opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 4036 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-10
Subject: Additional Structures in Government Quarters
Ministry: URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV, KINJARAPU RAM MOHAN NAIDU, RANGASWAMY DHRUVANARAYANA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4036

## TO BE ANSWERED ON AUGUST 10, 2016

## ADDITIONAL STRUCTURES IN GOVERNMENT QUARTERS

No. 4036 SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV: SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU: SHRI R. DHRUVA NARAYANA:

Will the Minister of URBAN DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  provided  barsati  facility  at  the rooftop of the type-III quarters in Lodhi Colony,  New Delhi;
- (b) if  so,  whether  Government  proposes  to  provide  toilet  facility along with the barsati;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether Government has issued any order/policy for additional/temporary  structure  in  type-I,  II  and  III  categories  of Government quarters; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the present status of implementation of said order/policy?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a): Yes, Madam.  Open barsati is existing as per original design of   type -III quarters at Lodhi Colony, New Delhi.
- (b): There is no proposal to provide toilet facility along with the barsati.
- (c): There are no such provisions in plinth area Norms.
- (d) & (e) : Yes, Madam.  Permission  for  additional construction is considered where the existing plinth area is lesser than the laid  down  norms  and  additional  construction  is  feasible. The colony-wise details where additional construction has been carried out are as under:

| Sector -4, Raja Bazar   | 64 Nos Type I Quarters    |
|-------------------------|---------------------------|
| Sector -4 Raja Bazar    | 1104 Nos Type II Quarters |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4035 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-10
Subject: Trains between Bhavanagar to Ahmedabad and Haridwar
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: BHARATI DHIRUBHAI SHIYAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4035 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2016

## TRAINS BETWEEN BHAVANAGAR TO AHMEDABAD AND HARIDWAR

†4035.  DR. BHARATIBEN D. SHYAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether in view of increasing number of passengers, the Government proposes to start trains between Bhavanagar to Ahmedabad and Bhavanagar to Haridwar;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) whether the Railways has received any proposals in regard and if so, the details of the action taken thereon?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a)  to  (c)  Representations  for  introduction  of  new  trains  between Bhavnagar  to  Ahmedabad  and  from  Bhavnagar  to  Haridwar  are received at various levels of Railway administration. Presently, Bhavnagar  is  connected  to  Ahmedabad  by  07  pairs  of  Mail/Express trains  (01  daily  &  06  weekly).    However,  at  present,  there  is  no proposal  to  introduce  new  train  service    between  Bhavnagar  to Ahmedabad  and  Bhavnagar  to  Haridwar    due  to  operational  and resource constraints which inter-alia includes line capacity constraints on Ahmedabad - Mahesana - Palanpur sections.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4033 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-10
Subject: Introduction of Antyodaya and Deendayalu Express
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SATISH KUMAR GAUTAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4033 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2016

## INTRODUCTION OF ANTYODAYA AND DEENDAYALU EXPRESS †4033.  SHRI SATISH KUMAR GAUTAM:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  had  declared  the  introduction  of Antyodaya  and  Deendayalu  expresses  along  with  the  Tejas  and Hamsafar Expresses in the current year's Rail Budget;
- (b) if so, the details in this regard; and
- (c)  the  time  by  which  the  Government  proposes  to  put  the  said trains on the tracks?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) to (c): In the Railway Budget 2016-17, introduction of Antyodaya, Tejas and Humsafar type of train service and augmentation of two to four Deen Dayalu coaches in some long distance trains has been announced. These services will be implemented upon availability of coaches,  necessary  clearance  of  Commissioner  of  Railway  Safety (CRS), etc. during the course of the current financial year.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4032 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-10
Subject: Penalties on Defaulting Telecompanies
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: ANOOP MISHRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4032 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH   AUGUST, 2016

## PENALTIES ON DEFAULTING TELECOMPANIES

†4032. SHRI ANOOP MISHRA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of companies which have not declared the required information for getting licences and failed to roll out the service within stipulated time frame during the last three years;
- (b) the number of companies to which notices were issued by Telecommunication Department;
- (c) whether such companies have been penalized by Telecommunication Department;
- (d) if  so,  the  details  of  the  companies  penalized  along  with  the  details  of  penalties  recovered, company-wise; and
- (e) if not, the reasons for not levying penalty on all companies found guilty?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) to (e) Madam,  the  licenses  for  provision  of  Telecom  Services  are  granted  by  Department  of Telecommunications  under  section  4  of  the  Indian  Telegraph  Act,  1885  following  a  due  process.  No license is granted without furnishing the requisite information by applicant as per the format of application.

In the year 2010, at the time of auction of 3G spectrum, the rollout obligations  were linked with allocation of spectrum for the first time. Thereafter, from the year 2012 onwards, auction of spectrum has been  done  on  yearly  basis  and  the  rollout  obligations  are  linked  with  the  allocation  of  spectrum. Therefore,  the  roll-out  obligations  of  various  operators  are  based  on  the  date  on  which  they  get  the spectrum  allocated  and  is  spread  overtime.  Examination/  verification  of  fulfillment  thereof  as  well  as imposition of penalty in the form of Liquidated Damages (LD) are done in a routine manner, which is a continuous process.

For  failure  to  rollout  the  Access  Services  within  stipulated  time  frame  during  last  three  years, notices in respect of LD have been issued to 3 companies. The details are as below:

|   S.No. | Company Name                            |   Amount of LD (Rs. in crore) | Remarks                  |
|---------|-----------------------------------------|-------------------------------|--------------------------|
|       1 | M/s Reliance Communications Limited     |                        67.334 | Show Cause Notice issued |
|       2 | M/s Reliance Telecom Limited            |                        80.344 | Show Cause Notice issued |
|       3 | M/s Videocon Telecommunications Limited |                        42     | Demand Notice issued     |

***********
Lok Sabha Question No. 4031 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-10
Subject: Railway Safety Review Committee
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4031 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2016

## RAILWAY SAFETY REVIEW COMMITTEE

4031.      SHRI NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state: (a)  whether  recommendations  of  Railway  Safety  Review  Committee under the Chairmanship of Justice Khanna have been accepted; and (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a): Yes, Madam.

(b): Railway Safety Review Committee (Khanna Committee) had made 278 recommendations.  Of these, 236 recommendations have been accepted.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4030 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-10
Subject: Software Product Policy
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: RAM CHARITRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4030

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 10.08.2016

## SOFTWARE PRODUCT POLICY

## 4030 SHRI   RAM  CHARITRA  NISHAD:

Will the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  going  to  release  the  draft  policy  on  software  products  for public consultation soon;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  draft  software  policy  aims  to  address  long  standing  issues  faced  by  the software products ecosystem in India and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the policy will address the issue that a huge market which is yet to be tapped; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI P. P. CHAUDHARY)

- (a) to (c):  Government has drawn up the Draft National Policy on Software Products with an aim to strengthen the Software products ecosystem in the country and to give further impetus, so that software product sector contributes significantly in terms of business and employment.
- (d) and (e):  As per iSPIRT(Indian Software Products Industry Round Table) estimates, the global software products industry is at present estimated to be US$ 411 billion and is expected to  reach  US$  1.2  trillion  by  2025.  The  revenue  of  software  products  industry  in  India  at present  is  US$  6.1  billion  out  of  which  US$1.9  billion  is  from  exports.  This  sector  has  a potential to grow significantly through a conducive policy and business environment.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 4029 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-10
Subject: Sports Associations
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: SANGANNA AMARAPPA KARADI, JITENDRA CHAUDHURY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4029

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2016

Sports Associations

4029. SHRI SANGANNA AMARAPPA: SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY:

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is actively considering to frame a sports policy, which shall enable the country to scout the best talents and excel them towards making best sportspersons of international level and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  is  considering  the  constitution  of National and State Olympic and Sports Associations;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the amount allocated during the current year in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI VIJAY GOEL)

(a) In pursuance of realization of twin objectives of National Sports Policy 2001 viz., broad-basing of sports and achieving excellence in sports, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and the Sports Authority of  India  are  already implementing a number of Schemes aiming at identifying  the  talented  sportspersons  and  nurturing  the  identified sportspersons    for  their  participation  in  national  and  international sports events.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports  has launched a new Central Sector Scheme namely 'Khelo India - National Programme for Development  of  Sports'  to spot talents  through  countrywide competitions, to train and groom the talent and to provide sporting infrastructure for honing the sporting skills  for implementation from the financial year 2016-17 onwards.

Sports Authority of India is implementing the following schemes for spotting and nurturing of sports talent and promotion of sports in the country:

(i) National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC) Scheme

(ii) Army Boys Sports Companies (ABSC) Scheme

(iii) Special Area Games (SAG) Scheme

(iv) SAI Training Centres (STC) Scheme

(v) Centres of Excellence (COX)

(vi) SAI National Sports Academies

(b)  &  (c):  Indian  Olympic  Association  (IOA),  which  is  the  National Olympic  Committee  of  the  country,  is  already  in  existence.  State Olympic  Associations  have  been  formed  in  States,  which  are affiliated  to  IOA.  National  Sports  Federations  for  various  sports disciplines are already in existence. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has granted recognition to 48 NSFs for the year 2016.  IOA, State Olympic Associations and NSFs are societies registered under Societies Registration Act, 1860.

(d) Budgetary allocation of Rs. 900 crore has been made during 201617 for the plan schemes and Rs. 96 crore for non-plan schemes of the Department of Sports.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4026 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-10
Subject: Impact of Urbanization
Ministry: URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: PREM DAS RAI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4026 TO BE ANSWERED ON AUGUST 10, 2016 IMPACT OF URBANIZATION

No. 4026 SHRI PREM DAS RAI:

Will the Minister of URBAN DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has undertaken any study to determine the impact of urbanisation on the environment and socio-economic indicators; and

(b) if so, the details thereof?

- (a): No, Madam.
- (b): Does not arise.

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT

(RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4025 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-10
Subject: New Train from Delhi to Karnataka
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: B. S. YEDDYURAPPA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4025 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2016

## NEW TRAIN FROM DELHI TO KARNATAKA

4025. SHRI  B.S. YEDIYURAPPA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Railways has any proposal to introduce new trains from New Delhi to Karnataka in view of heavy traffic;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the time by which new trains to Karnataka from New Delhi are likely to be introduced?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) to (c)  Delhi area is presently connected to Bangalore by 09 pair of  train  services  which  are  adequately  catering  to  the  needs  of passengers of Karnataka area.  At present, there is no proposal to introduce a new  train from New  Delhi  to Karnataka  due  to operational  and  resource  constraints.    However,  introduction  of trains  is  an  ongoing  process  over  Indian  Railways  and  is  done keeping in view the traffic demand, operational feasibility, resource availability, etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4023 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-10
Subject: Dissolution of National Commission for Youth
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: SHAILESH (BULO MANDAL) KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AFFAIRS)

## LOK  SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  4023 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10-08-2016

Dissolution of National Commission for youth

4023. SHRI SHAILESH KUMAR:

Will the Minister of  YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

- a) whether the National Commission for  youth was set up by the Union Government;
- b) If  so,  the  reasons  for  dissolving  the  National  Commission  for Youth; and
- c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  reconstitute  the  National Commission for youth and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR  YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI VIJAY GOEL)

(a) & (b)  Yes,  Madam. The National Commission for youth, with its Headquarters at New Delhi, was set up on 15 th  March,  2002.  The commission was set up to enable the Government to overcome the problems confronting the youth and inter-alia, bring fresh perspectives to the issues involved. The National Commission for Youth was a non-statutory recommendatory body. The initial tenure of  the  Commission  was  for  Six  months  from  the  date  of  its constitution within which it was required to submit its report to the Government.  As  the  commission  was  unable  to  give  its  report within the time frame, the term of the commission was extended from  time  to  time,  upto  30 th   September,  2004.  The  commission submitted  its  report  in  July,  2004.  The  National  Commission  for youth was finally wound up on 30 th  September, 2004.

(c) There is no proposal under consideration by the Government to reconstitute the National Commission for youth.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4022 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-10
Subject: Schemes for Retired Employees
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: REKHA ARUN VERMA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4022

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2016)

## SCHEMES FOR RETIRED EMPLOYEES

## †4022. SHRIMATI REKHA VERMA:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether pension scheme for all Government employees has been scrapped with effect from 1st April, 2005;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to introduce a new scheme for retired employees; and
- (d) if so, the time by which the said scheme is likely to be introduced?

## 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)  &  (b):    The  pension  of  Central  Civil  Government  servants  appointed  on  or  before 31.12.2003  is governed  by  the  Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules  1972  or  the corresponding Pension Rules of other Services/Departments such as All India Services and Railways.

The  Central  Civil  Government  Servants  appointed  on  or  after  01.01.2004  are governed  by  the  Defined  Contribution-based  Pension  Scheme  under  the  National  Pension System

The personnel belonging to the Defence Services continue to be eligible for pension under Defined Benefit Pension Rules applicable to defence personnel.

- (c)  &  (d):      There  is  no  proposal  to  introduce  any  new  pension  scheme  for  retired  Central Government employees.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4021 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-10
Subject: Rail Line between Chatra to Tori
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SUNIL KUMAR SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4021 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2016

RAIL LINE BETWEEN CHATRA TO TORI

†4021.  SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

(a)  the  details  of  new  railway  lines  including    Chatra  to  Tori  for which survey has been conducted during the last three years;

(b) whether any rail line is proposed between Chatra to Gaya and Tori;

(c)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  budget  allocation  made  for these new lines so far;

(d)  the  estimated  budget  required  to  complete  the  Chatra-Gaya railway line; and

(e)  the  present  status  of  the  said  lines  and  the  time  by  which these lines are likely to be completed?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4021 BY SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  10.08.2016  REGARDING  RAIL  LINE BETWEEN CHATRA TO TORI.

(a):  During  last  three  years,  survey  for  only  one  new  line  project  i.e. Parasnath-Madhuban-Giridih  (35  km)  falling  fully/partly  in  the  State  of Bihar and Jharkhand has been completed. As per the survey report, cost of  the  project  is ` 307  crore  with  negative  rate  of  return.  However, reassessment of this project line as part of complete route of ParasnathMadhuban-Giridih-Madhupur has been taken up.

For Chatra - Tori (66 Km) New Line section a Reconnaissance Enggcum-Traffic  Survey  (RETS)  had  been  completed  in  2005-06.  As  per  the survey report, the cost of new line had been assessed at ` 278 crore with negative Rate of Return. The project could not be taken forward due to its  unremunerative  nature.  However,  to  reassess  the  viability  of  the project, an updating survey for this section has been taken up.

(b) to (e):  Gaya-Chatra (97 Km) New Line project has been sanctioned in 2008-09 at a cost of ` 416 crore.  The  project  could  not  take  off  due  to abnormal increase in cost of land and limited overall availability of funds for  new  line  projects.  The  anticipated  cost  of  this  project  has  now reached to more than ` 4000 crore. An expenditure of ` 14 crore has been incurred upto March 2015 with an outlay of ` 2 crore in    2016-17.

The target date of completion of the project has not been fixed.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4020 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-10
Subject: Machine Readable Passports
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: PR. SENTHILNATHAN, M. I. SHANAVAS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4020 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2016

## MACHINE READABLE PASSPORTS

4020.

SHRI P.R. SENTHILNATHAN:

SHRI M.I. SHANAVAS:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  foreign  governments  may  deny  visa  or  entry  to  any  person travelling with a non-machine readable passport;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  number  of  handwritten  passports  that  need  to  be  converted  to machine readable passports;
- (d) whether the Ministry had engaged any multimedia campaign to create awareness  among  citizens  about  this  issue  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (e) whether  any  reports  of  inconvenience  caused  to  any  holder  of handwritten passports till date has been reported; and
- (f)
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) & (b) Yes.  The  foreign  governments  may  deny  visa  or  entry  to  any person travelling with a non-machine readable passport. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) had set a deadline of the 24 November, 2015 for globally phasing out all non-Machine Readable Passports.
- (c) Out of approximately 6.5 crore valid Indian passports in circulation as on  date,  about  2.0  lakhs  passports  are  estimated  to  be  non-Machine Readable Passports.
- (d) The Ministry had issued Public Advisories/Circulars dated 9 December, 2013 and 23 December, 2014 on Passport Seva Portal, websites of  the  Ministry  of  External  Affairs  and  Indians  Missions/Posts  abroad advising the Indian nationals  to  convert  their  non-Machine  Readable Passports  into  Machine  Readable  Passports  without  any  further  delay. Indian Missions/Posts abroad  were also advised to disseminate this information amongst Indian Associations in their jurisdiction.
- (e) & (f) The Ministry has not come across any report of inconvenience caused to any holder of handwritten passports till date.

*****