opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 555 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: Foodgrain Inflation
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: D.K. Suresh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.555 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6TH DECEMBER, 2023

## FOODGRAIN INFLATION

555.  SHRI D.K. SURESH:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD  AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION 3qvfrfm qm+, VIB Bit HTMf+q f+Tor ++ be plea,ed to ,tate,

- (a) whether the Government has taken note that foodgrain inflation is very high during recent times;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is taking any longterm measures such as local procurement, storage and distribution in order to combat foodgrain inflation;  and
- (d) if so, the response of the Government thereto?

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

- (a) and (b): The price pressures on food items experienced during July-August 2023, caused by seasonal-weather driven  supply constraints, were mitigated  in September-October 2023. The Government took various measures to  augment domestic availability and stabilize the prices of essential food items in the country. The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), providing free  food  grains  to  about  81.35 crore beneficiaries, which has been extended for a period of five years with effect from 1't January 2024, largely protects the vulnerable sections from price pressures in food grains.

(c) and (d): The  Government  monitors  prices  of  22  essential  food commodities  to  take  corrective steps  against  food  inflation.  Government maintains buffer stock  under Price Stabilization Fund to  stabilise the prices of  pulses. In the  long term, interventions like  timely  supply of quality seeds of high-yielding varieties, inputs,  latest  production technologies, credit, crop insurance, micro-irrigation and post-harvest facilities, targeted  at  increasing production and  productivity, thereby control  the food  inflationlg

Further, State  Government agencies and Food Corporation of  India (FOI) purchase wheat  & paddy with  prescribed Fair Average Quality (FAQ) specifications at  MSP for  Central Pool to  ensure that  farmers get remunerative prices for their  produce and do not have to resort to distress sale.  However, if  producer/farmer gets better price in  comparison to  MSP, they are free to  sell  their  produce in open market.  Procurement in a State depends not only upon production but also upon other multiple factors like marketable surplus, MSP, prevailing market  rate,  demand &  supply situation and participation  of private traders etc.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 554 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: Ease of Doing Business
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Maddila  Gurumoorthy, Margani Bharat, Reddeppa Nallakonda Gari, Chandra Sekhar Bellana

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 554. TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 06 th  DECEMBER, 2023.

## EASE OF DOING BUSINESS

## 554.   SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY:

SHRI MARGANI BHARAT:

SHRI N. REDDEPPA:

SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR BELLANA:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether the Government is aware that as per the latest data available with the World Bank, India ranks 62nd in Ease of Doing Business;
- (b) whether there is State-wise estimates of the Ease of Doing Business Index;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether there has been an improvement from the ranking in 2019 as per the Government estimates; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री ( श्री सोम प्रकाश ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI SOM PARKASH)

- (a): India  ranks  63 rd  in  the  World  Bank's  Doing  Business  Report  (DBR),  2020 published last in October, 2019 before its discontinuation by the World  Bank. India's  rank  in  the  DBR  improved  from  142 nd   in  2014  to  63 rd in  2019, registering a jump of 79 ranks in a span of 5 years.
- (b) & (c): No,  Sir.  However,  Department  for  Promotion  of  Industry  and  Internal  Trade (DPIIT), Government of India carries out assessment of business environment across  States  and  Union  Territories  under  Business  Reforms  Action  Plan (BRAP).  Under  BRAP,  States  and  UTs  are  assessed  on  the  basis  of implementation of designated reform parameters contained in the Action Plan. Some of the reform areas are Investment Enablers, Access to Information and Transparency,  Online  Single Window  System,  Land  Allotment,  Construction Permits  Enablers,  Labour  Regulation  Enablers,  Environment  Registration Enablers, Inspection Enablers, Obtaining Utility Permits, Contract Enforcement, Sector-specific reforms, etc.

Till  date  five  editions  of  BRAP  (2015,  2016,  2017-18, 2019 and 2020) have been completed and States/UTs have been assessed accordingly.

(d) & (e): World Bank has discontinued its DBR in September, 2021 and its last Report was published in October, 2019

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Lok Sabha Question No. 553 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: Distribution of Tide over Rice
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Tokheho Yepthomi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## INISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC  DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.553

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 6TH DECEMBER, 2023

## DISTRIBUTION  OF TIDE OVER RICE

## 553.  SHRI TOKHEHO YEPTHOMI:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DiSTRiBUTiON ©nftxrT vm8, @r© 3it WT$gf+gfq7wr  Ht  be pleased to state:

- (a) the guidelines for distribution  of Tide over Rice in the State of Nagaland;
- (b) whether the State of Nagaland is distributing Tide over Rice as per Ministry guidelines; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to  (c): The National Food Security Act, 2013 provides that if annual allocation of foodgrains to any State under the Act is less than the average annual offtake of foodgrains for last three years under normal Targeted Public Distribution System, the  same  shall be  protected at  prices as  may  be  determined by  the Central Government and the State shall be allocated foodgrains as specified in Schedule IV. As per the guidelines, the allocation of 'tide over' foodgrains to States/Union Territories including Nagaland is subject to the following conditions:
- (i) Distribution of 'tide  over' allocation should be done through TPDS. Further details regarding distribution are left to the States/UTs.
- (ii) States/UTs will  have the flexibility  to pass on the expenditure  on items such as intranState movement & handling of foodgrains and margins to fair price shop dealers, incurred in the  process of  distribution of  'tide  over' allocation to  the beneficiaries or bear it  themselves. No assistance will  be provided by the Central Government on these items of expenditure in respect of 'tide over" allocation.

Directions under Section 38 of the Act  have also been issued to  all the States/UTs including Nagaland to  strictly  follow  the  terms and conditions for distribution of 'tide  over' foodgrains, in transparent manner.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 551 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: Amalgamation of Officers
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya, Dipsinh Shankarsinh Rathod

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.551 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06/12/2023

## AMALGAMATION OF OFFICES

## 551. SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJI KUNDARIYA: SHRI DIPSINH SHANKARSINH RATHOD:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मं त्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  received  a  representation  requesting  to  amalgamate offices such as CGST, SGST, DGFT, Customs/Labour, DIC under one roof/premises as a plug and play facility at Rajkot; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the time likely to be taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Jherh vuqfiz;k iVsy½

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

- (a) Yes, Sir.
- (b) No such proposal is under consideration as of now.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 550 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: GST on Gangajal Sold from Post Offices
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Mala Roy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 550 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## GST ON GANGAJAL SOLD FROM POST OFFICES

## 550. SHRIMATI MALA ROY:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether GST is charged on Gangajal sold from post offices and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the tax that has been collected till date on this; and
- (c) the details of the notification on the basis of which this was done?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) As on date GST is not being charged on sale/distribution of Gangajal through Post Offices. The Department of Posts follows the GST notifications on the subject as issued from time to time.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 549 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: Indirect Procurement of Foodgrains
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Parvesh Sahib Singh

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.549 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6TH DECEMBER, 2023

## INDIRECT  PROCUREMENT OF FOODGRAINS

## 549.  SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH VERMA:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD  AND PUBLIC

DISTRIBUTION aT$inn qM, @rH BiT IMfqq fRTaT Mt be pleased to state:

- (a) the process of procurement of foodgrains indirectly  through States
- and Union Territories;  and
- (b) the  details of  any discussions or  agreements undertaken on procurement of foodgrains with  the Government of Delhi?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a): State Government agencies and Food Corporation of India (FOI) purchase wheat, paddy, coarsegrains/millets  & pulses with  prescribed Fair Average Quality (FAQ) specifications at  Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Central Pool to  ensure that  farmers get  remunerative prices for  their produce and  do  not  have to  resort  to  distress sale.  However, if producer/farmer gets better price in comparison to MSP, they are free to sell their produce in open market.

The procurement of foodgrains i.e. wheat  and paddy is made under Centralised Procurement (Non-DCP) and Decentralised Procurement (Dep) modes.

(b): The estimates for procurement of Paddy (in terms of rice), wheat and coarsegrains/millets  are finalized by Government of India in consultation with  State  Governments and Food Corporation of  India, before the commencement of  each  marketing season based upon  estimated production, marketable surplus and agricultural  crop pattern.

Government of Delhi had not proposed any procurement of foodgrains for  RMS 2023-24 and KMS 2023-24. Therefore,  no procurement  estimate was fixed for the Government of Delhi during the meetings of State Food Secretaries.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 547 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: Laying of Nanded-Bidar Railway Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Prataprao Govindrao  Patil Chikhalikar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.547 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.12.2023

## LAYING OF NANDED-BIDAR RAILWAY LINE

†547.   SHRI PRATAPRAO PATIL CHIKHLIKAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  reasons  for  the  delay  in  laying  of  the  Nanded-Bidar  new  railway line;
- (b)  the  details  of  the  amount  sanctioned  by  the  Government  and  the estimated amount likely  to be spent on the said work; and
- (c) the time by which the work of laying Nanded-Bidar  new railway line is likely to start?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to (c) Nanded - Bidar (155 km ) new line project has been included in Budget 2018-19 subject to requisite approvals.  Detailed Project Report of the  project  has  been  prepared.  As  the  project  is  having  low  traffic projections, Government of Maharashtra and Karnataka have been requested  to  provide  land  free  of  cost  and  to  share  50%  cost  of construction  of  the  project  falling  in  respective  State.  However,  their consent has not been received. The project is not yet sanctioned, as such no timeline for start of work and details of expenditure can be given.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 544 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: Theft of Goods in SLR
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Rahul Kaswan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 544

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.12.2023

## THEFT OF GOODS IN SLR

## †544 .    SHRI RAHUL KASWAN :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  there  have  been  complaints  of  illegal  tax  evasion  and transportation  of  goods  without  bills  and  bilty  beyond  the  criteria prescribed in the Seating cum Luggage Rake (SLR) (Goods Lease) of the Railways;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  complaints  have  been  received  by  the  Railways  regarding theft and pilferage of goods in SLR (Goods Lease); and
- (d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof,  train  and  zone-wise  along  with  the  action taken thereon ?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND

## ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  &  (b):  01  case  has  been  reported  by  Eastern  Railway,  where  88 packages,  have  been  seized  from  Goods  Shed  No.  11  &  12  of  Howrah Parcel area by Asst. Commissioner of Sales Tax, Bureau of Investigation, South  Bengal  (HQ),  Govt  Of  WB  on  02.11.2023  for  further  physical verification and inspection of documents, if any, as no documents could be produced by any party at the time of seizure.

(c) & (d): During the period 01.01.2023 to 31.10.2023, a total of 1312 SLRs are operating on lease in Indian Railways and the approximate number of trips  is  2,17,000.  Only  10  cases  of  theft  and  pilferage  have  been registered.

The  following  steps  are  taken  by  the  Railways  to  prevent  theft  and pilferage of goods transported through railways:-

1. All  major railway stations, depots, yards and other vital installations are manned by Railway Protection Force personnel round the clock.
2. Escorting  of  affected  passengers  &  goods  parcel  special  trains  in identified vulnerable sections is done.
3. Basic  security  arrangements  at  Railway  yards,  Goods  Sheds  and Parcel Sheds are in place.
4. Frequent drives are conducted against undesirable elements in trains and railway premises to prevent such thefts.
5. Surveillance is kept through Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, provided at various railway stations.
6. Adequate security measures are taken at identified black spots from time to time.
7. All cases  of theft of Railway property/booked  consignment  are promptly registered,  enquired  and arrested  criminals  are  prosecuted as per law.
8. Crime  Wing  (CW)  and  Special  Intelligence  Branch  (SIB)  of  RPF  keep regular watch and collect intelligence from time to time about active criminals  indulging  in  theft  of  Railway  Property/Goods  transported through Railways.
9. Regular  co-ordination  meetings  are  conducted  with  GRP/Civil  Police for collection and sharing of criminal intelligence.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 539 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: Performance of PLI Scheme
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Jagdambika Pal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STEEL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 539 FOR ANSWER ON 06/12/2023

## PERFORMANCE OF PLI SCHEME

539. SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to provide an overview of the performance and outcomes of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for the steel sector including the details on the total amount disbursed under the scheme, additional steel produced and employment generated; and
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to address challenges and concerns raised by companies participating in the PLI scheme especially in cases where investments have not materialized or commitments have been withdrawn?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE                        (SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

MINISTRY OF STEEL

- (a) The  performance  and  outcomes  of  the  Production-Linked  Incentive  (PLI) Scheme for the steel sector as of Q2, i.e., September 2023 for FY 2023-24 is given below: -

|   Committed investment (₹ Crore) |   Actual Investme nt till Q2 2023-24 (₹ Crore) |   Committed production for FY 2023-24 (000 tonne) | Actual production till Q2 2023-24 (000 tonne)   |   Employment generation till Q2 2023-24 (Nos.) |   Budgeted incentive outlay (₹ Crore) | Actual incentive disbursed (₹ Crore)   |
|----------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
|                            29531 |                                          10730 |                                               935 | Nil                                             |                                           3785 |                                  6332 | Nil*                                   |

*(Incentive to be disbursed from FY 2024-25 onwards)

- (b) The steps taken by the Government to address challenges and concerns raised by companies participating in the PLI scheme, especially in cases where investments have not materialized or commitments have been withdrawn include the following: -
- (i)  Grievance Redressal Mechanism has been constituted to oversee the complaints/grievances as well as challenges and concerns arising out of the PLI scheme implementation at any stage of the scheme.
- (ii)  The Project Monitoring Group (PMG) which was constituted with the mandate of monitoring  large  scale  infrastructure  projects,  have  been  extended  to  upload issues, such as land acquisition, environmental clearances, forest clearances etc., being  faced  by  PLI  approved  companies  during  the  scheme  period.  Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) to facilitate VISAs for experts has been issued by MHA & MEA.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 538 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: Extension of Nuapada-Gunupur Railway Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.538

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.12.2023

## EXTENSION OF NUAPADA-GUNUPUR RAILWAY LINE

538.   SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the current status of the extension of Nuapada-Gunupur railway line upto Therubali railway project;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to sanction the project and mitigate delays; and
- (c) the time by which  the  said project is likely  to  be  made operational?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (c):  Extension  of  Naupada-Gunupur  line  upto  Therubali  (73.62 km)  was  included in the Budget  2017-18 subject to requisite approvals. Government of Odisha was requested to share 50% cost of construction and to provide land free of cost.  Government of Odisha has  agreed  only  for  providing  land  free  of  cost.    Detailed  Project Report (DPR) of the project has been prepared. As per DPR, the cost of the project is approx. ₹1165.89 crore excluding the cost of land.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 537 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-06
Subject: First Phase of BharatNet
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Ashok Kumar Rawat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 537 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## FIRST PHASE OF BHARATNET

## †537.   SHRI ASHOK KUMAR RAWAT:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of Gram Panchayats in the country particularly in Uttar Pradesh (Eastern/Western) that have been connected in the first phase of BharatNet as on date;
- (b) whether the Government has taken any steps to include all the Gram Panchayats, particularly of Uttar Pradesh in the BharatNet Scheme;
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the latest status of the same; and
- (d) the details of the expenditure likely to be incurred in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) BharatNet is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country. So far, 2,07,346 GPs in the country have been connected including 33,790 service ready GPs in Uttar Pradesh (East) and 11,223 service ready GPs in Uttar Pradesh (West).
- (b) & (c) The Union Cabinet has approved (04.08.2023) the Amended BharatNet Program for extending the scope of BharatNet beyond Gram Panchayats (GPs) to all inhabited villages on demand basis,  upgradation  of  existing  network  of  BharatNet  Phase-I  and  II,  building  the  network  in uncovered  GPs,  Operation  &  Maintenance  for  10  years  and  to  provide  1.5  Cr.  rural  home  fibre connections distributed across all States/UTs. The amended BharatNet program includes covering remaining 8,584 GPs in Uttar Pradesh (East) and 3,816 GPs in Uttar Pradesh (West).
- (d) Total estimated cost for BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II, approved by the Union Cabinet is Rs 42,068 Cr. Further, total estimated cost for Amended BharatNet Programme approved by the Union Cabinet is Rs 1,39,579 crores.

*****