opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2277 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: Impact of Plastic on Climate Change
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Ujjwal Raman Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2277

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2024

## Impact of Plastic on Climate Change

## 2277.   SHRI UJJWAL RAMAN SINGH:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is contemplating to reduce the usage of plastic in order to mitigate/stop the harmful effect of climate change;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  safety  measures  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  prevent  the diseases due to the plastic making process which involved oil excavation, refining, etc.;
- (c) whether the Government is also contemplating to promote the use of cotton clothes in place of synthetic clothes, which is made of plastic in order to prevent/mitigate the ill effect of climate change; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (d): The Plastic Waste Management Rules (PWMR), 2016, provides the statutory framework for plastic waste management in an environmentally sound manner throughout the country. Considering the adverse effect of littered single use plastic items on terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems, the Ministry has notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, on 12th August 2021, prohibiting identified single use plastic items, which have low utility and high littering potential, from 1st July 2022. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also notified the Guidelines on the Extended Producer Responsibility for  plastic  packaging  vide  Plastic  Waste  Management  Amendment  Rules,  2022,  on  16th February, 2022.

The Guidelines stipulate mandatory targets on EPR, recycling of plastic packaging waste, reuse of rigid plastic packaging and use of recycled plastic content. The EPR Guidelines provides mechanism to promote sustainable plastic packaging inter alia based on the following criteria: (i)  package designing  promoting reuse; (ii) package designing amenable for recycling; (iii) recycled  plastic  content  in  plastic  packaging  material  and;  (iv)  package  designing  for environment,  which  lead  to  reducing  the  plastic  foot  print  of  plastic  packaging.  The implementation of ban on identified single use plastic items coupled with extended producer responsibility on plastic packaging will reduce pollution caused by littered and unmanaged plastic waste and plastic waste minimization.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2273 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: Banking Penetration and Financial Inclusion
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Shri Eatala Rajender, Smt. D K Aruna

## Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Financial Services

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2273

ANSWERED ON THE MONDAY, DECEMBER 09, 2024/18 AGRAHAYANA, 1946 (SAKA)

## Banking Penetration and Financial Inclusion

## 2273. SMT. D K ARUNA:

SHRI EATALA RAJENDER:

Will the MINISTER OF FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has urged Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and sponsor banks to develop suitable  products  aligning  with  MSME  clusters  as  part  of  the  National  MSME  Cluster  Outreach Programme to further raise banking penetration and financial inclusion across the country;
- (b)  whether the Government has held review meetings with chairpersons of RRBs and CEOs of sponsor banks, if so, the outcome thereof;
- (c)  whether the Government proposes to emphasise active outreach by the RRB branches located in MSME clusters to ensure credit to small and micro-enterprise in various areas such as textile, wooden furniture, leather, etc.; and
- (d)  if so, the details and the present status thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (d)    Government  has  been  continuously  reviewing  the  progress  of  Regional  Rural  Banks (RRBs) at national level as well as regional level with the Chairpersons of RRBs, respective Sponsor Banks,  National  Bank  for  Agriculture  and  Rural  Development  (NABARD)  and  Small  Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).

One of the focus areas of these reviews is business diversification by increasing lending to MSME sector.  Most of the RRBs have devised their innovative MSME products and have mapped their branches with specific MSME clusters to increase their penetration in MSME sector.  RRBs have witnessed a healthy growth rate of 18.6% during FY 2022-23 and 17.0% during FY 2023-24 under its  MSME portfolio.  During the FY 2023-24, RRBs have achieved highest ever consolidated net profit of ₹7,571 crore.

In  order  to  further  strengthen  the  MSME  outreach  of  RRBs,  SIDBI  is  handholding  RRBs  by developing MSME loan underwriting platform, refinancing, skill development and capacity building of staff of RRBs, for MSME credit expansion.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2267 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: Import Duty on Apples
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Shri Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF FINANCE

DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2267

## TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 09, 2024/ AGRAHAYANA 18, 1946 (SAKA)

## IMPORT DUTY ON APPLES

## 2267. SHRI AGA SYED RUHULLAH MEHDI:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the import of apples has increased significantly particularly from the US, after reduction in import duty from 70% to 50% in September 2023;
- (b) whether the Government has conducted any assessment of the impact of increased apple imports on domestic apple farmers in the Kashmir Valley;
- (c) whether the Government has received any representations from apple farmers' associations for increase in import duty to protect the domestic producers; and
- (d)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  increase  import  duty  on  apples  so  that  domestic apple farmers compete with imported apples, and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

(a): Import  of  apples  attract  customs  duty  of  50%  which  is  at  World  Trade  Organisation  (WTO) bound rate. 70% import duty was applicable only on imports from United States of America (USA) which  was  imposed  as  a  retaliatory  measure.  Following  resolution  of  some  WTO  disputes,  the retaliatory duty of 20% on imports from USA was removed.

The data on imports of apples as per Trade Stats, DoC is as below:

<!-- formula-not-decoded -->

| 2019-20   | 2020-21   | 2021-22   | 2022-23   | 2023-24   | 2024 (Apr-Sept.)   |
|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|--------------------|
| 36,237    | 25,998    | 16,153    | 4,117     | 17,716    | 17,902             |

- (b): No, the Department of Revenue has not conducted any such assessment.
- (c): No such representation has been received in the recent past.
- (d): Currently, fresh apples attract import duty at 50% which is already at World Trade Organisation bound rate of 50%, beyond which duty can not be imposed.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2266 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: Development of Sports in NCT of Delhi
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Smt. Kamaljeet Sehrawat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS

## (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2266 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2024

Development of Sports in NCT of Delhi

2266.  SMT. KAMALJEET SEHRAWAT:

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any step for development of sports facility in the NCT of Delhi; and
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  of  the  projects  undertaken  along  with  their  financial implications?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS { DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA }

- (a) to (b) 'Sports' being a State subject, the responsibility of development of sports, including the development of sports facility, rests primarily with the State/Union Territory Governments. Under the 'Creation and upgradation of sports infrastructure' component of the Khelo India Scheme, this Ministry renders financial support for creation of basic sports infrastructure such as sports complex, synthetic athletic tracks, synthetic hockey fields, synthetic turf  football  grounds,  multipurpose  halls,  swimming  pools,  etc.  along  with sports  equipment.  Further,  under  National  Sports  Development  Funds (NSDF), Government  supports various institutions and individuals for creation and upgradation of sports facilities across the country.

The details of the sports infrastructure sanctioned along with their financial implications  under  Khelo  India  Scheme  and  NSDF  across  the  country, including  in  the  NCT  of  Delhi,  are  available  in  public  domain  on  the dashboard of the Ministry at https://mdsd.kheloindia.gov.in and http://www.nsdf.yas.gov.in/nsdf-glance.html. State-wise details of operational Khelo India Centres and Accredited Academies under the Khelo India Scheme, including in the NCT of Delhi, are available at https://dashboard.kheloindia.gov.in/state-wise-khelo-india-centers.

Apart from above, the following five Stadia having Infrastructure facilities , were constructed for the IX Asian Games in 1982 and upgraded/ renovated for Commonwealth Games 2010, in Delhi :

- a) Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Complex (JNS)
- b) Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex (IGSC)
- c) Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Swimming Pool Complex (Dr. SPMSPC)
- d) Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium (MDCNS)
- e) Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Ranges (Dr. KSSR)

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2264 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: Programmes for Gig and Platform Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri Chintamani Maharaj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2264

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2024

## PROGRAMMES FOR GIG AND PLATFORM WORKERS

†2264. SHRI CHINTAMANI MAHARAJ:

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

(a)the details of programmes being run by the Government for gig and platform workers; and (b)the details of the number of beneficiaries under the said programmes?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

(a) to (b): Gig workers and platform workers have been defined for the first time in the Code on Social Security, 2020, which has been enacted by the Parliament.

The Code provides for framing of suitable social security measures for gig workers and platform workers on matters relating to life and disability cover, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits, old age protection, etc. The Code also provides for setting up a Social Security Fund to finance the welfare scheme.

An advisory has been issued by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to the platform aggregators to register themselves and platform workers engaged with them on the e-Shram portal. This will facilitate  the  platform  workers  to  get  easy  access  to  the  social security benefits.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2263 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: Unemployed Youth of SCs, STs & OBCs
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Smt. Dhanorkar Pratibha Suresh

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2263

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

UNEMPLOYED YOUTH OF SCs, STs & OBCs

2263. SMT. DHANORKAR PRATIBHA SURESH:

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

- (a)   whether  the  unemployed  youth  belonging  to  Scheduled  Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Class categories have got benefited under the Make in India and Skill India programmes; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof if not, the reasons thereto?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

(a)  to  (b):  'Make  in  India'  initiative  was  launched  on  25th  September, 2014  to  facilitate  investment,  foster  innovation,  build  best  in  class infrastructure,  and  make  India  a  hub  for  manufacturing,  design,  and innovation.  It  is  one  of  the  unique  'Vocal  for  Local'  initiatives  for promotion  of  India's  manufacturing  domain  and  and  to  showcase  its industrial potential on a global stage. Investment outreach is being done through Ministries, State Governments and Indian Missions abroad for enhancing  International cooperation for  promoting  Domestic  and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country. Now, with the "Make in India 2.0" phase encompassing 27 sectors, the program continues to drive  forward  with  significant  achievements  and  renewed  vigour, reinforcing India's position as a major player in the global manufacturing landscape.

Under the Government of India's Skill India Mission (SIM), the Ministry  of  Skill  Development  and  Entrepreneurship  (MSDE)  delivers skill, re-skill and up-skill training through various schemes, viz. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), National  Apprenticeship  Promotion  Scheme  (NAPS)  and  Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS)  through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), to all the sections of the society. The number of candidates, including SCs, STs & OBCs, trained under the said skill development schemes is about 1.60 crore during 2019- 20 to 2022-23.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2260 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: Unemployment Rate
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri Zia Ur Rehman

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2260

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

## 2260.  SHRI ZIA UR REHMAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken any major steps to reduce youth unemployment rate; and
- (b) if so, the details of the policies adopted in this regard and if not, the
- reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

(a)  to  (b):  The  official  data  source  on  Employment  and  Unemployment  is Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) which is conducted by the Ministry of Statistics  and  Programme  Implementation  (MoSPI)  since  2017-18.  The survey period is July to June every year.

As  per  the  data  available  in  latest  Annual  PLFS  Reports,  the estimated Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for youth of age 15-29 years has decreased from 17.8% in 2017-18 to 10.2% in 2023-24.

Employment generation coupled with improving employability of the youth is a priority of the Government. Accordingly, Government is implementing various employment generation schemes/ programmes. These interalia  include  Prime  Minister's  Employment  Generation  Programme (PMEGP), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), Rural Self Employment and Training Institutes (RSETIs), Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), Pradhan Mantri  Mudra  Yojana  (PMMY),  etc.  The  details  of  various  employment generation  schemes/programmes  being  implemented  by  the  Government may be seen at https://dge.gov.in/dge/schemes\_programmes.

Some  of  the  policy  measures  also  include,  Education  Policy  2020, National  Policy  for  Skill  Development  and  Entrepreneurship  2015  and National Youth Policy 2014.

Government has announced in Budget 202425, the Prime Minister's package of 5 schemes and initiatives to facilitate employment, skilling and other opportunities for 4.1 crore youth over a 5-year period with a central outlay of Rs. 2 lakh crore.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2257 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: Establishment of NCLT Bench in Bihar
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2257

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE 09 th  of DECEMBER, 2024/ AGRAHAYANA 18, 1946 (SAKA)

## Establishment of NCLT Bench in Bihar QUESTION

2257.    DR. SANJAY JAISWAL:

Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS कारपोरेट कार्य मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government plans to establish a National Company Law Tribunal  (NCLT)  bench  in  Bihar  to  facilitate  corporate  dispute  resolution; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof including the timeline for its implementation?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  CORPORATE  AFFAIRS;  AND MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ROAD  TRANSPORT  AND HIGHWAYS

(HARSH MALHOTRA)

(a) and (b):    The  benches  of  National  Company  Law  Tribunal  (NCLT)  are being set up in a phased manner depending on quantum of workload and other  factors.  As  on  date,  one  Principal  Bench  and  15  other  benches  of NCLT are operational in the country. As of now no proposal to set up any new Bench of NCLT is under consideration.

***********
Lok Sabha Question No. 2255 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: Discrimination against Farmers in Waiving Off Loans
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Shri Arvind Ganpat Sawant, Shri Dharmendra Yadav

## Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Financial Services

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2255

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2024/AGRAHAYANA 18, 1946 (SAKA)

## Discrimination against Farmers in Waiving Off Loans

2255. Shri Arvind Ganpat Sawant

Shri Dharmendra Yadav:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the deplorable debt situation of the farmers;
- (b)  if  so,  the  current  plan  of  the  Government  regarding  loan  waiver  and  the  number  of industrialists and farmers whose loans have been waived off during the last ten years along with the amount of such loans;
- (c) whether the Government is discriminating against farmers with regard to waiving off loan; (d) if not, the reasons for not waiving off farmers' loans while loans of big industrialists are being waived off; and
- (e) whether the Government is contemplating to provide any immediate assistance to farmers for debt relief and if not, the reasons therefor?

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

(a) to (e): The details of agriculture credit extended in the past five years are as follows:

| Year                                       |   2019-20 |   2020-21 |   2021-22 |   2022-23 |   2023-24 |
|--------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Total Agri Loan Outstanding (In Rs. Crore) |   2058730 |   2277428 |   2513499 |   2888173 |   3352646 |
| Number of Accounts (in lakh)               |      1494 |      1532 |      1612 |      1741 |      1875 |
| Outstanding Loan per Account (In Rs.)      |    137821 |    148661 |    155948 |    165886 |    178835 |

Source: RBI and NABARD

The  number  of  accounts  of  the  farmers  opting  for  credit  through  institutional  sources  has increased by 381 lakh from 31.03.2020 to 31.03.2024.

In addition, NPA in Agriculture loans of Scheduled Commercial Banks,  Cooperatives Banks & Regional Rural Banks has been decreased during the last 5 years (ie. from FY 2019-20 to FY 2023-24) as below:

| Period   | Scheduled Commercial Banks   | Cooperative Banks   | Regional Rural Banks   |
|----------|------------------------------|---------------------|------------------------|
| 2019-20  | 10.1%                        | 7.99%               | 8.72%                  |
| 2023-24  | 6.2%                         | 5.32%               | 6.65%                  |

Source: RBI and NABARD

Decreasing NPAs during this period indicate improvement in repaying capacity of farmers. The various schemes/ programmes of the Union Government such as Kisan Credit Card, PM KISAN, PMFBY etc have been designed to increase the welfare of farmers by increasing production, remunerative returns and income support to farmers. There is no proposal under consideration to waive off loans of farmers of the country.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2254 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: Officers/Officials appointed in Banaras Hindu University
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Daroga Prasad Saroj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.2254 ANSWERED ON 09.12.2024

## Officers/Officials appointed in Banaras Hindu University

## † 2254. Shri Daroga Prasad Saroj:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) the total number of persons appointed as Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Chairman, BoG IIT, Rector, Registrar, Controller of Examinations, Dean of Students, Medical Superintendent, Chief Proctor,  Chair  Professor,  Ambedkar  Chair  including  the  names  of  all  Deans,  Principals  of Women's colleges and all other officers in Banaras Hindu University; (b) the details and the number of officials belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Minority Class among them, category-wise; (c) the number of officers belonging to socially and economically backward classes; and (d) the number of other officials appointed on contract, outsource basis, advisor and consultant?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

(a) to (c) As per information provided by Banaras Hindu University (BHU), there are 173 Group A  officers  currently  working  in  BHU  on  regular  basis.  Out  of  these,  27  belong  to  Schedule Castes,  4  belong  to  Scheduled  Tribes,  28  belong  to  Other  Backward  Castes  and  5  belong  to Minorities. In addition, there are 16 Deans working in the University who are appointed from among the faculties on the basis of rotation according to their seniority under the provision of Statute 9(1) of the Banaras Hindu University Act 1915. There is no provision of reservation in the  appointment  of  Deans.  Further,  the  IIT  (BHU)  Varanasi  is  not  part  of  BHU.  It  has  been established by a separate Act, namely The Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Act 2012. (d) Total 56 officials are presently working on contract, outsource basis and advisor/consultant in BHU.

*****