opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2361 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Shagun Portal/Sale of Fake Degrees
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Sukanta Majumdar

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2361

ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## Shagun Portal/Sale of Fake Degrees

## 2361.  DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is implementing the Shagun portal in a bid to enhance the accessibility of information relating to schools and to ensure a holistic approach to transform the education sector;

(b) if so, the details thereof with special reference to Balurghat of West Bengal;

(c)  whether  the  Government proposes to constitute a high-level  committee to enquire into the allegations regarding sale of fake degrees by certain private universities in the country; and

(d) if so, the details thereof, including the other steps being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a)&(b)  The Department of School Education and Literacy's website provides content on the functioning of the school ecosystem wherein the Shagun portal is the digital repository of best practices in school education. This is a rich repository of good practices that focuses on positive stories,  developments  and  innovations  initiated  across  all  States  and  UTs  that  are  driving performance  improvements  in  the  area  of  School  Education.  These  innovative  practices  are documented in the form of case studies, videos, testimonials and images. These contents are easily searchable by State, Union Territory or by Samagra Shiksha components that they fall under. The link of the portal is https://repository.education.gov.in.

(c)&(d)    The  matter  mentioned  does  not  have  any  specificity.  However,  UGC  disseminates information, via multiple channels including website, to protect ones' interest with respect to fake degrees by certain private universities.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2360 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Fixing of Tuition Fee for Non-Professional Course
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Goddeti Madhavi

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 2360

ANSWERED ON- 18/12/2023

## Fixing of Tuition Fee for Non-Professional Course

## 2360. SHRIMATI GODDETI MADHAVI:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state :

- (a) whether the Government realises the need for formulation of a separate policy for fixing the tuition fee for non-professional courses in degree colleges;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the measures taken in this respect?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): Colleges are affiliated to Universities and their fees are determined as per the extant policy of their affiliating University. At present, there is no proposal under consideration in this Ministry  to  formulate  separate guidelines/regulations for fixing the tuition fee  for  nonprofessional courses in degree colleges affiliated to State Universities.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2354 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Opening of New CBSE Regional Offices in Foreign Countries
Ministry: Education
Asked by: M. P. Abdussamad Samadani

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2354 ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## Opening of New CBSE Regional Offices in Foreign Countries

## 2354.  DR. M.P. ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has addressed the long standing demand for overseas CBSE schools  and  the  opening  of  new  CBSE  Regional  Offices  in  foreign  countries, including GCC countries, for the education needs of the Indian expatriate community;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Indian Embassies and Consulates have any plan to formulate educational projects  to  start  new  institutions  to  meet  the  school  education  requirements  of  the expatriates; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d):    Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to open a regional office in Dubai. A committee has been appointed by the Board to work out the modalities for setting  up  of  an  offshore  regional  office  aimed  at  strengthening  services  provided  to  the schools in overseas countries, specially GCC countries.

Kendriya  Vidyalaya  Sangathan  (KVS)  is  running  three  (3)  schools  one  each  in Moscow, Terhan and Kathmandu. CBSE has affiliated two hundred fifty six (256) schools in twenty five (25) different countries including above three Kendriya Vidyalayas.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2347 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Increase of Pension
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Ramdas Chandrabhanji Tadas

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2347 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## INCREASE OF PENSION

†2347. SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS:

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

- (a)whether  the retired  employees  have  constituted  a  national organisation and demanding increase pension for several years;
- (b)if  so,  the  pension  currently  being  given  to  the  said  retired employees and the total number of said pensioners across the country;

(c)whether the demand of such retired employees is consideration with the Government; and (d)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): Representations have been received from various stakeholders  including  pensioners'  association  to  increase  the minimum pension under the Employees ' Pension Scheme (EPS), 1995.

The EPS, 1995 is a 'Defined Contribution -Defined Benefit' Social Security Scheme. The corpus of the Employees ' Pension Fund is  made  up  of  (i)  contribution  by  the  employer  @  8.33  per  cent  of wages;  and  (ii)  contribution  from  Central  Government  through budgetary  support  @  1.16  per  cent  of  wages  up  to  an  amount  of Rs.15,000/- per month. All benefits under the scheme are paid out of such accumulations. The fund is valued annually as mandated under paragraph 32 of the EPS, 1995 and as per the valuation of the fund as on 31.03.2019, there is an actuarial deficit.

Contd..2/- under

Amount  of  member's  pension  under  the  Scheme  is determined taking into account the pensionable period of service and pensionable salary as per following formula:

## Pensionable Service X Pensionable Salary 70

However,  the  Government,  for  the  first  time,  in  the  year 2014,  provided  a  minimum  pension  of  Rs.  1000  per  month  to  the pensioners  under  the  EPS,  1995  by  providing  budgetary  support, which was in addition to the budgetary support of 1.16% of wages Fund provided annually  towards  EPS  to  Employees ' Provident Organisation (EPFO).

the  Financial  Year  2022-2023,  pension  has  been disbursed  to  the  49,54,490  member  pensioners  under  EPS,  1995

In amounting to Rs. 10,361.34/- crore.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2345 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Inquiry by Agencies into UCO Bank Accounts
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Anto  Antony

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2345

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023/AGRAHAYANA 27, 1945 (SAKA)

## INQUIRY BY AGENCIES INTO UCO BANK ACCOUNTS

## 2345. SHRI ANTO ANTONY

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:-

(a) whether  the Government  has  conducted  enquiry  through  CBI  or  any  other  agency  into  the transfer/deposit of Rs. 820 crores to different accounts from UCO Bank;

- (b) if so, give details thereof;

(c) whether the Government recently has convened a high level meeting to discuss and chalk out steps to be taken to prevent cyber crimes;

- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government has recovered money amounting to Rs. 900 crores from cyber frauds;
- (f) if so, the details thereof; and
- (g) whether it includes the amount of Rs. 820 crores recovered from the UCO Bank?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## (DR. BHAGWAT KARAD)

(a)  to  (g):    UCO  Bank  has lodged an FIR with CBI on 15.11.2023 regarding transfer/deposit of Rs. 820 crore to different account from UCO Bank.

A meeting was convened by the Department of Financial Services on 28.11.2023 to discuss issues related to cyber security in the financial services sector and increasing incidents of recent online financial frauds. The meeting was attended by representatives of various Ministries/ Departments, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, Unique Identification Authority of India, Indian Cyber Crime Coordination  Centre,  National  Payments  Corporation  of  India,  Banks, etc. The  meeting  took  stock  of  the preparedness  of  the  banks  and  other  financial  institutions  in  tackling  the  challenges  arising  from  cyber security  in  the  financial  services  sector,  increasing  trend  of  digital  payment  frauds,  and  deliberated  on  a focused approach to mitigate such cyber-attacks and frauds.

As per inputs received from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management  System  has  been  operationalised  for  immediate  reporting  of  financial  fraud  and  to  stop siphoning off fund by the fraudsters. Up to 4.12.2023, amount aggregating to more than Rs. 1,000 crore have been saved in more than 4 lakh incidents.

As per inputs received from RBI, as on 7.12.2023, UCO Bank has recovered Rs. 705.31 crore out of Rs. 820 crore.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2342 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Proposal to Appoint CM of States as Chancellor of Universities
Ministry: Education
Asked by: T. R. Paarivendhar, M. Selvaraj

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 2342

ANSWERED ON- 18/12/2023

## PROPOSAL TO APPOINT CM OF STATES AS CHANCELLOR OF UNIVERSITIES

## 2342. DR. T. R. PAARIVENDHAR: SHRI M. SELVARAJ:

Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state: (a)  whether  the  Government  has  data  about  the  number  of  Chief  Ministers  of  the States in the country who have been appointed and function as the Chancellor of all Universities in the State; (b)  whether  the  Government  has  received  any  proposal  from  the  Government  of Tamil Nadu to appoint the Chief Minister as the Chancellor of all the Universities in the State; (c) if so, the details thereof; (d) if not, whether the Government has any proposal for making Chief Minister of all States  as  the  Chancellor  of  all  the  Universities  in  the  States  for  development  of Universities; and (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUBHAS SARKAR) (a)  to  (e):  State  Universities  are  established  by  an  Act  of  State  Legislature.  The appointment  of  authorities  and  officers  of  the  University  including  Chancellor  are governed by the provisions of relevant Act of the concerned State Government and the statutes, ordinances and regulations made thereunder. The details of Chancellor

- of State Universities are not maintained Centrally.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2340 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Database of the Gender-wise Pay Scale
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Karti P. Chidambaram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2340 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## DATABASE OF THE GENDER-WISE PAY SCALE

2340. SHRI KARTI P. CHIDAMBARAM:

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

- (a)whether  the  Government  has  maintained  any  database  of  the gender-wise pay scale in different sectors of the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether the Government has any action plan to bridge the pay gap between men and women;
- (c)if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)whether the Government has any concrete plan, policy or scheme to  support  women  and  overcome  negative  outcomes  resulting from the changing dynamics of the economy?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): In Periodic Labour Force Survey, information on earnings from employment is collected for all the three categories of workers, viz.,  self-employed  persons,  regular  wage/salaried  employees  and casual labour both for male and female in rural and urban areas.

The  Government  has  enacted  Equal  Remuneration  Act, 1976 which provides for payment of equal remuneration to men and women workers for the same work or work of similar nature without any discrimination  and also  prevent  discrimination  against  women while making recruitment for the same work or work of similar nature, or  in  any  condition  of  service  subsequent  to  recruitment  such  as promotion, training or transfer. The provisions of the Act have been extended to all categories of employment.

Contd..2/-

For  supporting  women  in  changing  dynamics  of  the economy following acts/schemes have been enacted and are being implemented:

- Maternity  Benefit  Act,  1961,  as  amended  vide  the  Maternity Benefit  (Amendment)  Act,  2017,  inter-alia,  provides  for  paid maternity  leave  to  women  workers  and  crèche  facility  in respect of establishments having 50 or more employees. The Government has increased paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks of which not more than eight weeks shall precede the  date  of  expected  delivery.  Depending  upon  the  nature  of work assigned to a woman, the Act provides for work from home for such period and on such conditions as the employer and the woman may mutually agree.
- Under Mines Act,1952, Government allowed the employment of women in the aboveground mines including opencast workings between 7 pm and 6 am and in below ground mines working between  6  am  and  7  pm  in technical, supervisory and managerial  work  subject  to  obtaining  written  consent  from women employee and the adequate facilities and safeguards regarding their occupational safety, security and health.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2339 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Increase of Child Labour
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Tirath Singh Rawat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2339

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## INCREASE OF CHILD LABOUR

†2339. SHRI TIRATH SINGH RAWAT:

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

- (a)whether the Government have statistical data of child labour and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  effective  steps  to  prevent
- child labour and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)whether  child  labour  has  increased  in  the  country  after  Covid-19 pandemic  and  if  so,  the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to improve their condition?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (c): The Government has taken various measures and have made efforts  to  prevent  child  labour  which  include  legislative  measures, rehabilitation  strategy,  providing  right  to  free  education  and  general socio-economic  development.  The  details  of  statutory  and  legislative measures, rehabilitation strategy and education are as under:
- (i) Enactment of the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition & Regulation)  Act,  1986.      The  Act  inter-alia  covers  complete prohibition of work or employment of children below 14 years of age in any occupation or process and prohibition of adolescents in the age group of 14 to 18 years in hazardous occupations and processes. It also provides for stricter punishment  for employers  for  violation  of  the  Act  and  made  the  offence  as cognizable.
- (ii) Framing of the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation)  Rules,  1988.  The  Rules  inter  -alia,  provide  for District  Nodal  Officer  (DNO)  and  Task  Force  at  district  level under chairpersonship of District Magistrate to ensure that the provisions of the Act are properly enforced.

Contd..2/-

- (iii) Ministry  of  Labour  &  Employment  has  framed  model  State Action Plan enumerating action points to be taken by respective State Governments for eradication of child labour.

As per 'Crime in India' a publication of National Crime Records Bureau,there were 476 , 613 and 751 number of cases during calendar year    2020  ,2021  and  2022  respectively  under  Child  and  Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 in the country.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2338 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Safe Disposal of Lithium-ion Battery
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2338

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## Safe Disposal of Lithium-ion Battery

## 2338.   SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA:

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

- (a) the details regarding environmental and health hazards involved in the mining of lithium metal;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to ensure sustainable mining practices in the country; and
- (c) the measures taken by the Government for the safe disposal of lithium-ion batteries used in mobile, cars and other electronic devices?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) and (b) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change grants Environmental Clearance (EC) based on the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) /Environment Management Plan (EMP) report under the provisions of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)  Notification,  2006  laying  conditions  with  due  consideration  of  sustainable  mining practices. Baseline data on ambient air quality, water quality, noise level, soil, flora and fauna and socio-economic data including health status of local people, primary available medical facilities is collected and incorporated in the EIA and EMP Report. Further, Ministry of Mines has the provisions under Chapter-V of Mineral Conservation and Development Rules (MCDR), 2017 for sustainable mining.

(c) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India has notified the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 on 22nd August, 2022 to ensure environmentally sound  management  of  waste  batteries.  The  rules  cover  all  types  of  batteries  regardless  of chemistry, shape, volume, weight, material composition and use, viz. Electric Vehicle batteries, portable  batteries,  automotive  batteries  and  industrial  batteries.  The  rules  are  based  on  the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) where the producers (including importers) of batteries have been obligated for collection and recycling/refurbishment of waste batteries. EPR  mandates  that  all  waste  batteries  are  to  be  collected  and  recycled/refurbished,  and  it prohibits disposal in landfills and incineration.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2334 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: MOOC Courses in Swayam Platform
Ministry: Education
Asked by: C. Lalrosanga

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2334 ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## MOOC Courses in Swayam Platform

## 2334.  SHRI C. LALROSANGA:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it  is  true  that  the  Government  has  started  Massive  Open  Online  Courses(MOOC)  in SWAYAM Platforms which are taught  by  subject  experts,  if  so,  the  details  of  duration  of  the courses;
- (b) the  total  number  of  MOOC  courses  developed  till  now  and  total  registered  students  and  the numbers of MOOC courses developed/originated from different Educational Institutes of North East; and
- (c) whether it is true that in many cases, the exams of MOOC's are delayed and if so, the reasons thereof and the steps taken by the Government to encourage MOOC's in North East?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) The SWAYAM portal was launched on 9 th  July 2017 to make high-quality content available to learners free of cost with the approach of 'Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime Learning'.  Development of  Massive  Open  Online  Courses  (MOOCs)  under the  SWAYAM MOOCs program is coordinated through  a  network  of  National  Coordinators.  These  National  Coordinators  identify  Subject  Matter Experts (SME) to develop courses in various domains. These SME include senior academicians drawn from the leading  institutions  from  across  the  country.  The  SME  develop  courses  in  technical,  nontechnical,  inter-disciplinary,  multi-disciplinary,  emerging  technology  areas  from  Class  9 th to  Post Graduation levels and for teacher training and working professionals as well. The duration of courses varies from 4 Weeks to 16 Weeks for HEIs and 24 weeks for School education.

As on 14 th  December 2023, 3087 Unique MOOCs Courses have been developed under the SWAYAM program and 3.85 crore enrolments have been made in these courses. Further 224 Courses have been developed through subject matter experts at different Host Institutes located at North East.

SWAYAM  MOOCs  program  follow  a  pre-defined  calendar  in  alignment  with  semester  system. Required flexibility is provided based on local conditions for conduct of exams. To take this initiative forward  and  to  encourage  more  students  across  Higher  Education  Institutes  to  participate  in  this initiative, Local chapters have been established in colleges as Single Point of Contact. More than 80 Local chapters have been assigned for North East states. Other than these, workshops have also been conducted for different universities of the North East region to increase their participation.