opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 957 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Increase in MPLAD Fund
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: Kalaben Mohanbhai Delkar, Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav, Vinayak Bhaurao Raut

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.957 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2023

## INCREASE IN MPLAD FUND

957. SHRIMATI DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI: SHRI SANJAY JADHAV: SHRI VINAYAK RAUT:

Will  the  Minister  of  STATISTICS  AND  PROGRAMME  IMPLEMENTATION  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any proposal to increase the MPLAD fund from Rs. 5 crore to Rs. 10 crore given to each MP for completion of developmental works  in  their  respective  areas  in  view  of  the  rise  in  the  cost  of  building materials  and  wages  of  skilled  and  unskilled  labourers  and  other  social responsibilities;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to transfer State specific MPLAD funds to any constituency of the country for starting developmental works;
- (d) if so, whether the Government considers that such changes are necessary in the larger interest of the country; and
- (e) if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard and if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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 (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a) & (b) The Ministry receives and examines, on a continuous basis, the new suggestions from stakeholders, including suggestions for revision of entitlement

of  funds  under  Members  of  Parliament  Local  Area  Development  Scheme (c) At present, there is no such proposal under consideration of the Ministry of

(MPLADS), following due process. Statistics and Programme Implementation. (d) & (e) Does not arise in view of reply to (c) above. *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 956 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Certification of Organic Cotton
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: K. Shanmuga Sundaram

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 956 ANSWERED ON 26/07/2023

## CERTIFICATION OF ORGANIC COTTON

## 956. SHRI SHANMUGA SUNDARAM K.:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that a colossal certification scam is underway in the name of certification of organic cotton, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the steps taken by the Union Government to prevent the same; and
- (c) whether any foreign countries have banned the imports of organic cotton from India, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) Under  National  Programme  for  Organic  Production  (NPOP),  Transaction  Certificate  is issued  by  accredited  certification  bodies  for  organic  raw  cotton,  up  to  production  level  only.  Further processing and trading certification are done under private standards.

Under the NPOP, regular annual surveillance audits and announced & unannounced inspections are carried out by Evaluation Committee for checking the compliances of NPOP. In case of non-compliances reported during the audit, action is taken against the certified operators and accredited Certification Bodies.

In  2022,  the  National  Accreditation  Body  (NAB)  of  NPOP  suspended  two  Certification  Bodies  and withdrew accreditation of two other Certification Bodies due to the irregularities and procedural lapses. The action taken against Certification Bodies was based on the irregularities established in the certification procedures and lapses in issuing transaction certificates for organic products, including organic cotton, under the provisions of NPOP.

- (c) No country has imposed any ban on import of raw organic cotton from India.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 955 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: SCBTS
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Manoj Kishorbhai Kotak, Raksha Nikhil Khadse

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 955 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2023

## SCBTS

## 955. SHRI MANOJ KOTAK: SHRIMATI RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री be pleased to state :

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  started  Samarth-Scheme  for  Capacity  Building  in  Textile  Sector (SCBTS);

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether  Samarth  scheme  is  implemented  on  demand  driven  basis  across  the  country,  if  so,  the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government has fixed any target for imparting skills through training in the country, particularly for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and women; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र राज् य मंत्री ( श्रीमती दर्शना जरदोर् )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SMT. DARSHANA JARDOSH)

(a) & (b): Samarth-Scheme  for  Capacity  Building  in  Textile  Sector  (SCBTS)  was  launched  in 2017-18. Samarth provides demand driven, placement oriented National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) compliant skilling programme to supplement the efforts of the industry in creating jobs in the organized textile & related sectors, covering the entire value chain of textiles, excluding Spinning and Weaving, which have been converged under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) of M/o Skill Development & Entrepreneurship. Samarth has been extended upto March, 2024.

(c): Samarth  is  designed  as  a  demand  driven  scheme  for  PAN  India  and  captive  manpower requirement of the industry partners is also assessed before allocating training target.   As per scheme guidelines, Implementing Partners are mandated to provide placement to 70% of trained beneficiaries under entry level courses and 90% under upskilling courses for the courses in organised sector.

(d) & (e): Samarth  is  implemented  on  demand  driven  basis  across  the  country  and  preference  is given to marginalized social groups such as women, SC/ST etc. under the scheme. Out of the overall trained (passed) beneficiaries of 1,83,844 persons, 1,66,618 are women as on 20.07.2023. Implementing Partners are mandated through budget provisioning to train 25% from SC category and 10% from ST category respectively. A total of 45,755 from SC category and 20,919 from ST category have benefitted from the scheme.
Lok Sabha Question No. 951 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Dispatch of Coal
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Gautam Gambhir

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.951 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2023

## Dispatch of Coal 951. SHRI GAUTAM GAMBHIR:

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

- (a)  whether there has been an increase in the dispatch of coal in the first quarter of Financial Year 2023-24 as compared to Q1 of Financial Year 202223; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

- (a) & (b): Yes Sir, In the first quarter (Q1) of current financial year 2023-24, The  dispatch  of  coal  was  241.03  MT  (provisional)  in  comparison  to  same period of last year 224.72 MT, thereby achieving a growth of 7.25%.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 946 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Ex-gratia payment to Accident Victims
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Pritam Gopinath Munde, Bhartruhari Mahtab, Rahul Ramesh Shewale

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 946

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2023

## EX-GRATIA PAYMENT TO ACCIDENT VICTIMS

946.   DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE :

SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Union Government proposes to increase the ceiling for ex-gratia  provided  to  victims  provided  to  victims  of  railways accidents under Section 124 of the Railways Act, 1989;
- (b) if so, whether there is a classification for the nature of accidents; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (c): Ex-gratia provided by the Railways to the injured/next of kin of deceased passengers, in case of  train  accident  is ` 50,000/-  in  case  of death; ` 25,000/-  in case of grievous injury and ` 5,000/- in case of simple injury.

In addition to the above, enhanced ex-gratia purely on humanitarian grounds  is  disbursed  on  the  rates  over  and  above  the  normal  rate  of ex-gratia.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 945 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: New Industries in Telangana
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Bheemrao Baswanthrao Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 945. TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 26 TH  JULY, 2023.

## NEW INDUSTRIES IN TELANGANA

## 945. SHRI B.B. PATIL:

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

- (a) the industry-wise details of the assistance provided by the Government to set up new industries in Telangana during the last three years and in the current year;
- (b) whether any proposal for setting up new industries in Telangana is pending;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the time by which the said industries are likely to be set up and made functional?

## 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) to (d): Sir, Government of India provides a lot of support for promotion of Industrial activities across the country. However, setting up of industries is primarily under the prerogative of the State Governments. Government of India, through the Department  for  Promotion  of  Industry  &  Internal  Trade  and  other  Central Ministries/Departments,  provides  an  enabling  eco-system  for  the  overall industrial development of the country, including Telangana through appropriate policy interventions. No centralized information on assistance provided to State governments, with respect to industries, is maintained.

Government of India also supplements the efforts of the State/UT Governments through various schemes, programmes and policy initiatives for promotion and development of MSMEs across the country. These schemes and programmes inter alia include Prime Minister's  Employment  Generation  Programme (PMEGP), Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises, Micro and  Small  Enterprises  Cluster  Development  Programme  (MSE-CDP),  etc. Benefits under these schemes are available to all eligible MSMEs throughout the country.

The number of entities recognised as startups in the last three years and current year as on 30 th  April, 2023 for the State of Telangana is as under:

| State     |   Year 2020 |   Year 2021 | Year 2022   |   Year 2023 |
|-----------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
| Telangana |         796 |         972 | 1,377       |         612 |

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 942 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Draft National Geospatial Policy
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Dr. T. Sumathy (a) Thamizhachi Thangapandian

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 942 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26/07/2023

## DRAFT NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL POLICY

942.  DR. T. SUMATHY (A) THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ͪव£ान और Ĥौɮयोͬगकȧ मंğी be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the current status of the draft National Geospatial Policy 2021;
- (b) the nature of support being provided to the private sector for the promotion of India's space sector by the Government;
- (c) the total number of private companies engaged with ISRO to use the Government facilities for R&D and testing;
- (d) the details of the authority under which the 'Guidelines for Acquiring and Producing Geospatial Data and Geospatial Data Services including Maps' have been issued; and
- (e)  the  details  of the  safeguards the  Government has put in place to prevent possible satellite surveillance as a consequence of liberalizing access  to  geospatial  data  to  internationally  headquartered  mapping agencies?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

ͪव£ान और Ĥौɮयोͬगकȧ राÏयमंğी (èवतंğ Ĥभार) (डॉ. िजतɅġ ͧसंह)

- (a)   After  approval  of  the  Union  Cabinet  on  16.12.2022,  the  National Geospatial Policy, 2022 has been notified  in  the  Gazette  of  India  on 28.12.2022 for implementation with immediate effect.

- (b) With the unlocking of the space sector for the private sector by the Government,  following  support  activities  are  provided  to  the  private sector :-
- I. Providing mentorship as well as ISRO facility utilization support.
- II. Technology Transfer to NGEs.
- III. lN-SPACe Seed fund support to startups to transform novel idea into a prototype development.
- IV. lN-SPACe  differential  pricing  policy  for  NGEs  for  utilization  of ISRO's facility.
- V. Creation of lN-SPACe digital platform to connect all the stakeholders of space eco system.
- VI. Established  lN-SPACe  Design  Lab,  where  startups  can  use  high end simulation software for design and analysis of critical space systems/subsystems.
- (c) The  total  number  of  NGEs  who  have  submitted  application  to  lNSPACe seeking support from ISRO for R&D and testing is 182 as of now.
- (d) The Government of India [Minister of State (Independent charge) for Science and Technology] is the authority under which the 'Guidelines for  Acquiring  and  Producing  Geospatial  Data  and  Geospatial  Data Services including Maps' dated 15.02.2021 have been issued.
- (e) Observation from Space does not follow any country's boundary. Due to global coverage of remote sensing satellites, the observations from foreign satellites cannot be governed. Through the Indian Space Policy 2023,  Satellites  registered  in  India  as  well  as  dissemination  of  data within the country are monitored for its end use.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 938 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Lithium Reserves
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: K. Muraleedharan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 938

ANSWERED ON 26.07.2023

## LITHIUM RESERVES

938. SHRI K. MURALEEDHARAN:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has confirmed the presence of lithium reserves in Jammu and Kashmir, based on the Geological Survey of India's G3 level surveys and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the discovered deposits are located in areas with human habitation and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  India  possesses  lithium  extraction  technologies  and  if  so,  the  details thereof and if not, whether the Government has a concrete strategy to acquire it and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  planned  the  auction  of  lithium  reserves  found  in Jammu & Kashmir by December 2023 and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details and the progress made in exploration and extraction of the 1600 tonnes of lithium discovered in Karnataka's Mandya district last year?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINES, COAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

- (a): Yes, Sir. Geological Survey of India has carried out a 'preliminary exploration' i.e. G3 stage mineral exploration project on Bauxite, Rare Earth Elements and Lithium in Salal-Haimna areas of Reasi District, Jammu & Kashmir during FS 2020-21 & 202122 and has confirmed an inferred resource (G3) of 5.9 million tonnes of lithium ore.
- (b):  There  are  scattered  houses  in  the  mineralised  block  of  Salal-Haimna,  Reasi District, Jammu & Kashmir.
- (c): The processing and refining methods for lithium ore can vary depending on the type of lithium deposit, the characteristics of the ore, and the intended end-use of the lithium compounds. India is capable of developing technologies for beneficiation of lithium ore to lithium mineral concentrate. Successful experimentation has been done for extraction of lithium from mineral concentrate in laboratory scale.
- (d):  The  decision  regarding  auctioning  of  the  Lithium  mineral  block  in  Jammu  & Kashmir will be taken up by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir.
- (e): The Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research under Department of Atomic Energy has established 1600 tonnes (inferred category) lithium resource in Marlagalla area, Mandya District, Karnataka. This is a preliminary estimate and since then, exploration inputs by AMDER are focused to convert the preliminary estimate to exploitable category and higher degree of confidence and to augment lithium resource in the adjoining extension areas. Bench scale studies have been completed on hydrometallurgical extraction of Lithium from Spodumene mineral concentrate from the area to produce very pure Lithium Carbonate.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 934 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: 4G Saturation Towers
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 934 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH  JULY, 2023

## 4G SATURATION TOWERS

## 934. SHRI SHRINIWAS PATIL:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the work of 4G saturation towers in Satara District of Maharashtra is not progressing at expected pace and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the number of 4G saturation towers planned to be erected in Satara district in Maharashtra; and
- (d) the details of the steps taken by the Government to speed up the pending progress work of 4G Saturation towers?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) Under Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) funded project of 4G Saturation scheme, 69 4G mobile towers are planned for erection in Satara district of Maharashtra. Work of land acquisition & infrastructure creation is going on as per expected pace to complete the work in scheduled timelines.

- (d) Regular review meetings with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), State governments, Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) & Ministry of Power are being held for coordination & speeding up the pace of the execution of project.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 933 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Connectivity to Calicut Railway Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: M. K. Raghavan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 933 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2023

## CONNECTIVITY TO CALICUT RAILWAY STATION

## 933. SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has observed that inspite of being a highly profitable Railway Station, connectivity to Calicut railway station is being neglected by the Railways;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  measures  taken  to  enhance  the  connectivity  to Calicut Railway station from various cities of the country;
- (c) whether the Government has observed that rail connectivity to Bangalore from Calicut is not sufficient considering the passenger and cargo traffic in this sector, if so, the steps taken to expand connectivity to Calicut from Bangalore;
- (d) whether the Government has any proposal to introduce more passenger trains between Calicut-Bangalore, Calicut-Chennai, Calicut- Trivandrum, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  has  observed  that  trains  running  through  Kerala  still  have older railway coaches, if so, the details of steps being taken to modernise the existing railway coaches in these trains?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (d)  Kozhikode is presently being served by 114 train services connecting it to cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata etc. Further, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai and Bengaluru are also  connected  with  Kozhikode  by  26,  4  and  2  pairs  of  train  services  respectively. Besides,  introduction  of  trains  is  an  ongoing  process  on  Indian  Railways  subject  to operational feasibility, traffic demand, availability of resources, etc. Demand/request for freight  rakes  is  received  in  the  Railway  system  in  the  form  of  indents,  and  rakes  are supplied against these indents.
- (e)  Indian Railways do not operate train services on State- wise basis as Railway network straddles  across  State  boundaries.  On  Indian  Railways,  only  those  coaches  which  are within  their  codal  life    and  fit  for  passenger  operations  are  used  in  passenger  carrying trains. Besides, constant monitoring of the condition of coaches is done to ensure safety and convenience of passengers.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 930 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Earth Science Related Activities
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Vinod Chavda

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 930 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 26 TH  JULY, 2023

## EARTH SCIENCE RELATED ACTIVITIES

- † 930.   SHRI VINOD L. CHAVDA:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to hold earth science related activities for the students in the country for the next three years; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

- (a) - (b)  Yes Sir. Ministry has been supporting various awareness activities on earth sciences for students  through  its  outreach  program.  Following  are  the  events  proposed  to  be conducted in a yearly basis:
- (i) Days of significance like Earth Day (22 April), Ozone Day (16 September), etc.
- (ii) Indian National Earth Science Olympiad (INESO).
- (iii) International  Earth  Science  Olympiad  (IESO) for school  students  in  Class  IX  to XII.
- (iv) Earth science Exhibitions,  Science Festivals,  Workshops,  Seminars,  Popular Lectures, etc.

******