opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1226 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Demolition of National Museum Complex
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Manish Tewari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION 1226 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2023

## DEMOLITION OF NATIONAL MUSEUM COMPLEX

## 1226.  SHRI MANISH TEWARI:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the rationale behind  the proposed demolition of the National Museum Complex;
- (b) the rationale behind the shifting of museum to North and South Blocks, especially when these  buildings  are  older  and  reportedly  not  seismic  proof,  raising  concerns  about  the safety of the artifacts;
- (c) the  manner  in  which  the  Ministry  proposes  to  ensure  the  safe  packing,  storage,  and preservation of the two lakh objects within the tight timeline to vacate the existing National Museum by the year-end;
- (d) the security measures and storage facilities in place for artifacts during the transition;
- (e) whether the Government has taken any expert's advice or have engaged with stakeholders and experts before considering the demolition of the National Museum and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (f) whether the Government has provided any assurances regarding the careful handling and preservation  of  artifacts,  especially  during  the  relocation  process  in  view  of  the  past incidents of breakages during museum revamps and if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE, TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION

## (G.KISHAN REDDY)

- (a) & (e) No decision has been taken regarding demolition of the National Museum, at present.
- (b) South  and  North  Blocks  (Grade-I  heritage  buildings)  will  be  adequately  renovated  and refurbished to serve as the National Museum.
- (c) & (d) Adequate standard protocols with respect to packaging, storage, preservation and safety will be taken care off as per the requirements by the experts.
- (f) Government  is  apprised  of  its  responsibility  and  will  be  mindful,  with  respect  to  all standard  protocols  regarding  packaging,  storage,  preservation  and  safety  as  per  the requirements.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1216 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Private Microfinance Companies
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Poonam (Mahajan) Vajendla Rao, Ramya  Haridas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA

## UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 1216

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

## PRIVATE MICROFINANCE COMPANIES

## 1216 : SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN:

## MS. RAMYA HARIDAS:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning to impose any additional restrictions on the interest rate or other parameters affecting final borrowers with respect to private microfinance companies;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the time by which a final decision is likely to be taken in this regard;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  study  during  the  last  two  years  as  to  how  the privatization of rural credit would affect the final borrowers, especially women; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## (DR. BHAGWAT KARAD)

(a),  (b) &  (c)  Reserve  Bank of India (RBI), being the regulator  of all  the financial Micro Financial Institution  including  Non-Banking  Financial  Companies  (NBFC-MFIs),  has  already  issued  the regulatory framework on pricing of microfinance loans on March 14, 2022, wherein each regulated entity  shall  put  in  place  a  board-approved  policy  regarding  pricing  of  microfinance  loans.  These directions, inter alia, cover a well-documented interest rate model for arriving at the all-inclusive interest rate; delineation of the components of the interest rate such as cost of funds, risk premium and margin, etc. in terms of the quantum of each component based on objective parameters; range of spread of each component for a given category of borrowers; and a ceiling on the interest rate and all other charges applicable to the microfinance loans.

(d)  &  (e)  As  apprised  by  Ministry  of  Rural  Development  and  NABARD,  no  such  study  has  been conducted in  last  two  years.  However,  as  informed  by  Microfinance  Institutions  Network  (MFIN), National  Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) has conducted a study on 'Present and Potential Contribution of Microfinance to India's Economy' in 2022 which highlights inter-alia the social or non-economic benefits of credit, the key area being women empowerment.
Lok Sabha Question No. 1210 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Inclusion of Jhodia in ST List
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1210

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 11/12/2023

## INCLUSION OF JHODIA IN ST LIST

## 1210. SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there has any proposal to include Jhodia community in the list of Scheduled Tribes;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor and the process by which Jhodia community will be included in the list of Scheduled Tribes;
- (d) whether the recommendation of State Government of Odisha for inclusion of certain communities in the list of STs is pending with the Government; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor ?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (e): The  proposal  from  State  Government  of  Odisha  has  been  received  for  inclusion  of  Jhodia community in Scheduled Tribes list of Odisha.

The Government of India on 15.6.1999 (further amended on 25.6.2002 and 14.9.2022) has laid down the modalities  for  deciding  the  claims  for  inclusion  in,  exclusion  from  and  other  modifications  in  Orders specifying Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes lists. As per the modalities, only those proposals which have  been  recommended  and  justified  by  the  concerned  State  Government  /  UT  Administration  and concurred with by Registrar General of India (RGI) and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) are to be considered and legislation amended. All action on the proposals is taken as per these approved modalities.

The proposals for inclusion in the list of Scheduled Tribes of a State or Union Territory follow certain processes as per the modalities. This is a continuous process. Proposals received from the State Government should be accompanied by an ethnographic report. The proposals are examined by the Office of  the  RGI  and  then  by  the  NCST.  In  case  the  proposal  is  not  recommended  by  the  RGI,  the  State Governments are communicated the points raised by the RGI, so that additional information, if any, maybe furnished  by  the  State  Government.  Many  such  proposals  may  therefore  remain  under  examination  at different levels.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1209 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Debt Instruments and Exchange Traded Funds
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Dr. T. Sumathy (a) Thamizhachi Thangapandian

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1209

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2023

## DEBT INSTRUMENTS AND EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

1209. DR. T. SUMATHY (a) THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN:

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

- (a)whether it is a fact that EPFO has invested a huge amount in Debt Instruments  and  Exchange  Traded  Funds  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b)the total amount invested in Share Market and related products by EPFO during each of the last seven years and the current year; and
- (c)the details of total EPF amount invested in the shares of Blue Chip Companies during the last five years?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) invests Funds as per the Investment Pattern notified by the Government. Total corpus of various funds managed by EPFO as on 31.03.2022 was Rs. 18.30 lakh crore, which has been invested as under:

| Debt Investments (including Public Account of India)   | ETF Investments   |
|--------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
| 91.30%                                                 | 8.70%             |

EPFO  does  not  invest  directly  in  individual  stocks including stocks of any blue chip company. EPFO invests in Equity markets  through  ETFs  replicating  BSE-SENSEX  and  NIFTY-50 indices. EPFO  has  also invested from time-to-time in ETFs constructed specifically for disinvestment of shareholding of the Government of India in body corporates. The details of investments made by EPFO in ETFs during the last seven years and current year are as below:-

| Year                         | Amount Invested (in Rs. crore)   |
|------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| 2016-17                      | 14,983                           |
| 2017-18                      | 24,790                           |
| 2018-19                      | 27,974                           |
| 2019-20                      | 31,501                           |
| 2020-21                      | 32,071                           |
| 2021-22                      | 43,568                           |
| 2022-23                      | 53,081*                          |
| 2023-24 (till October, 2023) | 27,105*                          |

*Provisional

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1208 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Withholding the Initial Grant Installment for Local Bodies
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Kumbakudi Sudhakaran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1208

Answered on Monday the 11 th  December, 2023/ Agrahayana 20, 1945 (SAKA)

## Withholding the Initial Grant Installment for Local Bodies

## 1208.  SHRI  KUMBAKUDI SUDHAKARAN:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is withholding the initial grant installment for local bodies  in  States  by  introducing  a  new  clause  related  to  unspent  amounts exceeding the prescribed threshold;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  specific  clause  introduced  and  the threshold amount specified;
- (c) whether such withholding of funds contradicts the guidelines laid out by the Finance Commission; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

- (a) to (d) No  Sir. Presently, no proposal for release of  Local Bodies grants is withheld on account of unspent amounts of grants released earlier.

The  14 th   Finance  Commission  had  recommended  Local  Bodies  grant  for municipalities  and  Gram  Panchayats  for  providing  or  improving  basic  civic services  including  water  supply,  sanitation  including  septage  management, sewerage and solid waste management, storm water drainage, maintenance of community  assets,  maintenance  of  roads,  footpaths  and  street-lighting,  and burial  and  cremation  grounds.  These  grants  were  aimed  at  improving  the living conditions of the population residing in their jurisdiction.  However, it

was noticed that some of the local bodies had parked the funds in their bank accounts  for  years  thereby,  defeating  the  objective  of  these  grants  and depriving citizens of the basic services.  Therefore, to push utilization of the 14 th   Finance Commission recommended grants for improving various civic services,  it  was  decided  to  advise  the  nodal  ministries  to  recommend proposals for  fresh release of grant to local bodies only  in cases where the unspent  balance  of  14 th Finance  Commission  was  less  than  10%  of  the installment under consideration. This had a positive impact on the activities of local bodies leading to a sharp increase in utilization of these funds for the intended purposes.

**********
Lok Sabha Question No. 1205 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Loans Written off by Banks
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: S. Venkatesan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1205

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

## LOANS WRITTEN OFF BY BANKS

1205. SHRI S. VENKATESAN

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:-

- (a) the details of amount of loans written off by Nationalised Banks in the Financial Years starting from 2014-15 to 2022-23; and
- (b) the details of amount realised from bad debts written off in the Financial Years starting from 2014-15 to 2022-23?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE

(DR. BHAGWAT KARAD)

- (a) and (b): As per Reserve Bank of India data, public sector banks have written-off an aggregate loan amount of Rs. 10.42 lakh crore and recovered an aggregate amount of Rs. 1.61 lakh crore from written off loans, from the financial year 2014-15 to financial year 2022-23.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1201 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Correspondence Course in Graduation in Physiotherapy
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Sunil Kumar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1201 ANSWERED ON 11.12.2023

## Correspondence Course In Graduation in Physiotherapy

## 1201 Shri Sunil Kumar Singh:

Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the UGC recognises/approves correspondence course in Graduation in Physiotherapy and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether undergraduate courses through open learning/correspondence course in Physiotherapy conducted by Allahabad Agricultural University, Allahabad, Janardan Rai Nagar University, Udaipur and Sikkim Manipal University, Sikkim or any other Universities or Institute in the country is vaild for Government jobs;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) if not, whether any instructions/guidelines have been issued for non-recognition of the undergraduate courses in Physiotherapy through open learning/correspondence course; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e) University Grants Commission (UGC) notified the UGC (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020 on 4 th September, 2020. Subsequently, amendments have been notified on 1 st July, 2021 and 18 th July, 2022. The same are available on UGC website at https://deb.ugc.ac.in/. These regulations lay down the minimum standards of instruction for the grant of degrees at the undergraduate and post graduate levels and grant of post graduate diploma, through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode and Online mode. These regulations are applicable to a University referred to under clause (f) of section 2 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956), an Institution Deemed to be University under section 3 of the UGC Act. Further, as stipulated under regulation 2(z) of UGC (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020, the programmes in the discipline of Physiotherapy is prohibited to be offered in ODL/Online mode.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1200 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Steps to Promote Foreign Tourist Arrival
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Balashowry Vallabbhaneni, Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1200 ANSWERED ON 11.12.2023

## STEPS TO PROMOTE FOREIGN TOURIST ARRIVAL

## 1200.SHRI BALASHOWRY VALLABHANENI: SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps taken by the Government to promote foreign tourist arrivals under 'Incredible India! Visit India Year 2023';
- (b) whether foreign tourist arrivals in the first half of the current year has reached at the same level as much as it was in the first half of 2019;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor along with  the  efforts  being  made  to  push  Foreign  Tourist  Arrivals (FTAs) into India; and
- (d) the quantum of India's share in global tourism market and the steps taken/proposed to be taken to double the share?

## ANSWER

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(a) to (d): The Ministry of Tourism undertakes an integrated marketing and promotional strategy, and a synergized campaign in association  with  the  Travel  Trade,  State  Governments  and  Indian Missions in the Overseas Markets. The Ministry of Tourism continuously  engages  with  industry  experts  and  other  relevant stakeholders and take their suggestions and feedback for promotion of varied tourism products of India.  In order to boost visitor arrival, Ministry  of  Tourism,  Government  of  India  has  declared  'Incredible India! Visit India Year 2023'.

The foreign tourist arrival in the first half of 2019 and current year are given below:

## Foreign Tourists Arrival (FTAs)

| 2019 (Jan to June)   | 2023 (Jan to June)   |
|----------------------|----------------------|
| 52,96,025            | 43,80,239            |

In  order  to  increase  the  footfall  of  international  tourists  in  India, Ministry  of  Tourism,      participated  in  various  International  travel fairs during the Year 2023 such as FITUR 2023, Madrid, Spain (18-22 January 2023); ITB Berlin (7-9 March 2023); Arabian Travel Market 2023,  Dubai  (1-4  May  2023);  IMEX  Frankfurt  (17-19  Oct  2023); OTDYKH  Leisure,  Moscow,  Russia  (12-14,  September  2023);  TOP Resa, Paris, France (3 - 5 October 2023); PATA Travel Mart 2023 (4-6 October 2023) in New Delhi; ITB, Asia, Singapore (25 - 27 Oct 2023); JATA,  Osaka,  Japan  (26-29  October  2023);  WTM  London  (6-8  Nov 2023).

India's  Share  in  Global  tourism  market  as  on  2022  is  1.48*% (provisional).

Ministry  of  Tourism  promotes  India  as  a  holistic  destination  in  the tourism  generating  markets  to  promote  various  Indian  tourism products and tourism destinations of the country to increase India's share of the global tourism market.

*********
Lok Sabha Question No. 1196 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Evasion of TDS
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Unmesh Bhaiyyasaheb Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1196

Answered on the December 11, 2023/Agrahayana 20, 1945 (Saka)

## Evasion of TDS

## 1196.  SHRI UNMESH BHAIYYASAHEB PATIL:

(a) whether the Ministry of Finance is likely to consider the request of the Ministry of Home Affairs to make payment of all prizes through banking channels and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government intends to consider to amend section 194B to include lottery as well whereby each and every prize winning shall be taxable to stop the tax evasion and money laundering in paper lottery business and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the action taken/being taken by the Government against lottery distributors who indulged in evasion of GST, TDS etc.?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (DR. BHAGWAT KARAD)

(a): A reference was received from Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for comments regarding disbursement of prize amount of lotteries through formal banking channel. Comments in this regard has been sent to MHA. Using formal banking channel for any kind of transaction, including disbursement of lottery prize, is helpful in mitigating the associated money laundering/terrorist financing / proliferation funding risks in view of the robust banking system and effective regulation/supervision of the regulated entities.

(b) and (c): As per Section 194B of the Income-tax Act, 1961 ("the Act') the person responsible for paying to any person any income by way of winnings from any lottery or crossword puzzle or card game and other game of any sort or from gambling or betting of any form or nature whatsoever, being the amount or the aggregate of amounts exceeding ten thousand rupees during the financial year shall, at the time of payment, deduct income-tax at the rates in force. V ide Finance Act 2023, the rate in force is 30%. This also includes winnings in kind or partly in cash and partly in kind. It is substantively charged to tax at the rate of 30% under section 115BB of the Act and no deduction on the winnings is allowed.

The Income Tax Department takes appropriate action in cases involving evasion of tax whenever any credible information/intelligence of violation of provisions of Direct Tax Laws relating to any taxpayer comes to its notice. Such action under Direct Tax laws includes conducting enquiries, mounting search and seizure or survey action, assessment and consequential actions thereto, wherever applicable as per the provisions of the Act. Twelve cases involving GST evasion of Rs. 344.57 Crore have been detected against lottery distributors and Rs. 621.56 Crore (including interest and penalty) has been recovered/ realized from July, 2017 to till November 2023.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 1186 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Customs Department not allowing some Articles to Sri Lanka
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: A.K.P. Chinraj

## Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Revenue

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1186 TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, 11 th  December, 2023/ Agrahayana 20, 1945 (Saka)

## CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT NOT ALLOWING SOME ARTICLES TO SRI LANKA

1186. SHRI A.K.P. CHINRAJ: Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  that  Customs  Department  at Chennai International Airport is not allowing the passengers who are travelling to Sri Lanka to carry night dresses and cotton sarees with them;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (c)  the  details  of  provisions  under  which  carrying  night  dresses,  cotton  sarees and sweet boxes are banned for carrying to Sri Lanka?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

Part (a): No instance of passengers not being allowed to carry night dressed and cotton sarees with them to Sri Lanka has come to the notice of the government;

Part (b): In view of (a) above, not applicable;

Part (c): There is no such ban on carrying night dresses, cotton sarees and sweet boxes as bonafide personal baggage of passengers. However, if passengers are carrying goods in commercial quantities, from India to any other country, they are required  to  carry  proof  of  the  procurement  of  such  goods  against  payment  in foreign exchange in terms of CBIC Circular no. 17/95-Customs dated 01.03.1995.

********