opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 5389 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-05
Subject: Construction of Overbridges/Underbridges in Maharashtra
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No.5389 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2023

## CONSTRUCTION OF OVERBRIDGES/UNDERBRIDGES IN MAHARASHTRA

†5389. SHRI SANJAY JADHAV:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a number of unmanned level crossings exist in Maharashtra, if so, the reasons therefor;
- (b) the total number of unmanned/manned level crossings in Maharashtra at present;
- (c) the number of proposed railway overbridges / underbridges in Maharashtra;
- (d)
- the district-wise progress made in the proposed construction works;
- (e) whether  the  construction  work  of  railway  overbridge  in  Parbhani constituency has not been completed on prescribed time;
- (f)
- (g)
- if so, the reasons therefor; and
- the time by which the above works are likely to be completed?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a):  All Unmanned level crossings (UMLCs) on Broad Gauge (BG) network of  Indian  Railway  have  been  eliminated  by  31.01.2019.    Only  06  Nos. UMLC on Narrow Gauge (NG) exist in the State of Maharashtra, which are planned for elimination during Gauge conversion of the sections.

(b):  Only  06  Nos.  UMLCs  and  804  Nos.  Manned  Level  Crossings  (MLCs) exist in the State of Maharashtra.

(c)  &  (d):193  Nos.  Road  Over  Bridges  (ROBs)  and  349  Nos.  Road  Under Bridges (RUB) have been sanctioned in the State of Maharashtra.  Out of 193 ROBs, 19 have been completed and out of 349 RUBs, 140 have been completed.  Remaining ROB/RUB works are in different stages of planning, estimation and execution, spread over to various Districts of Maharashtra. ROBs/RUBs  details  are  generally  maintained  Railway  wise  /  State  wise and not   District wise.

(e) to (g): 02 Nos. ROBs at LC No. 122 & 134A/176A have been sanctioned on cost sharing basis in Parbhani Constituency. These ROBs are executed by Maharashtra Rail Infrastructures Development Corporation Ltd (MRIDC) (a Joint Venture of Govt. of Maharashtra & Ministry of Railway) on single entity basis. Completion of any ROB/RUB work depends on various factors like cooperation of State Governments for consent of closure of LC, fixing of approach alignment, approval of General Arrangement Drawing (GAD), land acquisition, removal of encroachment, shifting of infringing utilities, statutory clearances from various authorities, law and order situation in the area of project / work sites, number of working months in a year for particular  project  /  work  sites  due  to  climatic  conditions  etc.  All  these factors affect the completion time of the projects / works. Therefore, it is quite difficult to fix definite timelines for completion of ROBs/RUBs.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5383 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-05
Subject: Shortage of Containers
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Maddila  Gurumoorthy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5383 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2023

## SHORTAGE OF CONTAINERS

5383.  SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether there has been a shortage of containers in the country in the past year;
- (b)   if so, the details thereof and the reasons for the same;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to establish container manufacturing units to tackle the container shortage and reduce import dependence;
- (d)   if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e)  whether the Government has explored the viability of establishing a container manufacturing unit in Andhra Pradesh considering that it  has  numerous  ports  handling  more  than  170  million  tonnes  of cargo, which is the second-highest in the country; and
- (f)   if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (f):  Shortage  of  containers  was  reported  by  various  Industry Associations during 2021 at the time of world-wide Covid-19 pandemic.

Various  steps  were  taken  by  Government  of  India  at  that  time  to mitigate the problem. However, such problems have not been reported by Industry Associations recently. The availability and supply of containers depends upon its international  and  domestic  demand  and  movements.  Containers  are procured  and  handled  by  shipping  lines  for  Export-Import  (EXIM) traffic. As reported by Container Corporation of India Ltd. (CONCOR), in discussion  with  shipping  lines  and  stakeholders,  there  has  been  no shortage of containers in the past year for EXIM businesses. However,  CONCOR  has  been  facing  some  problems  in  supply  and procurement  of  domestic  containers  in  the recent past. In the experience of CONCOR, the container manufacturing ecosystem in the country  is  at  an  initial  stage.  CONCOR  has  placed  orders  on  seven indigenous container manufacturers for a total of 19,000 containers in the different States namely Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh,  Punjab,  Maharashtra,  Gujarat.  As  on  31.03.2023,  about 500 containers have been delivered to CONCOR. The Ministry of Railways has no plan to set up container manufacturing facility. Indian Railways mobilises rolling stocks as per the requirements of Zonal Railways. The Ministry of Railways does not maintain State-wise information on cargo volumes.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 5378 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-05
Subject: Course Completed Apprentice Act
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Raksha Nikhil Khadse

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5378 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2023

## COURSE COMPLETED APPRENTICE ACT

5378.  SHRIMATI RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE: SHRI MANOJ KOTAK:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  proposed  and  issued  guidelines  to  give weightage for the National Apprentice Certificate (NAC) holders from the National  Council  for  Vocational  Training  (NCVT)  to  be  added  in  the  CBT marks  obtained  for  recruitment  in  Railways  for  the  Course  Completed Apprentices Act candidates (CCAAs);
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether marks obtained in NCVT examination of CCAAS shall be given due weightage after conducting CBT for their entry through open recruitment in the 20 percent quota fixed for them;
- (d) if so, whether the aforesaid has been incorporated in the guidelines for preparation of final merit list in the direct recruitment; and
- (e) if so, the complete details thereof?

## 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.  5378  BY  SHRIMATI  RAKSHA  NIKHIL  KHADSE  AND  SHRI MANOJ  KOTAK  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  05.04.2023 REGARDING COURSE COMPLETED APPRENTICE ACT (a) to (c) Yes, Sir.  In  line  with  provisions  contained  under  Section  22  of Apprentice  Act,  instructions  have  been  issued  vide  Board's  letter  dated 13.04.2022  to  give  due  weightage  to  Course  Completed  Act  Apprentices (CCAAs) trained in Railway establishments and having National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) from NCVT (National Council for Vocational Training) such that one third of the marks in preparation of the final-merit  list  after  conduct  of  CBT  shall  be  based  on  marks  obtained  in their NCVT examination. They shall, however, be eligible for empanelment only  after  document  verification  and  qualifying  medical  standards  for  the post. Yes,  Sir.  The  aforesaid  has  been  incorporated  in  the guidelines issued for the preparation of final merit list. A Corrigendum and Amendment No.5 to Centralised Employment Notice (CEN) No.RRC-01/2019 was  published  on  the  official  websites  of  Railway  Recruitment  Boards

*****

(d) and (e) (RRBs) to this effect.
Lok Sabha Question No. 5376 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-05
Subject: Grievance Appellate Committee
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 5376

TO BE ANSWERED ON 5.4.2023

## GRIEVANCE APPELLATE COMMITTEE

## 5376.   SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU:

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

- (a)  the  details  of  qualification,  eligibility,  role  and  process  of  appointment  of  independent members of the Grievance Appellate Committee;
- (b)  whether  the  decision  of  the  Grievance  Appellate  Committee  is  final  or  can  be  subject  to judicial review; and
- (c) the authority responsible for appointing the members of the Grievance Appellate Committee?

## ANSWER

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

(a):The  policies  of  the  Government  are  aimed  at  ensuring  an  Open,  Safe  and  Trusted  and Accountable Internet for its users. To help achieve this aim,the Central Government, in exercise of  powers  conferred  by  the  Information  Technology  Act,  2000,  has  made  the  Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 ('IT Rules, 2021'). Further, provision for  the  Grievance  Appellate  Committees  was  made  through amendments notified to the IT Rules, 2021 on 28.10.2022.

To carry out the provisions regarding the establishment of Grievance Appellate Committees and appointment  of  members  thereto,  the  Ministry  of  Electronics  and  Information  Technology invited  applications  from  eligible  candidates  for  the  position  of  whole-time  members  of  the Grievance  AppellateCommittees. The  advertisement issued for the purpose detailed the eligibility  criteria  (including  qualifications),  the  role  and  the  process  of  their  appointment  and may be viewed on the link www.meity.gov.in/appointment\_of\_whole-time\_independent\_members\_of\_ Grievance\_ Appellate\_Committee. After considering the applications  received,  the  Central  Government  has  established  three  Grievance  Appellate Committees  and  appointed  members  thereto, vide Ministry  of  Electronics  and  Information Technology's notification S.O. 442(E), dated 27.1.2023.

- (b):  The  IT  Rules,  2021 do not provide for appeal against or revision of orders passed by the Grievance Appellate Committee. However, article 32 of the Constitution guarantees citizens the right  to  move  the  Supreme  Court  by  appropriate  proceedings  for  enforcement  of  fundamental rights  and  article  226  empowers  High  Courts  to  issue  writs  for  enforcement  of  fundamental rights.
- (c):  The  Central  Government  has  established  three  Grievance  Appellate  Committees  and appointed members thereto, vide Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology's notification S.O. 442(E), dated 27.1.2023.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 5375 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-05
Subject: Coverage under NFSA
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Chinta Anuradha, Reddeppa Nallakonda Gari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5375 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5TH APRIL, 2023

## COVERAGE UNDER NFSA

5375. SHRIMATI CHINTA ANURADHA: SHRI N. REDDEPPA:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC

- (a) whether the Government has undertaken any remedial measures to address the inadequacy in coverage of the beneficiaries under the National
- Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA);
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- whether the Government has undertaken studies to ascertain the poverty levels in Statesl UTs for wider and effective coverage of the Targeted Public Distribution System; especially in Andhra Pradesh; and
- (d) if the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## A NSWE R

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a) & (b): The National Food Security Act; 2013 provides for coverage of upto 75% of the rural population and upto 50% of the urban population, which at Census 2011 comes to 81.35 crore persons:

At present, against the intended coverage of 81.35 crore, 80.11 crore beneficiaries are identified by the StateslUTs under the Act: Still, there is scope for identification of 1.24 crore additional beneficiaries under the Act by the State Governments.

Section 9 of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) provides that the percentage coverage under the Targeted Public Distribution System in rural and urban areas for each State shall be determined by the Central Government and the total number of persons to be covered in the State shall be calculated on the basis of the population estimates as per the census of which the relevant figures have been published:

At present, no proposal for revision in coverage under the Act is under consideration of the Government:

(c) & (d): Corresponding to all-India coverage f upto 75% of the rural and upto 50% of the urban population, StatelUnion Territory-wise percentage coverage was determined by the then Planning Commission (Now NITI Aayog)   using the 68th round of National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (2011-12), Tendulkar Poverty estimates (2011-2012) and 2011 Population Census and uniform methodology across states. Using a uniform approach for all the coverage was fixed for all the StateslUTs including Andhra
Lok Sabha Question No. 5370 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-05
Subject: Wireless Communication
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: S. Jagathrakshakan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5370 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH  APRIL, 2023

## WIRELESS COMMUNICATION

## 5370. SHRI S. JAGATHRAKSHAKAN:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) whether it has come to the notice of the Government that wireless communications through Low  Earth  Orbit  (LEO)  satellites  over  long  distances  is  proven  to  be  1.47  times  faster  than communication over the same distance through terrestrial optic fibre; and

(b) if so, the details of the initiatives taken/ proposed to be taken by the Government to provide a strong use case for LEO satellite networks (SatNets) to complement terrestrial optic fibre networks?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Sir, the delay caused in propagation of the electromagnetic waves depends on many factors in a network, viz, the distance, material used in the fibre, the quality of network equipment at multiple locations, transmitted signal wave length etc.
- (b) DoT has issued GMPCS (Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite) licenses to two companies utilising Low  Earth Orbit (LEO)/ Medium  Earth Orbit (MEO)  Satellite Constellations,  viz,  M/s  OneWeb  India  Communications  Private  Limited  and  Jio  Satellite Communication Limited to complement terrestrial optic fibre networks.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5369 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-05
Subject: Recruitment to Level-1 in Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: V. Kalanidhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5369 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2023

## RECRUITMENT TO LEVEL-1 IN RAILWAYS

5369.  DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the notifications for the post in Level-1 issued by RRBs from the years 2015 to 2022, years-wise;
- (b)  the total number of candidates recruited for the post in Pay Level  -1 under direct recruitment for Indian Railways from 2015 to 2022, year-wise;
- (c) the number of candidates from Tamil Nadu and Kerala in Pay Level-1 selected under direct recruitment and number given appointment during the said period, year-wise; and
- (d)  the  States  from  which  the  rest  of  the  candidates  (other  than  Tamil Nadu and Kerala) have been recruited for Pay Level-1 and the number of candidates given offer of appointment during the said period, year-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5369 BY DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 05.04.2023 REGARDING RECRUITMENT TO LEVEL-1 IN RAILWAYS

- (a) Two Centralized notifications for Recruitment to Pay Level-1 (erstwhile Group 'D') have been notified during the period 2015 to 2022.
1. CEN-02/2018 for 63,202 posts.
2. CEN-RRC-01/2019 for 1,03,769 posts.
- (b) Total number of candidates empanelled in Level-1 (erstwhile Group
- 'D') from 2015 to 2022 is as under:

| Financial Year   |   Candidates Empanelled |
|------------------|-------------------------|
| 2015-16          |                   51808 |
| 2016-17          |                    6731 |
| 2017-18          |                    5362 |
| 2018-19          |                    4766 |
| 2019-20          |                   55942 |
| 2020-21          |                    3327 |
| 2021-22          |                    1424 |

(c) and (d)   The Recruitment in Indian Railways is conducted on Pan India basis  and  State-wise  data  of  candidates  is  not  maintained  by  the Railways.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5368 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-05
Subject: Converting Metre Gauge to Broad Gauge
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: P. Ravindhranath

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5368 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2023

## CONVERTING METRE GAUGE TO BROAD GAUGE

5368.   SHRI P. RAVINDHRANATH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the status of ongoing conversion work of Broad Gauge line (BG) from Meter Gauge, at Southern Railways in his State of Tamil Nadu;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  introduce  new trains  or  extending  the  existing  route  in  his  state  of  Tamil Nadu, during the upcoming Financial Year 2023-2024; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5368 BY SHRI P. RAVINDHRANATH TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 05.04.2023 REGARDING CONVERTING METRE GAUGE TO BROAD GAUGE

(a): Railway  projects  are  sanctioned  and  taken  up  Zonal  Railwaywise  and  not  State-wise  as  the  Indian  Railways'  projects  may  span across various State boundaries. Ongoing Gauge Conversion projects namely  Madurai  -  Bodinayakkanur  (90.4  Km)  and  Tiruturaipundi  Agastiyampalli  (37  Km)  falling  in  Tamil  Nadu  have  been  completed. Further,  as  on  date,  Mettupalayam  -  Udagamandlam  (46  Km)  Metre Gauge  exist  in  Tamil  Nadu,  this  line  has  been  declared  as  Heritage line.

Since 2014, there has been substantial increase in budget outlay for infrastructure projects  and  safety  works  and  commensurate commissioning.  Average  annual  Budget  allocation  for  Infrastructure and  Safety  works,  falling  fully/  partly  in  State  of  Tamil  Nadu,  during 2014-19  has  been  enhanced  to ` 1,979  crore   per   year   from ` 879 crore per year during 2009-14, which is 125%  more than average  annual budget outlay of 2009-14. Annual budget allocation for these  projects  has  been  increased  to ` 2,410  crore  for  financial  year 2019-20  (174%  more  than  average  annual  allocation  of  2009-14), ` 2,812  crore  for  financial  year  2020-21  (220%  more  than  average annual  budget  allocation  of  2009-14), ` 3,730  crore  for  financial  year 2021-22, (324% more than average annual budget allocation of 200914)  and ` 3,865  crore  in  Financial  year  2022 - 23  (340%  more  than

average annual budget allocation during 2009-14). For Financial Year 2023-24,  the  highest  ever  budget  outlay  of ` 6,080  crore  has  been allocated for these projects, which is 592% more than average annual budget outlay of 2009-14.

(b) & (c): Introduction of new train/extension of service is an ongoing process  on  Indian  Railways  subject  to  operational  feasibility,  traffic justification, availability of rolling stock etc. However, introduction/extension of services is not done on State-wise basis, as Railway network straddle across State boundaries.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5367 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-05
Subject: Relaxing Norms to Issue More Ration Cards
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Saikia Dilip, Ranjeetsingh Naik Nimbalkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5367 TO BE ANSWERED ON APRIL, 2023

## RELAXING NORMS TO ISSUE MORE RATION CARDS

## 5367 . SHRI DILIP SAIKIA: SHRI RANJEETSINGH NAIK NIMBALKAR:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC

- (a) the status of providing ration cards under the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) Scheme which provides for making ration available through
- ration card at the place where the card holder is present;
- (b) the the extent of relief to the common man from
- study regarding inflation due to provision of ration through ration card;
- {c) whether the Government would consider relaxing the norms to enable the issuance of more ration cards, keeping in view the inflation, so that the common man can relief from it; and get
- (d) if so, the steps taken in this direction?

A NSWE R MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a): One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) plan ensures nation-wide portability of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) benefits free foodgrains through the use of samelexisting ration card issued by the respective Food & Civil Supplies Departments of StatelUT Governments: The nation-wide portability of ration cards, popularly known as One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC); has been achieved in all 36 States/UTs; i.e: across the country: With this facility entitled free foodgrains can be availed by the NFSA beneficiaries from any of the 5.34 Iakh Fair Price Shops (FPSs) located across the country: There is no requirement to issue any new ration cards under ONORC.

- (b): As a part of the Concurrent Evaluation of the implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA) and Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) operations through appointed Monitoring Institutes (MIs), which are reputed Universities and Institutes, the Department has interalia, conducted assessment of implementation of NFSA in selected districts of all the StateslUTs in a phased manner: As per the Concurrent Evaluation of NFSA (Phase-II), about 98% of the surveyed households reported receipt of free-of-cost full entitlements (5 kg food grains) under the PMGKAY scheme and the surveyed households expressed satisfaction with the quantity and quality of foodgrains provided to them:
- (c) & (d): National Food Security Act (NFSA) provides maximum coverage for about 81.35 Crore persons, out of which, currently around 80.10 crore persons are covered to avail free foodgrains under NFSA. The States/UTs can issue ration cards upto the ceiling limit   prescribed under National Food Security Act (NFSA):