opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 323 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Safety and Efficiency of Nuclear Plants
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Dr. Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-323

ANSWERED ON- 24/07/2024

## SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY OF NUCLEAR PLANTS

## 323. DR. PRADEEP KUMAR PANIGRAHY

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

- (a) the details of measures taken/being taken by the Government to enhance the safety and efficiency of nuclear power plants ensuring the sustainable growth of nuclear energy in the country?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Highest priority is accorded to safety in all aspects of nuclear power viz. siting, design, construction,  commissioning,  and  operation. Nuclear  power  plants are  designed adopting safety principles of redundancy, diversity and provide fail-safe design features following  a  defence-in-depth  approach.  The  operations  are  performed  adopting  well laid out procedures by highly qualified, trained and licensed personnel.

A  multi-tier  safety  review  mechanism  within  Nuclear  Power  Corporation  of  India Limited  (NPCIL)  by  the  regulatory  authority  (Atomic  Energy  Regulatory  BoardAERB)  is  in  place.  Based  on  these  reviews  and  operating  experience  feedback, necessary upgrades are carried out and the nuclear power plants are maintained at stateof-the-art in terms of safety.

Major Renovation of reactors like Enmasse Coolant Channel Replacement (EMCCR), Enmasse Feeder Replacement (EMFR), Enmasse Boiler Hairpin Replacement (EMBHR) etc. are also undertaken to enhance the safety and life of the reactors. The standardisation and improvement in design has resulted in operation of reactors at high Availability and Plant Load Factors.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 321 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Losses of  Foodgrains
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 321 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24th JULY, 2024

## LOSSES OF FOODGRAINS

## 321 SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION wftm wM,  aTa aT tiT#qfjq fiawr dTt be pleased to state

- (a) whether the  Government is  aware that the foodgrains procured by  the  Government gets damaged by rodents and other forms  of decaying insects during monsoon due to improper  storage;

- (b) if  so, the details thereof and the losses on this count across the country;

- (c) the details of the losses which  are estimated for  the State of Bihar  and the steps taken by the Government in this regard; and

- (d) the total storage of foodgrains which is done by Food Corporation of India (FCI) in Bihar and the damage noticed thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRiBUTION

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

- (a) to (c): There are no such instances reported of  Central Pool  foodgrains  stocks (wheat  and rice) getting damaged by rodents and other forms of  decaying insects during monsoon season due to Improper storage.
- (d): As on 01,07.2024, a quantity of  15,01,697 MT foodgrains stored by the Food Corporation of India (FCD and State Government Agencies in the State of  Bihar. Further, no quantity of  damaged foodgrain has been noticed during the current year.

IB8)k)k)k b+//###
Lok Sabha Question No. 320 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Bharat Net Project
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Shri Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 320 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  JULY, 2024

## BHARAT NET PROJECT

## 320 SHRI CHAMALA KIRAN KUMAR REDDY:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of funds allocated to the State of Telangana during the past five years and the current year for optical fibre connectivity under Bharat Net project;
- (b) the details of Gram Panchayat (GP) connected with internet facility under the project in the State of Telangana;
- (c) whether the Government is planning to use GIS mapping of fibre to monitor the project and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

(a) to (d) BharatNet Project is approved by Union Cabinet to create network to connect all the Gram  Panchayats  (GPs)  by  broadband.  An  amount  of  Rs.  1832.52  crore  has  been  disbursed  to Telangana for the said project since Financial Year 2019-20 up to 30.06.2024. As on 01.07.2024, a total number of 10,812 GPs of Telangana have been connected through Optical Fiber Cable (OFC). Further,  GIS  application  for  mapping  of  OFC  laid  under  the  said  Project  has  been  deployed  by BharatNet Broadband Network Limited for monitoring the project.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 316 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Delaying of Annual Reports
Ministry: PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri E T Mohammed Basheer

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-316 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2024

## DELAYING OF ANNUAL REPORTS

## 316 Shri E T Mohammed Basheer:

Will the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs be pleased to state:-

- (a) Whether the Government have noticed that the audited account and annual report of various institutions is getting delayed in presenting before the parliament; and
- (b) If so, the steps the government wish to take in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS; AND MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) IN THE MINISTRY OF LAW& JUSTICE (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

- (a) &  (b)  Instructions  for  timely  preparation  of  Annual  Reports  and  other  documents relating  to  Budget  are  mentioned  at  para  7.2.1  to  7.2.6  of  Manual  of  Parliamentary Procedure  in  the  Government  of  India.  Apart  from  this,  Ministry  also  reiterates directions from time to time before presentation of Budget, to all the Ministries/Departments  to  prepare  their  Annual  Reports  and  other  documents  well before time so that same may be made available to Members for facilitation at the time of discussion on  Budget. This Ministry also circulates the directions of the Committee on Papers Laid from time to time for timely circulation/laying of Annual Reports etc.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 313 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Train Service in Shornur-Mangalore Sector
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. M P Abdussamad Samadani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 313 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2024

## TRAIN SERVICE IN SHORNUR-MANGALORE SECTOR

## 313 DR. M P ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI:

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

- (a) whether the Government have plans to restore the cancelled trains or increase the number of unreserved coaches to resolve congestion in the  existing  passenger  trains  and  unreserved  coaches  of  express trains in the Shornur-Mangalore sector of Palakkad Division;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is aware of the importance of converting the  newly  introduced  Shornur-Kannur-Shornur  UR  Special  train  (Train number 06031 and 06032) to permanent service;
- (d) whether the Government is aware of the need to provide stoppage at Tirunavaya and Pallippuram stations for the above-mentioned trains considering the widespread demand from the passengers of the area; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

## ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  to  (e)  Indian  Railways  (IR),  operates  various  types  of  regular time-tabled  trains  e.g.  suburban,  short  distance  passenger  trains, long distance/Mail Express/ superfast trains with different composition  catering  to  different  segments  of  passengers.  In  its constant endeavour  to provide additional accommodation    to travelling  passengers,  IR,  also  operates    Special  train  services during festivals, holidays, etc. and by  augments the load of trains, both  on  permanent  and  temporary  basis,  to  cater  to  additional demand. Besides,  to provide greater accommodation for the

passengers  using General and non-AC Sleeper Coaches, the extant policy regarding composition of Mail/Express trains, provide for 12 (Twelve)  General    class  &  Sleeper  class  non-  AC  coaches  and  08 (eight) AC-Coaches, in a train of 22 coaches. Of the total number of Coaches being presently utilized for running of train services, twothird are non-AC, and one-third are AC variants. Additionally, Indian Railways  have  also  started  operation  of  Amrit  Bharat  Express services which  are fully non-AC  trains providing high quality services to the passengers. Keeping in view increased demand, IR has  planned  to  manufacture  10,000  non-AC  Coaches  including General Class and Sleeper Class Coaches. Moreover,  provision  of  stoppages,  regularization  of  train  services, augmentation  of  load  of  trains  are  on-going  processes  on  Indian Railways.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 311 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Harms of Generative Artificial Intelligence
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Ms. S Jothimani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 311

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 24.07.2024

## HARMS OF GENERATIVE ARTIFICAIL INTELLIGENCE

## 311. MS. S JOTHIMANI:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the potential harms of Generative AI-powered tools;
- (b) if  so,  the  Government  plan  on  creating  a  regulatory  framework  for  the  responsible and ethical development of said technology including the promotion of best practices;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted or plans to conduct an assessment study of the impact AI services on personal data and the fundamental right to privacy;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  bring  an  open  source  policy  for  Large Language Models to enable scrutiny of these models; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) to (e):  The Government is cognizant of the need to create guardrails to ensure that AI is safe  and trusted.  Accordingly, the Central Government after extensive public consultations with relevant stakeholders has notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 ('IT Rules, 2021') on 25.02.2021 which was subsequently  amended  28.10.2022  and  6.4.2023.  The  IT  Rules,  2021  cast  specific  legal obligations on intermediaries, including social media intermediaries and platforms, to ensure their  accountability  towards  safe  and  trusted  internet  including  their  expeditious  action towards removal of the prohibited misinformation, patently false information and deepfakes. In case of failure of the intermediaries to observe the legal obligations as provided in the IT Rules,  2021,  they  lose  their  safe  harbour  protection  under  section  79  of  the  Information Technology Act, 2000 ('IT Act') and shall be liable for consequential action or prosecution as provided under any extant law.

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 has been enacted on 11 th August, 2023 which casts  obligations  on  Data  Fiduciaries  to  safeguard  digital  personal  data,  holding  them accountable, while also ensuring the rights and duties of Data Principals.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 310 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Fibre Network Extension of MTNL and BSNL
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Shri Satpal Brahamchari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 310 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  JULY, 2024

## FIBRE NETWORK EXTENSION OF MTNL AND BSNL

## †310   SHRI SATPAL BRAHAMCHARI:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state :

(a) whether the Government proposes to extend the fibre network infrastructure of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) in the country by incorporating youth and start-ups;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons for the delay in connecting the network up to farflung areas of the country;

(c) whether it is a fact that the Fibre network extension work of MTNL is slow in comparison to other private network providers;

(d) if so, the reasons therefor and the details of the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to accelerate the network extension of MTNL and BSNL in the country; and

(e) the percentage of coverage of the present telecommunication in Haryana especially in various panchayats and villages of the Sonepat Parliamentary Constituency?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

(a) to (e) BSNL and MTNL have laid more than 8.96 Lakh route kilometers of Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) network in the country. In addition, more than 6.89 Lakh kilometers OFC has been laid in the rural and remote areas of the country under BharatNet Project. BSNL/MTNL are regularly expanding and upgrading their OFC networks.

BSNL has provided 38.93 lakhs Fiber to the Home (FTTH) broadband connections on their network  as  on  30.04.2024.  BSNL  is  also,  providing  FTTH  connections  using  BharatNet  in villages/Gram Panchayats involving around 6,000 BharatNet Udhaymies (BNUs).

To encourage start-up companies, Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) etc. for testing and developing their innovative products and solutions, BSNL has finalized Proof of Concept (POC) policy. This policy is also expected to promote Research and Development of Indigenous telecom products and solutions in India.

Government has given three revival packages to BSNL/MTNL amounting to more than 3.2 Lakh  Cr.  As  part  of  the  revival  strategy,  BSNL/MTNL  is  expanding  fiber  network  and  mobile network across the country.

In Haryana including Sonepat Parliamentary Constituency, all the villages (100%) have 4G mobile  connectivity.  Further,  in  Haryana,  out  of  total  6,256  Gram  Panchayats,  97.22%  Gram Panchayats have been connected on OFC.  In Sonepat Parliamentary Constituency, out of total 516 Gram Panchayats, 98.64% Gram Panchayats have been connected on OFC.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 309 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Uninterrupted 3G/4G/5G Connections
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Thiru D M Kathir Anand

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 309 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  JULY, 2024

## UNINTERRUPTED 3G/4G/5G CONNECTIONS

## 309 THIRU D M KATHIR ANAND:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

(a) the  effective  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  increase  the  teledensity  in  Vellore Parliamentary  Constituency  and  also  to  provide  uninterrupted  3G/4G/5G  connections  in  the urban/rural areas falling there under;

(b) whether the Government is facing problem in BSNL which still owes a huge amount in the form of 'refund' to the erstwhile subscribers who have surrendered their landline and broadband connections during the last three years;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the total number of customers who disconnected the services of BSNL in the last three years; and

(d) the steps taken/being taken by the BSNL for mitigating the signal and network issues faced by the customers of BSNL in the State of Tamil Nadu?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

(a) & (d) In Vellore District 4,301 Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) are providing 2G/3G/4G/5G mobile connectivity.

Government through funding from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) is implementing  various  schemes,  including  4G  Saturation  Scheme,  for  providing  mobile  network coverage in all uncovered villages in the country.

Under 4G Saturation scheme, BSNL has planned 14 sites in Vellore constituency.

(b) & (c) The BSNL subscribers who have surrendered landline and broadband connections are being refunded after deducting the dues. Refund does not apply in case of conversion to FTTH. The details of BSNL broadband and FTTH disconnections in last three years are as under:

| Year    | Broadband   | FTTH     |
|---------|-------------|----------|
| 2021-22 | 33,56,639   | 3,94,512 |
| 2022-23 | 6,09,760    | 6,02,306 |
| 2023-24 | 11,23,005   | 7,83,781 |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 308 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Operations of Vande Bharat Trains in Kerala
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 308 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2024

## OPERATIONS OF VANDE BHARAT TRAINS IN KERALA

## 308 DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  aims  to  introduce  more  Vande  Bharat trains in Kerala in 2024-25;
- (b) if so, the details of routes which are being considered in the State;
- (c)  the  progressive  measures  being  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  to increase the average speed of Vande Bharat trains in Kerala;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  the  reasons  for  not  introducing  more  Vande  Bharat  trains  in  the Southern part of the country despite mounting demand  due  to
- commercial and industrial activities?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  to  (e)  As  the  Railway  network  straddles  across  State  boundaries, trains are introduced, as per  network  requirement,  across  such boundaries. Maximum attention has been given to the Southern part of India  which  is  catered  by  Southern  Railway,  South  Central  Railway, South Western Railway and East Coast Railway  and of the 102 Vande Bharat train services presently in operation, 34 Vande Bharat services are being operated by these Zonal Railways.
- 4  (four)  Vande  Bharat  trains  viz.  20631/20632  Mangaluru  CentralThiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express and 20633/20634 Kasaragod-Thiruvananthapuram  Vande  Bharat  Express,  serving  the stations located in the State of Kerala have been introduced.

Besides, introduction of Vande Bharat services is an ongoing process on Indian Railways subject to traffic justification, operational feasibility, resource availability, etc. Further, speed of train services, including of Vande Bharat services, is dependent on various factors like Maximum Permissible Speed of the sections and the gradient of the sections enroute, speed potential of rolling  stock/Loco,  availability  of  path,  maintenance  corridor  blocks, permanent and temporary speed restrictions, signaling system, stoppages etc. All the Vande Bharat Express has been charted at the Maximum Permissible speed of the sections enroute, so as to optimally utilize  the  speed  potential  of  the  Vande  Bharat  Coaches.    Besides, speeding-up of train services is an on-going process on Indian Railways.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 307 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Bharat Atta Scheme
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Y S Avinash Reddy

## GOVERNNfF,Nr OF INDIA MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTM£Nr OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK  SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.307 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24th JULY, 2024

## BHARAT ATTA SCHEME

## 307 SHRI YS AVINASH REDDY

Will  the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION WItnT wM,  um air VT##fM  f&aWT =Nt be pleased to state

- (a) the details of  the Bharat Atta Scheme and the aims and vision of this  initiative  by the Government;
- (b) whether the prices of the wheat flour  to be sold to the public  will  be at cheaper rates than the market value under this scheme;
- (c) whether the Government has planned to ensure enough stock to cater to the demands of the country and the challenges  with  regards to the distribution of the same; and
- (d) if  so, the details thereoF

## ANSWER

MiNISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRIMATI  NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI  BAMBHANIYA)

- (a): in  order to moderate prices of wheat and ptta, 19 LMT  of wheat has been allocated to Semi-Government and cooperative organizations like  Kendriya Bhandar, National  CooperatIve Consumers' Federation of India Limited (NCCF) and  National Agricultural COoperatIve Marketing Federation of India Ltd.(NAFED)  under Open Market Sale Scheme [OMSS(D)]  for converting to atta and offer  it for  sale to the public under 'Bharat Atta' brand. The objective is to  make available Atta to  general consumers at subsidized rate through physical and mobile outlets ofKendriya Bhandar, NAFED,  NCCF as well  as through tie ups of  these organizatIons with  some other retail networks  and e-commerce platforms,

(b): Bharat  Atta  is  being  offered  by  these organizations  for  sale at an MRP  not  exceedIng Rs. 27.50/Kg  which  is lower than the all  India average retail prices of  Atta.

(c) to (d): The stock of wheat in Central Pool as on 01.07.2024 is  282.61 Lakh MT

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