opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2332 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-15
Subject: Elephant Gate Bridge Repair Project
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dayanidhi Maran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2332 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2023

## ELEPHANT GATE BRIDGE REPAIR PROJECT

## 2332.  SHRI DAYANIDHI MARAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  status  of  the  Elephant  Gate  Bridge  repair  projects  under execution in  Chennai along with  the  date  of  sanction,  status  of different  works  under  the  project,  timelines,  expected  date  of completion and allocation/utilization of funds;
- (b) the  difficulties  holding  up  this  project  along  with  the  remedial measures being taken by the Ministry in this regard;
- (c) whether  the  Ministry  has  taken  note  of  the  severe  hardships caused  due  to  the  inordinate  delays  in  this  project,  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Ministry  has  sought  or  held  consultations  with  the public    on this issue and the hardships caused by the delay in the repair works; and
- (e)
- if so, the outcome in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (e):    Estimate  for  reconstruction  of  Road  Over  Bridge  (ROB) No.9R (Elephant Gate ROB) duly demolishing the existing bridge was sanctioned on 12.07.2018. Subsequently agency was fixed on

16.04.2020.  This  02  lane  ROB  was  proposed  with  Bowstring  Steel Girders in Railway portion (consisting of 03 spans) with a cost sharing of  50:50  by  Railways  and  Greater  Chennai  Corporation  for  one  span alongwith Road approaches and with 100% Railway cost for other two spans  in  Railway  portion.    An  amount ` 23.39  crore  allotted  out  of which ` 20.85  crore  utilized.  The  Railway  portion  (bridge  portion)  of Bowstring  Steel  Girders  is  being  executed  by  the  Railways  and  the Road approaches are being executed by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and the work is in progress.   The progress of work was affected due to Covid  -19 pendamic related restriction  Now the work is taken up at fast pace to avoid hardship to the public.   Now all the  substructure  works  in  Railways  portion  completed  and  trestle beam works are in progress.  Out of 06 Bow String Girder, 02 Girders have been fabricated. Approach portion embankment work is in progress by State Govt. The completion  of  work  depend  upon  progress  of  approach  work  by State Govt..

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2324 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-15
Subject: Diverting MPLAD Funds for Pandemic Related Works
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: Sukhbir Singh Badal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2324 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2023

## DIVERTING MPLAD FUNDS FOR PANDEMIC RELATED WORKS

## 2324. SHRI SUKHBIR SINGH BADAL:

Will the Minister of STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has diverted and frozen the MPLAD scheme in view of the Covid pandemic, if so, the details thereof, year-wise;
- (b)  the  detailed  break  up  of  all  the  amount  that  was  spent  on  Covid pandemic from MPLAD funds in 2020-2021, 2021-22 and later and assets built, if any, State-wise; and
- (c)  the  benefits  accrued  to  the  Government  and  challenges  met  by diverting MPLAD funds for Covid pandemic works?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS  AND  PROGRAMME  IMPLEMENTATION,  MINISTER  OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a) to (c):   In view of Covid-19 pandemic, the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) was non-operational for two financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22 (partly till 9-11-2021) and funds to the tune of Rs.6,320 crore, i.e., Rs.3,950 crore for the FY 2020-21 and Rs.2,370 crore for the FY 2021-22, were placed at the disposal of the Ministry of Finance for managing the adverse impacts of Covid-19 on the society,  by  stepping  up  capital  outlay  for  health  infrastructure  and various social security measures for the poor and the needy.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2323 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-15
Subject: Infrastructural Railway Projects
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Chandra Sekhar Bellana

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2323 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2023

## INFRASTRUCTURAL RAILWAY PROJECTS

2323.   SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR BELLANA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  present  status  and  details  of  proposed  infrastructure projects  taken  up  in  South  Central  Railway  Zone  during  the last five  years, station/division-wise along with the details of project executing contractors; and
- (b) the  details  of  the  upcoming  Railway  Market  Yards/Sidings, Station  and  Division  -  wise  in  South  Central  Railway  Zone which have been started / awarded during the last five years and  also  in  Vishakhapatnam  Railway  Division  along  with  the details of executing contractors?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS &  INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) and (b) A Statement is laid on  the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) AND (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.2323  BY  SHRI  CHANDRA  SEKHAR  BELLANA    TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 15.03.2023  REGARDING INFRASTRUCTURAL RAILWAY PROJECTS (a)  and  (b)  Railway  projects  are  sanctioned  Zonal  Railway  wise  and  not division  wise as Railway Projects may span across division boundaries. As    on  01.04.2022,  29  Railway  infrastructure  projects  (15  New  Lines,  01 Gauge Conversion and 13 Doubling) of total length 5751 km costing ₹ 75,318 crore, falling fully/partly in South Central Railway, are under different stage of  planning/approval/execution,  out  of  which  1257  km  length  has  been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹ 25,121 crore have been incurred on these projects upto March 2022. Also, 23 Railway infrastructure projects (8 New Lines and 15 Doubling) of total  length  3253  km  costing ₹ 40,770 crore, falling  in  East  Coast  Railway are  different  stage  of      planning/approval/execution,  out  of  which  731  km length  has  been  commissioned  and  an  expenditure of ₹ 17,244 crore have been incurred on these projects upto March 2022. Further, 20 Traffic Facility works  costing ₹ 871  crore  including  yard/siding/station  etc.  falling  in  East Coast Railway including Waltair Division are in different stage of planning/approval/execution. Railway wise details of projects including their cost, expenditure and outlay are  made  available  in  public  domain  on  Indian  Railways  website  i.e. www.indianrailways.gov.in>Ministry  of  Railways  >Railway  Board  >About Indian  Railways  >Railway  Board  Directorates  >Finance  (Budget)  >Pink Book(Year) >Railway wise works Machinery & Rolling Stock Programme in which all the ongoing works of South Central Railway are available. Award  of  works  to  contractors  for  execution  of  work  is  a  continuous process. No centralized data of executing agencies are maintained.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2322 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-15
Subject: Share of Atomic Energy in Power Generation
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Ramcharan Bohra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2322

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2023

## Share of Atomic Energy in Power Generation

2322.  SHRI RAMCHARAN BOHRA:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the share of Atomic Energy in the total power generation in the country at present;
- (b) whether the Government has formulated any comprehensive plan to double the said share;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The share of nuclear power in the total electricity generation in the country is about 3.15% in the year 2021-22.
- (b)&(c)Yes,  Sir.    The  present  installed  nuclear  power  capacity  in  the  country comprises of 22 reactors with a total capacity of 6780 MW. There are eleven (11)  reactors  with  a  total  capacity  of  8700  MW  under  various  stages  of construction / commissioning (which includes KAPP-3 and PFBR by BHAVINI). In addition, the Government has accorded sanction for 10 more nuclear power reactors with a total capacity of 7000 MW. The present installed nuclear power capacity is set to increase from 6780 MW to 22480 MW by 2031 on progressive completion of projects under construction and accorded sanction
- (d) Does not arise in view of (b) and (c) above.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2321 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-15
Subject: Targets set in COP-26
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Venkatesh Netha Borlakunta, Kavitha Malothu, Gaddam Ranjith Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2321 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2023

## Targets set in COP - 26

2321.      SHRI VENKATESH NETHA BORLAKUNTA:

SHRIMATI KAVITHA MALOTHU:

DR. G. RANJITH REDDY:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the  manner  in  which  the  Government  feels  that  nuclear  power  is  critical  for achieving India's clean energy targets set in COP-26;
- (b) the  reasons  for  not  developing  small  nuclear  reactors  with  200-300  MW capacity which are cost-effective and could be better maintained;
- (c) the  details  of  technologies  that  India  have  to  take  up  for  small  nuclear reactors; and
- (d) whether any step has been taken by the Government in this regard and, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) As  part  of  Low  Carbon  Development  of  Electricity  Systems  consistent  with Enhanced  Development  benefits,  Government  is  exploring  a  significantly greater role for nuclear power. Presently (2020-21) nuclear power is saving 41 million  tonnes  of  CO2  emissions  annually,  compared  to  the  emissions  that would  be  generated  by  equivalent  electricity  generation  from  coal  based thermal  power  plants.  Nuclear  power  currently  provides  3%  of  electricity generation. Sufficient production and share of nuclear power is essential for ensuring country's energy security. Current policy targets a three-fold rise in nuclear installed capacity by 2032.

Nuclear  energy  can  be  considered  for  delivering  base  load  power  free  of intermittency  in  place  of  energy  from  fossil  fuels.  DAE  considers  nuclear energy  as  a  significant  component  of  its  non-fossil  fuel  power  generation capacity and will continue to pursue research and innovation in this sector.

- (b) Out of 22 operating nuclear reactors in India, 18 are of less than 300 MWe capacity. Small nuclear reactors with 200 - 300 MW capacity are already part of country's operating fleet of nuclear reactors.

Selection  of  a  nuclear  reactor  power  level  depends  on  multiple  factors, including  demand  of  electricity  in  the  region,  capability  of  grid  to  evacuate power and availability of technology and its supply chain.

There is talk of modern generation lower power nuclear reactors (popularly known as SMRs) which promises cost-effectiveness; however so far there is no commercial working reactor of this category all across the globe (except with the exception of Russia). The cost-effectiveness of the SMRs is also not proven as yet, particularly in the Indian context.

- (c)&(d)  DAE  is  studying  SMR  development  in  other  countries  &  yet  to  initiate activities for indigenous SMR development.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2317 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-15
Subject: Food Fortification
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Margani Bharat, Chinta Anuradha, Kuruva Gorantla Madhav

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2317 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15TH MARCH, 2023

## FOOD FORTIFICATION

2317 . SHRI MARGANI BHARAT: SHRIMATI CHINTA ANURADHA: SHRI KURUVA GORANTLA MADHAV:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER FOOD AND

AFFAIRS, PUBLIC be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is taking measures to provide for food fortification in order to combat micro-nutrient deficiency also known as hidden hunger prevalent in the country;
- (b) if s0, the details of the progress made thereof;
- (c) if not; the reasons therefor;
- (d)
- whether the Government intends to expand the same; and
- (e)
- if sO, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## A NSWER

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

(a) to (e): In order to achieve uniform nutritional impact among the targeted population, the Government of India has   approved the   supply of fortified rice throughout the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and in Other Welfare Schemes of Government of India in all States and Union Territories (UTs) by the year 2024 in a phased manner. The implementation plan of the initiative throughout the country in a phased manner is envisaged below:

- 1\_
- Phase-I: Covering ICDS and PM-POSHAN in all over India by March, 2022
2. Phase-II: Phase above plus TPDS and in all Aspirational and High
- Phase-IlI: Phase Il above plus covering the remaining districts of the country
- Burden Districts on stunting (total 291 districts) by March 2023.
3. by March, 2024

In the Phase-l, nearly 17.51 LMT of fortified rice have been lifted by StatesIUTs for distribution under ICDS and PM POSHAN: Phase is under implementation and upto February, 2023, 92.77 LMT of fortified rice has been lifted under TPDS for Aspirational and High Burden Districts: Also, nearly 27.46 LMT of fortified rice have been lifted by

StateslUTs for ICDS and PM-POSHAN:

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2313 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-15
Subject: Implementation of 5G
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Tirath Singh Rawat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2313 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15 TH  MARCH, 2023

## IMPLEMENTATION OF 5G

## †2313. SHRI TIRATH SINGH RAWAT:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has prepared any roadmap at national level for the implementation of 5G inclusive of law enforcement requirements;

- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons for delay in taking action in this regard;

(c) whether with the help of using 5G technology in the country, the Government has constituted any task force to monitor and identify the new crimes being committed;

- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(e) whether  the  Government  has  taken  appropriate  steps  to  check/prevent  crimes  being committed with the use of 5G technology and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) The Government has established a roadmap to make 5G services available in different parts of the country through rollout obligations. As per the Notice Inviting Application (NIA) dated 15-06-2022 for auction of spectrum and the license conditions, the rollout obligations are required to be met over a period of five years, in a phased manner, from the date of allocation of spectrum. Further expansion of mobile networks beyond the mandatory rollout obligations, depends on the techno-commercial consideration of the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs).

Law  enforcement  requirements  are  part  of  security  conditions  in  Unified  License.  These conditions are technology agnostic and TSPs have to comply with these conditions.

(c) to (e) Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (I4C), an organization under Ministry of Home Affairs, has been nominated as the nodal point in the fight against cybercrime. I4C interacts with Department of Telecommunications on cybercrime committed using telecom resources. I4C has operationalized National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) for tackling cybercrime incidences reported by the citizens.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2312 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-15
Subject: Online Payments
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Dushyant Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2312

TO BE ANSWERED ON:  15.03.2023

## ONLINE  PAYMENTS

## 2312:  SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH:

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

- (a) whether there is a limit on the number of online payments/transactions that can be made in a single day through a bank on a UPI payments application like Paytm, GooglePay or PhonePe;
- (b) if  so,  the  exact  details,  rules  and  regulations that have brought about this limit and the reasons for imposition of such a limit;
- (c) whether it is only the public sector banks that impose this limit and if so, the details of such banks and reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government is aware that this will create a hindrance in the Government's Digital India mission and whether it contemplates to remove such limits; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a):    Yes,  Sir.  There  is  a  limit  on  the  number  of  online  payments/transactions  that  can  be made  in  a  single  day  through  a  bank  on  a  UPI  (Unified  Payments  Interface)  payments application.
- (b):   As per latest guidelines, dated 10.01.2023 issued by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), there is a limit of 20 transactions originating from unique bank account for P2P (Person to Person) segment in a span of 24 hours, wherein timestamp of first transaction is considered as start time. This limit is kept to safeguard the customer from potential financial frauds and also to ensure a standardized behaviour of UPI applications.
- (c):   The limit is applicable to all the member banks in the UPI eco-system, including public sector banks.
- (d)  and  (e):      With  an  increase  in  the  adoptation  of  UPI  by  the  customers  and  to  further enhance the penetration of digital payments, the UPI limits are revised periodically by NPCI.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2309 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-15
Subject: Kinnal Craft
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: P. C. Mohan

2309. SHRI P.C. MOHAN:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Government is training artisans in Kinnal craft, a local craft of Karnataka in its pursuit of reviving the traditional craft;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  whether  there  is  a  huge  demand  for  Kinnal  artefacts  worldwide  and  if  so,  the  steps  taken  by  the Government  to  instill  confidence  among  the  youths  to  earn  their  living  through  Kinnal  and  other traditional crafts, so that such local crafts can be revived?

## उत्तर

ANSWER

## वस्त्र राज् य मंत्री ( श्रीमती दर्शना जरदोर् )

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SMT. DARSHANA JARDOSH)

- (a)  &  (b): Yes  Sir,  Office  of  Development  Commissioner  (Handicrafts)  implements National Handicrafts  Development  Programme  (NHDP) under  which  different  training  programmes  are conducted for the artisans in different crafts, including the Kinnal Craft, for their holistic development.

The details of trainings imparted and beneficiaries supported during last three years in Kinnal Craft are as under:

|   S. No. | Name of the Training under NHDP Scheme             |   Number of beneficiaries |
|----------|----------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|
|        1 | Design &Technology Development Workshop (DDW)      |                        31 |
|        2 | Guru Shishya Hastshilp Prashikshan Program (GSHPP) |                        54 |

- (c): The  marketing  for  toys  including  products  of  Kinnal  craft  is  being  specifically  undertaken through  organising  toy  fairs  in  virtual  &  physical  mode.  This  will  boost  domestic  and  international demand for the handmade toy sector.

****

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2309 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2023

## KINNAL CRAFT
Lok Sabha Question No. 2308 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-15
Subject: Atal Tinkering Labs
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: Arvind Kumar Sharma, Vinod Chavda

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2308

TO BE ANSWERED 15.03.2023

## ATAL TINKERING LABS

## 2308. DR. ARVIND KUMAR SHARMA: SHRI VINOD L. CHAVDA:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Atal tinkering labs initiative has been successful in achieving its aims and mandate in terms of number of labs set up, number of students engaged in STEM subjects and results produced;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION; MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

## (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a) Yes Sir, the Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) initiative has been successful in achieving its aims and desired results in terms of number of labs set up, number of students engaged in STEM subjects etc.
- (b) Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog has successfully completed its mandate of establishing  10,000  ATLs  in  July  2022  across  the  country.  The objective of  setting  up ATLs is to foster curiosity, creativity and imagination in young minds and inculcate skills such as design mind-set, computational thinking, adaptive learning, physical computing, rapid calculations, measurements etc. ATL conducts round the year events and challenges that  provides  a  platform  for  young  students  to  develop  the  innovative  mindset  and

showcase  their  talent.  One  such  example  is  ATL  Marathon  which  is  AIM's  flagship innovation  challenge,  where  schools  identify  community  problems  of  their  choice  and develop innovative solutions in form of working prototypes. More than 80 lakh students are actively engaged in ATLs, and several projects have been created by students which showcase that ATL initiative is successful to foster curiosity, imagination, and creativity in  young minds. More than 12 lakhs innovation projects created by ATL students thus far.

(c) In view of the replies produced for (a) and (b) above, it is not applicable.

*****