opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 698 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-07
Subject: Audit of Expenditure of Private Companies
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Ritesh Pandey

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 698 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7 th  FEBRUARY, 2022

## Audit of Expenditure of Private Companies

## 698. SHRI RITESH PANDEY:

## Will the Minister of Finance be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  proposed  to  get  an  audit  conducted  by  the Comptroller and Auditor General of India  of  the  expenditure of  private  companies  in Public Private Partnership (PPP)  projects;
- (b) If so, the details thereof along with the present status of such proposals and if not, the  reasons therefor;
- (c) the  present norms for auditing such expenditure;
- (d) whether the Government has any mechanism to check the genuineness of the cost escalation  reported by companies under PPP projects; and
- (e) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons  therefor  along  with  corrective measures taken  or planned by the Government?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (e):  The  Comptroller  &  Auditor  General`s  (Duties,  Powers  &  Conditions  of Service)  Act, 1971 provides for audit of all expenditures from the Consolidated Fund of India;  transactions of the Union and the States relating to Contingency Funds and Public  Accounts;  as  well  as  trading,  manufacture,  profit  and  loss  accounts  and balance  sheets  of  any  Department  of  the  Union  or  of  a  State.  The  Joint  Ventures (JVs) incorporated under Companies  Act, 1956/2013, in which government/a government company in combination with other Companies/Corporations holds less than 51 per cent of the paid up capital of the concerned JV company or subsidiaries of PSU,  incorporated  outside  India  are  not  subject  to  audit  by  C&AG  within  the framework of C&AGs (DPC) Act, 1971 or the Companies Act, 1956/2013. The PPP projects,  through  audit  of  Contracting Authority  are  audited  by  the  Comptroller  & Auditor General (C&AG). The C&AG can audit the  process of selection of the private partners  by  the  Public  Authority,  the  agreements  entered  for  PPP  projects  and implementation  thereof.  Award  of  PPP  projects  by  Government,  expenditure  by Government for PPP projects and monitoring of projects by Government are subject to Government Audit. However, the Special Purpose Vehicles formed by the private parties  for  execution  of  PPP  projects  are  not  subjected  to  Government  Audit.  The audit of SPVs is conducted by Statutory Auditors as per Income Tax Act/Companies Act and they are appointed in consultation with the  Sponsoring/Implementing Authorities.  The  genuineness  of  the  cost  escalation  of  PPP  projects  are  usually undertaken by the Independent Engineer appointed by the SPV in consultation with the Sponsoring Authority. Further in PPP projects, cost escalation if any, is borne by the Concessionaire/private entity of the project.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 697 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-07
Subject: Loan to Educated Unemployed Persons
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: S. Gnanathiraviam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA

## UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 697

TO BE ANSWERED ON 7 th  FEBRUARY, 2022 / MAGHA 18, 1943 (SAKA)

## Loan to Educated Unemployed Persons

## 697 : SHRI GNANATHIRAVIAM S.

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  raise  the  age  of  educated  unemployed persons to get loan for self-employment;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the decisions taken in this regard;
- (c) the details of the interest rates of the nationalised banks for this kind of loans at present; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to reduce these interest rates for the welfare of unemployed persons, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): The Reserve Bank of India has informed that, as per its instructions, banks are required to have their own Board-approved loan policy, which guides the providing of loans and advances by them. It has further informed that it has deregulated the interest rate on advances sanctioned by banks and, accordingly, banks themselves determine their interest rates with the approval of their respective Boards of directors, subject to its regulatory guidelines in this regard. As such, Government does not determine the age for a borrower to get a loan and it also does not fix the interest rates on loans.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 695 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-07
Subject: Disinvestment of NINL
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Mahesh Sahoo

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## DEPARTMENT OF INVESTMENT AND PUBLIC ASSET MANAGEMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 695

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 07, 2022

Magha 18, 1943 (Saka)

## Disinvestment of NINL

695.  SHRI MAHESH SAHOO: Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state: (a) the number of days/months/years likely to be taken to complete disinvestment of the Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited (NINL), Odisha as four number of deadlines for completion of disinvestment of NINL has already been crossed, salary is due since March 2020 and 17 number of employees have already expired after the stoppage of plant operation from March 2020 due to stoppage of salary and indoor medical facilities; and (b) the reasons for not starting operations of NINL by merging with SAIL/RINL/NMDC as

NINL has a captive mine of reserve of 110 million tonnes of iron ore?

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

(a)  to  (b):    Government  has  selected  the  strategic  partner  for  Neelachal  Ispat  Nigam Limited through the extant procedure based on transparent and competitive bidding. The plant of NINL is shut since March, 2020. The NINL management paid salary (Basic + DA) /wages to employees/workers upto March, 2021. The selling Shareholders namely MMTC Limited, NMDC Limited, Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) and MECON Limited and 2  State  PSUs  of  Odisha  Government,  namely,  Industrial  Promotion  and  Investment Corporation  of  Orissa  Limited  (IPICOL)  and  Odisha  Mining  Corporation  Limited  (OMC) have  inter-se  signed  a  Waterfall  Agreement  amongst  themselves  for  distribution  of disinvestment receipts, which gives priority to payment of dues of employees of NINL.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 693 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-07
Subject: Reservation in Educational Institutions
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Nalin Kumar Kateel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.693 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2022

## Reservation in Educational Institutions

## 693. SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION  be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  there  is  a  persistent  demand  from  various communities for reservation in educational institutions;
- (b) if so, whether the Government has taken note that such demands are taking place in all parts of the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  ensure  all  the  poor  of  the  society  would  get  the benefits of reservation in educational institutions;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  the  necessary  steps  taken  or  proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  work  out  an effective reservation policy for the welfare of all the weaker sections in all the cateogries of the society in this regard?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (Dr. SUBHAS SARKAR)

- (a)  &  (b):  The  Department  of  Social  Justice  and  Empowerment  (D/oSJ&E)  is  the  nodal Department  for  the overall policy, planning and  coordination of programmes  for  the development of the Scheduled Castes (SCs); Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs); Denotified Tribes and Economically Backward Classes. The D/o SJ&E has informed that,  all  demands  received  for  inclusion  of  caste/communities  in  the  list  of  Other  Backward Castes (OBCs) are considered in consultation with the concerned State Governments and the Hon'ble National Commission for Backward Classes.

(c) to (e): The D/o SJ&E has further informed that by way of 103 rd  Constitution Amendment, reservation  to  the  extent  of  10%  in  services  and  posts  in  favour  of  Economically  Weaker Sections  (EWS)  have  been  provided.  In  pursuance  thereto,  the  Department  of  Higher Education  (D/o  HE),  vide  O.M.  No.  12-4/2019-U1  dated  17.01.2019,  has  also  issued instructions for providing reservation for EWSs  for  admission  in Central Educational Institutions (CEIs). Further, an additional financial allocation of Rs. 4315.15 crores has been made for the creation of additional 2,14,766 seats in 158 Central Educational Institutions.

The  D/o  HE  has  also  notified  'The  Central  Educational  Institutions  (Reservation  in Admission) Act, 2006' to provide for the reservation in admission of students belonging to the SCs, STs and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) of citizens in CEIs established, maintained or aided by the Central Government.

The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation  in Teachers' Cadre) Act, 2019 has also been notified to provide for the reservation of posts in appointments by direct recruitment of  persons  belonging  to  the  SCs,  STs,  SEBCs  and  EWSs  to  teachers'  cadre  in  CEIs established, maintained or aided by the Central Government.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 60 (STARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Infrastructural Development under National Digital Health Mission
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Rajendra Agrawal, Anil Firojiya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WERLFAE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.60 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 4 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022

## INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT UNDER NATIONAL DIGITAL HEALTH MISSION

## *60. SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL: SHRI ANIL FIROJIYA:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  assessed  the  requirement  of  infrastructure  and administrative support under the National Digital Health Mission;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to involve the private sector through a PPP Model under various initiatives of the scheme;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government has taken any steps to provide benefits of the scheme to the poor and those affected by digital divide; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (DR MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

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

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 60* FOR 4 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022

(a)  to  (f) Government  of  India  has  launched  Ayushman  Bharat  Digital  Mission (ABDM) which aims to create a platform enabling interoperability of health data within the  health  ecosystem  to  create  longitudinal  Electronic  Health  Record  (EHR)  of  every citizen. ABDM is implemented by National Health Authority (NHA).

The infrastructure required for development of interoperable digital platform & certain  modules  under  the  National  Digital  Health  Mission  (now  Ayushman  Bharat Digital Mission) has broadly been assessed and identified in line with the objectives of ABDM.

For  administrative  support,  various  policy  frameworks  such  as  Health  Data Management Policy, Sandbox Guidelines, Health Information Provider Guidelines etc. have been prepared and issued for smooth implementation of ABDM. NHA is providing necessary  support  including  technical  assistance  and  training,  for  all  stakeholders  to integrate their solutions under ABDM ecosystem.

Both  public  and  private  sector  IT  solutions  in  health  are  integrated  through various  registries  under  ABDM  through  the  sandbox  environment  to  aid  creation  of longitudinal EHR across the country.

Government  has  taken  various  steps  to  ensure  that  the  benefits  of  the  mission reach every citizen. Inclusion is one of the key principles of ABDM. The digital health ecosystem created by ABDM supports continuity of care across primary, secondary and tertiary  healthcare  in  a  seamless  manner.  It  aids  availability  of  health  care  services particularly  in  remote  and  rural  areas  through  various  technology  interventions  like telemedicine etc.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 690 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: COVID-19 Vaccine Doses
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Manoj Kishorbhai Kotak

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 690 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 4 TH  FEBRUARY    2022

## COVID-19 VACCINE DOSES

## 690. SHRIMATI RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE: SHRI MANOJ KOTAK:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the vaccination drive reached 160 Crore doses in the country till date and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the number of first and second doses administered to age groups 15-17 years, 18-44 years, 45-59 years and 60 and above years, age group and dose-wise;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to reach target of 100 percent vaccination of the population and to start precaution doses to all age group;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the outcome thereon; and
- (e) the details of the availability of vaccines in the country to carry out initial two dose vaccination followed by precaution doses to all age groups?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (e) As on 31 st January 2022, under National COVID-19 vaccination programme, a total of 166.04 crore vaccine doses has been administered in the country. Age group wise, dose wise details are as under:

| Dose     | 15-18 years   | 18-44 years   | 45-59 years   | 60 years &above   |
|----------|---------------|---------------|---------------|-------------------|
| 1st dose | 4,59,99,539   | 54,03,78,710  | 20,01,78,297  | 12,48,06,178      |
| 2nd dose | -             | 40,37,34,228  | 17,09,81,480  | 10,65,72,253      |

The  administration  of  precaution  dose  to  Health  Care  Workers,  Front  Line  Workers  and persons aged 60 years and above  has  started  under  National  COVID-19  Vaccination Programme from 10 th January 2022. The covid vaccination is voluntary in nature. Any decision on extension of eligible beneficiaries for precaution dose and vaccination of children below 15 years  of  age  is  as  per  the  recommendations  of  The  National  Technical  Advisory  Group  on Immunization (NTAGI) on the basis of review of available scientific evidences.

As  on  31 st January  2022,  a  total  of  11.42  crore  vaccine  doses  is  available  with  State/UTs. Adequate  Covid-19  vaccine  doses  are  made  available  to  State/UTs  to  vaccinate  all  eligible beneficiaries with 1 st dose, 2 nd dose and precaution dose.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 687 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Emergency use listing of Covaxin for Age Group 15 to 18
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Balubhau (Alias Suresh Narayan) Dhanorkar, Adoor Prakash

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 687 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04 th  FEBRUARY 2022

## EMERGNECY USE LISTING OF COVAXIN FOR AGE GROUP 15 TO 18

## 687. SHRI BALUBHAU ALIAS SURESH NARAYAN DHANORKAR: ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has, prescribed the administration of Covaxin in the 15-18 age group, post approval for emergency use listing (EUL) by the World Health Organization for children;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor and steps being taken to ensure that such approval is granted;
- (d) the details of countries which have not approved Covaxin; and
- (e) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  get  approval  for  Covaxin  from  the  remaining countries?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a)  to  (e)  Covaxin  has  been  granted Emergency  Use  Listing (EUL) by National Regulator i.e. Drug Controller General of India (DCG(I)) in the age-group from 12 to 18 years on 24 th December 2021. The COVID-19 Working Group of NTAGI recommended Covid-19 vaccination in adolescents aged 15  years  to  less  than  18  years.  On  recommendation  of  COVID-19  Working  Group  and  Standing Technical Subcommittee of National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI), Government of India has started vaccination of adolescents aged 15 years to less than 18 years from 3rd January 2022.

Grant of approval to a vaccine by any country is a technical and scientific process for which data is to be submitted to the regulator by the vaccine manufacturer as per the prescribed rules. According to the WHO  (https://covid19.trackvaccines.org/agency/who/) ,  as  on  31  January  2022,  Covaxin  has  been granted EUL in 13 countries.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 684 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Average OSBD of Cargo
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Maddila  Gurumoorthy, Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, Talari Rangaiah

## GOVERNMENT  OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING  AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 684

ANSWERED ON O4IO2I2O22

## AVERAGE OSBD OF CARGO

684. SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY:

SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY:

SHRI TALARI RANGAIAH:

## Will the Minister  of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state: qf,{,  d-d qftfri{ .lilt il-oqFf d-fi

- (a) whether there had been a decrease in average  Output per Ship Berth day (osBD);
- (b) whether  the Government  has taken any steps for increasing  average osBD and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government  has developed a road map for improving the average bSgO to enable our country to become a cargo hub for nearby  countries and if so, the details  thereof  and if not, the reasons  therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA  SONOWAL)

- (a) Yes Sir. There had been decrease in the Average output Per Ship Berthday in the year 2020-21 due to impact of Covid-19.
- (b)&(c) lmprovement  in Average Output  per Ship Berthday at Major Ports is an Jrigding  process.  port  Projects such as installation  of state-ofthe-art  equipment, me-chaiisation  of cargo nand'ling system,  etc. help in increasing  the Average Output  Per Ship Berthday at Major ports. With'the objective  of propelling lndia to the. forefront of the Global  Maritime sector, Ministry of Ports, shipping and waterurays  has formulated Maritime lndia Vision 2030 (MlV 2030), a blueprint to ensure coordinated  and accelerated  groMh of lndia's maritime  secior in the next decade'
Lok Sabha Question No. 683 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Linkage of Aadhaar with Voter ID
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: K. Muraleedharan, Behanan Benny, A. Chellakumar, T.N. Prathapan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 683

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, 04 th   FEBRUARY, 2022

## LINKAGE OF AADHAR WITH VOTER ID

683.  SHRI K. MURALEEDHARAN: SHRI BENNY BEHANAN: DR. A. CHELLAKUMAR:

- SHRI T.N.PRATHAPAN:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether third parties and Government authorities would have access to  the  link  between  the  Aadhaar and the Voter ID and if so, the list of entities with such access;
- (b) whether there are protocols to determine the approval or rejection of access to this database;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) the detailed rationale given by the Government for using Aadhaar as a legitimate means  to  authenticate  citizenship  passes  the  test  of proportionality in the Puttaswamy Judgment;
- (e)  whether the  Government has formulated a protocol to authenticate citizenship using Aadhaar; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

- (a)   to (c):  No Sir, no such link will be created.  Hence, question does not arise.
- (d) to (f):  Aadhar is not the proof of citizenship. Hence, question does not arise.
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Lok Sabha Question No. 682 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Soldiers Deployed in UN Peacekeeping Mission
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Ashok Mahadeorao Nete, Ashok Kumar Rawat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 682

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022

## SOLDIERS DEPLOYED IN UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION

682. SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE: SHRI ASHOK KUMAR RAWAT:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Indian Army is sent to other countries to help in peacekeeping under the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the number of such Indian soldiers sent to other countries under the said Mission along with the soldiers who got injured/martyred, as on date;
- (c) whether there has been a delay in payment to the troops of Indian Army deployed under the UN Peacekeeping Mission;
- (d) if so, the total outstanding amount pending so far along with the reasons for the delay; and
- (e) the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard?

## A  N  S  W  E  R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI AJAY BHATT)

- (a)  Yes, Sir. Indian Army (IA) has been contributing personnel to other countries to help in peacekeeping under the UN peacekeeping missions since 1950.
- (b)  At present 5,404 Indian peacekeepers are deployed in eight UN Missions. Details are as under:-

| Serial No.   | Mission                                |   Strength Deployed |
|--------------|----------------------------------------|---------------------|
| (i)          | MONUSCO (Democratic Republic of Congo) |                1910 |
| (ii)         | UNMISS (South Sudan)                   |                2410 |
| (iii)        | UNIFIL (Lebanon)                       |                 867 |

| (iv)   | UNDOF (Golan Heights)    |   199 |
|--------|--------------------------|-------|
| (v)    | UNISFA (Abyei)           |    07 |
| (vi)   | MINURSO (Western Sahara) |    03 |
| (vii)  | UNTSO (Middle East)      |    02 |
| (viii) | UNFICYP (Cyprus)         |    01 |
| (ix)   | UNDPO (New York)         |    05 |
| Total  | Total                    |  5404 |

- 159 Indian Army (IA) personnel have made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty while serving with UN Missions till date.
- (c) to (e):  Presently, Indian Army (IA) personnel deployed in UN Missions are paid their salary by the Indian Government and Over Seas Allowances (OSA) by UN. There are no delays in the payment to the personnel of Indian Army (IA) deployed in UN Missions.

*****