opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 801 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: Decline in Forex Reserves and Depreciation of Indian Currency
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Vellalath Kochukrishnan Nair. Sreekandan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 801

TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 12, 2022

## DECLINE IN FOREX RESERVES AND DEPRECIATION OF INDIAN CURRENCY

## 801. SHRI V.K. SREEKANDAN

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there was a decline of US $ 85 billion in the foreign exchange reserves in the first half of the current fiscal year;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether in emerging markets, the Indian rupee is amongst the most depreciated currencies; and (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): The Foreign Exchange Reserves of India stood at US$ 607.31 billion as on March 31, 2022. They declined by US$ 74.65 billion to US$ 532.66 billion as on September 30, 2022. The changes in the Foreign Exchange Reserves are mainly due to the revaluation of Foreign Currency Assets to reflect prevailing global market  conditions  and  on  account  of  market  intervention  operations  of  the  Reserve  Bank  of  India  to smoothen exchange rate volatility. (c) & (d): Exchange rate of the Indian Rupee (INR) is market-determined. INR, which had earlier weakened by 8.7% against the US dollar (till October 19, 2022) has since pared some of the losses and its depreciation stands at about 6.9% in the current financial year (till November 30, 2022). In comparison to emerging market peer currencies, INR movement has been relatively stable. Further, it has performed better than most Asian peer currencies, including Chinese Renminbi (10.6%), Indonesian Rupiah (8.7%),  Philippine  Peso  (8.5%),  South  Korean  Won  (8.1%),  Taiwanese  Dollar  (7.3%)  etc  during  the financial year.  Moreover, INR has fared better than other emerging market currencies such as Turkish Lira

(21.2%), South African Rand (15.1%) and Brazilian Real (8.7%).

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 798 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: National Talent Search Examination 2022-23
Ministry: Education
Asked by: M. P. Abdussamad Samadani

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 798 ANSWERED ON 12.12.2022

## National Talent Search Examination 2022-23

798. DR. M.P. ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government noticed that the applications have not been invited for the National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) for the year 2022-23;
- (b) if so, the reasons for not conducting the exam;
- (c) whether the Government has any plan to introduce another scholarship exam instead of the existing NTSE; and
- (d) if so, the details of steps taken or to be taken by the Government to implement it in such a way that the students do not miss the opportunity in the current year?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a) to (d) The  National  Talent  Search  Scheme  (NTSS)  has  not  been  approved  for continuation in its present shape/form beyond 31.03.2021 and it has been decided to redesign the scheme to ensure that the objective of identifying and nurturing the talent is effectively met.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 796 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: NIIF Investment Platform
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Rahul Ramesh Shewale, Girish Bhalchandra Bapat, Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Pritam Gopinath Munde

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 796

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2022 / Agrahayana 21, 1944 (Saka)

## 'NIIF INVESTMENT PLATFORM'

## 796: SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE, SHRI GIRISH BHALCHANDRA BAPAT, SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU, DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) has developed an internationally credible and commercially viable investment platform;
- (b) if so, the details and the salient features thereof;
- (c) whether a Memorandum of Understanding between NIIF and Japan Bank for International Development has been signed recently;
- (d) if so, the details and the salient features thereof; and
- (e) the progress made by NIIF over the last few years and the details of sectors and projects in which investments are so far identified from such funds?

## ANSWER

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

- (a),(b)  &  (e):    Yes,  Sir.    National  Investment  and  Infrastructure  Fund  (NIIF)  is  set  up  as  a collaborative  investment  platform  between  Government  of  India,  Global  Investors, Multilateral Development Banks (MDB) and Domestic Financial Institutions.  Funds of NIIF have investments from (i) Global investors such as Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA),  AustralianSuper,  Canada  Pension  Plan  Investment  Board  (CPPIB),  Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, PSP Investments, Temasek, US International Development Finance Corporation (US DFC) (ii) MDBs such as Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), New Development Bank (NDB) and (iii) Domestic  Financial  Institutions  such  as  Axis  Bank,  HDFC  Asset  Management Company, HDFC Life Insurance, HDFC Limited, ICICI Bank and Kotak Life Insurance.

NIIF  currently  has  three  funds  namely  Master  Fund,  Fund  of  Funds  and  Strategic Opportunities  Fund  that  have  invested  in  16  entities  covering  ports  and  logistics, renewable energy, roads, digital infrastructure, healthcare and manufacturing among others.

- (c) & (d):  Yes, Sir.  The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed in November 2022 to facilitate investment across multiple sectors in India through an India Japan Fund.
Lok Sabha Question No. 793 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: ESI Dispensaries in Bhind-Datia Madhya Pradesh
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Sandhya Ray

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 793 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2022

## ESI DISPENSARIES IN BHIND-DATIA, MADHYA PRADESH

## 793.  SHRIMATI SANDHYA RAY:

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

- (a)the number of ESI dispensaries in BhindDatia, Madhya Pradesh and their operational status;
- (b)whether it is true that the Government has decided to construct a new ESI hospital in BhindDatia district of Madhya Pradesh with 100bed capacity;
- (c)if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)if  so,  the  time  by  which  the  hospital  is  expected  to  become operational?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

- (a): There is one Employees' State Insurance (ESI) dispensary in Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh, which is functional.  There is no ESI dispensary in Datia district of Madhya Pradesh.
- (b) to (d): Presently, there is no proposal to set up a 100 bedded ESI hospital in Bhind and Datia districts of Madhya Pradesh.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 791 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: Skilled Labour Force
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Dibyendu Adhikari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 791 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2022

## SKILLED LABOUR FORCE

## 791.  SHRI DIBYENDU ADHIKARI:

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

- (a)whether the Government has proposed to increase the proportion of India's formally skilled labour to at least 15 per cent by end of 2023, as per the NITI Aayog's strategy for new India in 75th Report 2019;
- (b)if  so,  the  details  of  progress  made  as  on  date,  and  if  not,  the reasons therefor including whether a revised target and/or deadline has been set in this regard; and
- (c)the  details  of  the  year-wise  growth  of  the  formally  skilled  labour force from 2014 till date?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a) to (c): India has already achieved more than 21% of skilled labour in  the  total  labour  force  in  2019  itself,  as  per  Human  Development Report 2020 of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) captures the percentages  of  the  skill  data  annually,  which  shows  an  increasing trend.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 790 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: Special Tourist Train for Ambedkar Circuit
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Margani Bharat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 790 ANSWERED ON 12.12.2022

## SPECIAL TOURIST TRAIN FOR AMBEDKAR CIRCUIT

## 790.  SHRI MARGANI BHARAT:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning to run special tourist train for Ambedkar Circuit;
- (b)
- if so, the details of the train and the circuit;
- (c) whether the above circuit is under Swadesh Darshan Scheme;
- (d) whether  there  are  any  plans  to  add  other  new  circuits  to Swadesh Darshan Scheme; and
- (e)
- if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a)  to  (e):  The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  requested  the  Ministry  of Railways to finalize appropriate tourist train circuit to facilitate people to visit the places associated with Buddhism and life of Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar. The Ministry of Tourism has revamped its Swadesh Darshan scheme as Swadesh Darshan scheme 2.0 (SD2.0) in order to develop sustainable and responsible tourist destinations with tourist & destination centric approach.

*****

## ANSWER
Lok Sabha Question No. 783 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: Development and construction of tourist centres in Uttar Pradesh
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Ramapati Ram Tripathi, Brijbhushan Sharan Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.783 ANSWERED ON 12.12.2022

## DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF TOURIST CENTRES IN UTTAR PRADESH

783.  DR. RAMAPATI RAM TRIPATHI:

SHRI BRIJBHUSHAN SHARAN SINGH:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  budget  allocated  for  the  development  and construction of tourist centres in Uttar Pradesh for the financial year 2022-23;
- (b) the  efforts  made  so  far  along  with  other  schemes  to  promote tourism in the districts of Devipatan Mandal falling under a great historical and cultural spectrum;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to open a Cultural Centre and a National Library in Uttar Pradesh; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof, district-wise?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) & (b): Ministry  of  Tourism  has  not  sanctioned  any  project  in  the State  of  Uttar  Pradesh  under its  schemes  of  'Swadesh  Darshan', 'National  Mission  on  Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual,  Heritage Augmenta tion  Drive  (PRASHAD)' and 'Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development' for the year 2022-23.

Development of Devipatan has been covered under the following Darshan project sanctioned under Spiritual Circuit of Swadesh Scheme:

(Rs. in Crore)

| State         | Name of the Circuit / Year   | Name of the Project                                                                                             |   Amt. Sanctioned |
|---------------|------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
| Uttar Pradesh | Spiritual Circuit / 2018-19  | Development of Gorakhnath Temple (Gorakhpur), Devipattan Temple (Balrampur) and Vatvashni Temple (Domariyagunj) |              18.3 |

The Ministry of Tourism promotes the tourism destinations of the country in a holistic manner including the State of Uttar Pradesh and especially Buddhist heritage of Shravasti under Devipatan Mandal. As part  of  its  ongoing  activities,  it  releases  global  print,  electronic  and online media campaigns in important and potential markets overseas, under the 'Incredible India' brand  line,  to  promote  various  tourism destinations  and  products  of  the  country,  through  its  schemes  of 'Domestic Promotion and Publicit y  inc luding  Hospitality'  (DPPH)  and 'Overseas  Promotion  &  Publicity  including  Promotions  of  various destinations  (including  Uttar  Pradesh)  are  also  regularly  undertaken through  the  website  (www.incredibleindia.org)  and  the  social  media handles of the Ministry.

(c) & (d): There  is  no  proposal  before  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  for consideration to open a Cultural Centre and a National Library in Uttar Pradesh under its existing schemes.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 782 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: Unfairness in sharing of Revenues
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Raghu Ramakrishna Raju Kanumuru, Komati Reddy Venkat Reddy, Manne Srinivas Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 782 TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY 12 th  DECEMBER, 2022 [AGRAHAYAN 21, 1944 (Saka)]

'Unfairness in sharing of Revenues'

## No.782  Sh. Kanumuru Raghu Rama Krishna Raju:

- Sh. Komati Reddy Venkat Reddy:
- Sh. Manne Srinivas Reddy:

Will the Minister of Finance be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received any complaint from the State Governments including the Telangana State Government regarding the alleged unfairness in the sharing of revenues compared to what they contribute to the economy and if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto; and
- (b) whether the Government proposes to evaluate States handling of inflation and if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

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

- a. No  Sir. The Government  has not received any complaint from the State Governments.
- b. Price  situation  of  major  essential  commodities  in  the  country  is  periodically monitored and corrective action is taken as may be necessary. They include supply side measures such as reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel (May 21, 2022), prohibition  of  export  of  wheat  products,  imposition  of  export  duty  on  rice,  etc. These measures are aimed at managing inflation across the country.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 781 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: Establishment of Schools of Archives at Kerala
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Thomas Chazhikadan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 781

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2022

## ESTABLISHMENT OF SCHOOLS OF ARCHIVES AT KERALA

## 781. SHRI THOMAS CHAZHIKADAN:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there have been established any Schools of Archives in the State of Kerala;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, whether the Government is planning to establish any School of Archives in the next two years in the State of Kerala

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) No School of Archives has been established by Ministry of Culture in Kerala.
- (c)         There is no such proposal under consideration of the Government.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 780 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: Design Innovation Centres
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Hasmukhbhai Somabhai Patel, Ratansinh Magansinh Rathod

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 780 ANSWERED ON 12-12-2022

## DESIGN INNOVATION CENTRES

## 780. SHRI PATEL HASMUKHBHAI SOMABHAI: SHRI RATANSINH MAGANSINH RATHOD:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is opening new design innovation centres;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether such centres have been opened in Gujarat during the last three years;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the funds allocated for such centres in Gujarat during the above said period?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (DR. SUBHAS SARKAR)

- (a)  and  (b) The  Government  is  implementing    the  scheme    'National  Initiative  for  Design Innovation (NIDI)'.  The Scheme inter-alia aims at setting up of 20 Design Innovation Centres (DIC)  across  the  country  for  promoting  innovation,  design  and  creative  problem-solving. Accordingly, 20 DICs have already been established and are functioning across the country.
- (c) to (e): In 2018, Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad was selected to establish the Design  Innovation  Centre  (DIC)  under  the  scheme  National  Initiative  for  Design  Innovation (NIDI).  The Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad has been granted Rs 2.80 Crore so far under the scheme for the Design Innovation Centre.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 773 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: History Syllabus in Schools
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Sunil Kumar Mondal

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.773 ANSWERED ON 12.12.2022

## History Syllabus in Schools

773. SHRI SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has planned to modify or to include in detail the forgotten great & real history of Indian (Hindu) kings & queens, their dynasty & victory who were Indian by birth under every educational board;

(b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  future  initiatives  proposed  to  be  taken  by  the Government in this regard, State and Union Territory-wise; and

(c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a) to (c): The  present  set  of  National  Council  of  Educational  Research  and  Training (NCERT) history textbooks for classes VI-XII have followed a thematic approach, wherein the rulers, queens, their dynasty & victory are stated as per the themes (chapters) of different periods.  Consequent  upon  announcement  of  the  National  Education  Policy  (NEP),  2020, preparation of a new National Curriculum Framework (NCF) has been undertaken. Syllabus and textbooks in all subjects, including History, are prepared on the basis of extant education policy and National Curriculum Framework. Education being a subject in the Concurrent List of  the  Constitution  and  the  majority  of  schools  being  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  State Governments,  it  is  for  the  respective  State  Government  to  either  adopt  or  adapt  NCERT textbooks or develop their own textbooks based on the National Curriculum Framework.  The States  have  flexibility  to  provide  more  coverage  about  personalities  and  events  in  their textbooks.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 767 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: Contract Workers in Banks
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: K. Subbarayan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 767

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 TH  DECEMBER, 2022 (MONDAY) / AGRAHANYA 21, 1944 (SAKA)

## Contract Workers in Banks

## 767.  SHRI SUBBARAYAN K.:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the public and private sector banks engage contract workers;
- (b) if so, the details thereof including the activities/ services for which they are engaged, number and category-wise including security guards;
- (c) the total number of contract workers engaged in the public sector banks as on date, categorywise;
- (d)  whether  these  contract  workers  are  paid  the  same  salary  and  working  conditions  as  that of permanent workers, if so, the details thereof, category-wise; and
- (e) if not, the steps taken by the Government to enforce payment of equal wages to such workers?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to  (e):  As  per  Public  Sector Banks (PSBs) and Indian Banks' Association, public and private sector banks utilize the services of outsourced agencies to engage the contract workers for non-core banking activities, such as housekeeping, security guards, ATM guards, etc. This outsourcing is done  as  per  Reserve  Bank  of  India's  (RBI)  guidelines  regarding  engaging  contract  workers  on contract basis. The wages to such contract workers are paid as per the minimum wages prescribed by the government from time to time. The total number of contract workers, category-wise, as on date, in PSBs is as under-

| Category                                                                                                                 |   Number of Contract Workers |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|
| Housekeeping                                                                                                             |                         5719 |
| Security Guard                                                                                                           |                        29865 |
| Cash Movement                                                                                                            |                         3266 |
| IT Related Services                                                                                                      |                         1054 |
| Catering / Cafeteria Services                                                                                            |                          290 |
| Others (Maintenance, CTS Clearing, Call Centre, ATM Caretaker, Reconciliation Activities, Technical Support Staff, etc.) |                        46802 |

Source : Public Sector Banks
Lok Sabha Question No. 766 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: Enquiry by ED in Black Money Case in Kerala
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 766

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE 12 th  DECEMBER, 2022

AGRAHAYANA 21, 1944 (SAKA)

## Enquiry by ED in Black Money Case in Kerala

766.  SHRI HIBI EDEN:

- Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state: (a) whether the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is carrying out any enquiry into the incidents related to the black money case in Kodakara, Kerala and if so, the status thereof and the details of matters under investigation; (b) whether the investigation by the ED is at the preliminary stage and if so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  reasons  if  any,  for  the  delay  in  the investigation; whether the Government is aware that ED was not taking any action
- (c) despite the detection of an economic offence involving crores of rupees; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d)  Yes. On the basis of complaints received from various persons, the Directorate  of  Enforcement  (ED)  has  initiated  enquiry  regarding  the  cash seizure by Kodakara PS. Further details and documents were called for from the  Kerala  Police  on  multiple  occasions  and  their  reply  is  awaited  in  the matter.

*****