opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3510 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-17
Subject: Mukti Diwas
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Patel Umeshbhai Babubhai

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3510

TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  THE  17 TH   DECEMBER,  2024/  AGRAHAYANA  26,  1946 (SAKA)

MUKTI DIWAS

†3510. SHRI PATEL UMESHBHAI BABUBHAI:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that the residents and local administration of Union Territory Daman and Diu have been celebrating 19th December every year as "Mukti Diwas" and oraganizing several cultural programmes including honuoring freedom fighters, martyrs and many other programmes;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government used to provide any grant to said function and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether there is a provision to declare it a public holiday at present; and

(e) whether the Government proposes to celebrate the Mukti Diwas as it was celebrated earlier and if so, the time by which it is likely to be done and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) to (e) As informed by the Union Territory administration of Dadra & Nagar

Haveli and Daman & Diu, 19 th  December is celebrated as 'Liberation Day - Mukti

Diwas' every year.  No specific grant / fund is allocated for this purpose and at present, there is no proposal for declaring 'Mukti Diwas' as a public holiday.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3508 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-17
Subject: Performance of Steel Authority of India
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STEEL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3508 FOR ANSWER ON 17.12.2024

## PERFORMANCE OF STEEL AUTHORITY OF INDIA

3508.  DR. T SUMATHY ALIAS THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether environmental performance of Steel Authority of India (SAIL) is audited along lines with UNDP or NDC goals;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether any plans for technological upgradation is being worked upon for safer, sustainable use of furnaces; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE         (SHRI BHUPATHIRAJU SRINIVASA VARMA) MINISTRY OF STEEL

(a)&(b): Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is the principal regulatory authority. Steel Authority of India Limited(SAIL) plants/units undertake activities under valid statutory permissions like Environmental Clearance (EC), Consent to Establish (CTE), Consent to Operate (CTO), Authorisations for the management of wastes (Hazardous waste, Bio-medical waste), etc. and compliance of  the  stipulated  conditions  in  the  statutory  certificates/permits  are  being  ensured. Environmental  compliance  of  SAIL  is  being  monitored  on  a  regular  basis  by  the regulatory bodies like State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

(c)&(d): Technological upgradation is an ongoing process.  SAIL selects Best Available Technologies (BAT) while designing the Modernization & Expansion of its Plants including furnaces.  SAIL also collaborates with eminent technology providers & academic institutions for technological interventions towards safer and sustainable use of furnaces, in addition to other facilities.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3506 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-17
Subject: Schemes for Heavy Industry Sector
Ministry: HEAVY INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Adv Gowaal Kagada Padavi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3506

ANSWERED ON 17.12.2024

## SCHEMES FOR HEAVY INDUSTRY SECTOR

## 3506. ADV GOWAAL KAGADA PADAVI:

Will the Minister of HEAVY INDUSTRIES भारी उद्योग मंत्री be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has made any effective schemes to increase employment generation, technological innovation and competition in heavy industry sector;

- (b) if so, the details of the evaluation of the effects of these schemes and the outcome thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has taken concrete steps to ensure adherence to environment standards;
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether the Government has made a policy to attract foreign investment; and
- (f) if so, the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEAVY INDUSTRIES (SHRI BHUPATHIRAJU SRINIVASA VARMA)

(a): Ministry of Heavy  Industries  is  implementing  the  Scheme  for  'Enhancement  of Competitiveness in the Indian Capital Goods Sector- Phase II'.  This scheme is aimed at:-

(i) Creating a strong and globally competitive capital goods sector; (ii) Creating a self-sustaining eco  system  for  research  and  innovation  for  manufacturing  technologies  through  the  use  of Technology Innovation Portals; (iii) Enhancing the skills of the existing manpower and to expand the availability of highly skilled manpower for the sector; (iv) Promotion of smart manufacturing and to facilitate adoption of relevant, robust and affordable technologies for Industry 4.0 in the Capital  Goods  sector  in  order  to  improve  efficiency  and  productivity;  and  (v)  Promotion  of progressive indigenization of technologies for capital goods.  The scheme has a financial outlay of Rs. 1207 crores with budgetary support of Rs.975 crore and Industry Contribution of Rs.232 crore.

(b): The  third  Party  Evaluation  of  the  Phase  I  of  the  Scheme  was  conducted  by  an  expert committee under the Chairmanship of Shri S. Chaudhary, Director, IIT-Jodhpur.  The Committee, inter  alia,  recommended  that  the  present  scheme  has  paved  the  way  towards  fulfilling  the technological  and  infrastructural    requirements  of  the  Capital  Goods  sector  in  a  limited  way. However, to cater to the needs of the entire Capital Goods industry across the country,  the upscaling of the present scheme  would  lead  to  creation  of  the  desired  impact  on Make in India initiative of the Government of India.    Accordingly, on January 25, 2022, Ministry of Heavy Industries  has  notified  the  Scheme  for  'Enhancement  of  Competitiveness  in  the  Indian  Capital Goods Sector- Phase-II'

- (c) to (e): There is no such provision under the present Scheme.
- (f): Does not arise.

***********
Lok Sabha Question No. 3501 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-17
Subject: Dairy Sahakar Yojana
Ministry: COOPERATION
Asked by: Shri Maddila Gurumoorthy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COOPERATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3501 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 th  DECEMBER, 2024

## Dairy Sahakar Yojana

## 3501 Shri Maddila Gurumoorthy:

Will the Minister of Cooperation ( सहकारिता मंत्री ) be pleased to State:

- (a)  The  details  of  the  initiatives  undertaken  under  the  Dairy  Sahakar  Yojana  in  the  Tirupati Parliamentary  Constituency  during  the  last  three  years,  including  the  number  of  dairy cooperatives or farmers' groups benefiting from the scheme;
- (b)  The total funds allocated, sanctioned, and utilized under the Dairy Sahakar Yojana in Tirupati, and the steps being taken to improve dairy infrastructure, processing and marketing in the region; and
- (c)  Whether the Government has identified specific challenges faced by dairy farmers in Tirupati, such as access to credit, modern technology, or market linkages; and
- (d)  If so, the measures taken under the Dairy Sahakar Yojana to address these issues and support dairy farmers in the constituency?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COOPERATION सहकारिता मंत्री (SHRI AMIT SHAH)

(a)  to  (d):  National  Cooperative  Development  Corporation  (NCDC)  -  a  Statutory  Corporation under the Ministry of Cooperation, has been providing financial assistance and conducting various capacity development programmes for promotion and development of dairy cooperatives across the country by dovetailing with various schemes of Government of India.

The details of dairy cooperative societies benefitted under Dairy Sahakar scheme of NCDC are as under:

|   S.No | State   |   No. of beneficiary dairy cooperative societies |   Amount Disbursed (Rs. in crore) |
|--------|---------|--------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
|      1 | Gujarat |                                             9420 |                             27.16 |

| 2   | Uttarakhand   |   2766 |   23.49 |
|-----|---------------|--------|---------|
| 3   | Bihar         |   1409 |    9.72 |
| 4   | Maharashtra   |   1491 |    1.8  |
| 5   | Odisha        |    943 |    0.69 |
| 6   | Tamil Nadu    |    175 |   24.83 |
| 7   | Telangana     |   3018 |   51.93 |
| 8   | Rajasthan     |    663 |    6.19 |
|     | Total         |  19885 |  145.81 |

Since Dairy Sahakar is the umbrella framework of NCDC, Ministry of Cooperation has no specific allocation of funds towards this framework. So far, NCDC has provided financial assistance of Rs. 145.81 crore to dairy cooperatives under Dairy Sahakar. However, NCDC has not provided any financial  assistance  in  Tirupati  Parliamentary  Constituency  under  Dairy  Sahakar,  as  no  dairy cooperative from Tirupati Parliamentary Constituency has applied to NCDC for loan under Dairy Sahakar.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3498 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-17
Subject: National Mission on Natural Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Gaddigoudar Parvatagouda Chandanagouda

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3498

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 17 TH     DECEMBER, 2024

## NATIONAL MISSION ON NATURAL FARMING

3498.  SHRI GADDIGOUDAR PARVATAGOUDA CHANDANAGOUDA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  Government  has  launched  the  scheme,  'National  Mission  on Natural Farming'; (b) if so, the total outlay of the project along with the share of Centre and States thereon  and  the  estimated  number  of  farmers  are  likely  to  be  benefited  under  the scheme: and (c) the extent to which this scheme would help in the promotion of chemical-free

- farming and support farmers by reducing cost of cultivation?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) to (c): Yes  Sir,  the  Union  Cabinet  on  25th  November  2024  approved  the National  Mission  on  Natural  Farming  (NMNF) as  a standalone  centrally  sponsored scheme with an overall outlay of ₹2481 crore (Government of India share - ₹1584 crore and States share - ₹897 crore). The  Mission  has  a  target  to  initiate  1  crore  farmers  to  natural  farming  through extensive training  programmes to farmers on natural farming package of practices, preparation  of  natural  inputs  etc.  Under  the  scheme,  10,000  need  based  bio-input resource  centers  are  planned  to  provide  easy  access  to  locally  produced  natural farming  inputs  to  the  farmers  thereby  reducing  dependency  of  farmers  on  external markets for purchase of inputs which will contribute to reduction in cost of cultivation.

- ********
Lok Sabha Question No. 3491 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-17
Subject: Assistance for Police Stations in LWE affected Districts
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Satish Kumar Gautam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3491

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 17 TH  DECEMBER, 2024/ AGRAHAYANA 26, 1946 (SAKA)

ASSISTANCE FOR POLICE STATIONS IN LWE AFFECTED DISTRICTS

†3491.     SHRI SATISH KUMAR GAUTAM:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  any  assistance  is  being  provided  by  the  Government  to strengthen the district police in the leftist extremism affected districts and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether any assistance is being provided to the State Governments by the Union Government for the construction of police stations in the said districts; and

(c) if so, the details thereof during the last five years?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) to (c): To address the Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) menace holistically, Government of India approved 'National Policy and Action Plan to address LWE'  in  2015.  The  Policy  envisages  a  multi-pronged  strategy  involving security  related  measures,  development  interventions,  ensuring  rights and entitlements of local communities, etc.

-  On security front, the Government of India assists the LWE affected States by providing Central Armed Police Forces battalions, training,

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 3491 FOR 17.12.2024

funds for strengthening of the State police forces, equipment & arms, sharing of intelligence, construction of Fortified Police Stations etc;

-  Under  the  Special  Infrastructure  Scheme  for  LWE  affected  areas (SIS), assistance is provided to LWE affected states by Government of India for the following:
- i. Strengthening of Special Forces,
- ii. Strengthening of Special Intelligence Branches,
- iii. Strengthening of District Police,
- iv. Construction of Fortified Police Stations (FPS).

The  details  of  assistance  to  States  for  Districts  Police  and  Fortified Police Station are as under:

-  During last 05 years, works of Rs.363.26 crore have been sanctioned for the District Police.
-  Under  the  scheme,  302  Fortified  Police  Stations  worth  Rs.  759.51 crore have been sanctioned since 2017-18.
-  The Special Infrastructure Scheme is implemented on fund sharing basis on 60 (Central) : 40 (State) basis.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3490 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-17
Subject: World Class Infrastructure in PM MITRA Parks
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Shri Nalin Soren, Shri Pradeep Kumar Singh

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3490 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2024

## WORLD CLASS INFRASTRUCTURE IN PM MITRA PARKS

## 3490. SHRI NALIN SOREN: SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  promote  integrated  textile  value  chain  under  PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Park Scheme;
- (b) whether the Government has approved any project to develop world class infrastructure in the said parks and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  any  proposals  have  been  received  from  Jharkhand  and  Bihar  regarding  setting  up  of  said parks;
- (d) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto; and
- (e) if not, the Government proposes to set up the said parks in Jharkhand and Bihar by taking suo moto cognizance?

उत्तर

ANSWER

## वस्त्र राज्  य मंत्री ( श्री पबित्र मार्घेररटा )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA)

(a) to (e): To develop  integrated large scale and modern industrial infrastructure facility for entire value-chain  of  the  textile  industry,  the  Government  has  approved  setting  up  of  7  (Seven)  PM  Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks in  Greenfield/Brownfield sites with scheme outlay of Rs. 4,445 crore for the period 2021-22 to 2027-28.

All States including Bihar and Jharkhand were requested to submit proposals for setting up of PM MITRA Park from their States. In response, 18 proposals from 13 State Governments including one from West Champaran Bihar were received. No proposal from Government of Jharkhand was received.

The  Government  has  finalised  7  sites  viz.  Tamil  Nadu  (Virudhnagar),  Telangana  (Warangal), Gujarat  (Navsari),  Karnataka  (Kalaburagi),  Madhya  Pradesh  (Dhar),  Uttar  Pradesh  (Lucknow)  and Maharashtra (Amravati) for setting up PM MITRA Parks.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3482 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-17
Subject: Electronic Cigarettes
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Matheswaran V S

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3482

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 17 TH  DECEMBER, 2024/ AGRAHAYANA 26, 1946 (SAKA)

ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES

3482.     SHRI MATHESWARAN V S:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  the  number  of  FIRs  registered  by  Delhi  Police  for  violation  of  the Prohibition  of  Electronic  Cigarettes  (Production,  Manufacture,  Import, Export,  Transport,  Sale,  Distribution,  Storage  and  Advertisement)  Act, 2019, during the last five years till date and the stage of investigation of those cases;

(b)  the  number  of  periodical  checks  carried  out  by  Delhi  Police  as  per direction by Delhi High Court in W.P.(C) 16925/2022 from 12.12.2022 to till date; and

(c) the number of quantity of E-cigarettes seized by Delhi police based on the periodical check carried out?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) As reported by Delhi Police, 16 cases have been registered during the last five  years (till  30.11.2024), under The Prohibition  of Electronic Cigarettes  (Production,  Manufacture,  Import,  Export,  Transport,  Sale, Distribution,  Storage  and  Advertisement)  Act,  2019. Action  has  been taken in all the cases as per law and Charge-sheet has been filed in 12 cases before Competent Courts.

(b) to (c): The requisite information is as under:

| Period                   |   Number of Periodical Checks | Material seized during the periodical checks                             |
|--------------------------|-------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 12.12.2022 to 31.12.2022 |                           564 | NIL                                                                      |
| 2023                     |                          4524 | 535 E- Cigarettes and 3 Liquid Cigarettes                                |
| 2024 (up to 30.11.2024)  |                          4212 | 5600 E- Cigarettes, 10 Box, 30 Small Box and 39 Packets of E- Cigarettes |

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 3480 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-17
Subject: Exclusion of Kharif Crops from PMFBY
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Ms. Praniti Sushilkumar Shinde

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3480

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 17 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## EXCLUSION OF KHARIF CROPS FROM PMFBY

## 3480. MS. PRANITI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has excluded Kharif crops from the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) in the State of Maharashtra for the period 2023-28; (b) if so, the reasons for such exclusion and the steps being taken to reinstate coverage for Kharif crops under the scheme; (c) whether the Government maintains data on the number of farmers affected due to the exclusion of Kharif crops from PMFBY in the State of Maharashtra; (d) if so, the district-wise details of such farmers and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) the  details  of  the  alternative  mechanisms  which  have  been  proposed  to  provide financial protection to farmers cultivating Kharif crops in the State of Maharashtra; and
- (f)  whether the Government plans to revise or expand the coverage of PMFBY to ensure inclusivity for all crop types in the Maharashtra  and if so, the timeline for implementation?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

- (a): No Sir.  The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana  (PMFBY)   envisages coverage of all food crops  (cereals, millets and pulses), oilseeds and commercial/horticultural crops subject to availability of past yield data of requisite number of years based on Crop Cutting Experiments  (CCEs)  as well as capacity of the State Government to conduct requisite number of CCEs to assess the yield of the crop to calculate claims.   However, specific crop is notified by the concerned State Government in every season keeping in view the aforesaid provision.   For the crops not meeting the aforesaid conditions, the concerned State Government is free to notify them for coverage under Restructured Weather Based

Crop Insurance Scheme  (RWBCIS)  under which claims payment are being structured on the basis of weather index parameters.  The current tender cycle is till Rabi 2025-26.  In Kharif 2024, all crops which were covered in Kharif 2023 have also been notified by State Government and no crop has been left out under PMFBY.  Details of crops notified under PMFBY and RWBCIS  for Kharif 2024 by the Maharshtra State Government are as under:

(i) Black Gram (Urad), (ii) Cotton (Kapas), (iii) Finger millet (Ragi/Mandika),  (iv) Green Gram (Moong),  (v) Groundnut (Pea Nut), (vi)  Maize (Makka), (vii)  Niger (Ramtil), (viii)  Onion,    (ix)  Paddy  (Dhan),  (x)  Pearl  Millet  (Bajra),      (xi)  Pigeon  Pea  (Red Gram/Arhar/Tur), (xii)  Sesame (Gingelly/Til)/Sesamum, (xiii)  Sorghum (Jowar/Great Millet) and (xiv) Soybean (Bhat).

(b) to (f): Do not arise.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3477 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-17
Subject: World Class Technology in Steel Industry
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Shri Kali Charan Singh, Dr. Hemant Vishnu Savara, Smt. Aparajita Sarangi, Dr. Rajkumar Sangwan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STEEL

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3477 FOR ANSWER ON 17.12.2024

## WORLD CLASS TECHNOLOGY IN STEEL INDUSTRY

3477.  DR. RAJKUMAR SANGWAN: DR. HEMANT VISHNU SAVARA: SHRI KALI CHARAN SINGH: SMT. APARAJITA SARANGI:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the Steel industry needs to be provided with the latest world class technology urgently to improve its production capacity;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (c)  whether  the  public  and  private  sector  iron  and  steel  companies  are  conducting research and development (R&D) activities in the iron and steel sector?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE                      (SHRI BHUPATHIRAJU SRINIVASA VARMA)

MINISTRY OF STEEL

- ( a)&(b): Steel industry is a de-regulated sector and the role of Government is that of a facilitator, by creating a conducive policy environment for the development of the steel sector. The steel companies are adopting the Best Available Technologies (BAT), in their modernization & production capacity expansion programmes. The decision regarding the choice  of  the  world  class  technologies  in  the  modernization  and  production  capacity expansion  programmes  are  taken  by  the  steel  companies  themselves  based  on  the techno-commercial considerations and market dynamics.
- (c) The steel companies in public and private sector are conducting Research and Development (R&D) in iron and steel sector. Ministry of Steel is also operating a R&D scheme viz. 'Promotion of Research & Development in Iron & Steel Sector' for providing financial assistance to reputed academic institutions, research laboratories and Indian Steel Companies for carrying out research in the Iron and Steel sector for the following thrust areas:-
- i. Improvement in energy efficiency;
- ii. Reduction in GHG emission to address climate change issues;
- iii. Improvement in quality of steel products;
- iv. To address the technological issues faced by the Iron and Steel industry;
- v. Beneficiation of natural resources for productivity improvement;
- vi. Utilization of wastes;
- vii. Development of value added products for import substitution;

*****