opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1102 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Lack of Amenities in Unreserved Mail and Express Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Achyutananda Samanta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1102 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2023

## LACK OF AMENITIES IN UNRESERVED MAIL AND EXPRESS TRAINS

1102.  SHRI ACHYUTANANDA SAMANTA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  two  or  three  coaches/compartments  are  made  unreserved for general passengers in each Mail and Express trains;
- (b) if  so,  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that these  coaches/ compartments are overcrowded and lack amenities;
- (c) whether the Ministry is devising some strategies to make those long journeys comfortable;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  the  steps  the  Government  proposes  to  take  to  keep  data  of  the passengers and regulate the travelling in the unreserved coaches/compartments in trains in the wake of tragic train accident in Balasore?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND

ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF ACHYUTANANDA 26.07.2023 IN  UNRESERVED  MAIL  AND

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1102 BY SHRI SAMANTA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON REGARDING  LACK  OF  AMENITIES EXPRESS TRAINS.

- (a) & (b) On Indian Railways, the demand for travel is not uniform and varies during lean and peak periods. As a contrast to lean periods, during peak periods, like summer vacations, pooja rush, Diwali/Chhath,  winter  vacation/  Holi,  etc.,  demand  exceeds  the availability. It is applicable both to reserved as well as unreserved sector.  Composition  of  trains  is  formed  on  the  basis  of  traffic justification, operational feasibility and availability of resources.

Accordingly,  Indian  Railways  operates  various  types  of  trains including  Jan  Sadharan,  passenger  trains  etc.  which  are  fully unreserved class trains.

- (c) & (d) All unreserved coaches are equipped with all basic amenities which includes comfortable seat, toilets, wash basin, longitudinal luggage racks, coat hook, fan, charging points etc.
- (e) Unreserved tickets are valid for commencing  journey within specified duration in that class in any train going from the journey originating  station  to  the  destination  station  indicated  on  the ticket.  Since  these  tickets  are  not  train  specific,  the  current practice of unreserved ticketing is one of capturing details which are required for fulfilling the technical and operational requirements.  Since  the  train  by  which  such  passengers  will undertake  journey  is  not  certain,  intended  purpose  will  not  be served  by  capturing  the  details  of  these  passengers.  Making journey in that class train specific and  capturing details of passengers  would  restrict  option  of  undertaking  journey  by  any train and would also result in increase in time of issuing of tickets.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1094 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Violation of Protocol
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: A.K.P. Chinraj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1094

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2023)

## VIOLATION OF PROTOCOL

## 1094. SHRI A.K.P. CHINRAJ:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  complaints  received  by  the  Government  from  Members  of  Parliament against officers of Union Government for violation of Protocol from 2019 till date;
- (b) the details of specific action taken in this regard, complaint-wise; and
- (c) the  number  of  officers  who  have  been  suspended  for  violation  of  protocol  in  dealing representations from the Members of Parliament?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (c):    Department  of  Personnel  &  Training  (DoPT)  is  the  cadre  controlling  authority  for Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Central Secretariat Service (CSS) and Central  Secretariat Stenographers  Service  (CSSS).      No  such  complaints  have  been  received  in  this  department against  the  officer(s)  serving  the  Union  Government  belonging  to  the  above  three  services. Comprehensive  guidelines  regarding  observance  of  proper  procedure  in  official  dealings between Administration and Members of Parliament and State Legislatures were issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions in 2011 to all the Ministries/Departments and to Chief Secretaries of all States/UTs, with the request to circulate these instructions to all State  Government officials at the State/Division and District levels,  in  order to  sensitize  them with regard to their duties and obligations in relation to dealings with Members of Parliament and State Legislatures. These instructions have also been reiterated from time to time, for strict compliance, both in letter and spirit.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1093 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Regular Civilian Employees in the Union Government
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: Abdul Majeed Ariff

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1093

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2023)

## REGULAR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES IN THE UNION GOVERNMENT

## 1093. ADV. A.M. ARIFF:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is  true  that  over  9.64  lakh  posts  of  regular  civilian  employees  in  the  Union Government  are  vacant  despite  the  Government's  rhetoric  on  creation  of  ten  lakh Government jobs last year and if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon;
- (b) whether it is true that the number of sanctioned posts in the Union Government in 2022 was the lowest in three years and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the number of sanctioned and vacant posts as on 30.06.2023 in the Ministries/Departments of Railways, Defence (Civil), Home Affairs, Posts and Revenue which are assumed to provide more than 90 per cent of the jobs in Union Government; and
- (d) the  number  of  sanctioned  and  vacant  posts  of  regular  civilian  employees  in  Union Government from FY 2018-19 to FY 2022-23?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): As per Annual Report of Pay Research Unit (PRU), Department of Expenditure, the number of vacant posts, as on 01.03.2022, of civilian regular employees was 9,64,359. DoPT has been directing Ministries/ Departments of the Central Government, from time to time, to fill up vacant post in a time bound manner.

Filling up of vacant posts in various Ministries/ Departments is a continuous process. As part of Rozgar Mela, the vacant posts are being filled in a Mission Mode. Rozgar Mela events are being held across the country and the new appointees are being inducted into various Central Ministries/  Departments/  Central  Public  Sector  Undertakings  (CPSUs)/  Autonomous  Bodies including Health & Education Institutes, Public Sector Banks etc.

As  per  Annual  Report  of  Pay  Research  Unit  (PRU),  Department  of  Expenditure,  the number of sanctioned posts and vacant posts, as on 01.03.2022, in the Ministries/Departments of Railways,  Defence  (Civil),  Home  Affairs,  Posts  and  Revenue,  is  36,20,782  and  8,39,821, respectively.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1091 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Import of Natural Rubber
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Dean Kuriakose

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1091 ANSWERED ON 26/07/2023

## IMPORT OF NATURAL RUBBER

## 1091.   ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE:

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

- (a) whether the Government has any plans to restrict import of natural rubber;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  State  of  Kerala  has  requested  for  financial  assistance  to  support  the  rubber farmers in Kerala;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has any proposal to increase the price of natural rubber to  Rs.300 per kg and if so, the details thereof?

## 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) & (b) To regulate  the import of Natural Rubber , the Government had increased the duty on import of dry rubber from 20% or Rs.30 per kg whichever is lower' to 25% or Rs.30 per kg whichever is lower ' w.e.f 30.04.2015. The Government had also reduced the period of utilization of imported dry rubber under advance licensing scheme from 18 months to 6 months in January 2015. Port entry for import of Natural Rubber has been restricted to ports at Chennai and Nhava Sheva (Jawaharlal Nehru Port) (since January 2016). Further, in the Union Budget 2023-24, the rate of custom duty on compound rubber has been increased from 10% to 25%. There are no other proposals under consideration.

(c) & (d) The State of Kerala had requested for financial assistance for rubber farmers. The Rubber Board under Department of Commerce provides subsidy for new planting and replanting (of senile plantations) under its various schemes. Rubber Board also provides training for tapping of rubber trees and processing of field latex to sheet rubber. Rubber Board has also taken several measures to improve productivity such as providing assistance for rain  guarding  to  increase  the  number  of  tapping  days,  prevention  of  diseases  and  adoption  of  plantations  lying untapped to revive tapping operations.

- (e) Presently, no such proposal is under consideration.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1090 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Shortage of Employment through Direct Recruitment
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ramcharan Bohra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1090 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2023

## SHORTAGE OF EMPLOYMENT THROUGH DIRECT RECRUITMENT

† 1090. SHRI RAMCHARAN BOHRA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there has been a decline in the number of personnel recruited  by  the  Railway  Recruitment  Boards  in  recent years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof during the last three years;
- (c) whether  contractual  appointments  in  the  recent  years  has been gradually all rising;
- (d)
- if so, the details thereof, during the last three years:
- (e) whether the Government has noted that the common people have expressed their concern on the shortage of employment through Direct Recruitment (DR) by the Railway Recruitment Boards due to privatisation of Railways; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereon?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1090 BY SHRI RAMCHARAN BOHRA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 26.07.2023 REGARDING SHORTAGE OF EMPLOYMENT THROUGH DIRECT RECRUITMENT

(a) & (b):  The  details  of  the  number  of  candidates  empanelled  by Railway  Recruitment  Boards  (RRBs)  for  various  Group  'C' posts (including Level 1) during 2020-2021 to 2022-2023 and current year (2023-2024, upto 30.06.2023) are as under:

| Year                         |   Total number of empanelment made by RRBs ( Level 1 to Level 7) |
|------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2020-2021                    |                                                             5450 |
| 2021-2022                    |                                                             4612 |
| 2022-2023*                   |                                                            85888 |
| 2023-2024* (upto 30.06.2023) |                                                            50885 |

- (c) & (d):  The details of the number of contractual workers engaged by  the  Railways  during  2020-2021  to  2022-2023  are  as under:
- (e): There is no proposal to privatise the Indian Railways.

| Year       |   Number of Contractual Workers Engaged |
|------------|-----------------------------------------|
| 2020-2021  |                                    4079 |
| 2021-2022  |                                    8823 |
| 2022-2023* |                                    5013 |

*Provisional

(f): Does not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1089 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Face Recognition Technology
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: Debasree Chaudhuri, Imtiaz Jaleel Syed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PENSION & PENSIONERS' WELFARE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1089

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2023)

## FACE RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY

## 1089. MS. DEBASREE CHAUDHURI: SHRI SYED IMTIYAZ JALEEL:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government with a view to provide 'ease of living' to pensioners including elderly/physically disabled pensioners across the country has introduced appropriate and easy  technical  and  managerial  measures  viz.  the  face recognition technology  for providing  'Life  Certificate'  to  them  by  the  concerned  institutions/banks  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  come  across  any  instances  of  hardship  faced  by  the pensioners including elderly/physically disabled pensioners while submitting 'Life Certificate'  for  availing  pension  through  this  technological  innovation  and  if  so,  the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government proposes to make provisions for such pensioners to submit/provide  the  Life  certificate  at  their  door  steps  by  a  representative  of  bank  or disbursing authority, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c):   Yes Sir. The Government has introduced Face Authentication Technology to submit 'Life Certificate' by Pensioners through the Jeevan Pramaan App with a view to enhance 'ease of living' for pensioners on 29th November 2021.

The Government has not come across any instances of hardship faced by pensioners while availing  this  technology  in  submitting  'Life  Certificate'.  PSB  Alliance  Banks  as  well  as  India Post  and  Payments  Bank  (IPPB)  provide  Doorstep  Banking  services  for  submission  of  life certificate by pensioners.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1088 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Automatic Brake System in KAVACH
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ghanshyam Singh Lodhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1088 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2023

## AUTOMATIC BRAKE SYSTEM IN KAVACH

## † 1088. SHRI GHANSHYAM SINGH LODHI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the KAVACH system is fully safe to prevent tragic train accidents;
- (b) if so, the reasons for delay in using it in all the trains;
- (c) the  percentage  of  possibility  of  decrease  in  train  accidents  by use of KAVACH system through its automatic tracking system in case of two trains heading on the same track;
- (d) whether  automatic  braking  system  will  be  upgraded  in  the KAVACH system in case of animals or people entering the tracks of trains; and
- (e) if so, the effects of it on trains?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  to  (e):  Regarding  safety  features  &  implementation  of  Kavach system, details are as under:-
1. Kavach is indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system.  Kavach is a highly technology

- intensive  system,  which  requires  safety  certification  of highest order.
2. Kavach aids the loco pilot in train running within specified speed  limits  by  automatic  application  of  brakes  in  case Loco Pilot fails to do so and also help the train safely run during inclement weather.
3. The first field trials on the passenger trains were started in February  2016.  Based  on  the  experience  so  gained  and Independent  Safety  Assessment  of  the  system  by  a  3rd party (Independent Safety Assessor: ISA) three firms were approved in 2018-19, for supply of Kavach.
4. Subsequently  Kavach  was  adopted  as  a  National  ATP system in July 2020.
5. Kavach  has  so  far  been  deployed  on  1465  Route  km  and 121 locomotives (including Electric Multiple Unit rakes) on South Central Railway.
6. Kavach tenders have been awarded for Delhi  -  Mumbai & Delhi  -  Howrah  corridors  (approximately  3000  Route  km) and work is in progress on these routes.
7. Indian Railways is preparing Detailed Project Report (DPR) and detailed estimate for another 6000 RKm.
8. Kavach system is not related to braking in case of animals or people entering track.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1087 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Secondment in Government Jobs
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: Bholanath (B.P. Saroj)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1087

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2023)

## SECONDMENT IN GOVERNMENT JOBS

## 1087. SHRI BHOLANATH (B.P. SAROJ):

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the term secondment and the term deputation means the same in the recruitment rules followed by the Government departments/autonomous bodies;
- (b) if  so,  whether  the  time  period  spent  under  secondment  can  be  clubbed  with  the  time period  spent  under  deputation  while  determining  the  total period  permissible  for deputation for any Government servant;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (d):  The instructions governing appointments on deputation issued by the Department of Personnel & Training do not include the term 'Secondment'. Therefore the terms 'secondment' and 'deputation' cannot be said to be the same.

In view of the above, the terms 'secondment' and 'deputation' cannot be compared for determining the total period permissible for deputation of any Government servant.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1084 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Reforms in Coal Sector
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Pushpendra Singh Chandel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1084 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2023

Reforms in Coal Sector

## †1084. SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is contemplating any policy reforms in the coal sector by changing the policy of coal extraction, distribution and pricing;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is also considering expansion of coal distribution capabilities in the country in collaboration with the Ministry of Railways; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b): Government has made several policy reforms in the coal sector. Presently, there is no policy reform under contemplation.
- (c)  &  (d): Ministry  of  Coal  is  coordinating  with  Ministry  of  Railways  to  enhance  coal evacuation & distribution capabilities. At present, 13 Railway lines are being constructed in collaboration with the  Ministry of Railways for expansion of coal distribution capabilities, which are at various stages of construction.

A total of 67 First Mile Connectivity (FMC) Projects with 885 MT capacity being taken up in 3 phases to achieve capacity of ~1BT mechanized handling of coal. In line with the goal of PM Gati Shakti, the Ministry of Coal has undertaken railway projects costing Rs. 26000 Cr to develop multimodal connectivity.

A Sub-group of all stakeholder ministries- Railway, Power, & Coal, and State representatives has been created. The Sub-group ensures rakes supply depending on the coal availability.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1080 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Installation of Seismology Centres
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOKSABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1080

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 26 TH  JULY, 2023

## INSTALLATION OF SEISMOLOGY CENTRES

†1080.        SHRI JASWANT SINGH BHABHOR:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there has been an increase in the cases of natural disasters in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to open more seismology centres across the country to improve the process of real time data monitoring and data collection; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES

## (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

- (a) The present state of knowledge about earthquakes in and around the country, does not show any definite pattern in frequency of earthquake occurrences which could suggest  any  increase  in  earthquake  activity.  However,  during  the  recent  years, seismic monitoring in the country has been improved considerably and even the lower magnitude earthquakes are automatically detected and disseminated quickly through  National  Centre  for  Seismology  (NCS)  website,  Mobile  App  and  other social media. It is perhaps giving the impression of enhanced earthquake activity in the country, which was otherwise not noticed earlier.
- (b) and (c) Yes Sir. The expansion of seismological network is one of the routine activities of NCS, which is an attached office of the Ministry of Earth Sciences and is nodal agency  of  Government  of  India,  for  earthquake  monitoring  in  the  country.  At present  a  total  of  153  observatories  of  the  National  Seismological  Network  are operational  throughout  the  country  for  monitoring  of  seismic  activity  in  and around India.

*****