  rehabilitation strategy and education are as under:

- (i) Government has enacted the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Act,  2016  which  came  into  force  w.e.f.  1.9.2016.  The  amendment  also  provides stricter punishment for employers for violation of the Act and made the offence as cognizable.
- (ii) Framing of Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Central Rules
- (iii) Framing  of  model  State  Action  Plan  enumerating  action  points  to  be  taken  by respective State Governments and circulation of the same to all Chief Secretaries.
- (iv) Implementation of National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme for rehabilitation of  child  labour,  which  has  now  been  subsumed  under  Samagara  Shiksha  Abhiyan Scheme.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2069 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-14
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. 2069

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, March 14, 2022/Phalguna 23, 1943 (Saka)

## Area Development Programmes

## 2069.  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  and  Integrated  Action  Plan  for affected  districts  has  affected  the  development  programmes  for  some  of  the  most vulnerable and backward regions of Odisha and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government has provided a special package to the State Government for continuation of these programmes and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE 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. To stimulate capital  expenditure  and  also  to  aid  States  in  view  of  COVID-19  pandemic,  the  Government launched  the  Scheme  for  Special  Assistance  to  States  for  Capital  Expenditure.  Under  the Scheme, Rs.471.50 crore was released to Odisha in 2020-21 and Rs.561.00 crore is allocated to the State in 2021-22 for taking up capital works.

******