opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2566 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-10
Subject: Data Centre Infrastructure
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Bhola Singh, Jayanta Kumar Roy, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Sukanta Majumdar, Rajveer (Raju Bhaiya) Singh, Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Sarmistha Sethi, Raja Amareshwara Naik

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (MeitY)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2566

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 10.03.2021

## DATA CENTRE INFRASTRUCTURE

## 2566   SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:

SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

SHRI RAJVEER SINGH (RAJU BAAIYA):

SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

SHRIMATI SARMISTHA SETHI:

SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK:

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

- (a) whether the development of data centre infrastructure in India for protection of the digital sovereignty in an increasingly connected world has become a necessity for the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  proposed  to  set  up  the  Data  Centre  Incentivisation  (DCI) Scheme and Data Center Economic Zone (DCEZ) Scheme;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government has recently released the draft for Data Center Policy, 2020; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to transform India into a global data center hub?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

(a) and (b):  Yes, Sir. The growth in the Data Centre market in India is in conjunction with the volume of data generated via telecom, digital consumers, emerging businesses, digital government and emerging technologies. Thus, need for Data Centre infrastructure in the country already opensup a potential opportunity for investments in sync with data localization provisions under proposed Data Protection Bill. In order to cater the data hosting requirements within the country, Data Centre sector needs to be facilitated by Government to mitigate the disabilities and facilitate them to develop Data Centre infrastructure in India.

- (a) and (d):  As of now, there is no such proposal.
- (e)  and  (f):    Yes  Sir.The  draft  National  Data  Centre  Policy  2021  was  released  for  public consultation from 5 th November 2020 to 30 th November 2020 on this Ministry's website. Based

on  the  inputs  received,  the  National  Data  Centre  Policy  is  being  finalised  toenable  India  in becoming a global Data Centre hub.

- ******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2564 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-10
Subject: New Train from Tirunelveli
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: S. Venkatesan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2564 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.03.2021

## NEW TRAIN FROM TIRUNELVELI

2564. SHRI S. VENKATESAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government proposes to operate a new train with the name of  Thamirabarani  Daily  Express  from  Tirunelveli  to  Tambaram  via  Tenkasi, Madurai to provide first time connection from Ambasamudram/ Pavurchutram to Chennai; and

- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) & (b) Prior to discontinuation of regular passenger carrying trains w.e.f  23.03.2020,  5  pairs  of  trains  served  the  Tenkasi-Tirunelveli sector. Similarly, 3 pairs of train served the Tenkasi-Chennai sector. Introduction  of  direct  train  between  Tirunelveli  and  Tambaram  via Tenkasi,  Madurai  is  not  feasible,  at  present,  due  to  operational  and resource  constraints.  However,  introduction  of  trains  is  an  ongoing process  on  Indian  Railways  subject  to  operational  feasibility,  traffic demand and availability of resources etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2563 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-10
Subject: Digital Payment Policy
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Pushpendra Singh Chandel, Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2563

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.03.2021

## DIGITAL PAYMENT POLICY

## 2563    SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL: SHRIMATI MALARAJYALAXMI  SHAH:

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

- (a) whether  the Government has taken any steps to bring in more transparency in the digital payment policy of the companies/industries providing digital payment facility;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has made any assessment of the losses incurred by the consumers due to non-transparent policies of such companies; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

(a) and  (b):  Yes, Sir. RBI has introduced 'Ombudsman Scheme for Digital Transactions, 2019' in the public interest and in the interest of fair conduct of business relating to payment systems, to provide   a mechanism of Ombudsman for redressal of complaints against deficiency in services related to digital  transactions.  Further,  as  per  the  Union  Budget  2019-20,  the  business establishments with annual turnover more than Rs.50 crore have been mandated to offer low cost digital modes of payment to their customers and no charges or Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) shall be imposed on customers as well as merchants.With effect from 01.01.2020, Government has  waived  off  all  charges  including  the  Merchant  Discount  Rate  (MDR)  on  payments  done through RuPay Debit cards; BHIM-UPI; and UPI QR Code/ BHIM-UPI QR Code by bringing suitable amendments in Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (PSS Act, 2007) and Incometax Act, 1961 (IT Act, 1961).

(c) and (d):  No specific data is available

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 2562 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-10
Subject: Central Vigilance Commission
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: Sadashiv Kisan Lokhande

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL AND TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2562 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.03.2021)

## CENTRAL VIGILANCE COMMISSION

## †2562. SHRI SADASHIV KISAN LOKHANDE:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Central Vigilance Commission  (CVC)  has  received any complaints especially from public representatives during the last one year till date;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  regarding  number  and  nature  of complaints received particularly  from public representatives as on date;
- (c) whether any inquiry into the above complaints has been conducted or being conducted by the CVC; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a)  to  (d):    As  per  information  provided  by  the  Central  Vigilance  Commission  (CVC),  data relating  to  complaints  received  in  CVC  from  'representatives  of  people'  is  not  maintained separately.  However,  details  of  all  complaints  received  in  the  Commission  and  action  taken thereon during the last one year and current year (upto February 2021) are as follows:

| Year            | No. of complaints received*   | Action Taken                                 | Action Taken                                | Action Taken   | Pending   |
|-----------------|-------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|----------------|-----------|
|                 |                               | Sent for investigation and report to CVO/CBI | Sent for necessary action to CVOs concerned | Filed          |           |
| 2020            | 27590                         | 140                                          | 15004                                       | 10688          | 1758      |
| Up to Feb, 2021 | 5922                          | 14                                           | 2853                                        | 1940           | 1115      |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2561 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-10
Subject: RO-RO Train Service
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dipsinh Shankarsinh Rathod, Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2561 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.03.2021

## RO-RO TRAIN SERVICE

2561.   SHRI DIPSINH SHANKARSINH RATHOD: SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJI KUNDARIYA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government is aware  that Saurashtra  including Rajkot and Morbi are major hubs of manufacturing and transporting of essential commodities along with ceramic tiles to various parts of the country;
- (b)    whether the Government is contemplating to operationalise RO-RO train service from Gujarat to various parts of the country;
- (c)  if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a): Yes, Sir.
- (b) to (d):  As per extant practice, Zonal Railways receive the proposals for RO-RO services from parties and forward the same to Railway Board for  evaluation.    Two  proposals  were  received  by  Railways  for  RO-RO traffic from Rajkot to Surathkal, which were subsequently withdrawn by the parties.

An  in-principle  approval  for  operation  of  RO-RO  service  between New  Palanpur-New  Rewari  stations  over  Dedicated  Freight  Corridor

Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) has also been given.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2559 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-10
Subject: Vacancies in Safety Category
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Balashowry Vallabbhaneni

- (a):  No, Sir.
- (b):  Does not arise.
- (c):  No, Sir.
- (d):  Does not arise.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2559 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.03.2021

## VACANCIES IN SAFETY CATEGORY

## 2559.  SHRI BALASHOWRY VALLABHANENI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether deaths at unmanned level crossings are hovering between 12,000 and 13,000 every year between 2015 and 2020;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  cause  of  these  deaths  have  been  attributed  to  the lesser  staff  posted  in  safety  category  and  large  number  of vacancies; and
- (d) if  so,  the  details  of  vacancies  in  safety  category  of  Railways  at present zone-wise and the efforts being made to appoint personnel on regular basis?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2558 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-10
Subject: OFC Connectivity in Madhya Pradesh
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Riti Pathak, Rajan Baburao  Vichare

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2558 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH  MARCH, 2021

## OFC CONNECTIVITY IN MADHYA PRADESH

†2558. SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK: SHRI RAJAN VICHARE:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state the number of villages in Sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh which have been connected by Optical Fiber Cable (OFC)?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS, EDUCATION AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to create network to connect all the Gram Panchayats (approximately 2.5 lakh) with broadband in the country, including Sidhi District  of  Madhya  Pradesh.  As  of  now,  152  Gram  Panchayats  (including  Block  Headquarters) have  been  connected  over  Optical  Fiber  Cable  (OFC)  and  also  made  Service  Ready  in  Sidhi District.

************
Lok Sabha Question No. 2557 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-10
Subject: Startup India Programme
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel, Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2557. TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 10 TH  MARCH, 2021.

## STARTUP INDIA PROGRAMME

## 2557.  SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL: SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

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

वाणिज्य

## एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) the main objective of Startup Programme;
- (b) the manner in which traders are provided funding assistance and incentives under the said programme;  and
- (c) the number of traders in Gujarat who have been provided assistance under the said programme?

## 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): Startup India is a flagship initiative aims to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and Startups in the country that will drive sustainable economic growth and  generate  large  scale  employment  opportunities.   Further  to  this,  an  Action Plan for Startup India was unveiled by Prime Minister of India on 16th January, 2016. The Action Plan comprises of 19 action items spanning across areas such as  'Simplification  and  hand-holding',  'Funding  support  and  incentives'  and 'Industry-academia partnership and incubation'.
- (b): The  Fund  of  Funds  for  Startups  (FFS)  has  been  established  by  DPIIT  in  June 2016 with a corpus of Rs 10,000 crore to provide a much needed boost to the Indian startup ecosystem and enable access to domestic capital. The objectives of Fund  of  Funds  include  accelerating  innovation  driven  entrepreneurship  and business creation, mobilizing larger equity-like resources for startups. The Fund of Funds does not directly invest in startups but provides capital to SEBI-registered Alternate Investment Funds (AIFs), known as daughter funds, who in turn invest money  in  growing  Indian  startups  through  equity  and  equity-linked  instruments. Startups recognized by DPIIT including trading activities are eligible for assistance under the scheme.
- (c): Nil.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2555 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-10
Subject: Anti-Radiation Pack
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Bhagwant Mann, Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2555

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.03.2021

## ANTI-RADIATION PACK

## 2555.   SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA:

## SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  certain  fraudsters  are  selling  material  with dubious names of 'anti-radiation pack' and 'Rice-puller', etc. having radio-activity and certified by BARC/DAE;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the remedial steps taken by the Government to check such illegal activities?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (Dr. JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a) Yes, Sir.
- (b) Crisis Management Group (CMG), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Bhabha Atomic  Research  Centre  (BARC)  keep  getting  alerts/intimation  very  frequently regarding fraudulent transactions involving certain material labelled as 'Rice-puller', 'Anti-radiation  pack',  etc.  Fraudsters  trap  innocent  businessmen  and  others  and convince them that the material is radioactive and has magical powers to increase the  fortune.  The  fraudsters  show  manipulated  documents  purported  to  be  from BARC/DAE etc. to convince the clients about authenticity of the material and cheat the innocent people. Many a times, the victims approach the local police who send the material to BARC to check for radioactivity and in all cases the material is found to be devoid of radioactivity.
- (c) The information about fraudsters selling such material with dubious names of 'Antiradiation  pack',  and  'Rice-puller',  etc.,  claiming  to  be  certified  by  BARC/DAE  is addressed  in  all  the  Public  Awareness  Programmes  conducted  by  DAE  and participants  are  requested  to  bring  into  the  notice  of  law  enforcement  agencies  of such incidences.  This information is also provided to the participants of the various training programmes conducted for security and response agencies on 'response to radiation emergencies'. A press release has been released recently through PIB to warn public about such fraudulent activities.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2554 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-10
Subject: Fund Requirement through Borrowings
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Manne Srinivas Reddy, Komati Reddy Venkat Reddy, Geetha Viswanath Vanga, Kotha Prabhakar  Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2554 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.03.2021

## FUND REQUIREMENT THROUGH BORROWINGS

2554. SHRI MANNE SRINIVAS REDDY:

SHRI KOMATI REDDY VENKAT REDDY:

SHRIMATI VANGA GEETHA VISWANATH:

SHRI KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps being taken to meet fund requirement through borrowings  for  financing  the  National  Project  of  Railways  along with the repayment liability in the last five years and the current year as on date; and
- (b)
- the future action plan chalked out in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a)  &  (b)  :  Funds  for  National  Projects  are  provided  through  Gross Budgetary Support from General Exchequer. For accelerated progress of  identified  National  Projects  in  2018-19  and  2019-20,  Ministry  of Finance  approved  financing  from  borrowings  under  Extra  Budgetary Resources (EBR). Accordingly, expenditure of ₹ 5078.57 crore in 201819 and ₹ 2498.41 crore in 2019-20 was incurred on National Projects from EBR.

There  was  no  repayment  liability  on  this  account  during  the  last  five years and the current year (2020-21).  Repayment of EBR for National Projects  will  start  from  2021-22.  Provision  for  repayment  and  lease charges for the same in 2021-22 has been made by Ministry of Finance under Gross Budgetary Support.

For  2021-22, ₹ 12985  crore  have  been  provided  for  National  Projects from Gross Budgetary Support.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2552 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-10
Subject: Vaccination for Frontline Railway Staff
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Bheemrao Baswanthrao Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2552 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.03.2021

## VACCINATION FOR FRONTLINE RAILWAY STAFF

2552. SHRI B. B. PATIL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the railways has undertaken measures to vaccinate its employees especially for frontline railway staff;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Railways is ensuring vaccination of all its employees; and
- (d) if so, the number of vaccines required along with the details of strategy devised to vaccinate all its employees?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a)  to (c) Yes, Sir. Vaccination of Railway employees is being done in  a  phased  manner.  In  the  first  phase  Railway  health  care  and Railway Protection Force (RPF) staff are being vaccinated. Till now, 18,964  Railway  health  care  staff  and  48,994  RPF  staff  have  been vaccinated.
- (d) 3,22,322 front line, Railway employees have been identified for vaccination in the next phase.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2549 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-10
Subject: High Speed Rail Corridors
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: S. Gnanathiraviam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2549 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.03.2021

## HIGH SPEED RAIL CORRIDORS

2549. SHRI GNANATHIRAVIAM S.:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Railways  has  selected  seven  routes  for  High  Speed Rail Corridors, including Hederabad-Chennai-Bengaluru;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  all  these  routes  will  be  elevated  corridors  along  the national highways;
- (d) whether  the  above  pattern  will  minimise  land  acquisition  costs; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a)  to  (e):  Railways  has  assigned  the  work  for  the  preparation  of Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the following seven new High Speed Rail (HSR) corridors to National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) :
- (i) Delhi-Noida-Agra-Kanpur-Lucknow-Varanasi
- (ii) Delhi-Jaipur-Udaipur-Ahmedabad
- (iii)
- Mumbai-Nasik-Nagpur
- (iv)
- (v)
- Mumbai-Pune-Hyderabad
- Chennai-Bangalore-Mysore
- (vi) Delhi-Chandigarh-Ludhiana-Jalandhar-Amritsar
- (vii)
- Varanasi-Patna-Howrah

None  of  the  above  seven  High  Speed corridor is sanctioned as yet.

Cont…

The decision on sanctioning any HSR project depends on the outcome of Detailed Project Report, techno-economic feasibility, availability of resources and financing options.

The preparation of DPRs is still in progress and alignment/route for the corridors has yet not been finalised.

*****