opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2462 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Loan borrowed by Farmers
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Rajmohan Unnithan

## Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Financial Services

## LOK SABHA

Unstarred Question No. 2462

Answered on Monday, December 18, 2023/Agrahayana 27, 1945 (Saka)

## LOAN BORROWED BY FARMERS

## 2462. SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a)     whether the Government is aware that farmers are unable to get loan of even a small amount of 10,000 rupees due to poor CIBIL score forcing them to commit suicide;
- (b)    if so, the steps taken by the Government to exclude loans up to one lakh taken by farmers for agricultural purpose from CIBIL score; and
- (c)     whether farmers will be allowed overdraft of Rs. 1 lakh for the same Aadhaar card, if not, the reasons therefor?

## Answer

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

(a)  to  (c):  RBI  vide  their  circular  dated  June  27,  2014,  has  advised  banks  and  financial institutions to include in their credit appraisal processes/loan policies, suitable provisions for obtaining Credit Information Reports (CIR) from one or more Credit Information Companies (CICs) so that the credit decisions are based on information available in the system.

Further,  RBI  vide  Circular  dated  February  7,  2019  raised  the  limit  for  collateral-free agriculture loans from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 1.6 lakh.

Department of Financial Services vide its letter dated 04.02.2019 has issued advisory to all the banks to waive the processing, documentation, inspection, ledger folio charges and all other service charges for KCC/crop loans upto Rs. 3 lakh, keeping in view the hardship and financial distress of small and marginal farmers.

The  Kisan  Credit  Card  (KCC)  Scheme  ensures  easy  credit  access  for  various  farmer categories, including owner cultivators, tenant farmers, sharecroppers, and more. The KCC scheme provides for issue of ATM enabled RuPay Debit Card, inter alia, with facilities of one-time  documentation,  built-in  cost  escalation  in  the  limit,  and  any  number  of  drawals within the limit, etc. The KCC facility itself is an overdraft facility from which withdrawals can be made through RuPay Debit Card upto the sanctioned limit.

As also informed by banks, crop loans are assessed based on the land area, crops grown and scale  of  finance  decided  by  the  District  Level  Technical  Committee  (DLTC)/  State  Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC). No guideline for providing overdraft facility against Aadhaar card is available. However, after restructuring of existing KCC loans due to bad weather, etc., as decided by State Govt. / SLBC, farmers are further allowed to take need based loans as per eligibility criteria of the Bank.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2461 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Opening of Tourism Office in Khajuraho
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Vishnu Dutt Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2461 ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## OPENING OF TOURISM OFFICE IN KHAJURAHO

## 2461. SHRI VISHNU DATT SHARMA:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Khajuraho is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has also been selected as one of the iconic tourist site, because of its historical and cultural significance;
- (b) if  so,  whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  or  plan  to open  a  tourism  office  in  Khajuraho,  so  as  to  coordinate developmental and management activities of tourist sites and to facilitate tourists;
- (c)
- (d)
- if so, the details thereof; and
- if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(SHRI G. KISHAN RADDY)

- (a): Yes, Sir. Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Ministry of Tourism had sanctioned a Heritage theme project  in  2016-17  in  Madhya  Pradesh  as  part  of  its  Swadesh Darshan scheme for Rs.89.82 Crore, which includes tourism development  works  at Khajuraho including development  of a convention centre.
- (b) to (d): No,  Sir.  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  no  proposal  to  open  a tourism  office  in  Khajuraho  and  an  India  Tourism  Office,  already exists at Indore in Madhya Pradesh.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2455 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Loan Defaulters
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Mala Roy

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2455

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023/AGRAHAYANA 27, 1945 (SAKA)

## LOAN DEFAULTERS

## 2455. SHRIMATI MALA ROY

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has data on the number of loan defaulters in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the number of these defaulters who owe less than Rs. 5 crore; and
- (d) the steps being taken to recover the loans from the defaulters?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE

## (DR. BHAGWAT KARAD)

(a) to (d): As per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, as on 31.3.2023, there are 2,05,58,528 nonperforming assets (NPA) accounts in scheduled commercial banks, out of which 2,04,21,889 accounts are those wherein quantum of NPA is less than or equal to Rs. 5 crore.

For recovery of loan from defaulters, banks initiate actions in such accounts through various recovery  mechanisms  available,  such  as  filing  of  a  suit  in  civil  courts  or  in  Debts  Recovery Tribunals, action under  the Securitisation and  Reconstruction  of Financial Assets  and Enforcement  of  Security  Interest  Act,  2002,  filing  of  cases  in  the  National  Company  Law Tribunal under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, through negotiated settlement/compromise, and through sale of non-performing assets.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2454 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Renamed Schemes
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Nakul K. Nath

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2454

ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## RENAMED SCHEMES

2454.  SHRI NAKUL KAMAL NATH:

Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state:

- (a)        the names of the schemes which have been renamed by the Government after 2014; and
- (b)        the budget allocation to these renamed schemes after 2014?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  SKILL  DEVELOPMENT  AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

(SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR)

(a)  to  (b)    As  far  as  Ministry  of  Skill  Development  and  Entrepreneurship  (MSDE)   is concerned, two schemes have been modified and renamed after 2014 details of which are as under:

Skill Certification and Reward Scheme (also known by Standard Training Assessment & Reward or STAR), was launched in the Financial Year 2013-14, and aimed at creating an ecosystem for high quality skilling with industry determined standards. Based on the learning from the scheme, the scheme was modified and renamed as 'Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana' (PMKVY) which was launched on 15 th July, 2015. Currently, fourth version of PMKVY 4.0  is  being  implemented.  The  budgetary  allocation  of PMKVY  during  2015-16  to 2023-24 has been Rs. 13,623.79 Crore.

'Apprentice Protsahan Yojana' (APY) which was launched on 16th October, 2014 to support  Micro,  Small  and  Medium  Enterprises  (MSMEs),  manufacturing  units  and  other establishments  covered  under  the  Apprentices  Act,  1961  was  replaced  with  National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) in August, 2016. The budgetary allocation (B.E.) under NAPS during 2016-17 to 2023-24 has been Rs. 1672.31 Crore.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2453 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Investigation of Illegal River Sand Mining
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: A.K.P. Chinraj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2453

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023/ AGRAHAYANA 27, 1945 (SAKA)

## Investigation of Illegal River Sand Mining

## 2453   SHRI A.K.P.CHINRAJ

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of States where Enforcement Directorate is conducting investigation related illegal river sand mining;
- (b) the  number  of  river  beds  in  the  State  of  Tamil  Nadu  which  are  being  surveyed  by  the Enforcement Directorate related to illegal river sand mining;
- (c) whether the Enforcement Directorate has requested to DGP of Tamil Nadu to send copies of FIR registered related to illegal sand mining; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the response of the DGP in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

(a): The Directorate of Enforcement has been investigating several cases related to Illegal River Sand  Mining  under  the  provisions  of  the  Prevention  of  Money  Laundering  Act,  2002  (PMLA) including in the States of Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, Punjab & Bihar.

(b): Directorate has surveyed 28 permitted mining quarry sites in the State of Tamil Nadu by engaging  services  of  Technical  Experts  from  IIT  Kanpur  during  the  period  from  07.10.2023  to 05.11.2023.

(c)  & (d): Yes, the Directorate of Enforcement has requested to the DGP of Tamil Nadu to send copy of FIRs registered related to illegal sand mining vide letters dated 17.10.2023, 03.11.2023 & 05.12.2023. However, till date no response has been received from the DGP Office.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2451 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Judgement of Madras High Court on GST Council’s Recommendations
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Balashowry Vallabbhaneni

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2451

## TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023/AGRAHAYANA 27, 1945 (SAKA)

## JUDGEMENT OF MADRAS HIGH COURT ON GST COUNCIL'S RECOMMENDATIONS

## 2451. SHRI BALASHOWRY VALLABHANENI:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the manner in which the Government looks at the recent judgment of the Madras High Court that GST Council's recommendations are only recommendatory;
- (b)  whether  it  means  that  henceforth  the  Government  cannot  change  GST  rates  based  on  the recommendations made by the GST Council;
- (c)  the  number  of  GST  recommendations  so  far  implemented  without  legal  amendments  or issuing notifications; and
- (d) the impact of above judgment in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (d): Article 279A(4) provides that GST Council shall make recommendations to the Union and States on, interalia, the goods and services that may be subjected to, or exempted from the goods and services tax. Further, Section 9 of the Central Goods and Services Act, 2017 clearly mention that the GST will be collected on supply of goods and services as may be notified by the Government on the recommendations of the Council.

All  recommendations  of  the  GST  Council  in  respect  of  change  in  GST  rate  are  implemented through notification and laid before the Parliament. The Government shall, wherever required, continue to make changes in GST rates based on the recommendations of the GST Council. The judgement of the Madras high Court does not impact the power of the Government in this regard.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2450 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Unauthorised Soil Extraction
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Suresh Kodikunnil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2450

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## Unauthorised Soil Extraction

## 2450. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of large scale unauthorized soil extraction by levelling a  hillock  at  Mattappally  in  Palamel  Grama  Panchayat,  near  Mavelikkara,  Alappuzha district in Kerala;
- (b) whether the soil extraction is carried on in violation of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the Government;
- (c) if so, the action taken by the appropriate authorities in this regard;
- (d) whether  the  Government  propose  to  investigate  the  matter  and  take  necessary  steps including  prevention  of  soil  extraction  from  Mattappally  hill  in  Kerala  and  if  so,  the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  is  further  seized  off  concerns  of  adverse  health  impact  and shortage of water due to the soil extraction from the Mattappally hill and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a)  to  (e)    As  reported  by  Directorate  of  Mining  and  Geology,  Government  of  Kerala,  the quarrying  permit  was  issued  on  08.05.2023  by  Geologist,  District  Office  Alappuzha  under Kerala Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2015, for the removal of ordinary earth for the special purpose of  development  of  National  Highway-66.  Thereafter,  a  lot  of  complaints  were  raised against this permission and a petition was also filed before Hon'ble High Court of Kerala.

Further, vide order dated 08.12.2023, Hon'ble Court of Kerala directed the Principal Secretary, Industries  Department,  Government  of  Kerala  to  constitute  a  committee  by  selecting  four members at his level to prepare a report with regard to the issue involved and if required, visit the place, and to submit a report. The matter is, accordingly, sub-judice.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2449 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Cloud Seeding to Control Air Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Parvesh Sahib Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2449

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## Cloud Seeding to Control Air Pollution

## 2449. SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH VERMA:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the current understanding and scientific evidence available regarding the effectiveness of cloud seeding as a method for controlling air pollution;
- (b) the  details  of  any  pilot  projects  or  studies  conducted  by  the  Government  or  in collaboration with other organizations to assess the feasibility of cloud seeding for air pollution control in the country;
- (c) the  details  of  assessment  of  the  potential  environmental  impacts  and  risks  associated with cloud seeding, especially concerning water resources and ecological balance;
- (d) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  engage  international  experts  and  bodies  in understanding the best practices and technological advancements in cloud seeding for environmental purposes; and
- (e) the proposed plans or policy considerations for incorporating cloud seeding technology into the national strategy for air pollution control?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

## (a) to (e)

A proposal for cloud seeding in Delhi-NCR was submitted to Delhi Government in the present  winter  season.  However,  as  per  India  Meteorological  Department  (IMD),  the scope of cloud seeding is limited in winters in northern region, as during winter season mostly the clouds are advected with Western disturbances. Also, generally, the moisture in the air is too less during winter in northern India and the potential pre-existing clouds are  needed  to  carry  out  the  seeding  process,  and  these  factors  limits  scope  of  cloud seeding.  IMD  had  also  informed  that  Cloud  seeding  experiments  have  been  conducted world  over  including  India  specifically  for  application  to  water  resource  management only.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2442 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Vacant Teaching Posts of Reserved Categories in Central Universities and Institutions
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Alok Kumar Suman

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2442 ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## Vacant Teaching Posts of Reserved Categories in Central Universities and Institutions.

## 2442   Dr. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN:

Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  candidates  belonging  to  SCs,  STs  and  OBCs  are  not  given appointments  in  teaching  posts  in  the  Central  University  and  institutions  monitored  by  the Government and they are debarred for appointments as 'not found suitable';

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c)  total  number  of  SCs,  STs  and  OBCs  who  were  found  not  suitable  for  appointments  in teaching posts in the Central University and Institutions monitored by the Ministry and action taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) The Government, in order to ensure uniformity in adoption of reservation norms, and adequate  representation  of  Scheduled  Caste  (SC)/Scheduled  Tribe  (ST)  and  Other  Backward Classes (OBC) category faculty positions in the Central Educational  Institutions, enacted the Central Education Institutions (Reservation in Teachers' Cadre) Act, 2019. Central Universities, Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) follow specific faculty/student ratio as per relevant regulations and their statutes. Filling up of vacancies is a continuous process amongst these institutions. IITs & IIMs follow Flexi Cadre System  in  faculty  positions  to  meet  their  specialized  requirements,  ensuring  flexibility  to recognize and recruit talent.

The Central Higher Educational Institutions (CHEIs) under Ministry of Education also undertake special recruitment drives to fill the vacancies including those of SC, ST and OBC. Since September, 2022, the CHEIs have undertaken mission mode recruitment drive to fill the vacancies. Up to 30.11.2023, a total number of 19190 vacancies have been filled up in Mission Mode  by  all  CHEIs  out  of  which  11847  are  faculty  positions  including  4445  SC/ST/OBC faculty.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2439 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Shunted out of Jobs from Private Companies
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Rahul Kaswan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2439 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## SHUNTED OUT OF JOBS FROM PRIVATE COMPANIES

†2439. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

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

- (a)the details of the people shunted out of jobs by private companies since 1st January, 2020 so far, State-wise including Rajasthan;
- (b)the details of the jobs provided to unemployed youth during the last three years, State-wise, year-wise including Rajasthan;
- (c)whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  scheme  to  provide employment to the people who have been shunted out by private companies; and

(d)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): The matters relating to termination, retrenchment and layoff of jobs in industrial establishments are governed by the provisions of the  Industrial  Disputes  Act,  1947  (ID  Act).    As  per  the  ID  Act, establishments  employing  100  persons  or  more  are  required  to  seek prior permission of the appropriate Government before effective closure or retrenchment or lay-off.  ID Act also provides for right of workmen laid-off and retrenched for compensation and contains the provision for re-employment of retrenched workmen.

'Labour' as a subject falls in the Concurrent List. Based on their respective jurisdiction as demarcated in the Industrial Disputes Act, Central and State Governments take actions to address the issues of the workmen and protect their interest. In the establishments that lie in the jurisdiction of Central  Government,  the  Central  Industrial Relations Machinery (CIRM) is entrusted with the task of maintaining good  industrial relations and  protecting the interest of  workers including matters relating to layoff and its prevention.

State Governments including Rajasthan and UTs are entrusted  with  the  task  under  the  Industrial  Disputes  Act,  1947  and maintain their own data/information.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2431 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Reconstruction Work at Neglected Ancient Archaeological Sites
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Pushpendra Singh Chandel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †2431

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## RECONSTRUCTION WORK AT NEGLECTED ANCIENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES

## †2431.  SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL :

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  special  initiative  for  expediting  the  reconstruction work of neglected ancient archaeological sites in the country including Bundelkhand;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the details of the amount spent on the maintainence of ancient archaeological sites in the country including Bundelkhand?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE, TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a) There are 3697 protected monuments/areas under the care and maintenance of
- & Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in the country. Conservation and maintenance of
- (b) monuments/sites  is  a  continuous  process  and  is  taken  up  as  per  the  requirement  and availability of resources, including Bundelkhand.
- (c) The  year-wise  details  of  amount  spent  on  conservation  and  maintenance  of  ancient archaeological monuments/sites in the country during last three years including Bundelkhand are as under:

(Amount in Crores)

| Year    |   Expenditure |
|---------|---------------|
| 2020-21 |        260.83 |
| 2021-22 |        269.57 |
| 2022-23 |        391.93 |