opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1183 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Digital Competition Act
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: Vishnu Dutt Sharma

## MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1183

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2023/AGRAHAYANA 20, 1945 (Saka)

## DIGITAL COMPETITION ACT QUESTION

1183. SHRI VISHNU DATT SHARMA:

- Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) whether a report has been submitted to the Government on 'Anti Competitive Practices by Big Tech Companies'; (b) if so, whether Government is taking meas ures for enactment of the 'Digital Competition Act' and a code of conduct for tech companies, so as to ensure protection of interests of the consumers and the nation at large; (c) if so, the details thereof; and (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE 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(d):  The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance examined the subject 'Anti -Competitive Practices by Big Tech Companies' and presented its Report to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on 22.12.2022. On the recommendations of the Committee, the Government of India has constituted a Committee on Digital Competition Law (CDCL) on 06.02.2023 to examine  the  need  for  a  separate  law  on  competition  in  digital  markets.  The  Terms  of Reference (ToR) of the CDCL, inter-alia, include, (a) to review whether existing provisions in  the  Competition  Act,  2002,  and  the  Rules  and  Regulations  framed  thereunder  are sufficient to deal with the challenges that have emerged from the digital economy; (b) to examine  the  need  for  an  ex-ante  regulatory  mechanism  for  digital  markets  through  a separate legislation; (c) to study the international best practices on regulation in the field of  digital  markets;  (d)  to  study  other  regulatory  regimes/  institutional  mechanisms/ government policies regarding competition in digital markets; (e) to study the practices of leading players/ Systemically Important Digital Intermediaries (SIDIs) which limit or have the  potential  to  cause  harm  in  digital  markets;  and  (f)  any  other  matters  related  to competition in digital markets as may be considered relevant by the Committee.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1177 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Development of PVTG
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Debasree Chaudhuri, Poonam (Mahajan) Vajendla Rao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1177

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 11/12/2023

## DEVELOPMENT OF PVTG

## 1177. MS. DEBASREE CHAUDHURI: SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  steps  being  taken  for  the  protection  and  development  of  Particularly  Vulnerable  Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in the country; and
- (b) whether the Government proposes to establish an Institute of Excellence for the development of PVTGs in the country, particularly in West Bengal?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

- (a): Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing the scheme of 'Development of PVTGs' with the objective of overall socio-economic development and welfare of these most vulnerable sections among tribal people. Funds are provided to the concerned State Government / UT on the basis of their proposals for Conservation cum Development (CCD) plans.  Besides development projects are undertaken by the States out of Tribal Sub-Plan funds.

Government has recently launched Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) that aims to saturate PVTG households and habitations with basic facilities such as safe housing, clean drinking  water  and  sanitation,  improved  access  to  education,  health  and  nutrition,  road  and  telecom connectivity, and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs is also implementing a flagship scheme 'Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS)' to provide quality education to ST Students from class 6th to 12th. 5% seats in each of the EMRSs is reserved for PVTG students.

In the scheme of National Fellowship, 25 slots out of 750 slots are reserved for PVTG students. Under National Overseas Scholarship for ST students, 3 slots out of 20 slots are reserved for PVTG candidate.

(b): There is no such proposal at present.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1176 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Universal Health Coverage Scheme
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Arjunlal Meena

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1176

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2023/AGRAHAYANA 20, 1945 (SAKA)

## UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE SCHEME

†1176. SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to increase the Centres contribution in schemes for universal health coverage on the lines of Mukhya Mantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Yojana in the State of Rajasthan;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has informed that Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is flagship health assurance scheme of Government of India which is implemented in partnership with the States/UTs. The scheme provides health coverage of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year to 12 crore beneficiary families comprising 55 crore individuals in the country, which constitute bottom 40% of the country's population.

However, States/UTs implementing AB PM-JAY have the flexibility to expand the beneficiary base at their own cost. Accordingly, the beneficiary base of the scheme has been expanded by several States/UTs implementing AB PM-JAY. Many States/UTs have converged their State scheme with AB PM-JAY including Mukhya Mantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana in the State of Rajasthan.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1175 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Increase in per Student allocation under PM POSHAN
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Hibi Eden

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

## LOKSABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1175

ANSWERED ON- 11.12.2023

## Increase in per Student allocation under PM POSHAN

## 1175. SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it has come to the notice of the Government that the head masters of the schools are facing hardship due to the non-revision of per student allocation for the implementation of PM POSHAN Scheme/Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and action taken thereon;
- (c) whether the Government intends to increase the per student allocation for the scheme across the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether the PM POSHAN Scheme/Mid Day Meal Scheme has provided funding to educational institutions in Ernakulam district, Kerala; and
- (f) if so, the details, name of schools, locations, amount, for the FYs 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)

- (a) to (d): Under the PM POSHAN Scheme, the Central Government revised the per day per child material cost by increasing 9.6% over and above the existing material cost in 2022. The revised material cost per day per child for Bal Vatika and Primary classes as well as Upper Primary classes are Rs. 5.45 and Rs. 8.17 as against the prior cost of Rs. 4.97 and Rs. 7.45 respectively w.e.f 01.10.2022. The material cost includes the cost of vegetables, pulses, oil, condiments & fuel.

In addition to above, the Central Government provides 100% funding for food grains, transport assistance, and Management/Monitoring Expenses. Including the cost of food grains, current costs per student per meal under PM POSHAN Scheme are Rs. 11.38 and Rs. 16.25 respectively for primary and upper primary level.

- (e) & (f): PM POSHAN Scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented across the country including Ernakulam district of Kerala covering all the eligible children studying in Government and Government Aided schools. Under the Scheme, the central assistance released to State Government of Kerala for the five years (2019-20 to 2023-24) are given as under:

Rs. (in lakhs)

|   S.No. | Years   | Central Assistance Released   |
|---------|---------|-------------------------------|
|       1 | 2019-20 | 19962.41                      |
|       2 | 2020-21 | 27688.82                      |
|       3 | 2021-22 | 20305.5                       |
|       4 | 2022-23 | 42543.83                      |
|       5 | 2023-24 | 10833.54 (as on date)         |

State Government implements the scheme in all the districts as per their Annual Work Plan & Budget (AWP&B) approved by Programme Approval Board (PAB-PM POSHAN).

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1172 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: NBFCs
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: T. R. Paarivendhar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1172

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2023/AGRAHAYANA 20, 1945 (SAKA)

## NBFCs

## 1172. DR. T.R. PAARIVENDHAR

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:-

(a) the total number of Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFCs) functioning in the country as on date, name-wise;

(b) the total credit/loan sanctioned by the NBFCs to various sectors for the last five years, sectorwise;

- (c) the source of finance for NBFCs;

(d) whether the Government has ever reviewed the performance of these NBFCs in the country;

- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## (DR. BHAGWAT KARAD)

(a) to (f): There are 9,356 Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) registered with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as on September 30, 2023. The name-wise list of NBFCs functioning in the country and  registered  with  RBI,  is  available  in  public  domain  and  is  accessible  on  the  RBI  website (https://rbi.org.in).

As  per  inputs  received  from  RBI,  information  on  total  credit/loan  sanctioned  by  the  NBFCs  to various  sectors  is  not  maintained  with  it.  However,  the  information  on  Gross  Loans  &  Advances outstanding of NBFCs to various sectors for the last five financial years are at Annex-I.

The source of funds for NBFCs include Share Capital, Reserves and Surplus, Borrowings, Current Liabilities, Provisions, Public Deposits and other Liabilities.

Performance  of  the  NBFCs  is  assessed  by  RBI  periodically  and  is  reported  as  part  of  its  annual publication -Report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India. The report presents performance of  NBFC  sector  with  respect  to  its  balance  sheet  growth,  sectoral  credit  deployment,  resource mobilization, profitability, asset quality and capital adequacy position.

Annex-I Lok Sabha Unstarred question no. 1172, NBFC Details of Gross Loans & Advances outstanding of NBFCs to various sectors for the past five financial years Amount in ₹ Crore

| Sector       | Mar-19    | Mar-20    | Mar-21    | Mar-22    | Mar-23    |
|--------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Agriculture  | 57,061    | 34,448    | 45,951    | 53,759    | 60,840    |
| Industry     | 8,59,965  | 9,70,949  | 10,81,907 | 11,37,646 | 12,83,341 |
| Services     | 3,09,711  | 3,60,540  | 3,89,676  | 4,45,517  | 5,14,215  |
| Retail Loans | 3,63,797  | 7,34,795  | 7,45,041  | 8,38,660  | 10,55,072 |
| Others       | 5,49,918  | 3,85,757  | 4,89,509  | 5,23,866  | 5,62,200  |
| Total        | 21,40,453 | 24,86,489 | 27,52,084 | 29,99,448 | 34,75,668 |

Source: RBI

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1168 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Non-Chit Fund Companies
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: S. Gnanathiraviam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 1168 ANSWERED ON MONDAY, 11 th  DECEMBER 2023 Agrahayana 20, 1945 (Saka)

## NON-CHIT FUND COMPANIES

## QUESTION

1168.  SHRI GNANATHIRAVIAM S.:

कारपोरेट कार्य मंत्री

Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Government  has  taken  note  that  many  Non-Chit  Fund Companies  are  misusing  public  money  by  operating  as  Chit  Fund Companies thereby violating the provisions of the Companies Act;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the number of such cases reported during  the  last  three  years  and  the  current  year,  company-wise  and State/UT-wise; and
- (c) the number of cases in which inquiries were conducted along with the action  taken  against  the  companies,  including  imposition  of  penalties during the said period, State/UT-wise?

## 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.

सांख्यिकी और कार्यक्रम कार्ायन्वर्न मंत्रालर् क े राज्य मंत्री ( स्वतंत्र प्रभार ) ; र्ोजना मंत्रालर् क े राज्य मंत्री ( स्वतंत्र प्रभार ) और कॉपोरेट मामलों क े मंत्रालर् में राज्य मंत्री।

(Rao Inderjit Singh)

राव इंद्रजीत ससंह

(a) to (c):    Ministry of Corporate Affairs is responsible for administering the Companies Act, 2013 while Chit Funds are regulated under the Chit Fund Act, 1982 (the Act).  Chit Fund companies conduct their business under the respective State  Governments  / Union Territories after obtaining  registration  from  the  Registrars  of  Chits.    The  Act  contains penal provisions in Section 76 for any contravention committed by nonchit companies carrying on chit business without registration.  For this, the  authority  empowered  to  take  action  is  the  respective  Registrar  of Chits.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1166 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: PVTG and VBSY
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Vijayakumar (alias) Vijay Vasanth

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1166

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2023

## PVTG AND VBSY

1166. SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR (ALIAS) VIJAY VASANTH:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Government has launched Rs.24,000 crore Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group  (PM-PVTG)  Development  Mission  and  a  Viksit  Bharat  Sankalp  Yatra  focused  on  Government scheme saturation to the last mile in tribal districts;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is a fact that the PM-PVTG Mission is meant to bring 11 key interventions to 22,500 villages including Kanniyakumari district, Tamil Nadu; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

(a) & (b): Government has recently launched Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PMJANMAN) on 15 th  November 2023, which is celebrated  as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas.    The mission with financial outlay of around Rs.24,000 Crore aims to saturate PVTG households and habitations with basic facilities such as safe housing, clean drinking water and sanitation, improved access to education, health and nutrition,  road  and  telecom  connectivity,  electrification  of  un-electrified  households  and  sustainable livelihood opportunities in time bound manner in 3 years.

Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra (VBSY) was also launched on the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas on 15 th November, 2023 by Hon'ble PM from Khunti Ranchi. VBSY also aims to reach out to people, creating awareness and providing benefits of welfare schemes of government of India related to health, financial inclusion, Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojna,  PM Awas, National rural Livelihood Mission, PM Ujjwala, PM Kisan Sammn Nidhi, Kisan Credit card, Poshan Abhiyan, Har Ghar Nal Jal,  etc. The  VBSY  also  creates  awareness  about  natural  farming  through  street  play  like  Dharti  Kahe  Pukar ke,  sharing of experiences by beneficiaries through Meri Kahani meri jubani, felicitation of achievers, health camps, TB screening, sickle cell testing and enrollment for Ujjwala Yojna and  registration of My Yuva Bharat volunteers enrolment.

(c) & (d): PM-JANMAN focuses on 11 critical interventions to cover all the eligible PVTG beneficiaries / PVTG villages & habitations based on the existing gaps being captured through mobile app developed for the purpose.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1163 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Modernisation and Upgradation of ESIC Hospitals at Ezhukone, Kerala
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Suresh Kodikunnil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1163 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2023

## MODERNISATION AND UPGRADATION OF ESIC HOSPITALS AT EZHUKONE, KERALA

1163. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

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

- (a)whether the Government has proposed to modernize and upgrade the  ESIC  hospitals  in  the  country,  including  ESIC  hospital  at
- Ezhukone, Kerala;
- (b)if so, the details of funds allocated for the same during the last three financial years and current financial year;
- (c)whether  the  Government  has  received  any  proposal  from  State Government of Kerala to include Ayurveda outpatient treatment facilities  in  the  ESIC  Hospital,  Ezhukone,  Kerala  and  if  so,  the
- details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d)whether  the  Government  allocate  funds  for  expansion  of  the Ezhukone ESIC hospital in Kerala State with outpatient system modernization and advanced surgical intervention infrastructure; and
- (e)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e): Yes,  Sir. The  Employees'  State  Insurance  Corporation (ESIC) has accorded approval, inter-alia, to modernize, upgrade ESI hospitals in the country, including ESIC hospital at Ezhukone, Kerala.

The  ESIC has  also  approved  various  works  including construction of new out patient department (OPD) and administrative block,  overall  renovation  of  building,  etc.  for  the  ESIC  hospital  at Ezhukone.  Recently,  newly  made  Operation  Theater(OT)    complex with  4  functional  OTs  for  Opthalmology;  Orthopedics;  General Surgery; Ear, Nose and Throat(ENT); Obstetrics and Gynecology and

Emergency has become operational.

The details of funds allocated for special repair works for the ESIC hospital at Ezhukone (Kerala) during the years 2021-22 to 2023-24 are the following:

2021-22     -    Rs 2.50 crore

2022-23     -    Rs. 6.50 crore, and

2023-24     -    Rs. 7.15 crore

The  Ayurveda,  Panchakarma,  Homoeopathy  and  Yoga facilities  with  5  beds  for  Ayurveda  indoor  treatment  are  already available in the ESIC hospital at Ezhukone.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1161 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Women Participation Rate in STEM Courses
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Pradeep Kumar Singh, Kirit Premjibhai Solanki, Satyadev Pachauri, Jayant Sinha, Nayab Singh, Keshari Devi Patel

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1161

ANSWERED ON 11 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## Women Participation Rate in STEM Courses

1161. SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH:

DR. (PROF.) KIRIT PREMJIBHAI SOLANKI:

SHRI SATYADEV PACHAURI:

SHRI JAYANT SINHA:

SHRI NAYAB SINGH:

SHRIMATI KESHARI DEVI PATEL:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the factors responsible for furthering the participation rate of women in STEM courses in the country; and
- (b) the  rate  of  women  participation  in  STEM  courses  in  comparison  to  that  of developed countries?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  & (b):  To promote female students to pursue higher education and research, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has introduced Pragati Scholarship and TechSaksham Program (TSP) for women.  The Pragati Scholarship was started in the year  2014  to  award  scholarship  to  meritorious  girl  students  to  encourage  them  to pursue higher education.  AICTE is awarding 10000 scholarships (Pragati) to the girls entering in the technical education.  TechSaksham Program is a top-up program that uses experiential learning to develop employability skills amongst underserved female students pursuing higher education.

With a view to improve female enrolment in the Undergraduate Programmes in Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), supernumerary seats were created which increased the female enrolment from 8% in 2018-19 to 20% in 2020-21.  As per All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), the Female Enrolment in STEM Courses has increased from 38.4% in 2014-15 to 42.6% in 2021-22 (Provisional).  As per World Bank Gender Data accessed in 2023, female share of graduates from STEM as percentage of tertiary education in India (2018) is 42.7%, in US (2016) is 34%, in UK (2016) is 38.1%, in Australia (2017) is 32.1% and in Germany (2017) is 27.6%.

*****