opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2230 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-06
Subject: Tax on Digital Services
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: SUNIL KUMAR SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2230

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 6 th  MAY, 2016 16 VAISAKHA, 1938 (SAKA)

## Tax on Digital Services

## 2230.  SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH;

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- a)  whether a Committee of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has recommended for the levy of a 6-7 per cent tax on most digital services;
- b)  if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons thereof;
- c)  whether the Government has assessed its impact on consumers; and
- d)   if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI JAYANT SINHA)

(a)  & (b):  Yes, Madam. A Committee was constituted by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)  to  examine  taxation  of  E-Commerce,  which  has  recommended  that  Equalization Levy may be imposed at a rate of six to eight percent, on any consideration of more than one lakh  rupees  received  by  a  non  resident  from  a  resident  in  India  or  from  a  permanent establishment in India for certain specified digital services, including online advertising, any services for online advertising and digital advertising space.

(c) & (d): The Finance Bill, 2016 proposes equalization levy at the rate of 6% of the amount of  consideration  for  specified  services  received  or  receivable  by  a  non-resident,  from  a resident  in  India  who  carries  out  business  or  profession,  or  from  a  non-resident  having  a permanent establishment in India, where the aggregate amount of consideration received in a year exceeds one lakh rupees. The proposed levy will have no direct impact on consumers as it is applicable only to business to business transactions.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2229 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-06
Subject: Revamping of PIB
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: P.R. SUNDARAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2229 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.05.2016

## REVAMPING OF PIB

## 2229.  SHRI P.R. SUNDARAM

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to revamp the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and its allied departments;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether a number of posts are lying vacant for many years in the said departments, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government would consider to wind up such departments of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the effective alternate steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  INFORMATION  AND BROADCASTING [COL. RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)]

- (a) & (b) : In  order  to  bring  about the  convergence and synergy in the functioning of few Media Units engaged in field level activities, a functional integration has been done wherein Principal Director General, Directorate of Field Publicity (DFP) has been made responsible for the working of   Song & Drama Division (S&DD), Public Information Campaign(PIC) activities  of  Press  Information  Bureau  (PIB)  and    Exhibition  Wing  of  Directorate  of Advertising  & Visual Publicity (DAVP).  Further, a proposal to merge the said units with DFP is also under consideration.
- (c) to (e) : All vacant posts lying in the above Media Units of the Ministry are regularly being filled up except those which are in deemed abolition category.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2228 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-06
Subject: Taxing Foreign Artists
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: ASHWINI KUMAR

## Government of India Ministry of Finance

## Department of Revenue

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2228 TQ\_BE ANSWEREDON FRIDAY THE 6TH MAY 2016

16 VAISAKHA, 1938 (SAKA)

## Taxing Foreign Artists

2228\_ SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Pakistani and other foreign artists who come to India for working in Indian films and
- other stage shows charging huge are subjected to income tax as per Indian rules; fees,
- (b) the names of persons who taxes during each of the last three years; and paid
- (c) if not, the source of deducting their tax?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER QE STATE IN THE MINISTRY QE FINANCE

## SHRI JAYANT SINHA)

- (a) Madam\_ Pakistani and other foreign artists are subjected to tax in India as per Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements with concerned countries or the domestic tax laws, whichever is beneficial to them Yes,
- (b) Country-wise segregated information about tax paid by artists of foreign countries including Pakistan, performing in India, is not maintained
- (c) The payer is liable to deduct the tax at source while making payments to artists of foreign countries including Pakistan, where the income is chargeable to tax under the Income Tax Act and applicable DTAA.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2227 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-06
Subject: Liver Transplant
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: NITYANAND RAI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2227 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 TH MAY, 2016

## LIVER TRANSPLANT

## 2227. SHRI NITYANAND RAI:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of hospitals having liver transplant facility and the number out of them providing free transplant facility to poor patients;
- (b) whether the Government has put in place any mechanism/scheme to provide free medicines to poor patients during and after liver transplant;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

- (a): Health is a State subject. The exact details of hospitals having liver transplant f the  number  out  of  them  providing  free  transplant  facility  to  poor  patients  is  not  ma centrally.

(b) to (d): Public  Health  being  a  Sta te  Subject,  the  primary  responsibility  of  ensuring availability  of  medicines  lies  with  the  State/UT  Governments.  Under  the  National  He Mission ( NHM), support is provided to the States/UTs for strengthening their healthcare del system including support for provision of free generic/drugs to those who access public facilities based on the requirement posed by the States/UTs in their Prog ramme Implementation Plans. The Government has developed and issued operational guidelines for Free Drug Serv Initiative to provide guidance to the States. These guidelines are availab http://nrhm.gov.in/images/pdf/in - focus/Shimla/Guidelines/Free\_Drugs\_Service\_Intitiative.pdf . Further,  under  the  National  Organ  Transplant  Programme,  a  provision  has  been  made  f financial  assistance  of  Rs.6,  0 00  per  month  per  patient  for  100  needy  and  poor  patients  of Government  hospitals  every  year  for  immunosuppressant  therapy. Trans lant  facilities  are usually provided at a subsidized cost in Government Hospitals. Further, financial assis also  provid e   to  below  poverty  line  patients  under  Rashtriya  Arogya  Nidhi  for  Liv transplantation.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2225 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-06
Subject: Fungibility of Foreign Investments
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: ARJUNLAL MEENA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA TINISTRY  OF FINANCE

## DEPARTMENT OF ECONOTIIC  AFFA]RS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2225 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY,  THE 6O'MAY, 2016 . VATSAKHA  16, 1938 (SAKA)

## Fungibility of Foreign lnvestments

## 2225. SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA

Wll the Minister  of FINANCE  be pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Govemment has allowed  full fungibility in foreign investments;
- if so, the details and the benefits  thereof; (b)
- the extent  to which  this would help catalyse  capital raising  options  for private banks; (c)
- whether the Government has assessed its impact on performance and resources of public sector banks; (d)
- if so, the details and the outcome  thereof; and (e)
- the steps taken  to ensure  adequate  funds  for public  sector banks? (f)

## ANSWER

## Uinister of State in the ilinistry  of Finance (SHRI JAYANT  SINHA)

- (a) to (c) Yes Sir. ln order to provide simplicity to the Foreign Direct lnvestment  (FDl) policy and bring clarity on application  of conditionalities  and approval  requirement  across  various sectors, different kinds of foreign investments have been made fungible  under one composite cap through the Press Note I of 2015 dated 3Os July, 2015, available  at www.dipp.nic.in.  Govemment  has also introduced full fungibility of foreign  investment in Banking-Private  Sector through  Press Note 12 ol 2015 dated 24th November,  2015 which is available on the website of DIPP at www.dipp.nic.in ) Acts and Rules  ) Press Notes/FDl Circular. Accordingly,  different categories of institutional  investors  can now invest in private  sector banks  upto the secloral limil ol  7 4o/o, provided  that there is no change  of control  and management.
- (d) and (e) There has been no change in the policy on foreign investment in public sector banks.
- (f) A detailed action plan for ensuring  funds for public sector banks is laid out under the lndradhanush  Plan for revamping Public Sector Banks (PSBs), the details of which are available at the website of Department of Financial Services (DFS) i.e., htto:/lfinancialservices.oov.in/Pressnotelndardhanush.pdf. Accordingly, a budgetary provision  of Rs. 25,000 crores has been made in the BE 2016-17 -
Lok Sabha Question No. 2223 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-06
Subject: Sainik School in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: BISHNU PADA RAY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2223

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 TH  MAY, 2016

## SAINIK SCHOOL IN ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

2223.  SHRI  BISHNU PADA RAY:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Andaman  and  Nicobar  Administration  has  submitted  comprehensive proposal  to  the  Ministry  for  establishment of  Sainik  School  in  Andaman  and  Nicobar Islands;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the action taken by the Ministry in this regard?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                   (SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)

j{kk ea=h

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(a) to (c): Andaman & Nicobar Administration has expressed their intention  to  set  up  a  Sainik  School  in  Andaman  &  Nicobar  Islands. However, no comprehensive proposal has been received from the Andaman & Nicobar Administration.   They  have been  advised  to  forward detailed proposal in this regard.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2222 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-06
Subject: Expenditure Management Commission
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: SURESH KODIKUNNIL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FNNANCE DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2222

ANSWERED ON FRIDA Y , 6th 2016, 16th VAISAKHA, 1938 (SAKA)

## EXPENDITURE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION

## 2222. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- a) whether the Expenditure Management Commission headed by Bimal Jalan, had submitted its final report suggesting a slew of measures to stream Government action taken thereon;
2. if s0, the details thereof along with the details of other major recommendations made by the Commission; and
- 6) whether the Commission $   report calls for  using direct benefit transfers for scholarships,  pensions and subsidies as well and also for   streamlining of expenditure and review grants made to autonomous bodies;
- d) the follow-up action taken by the Government thereon?

## ANSWER

## (SHRI JAYANT SINHA)

(a) to (d): The Expenditure Management  Commission has   submitted its final report and the report is under examination.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2220 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-06
Subject: Drug Quality Standards
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2220 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 TH MAY, 2016

## DRUG QUALITY STANDAR DS

## 2220. SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken any  action  to  address  the  slew  of  warnings from  the United  States  Food  and  Drug Administration  (FDA)  to  leading  Indian pharmaceutical companies, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  intends  to put  in  place  most  stringent  controls  to ensure  India's pharmaceutical regulatory regimeadhering to global compliance and quality standards; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

- (a): USA is one of the largest importers of drugs from India and the drugs exported to have to comply with its regulatory requirements.  Isolated cases of USFDA finding shortco in In dian pharmaceutical products/facilities have been reported in the recent past.  Detai regard are not maintained by this Ministry.
- (b)& (c) : The Central and State drug regulatory authorities take a series of steps to quality, safety and efficacy of drugs.  Accordingly, a number of samples of drugs are drawn f testing and inspections of manufacturing sites are carried out for ensuring adherence Manufacturing, Good Laboratory, Good Storage and Good Distribution Practices.  The ca pacity of the regulatory staff is also being enhanced through a number of programmes aimed at tr and development.     Workshops and training programmes are also carried out for Industry.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2219 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-06
Subject: Socio-Economic and Caste Survey
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KRISHNAN NARAYANASAMY RAMACHANDRAN

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2219 TO BE ANSWERED ON  06.05.2016

## SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND CASTE SURVEY

## 2219.  SHRI K.N. RAMACHANDRAN:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Socio-Economic and Caste Survey conducted by the Government and the UNICEF has revealed that substantial sections of women and children are still poorly fed and treated badly by the society;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (d) whether  budget  allocations  for  women  and  child  development  are  sufficient  to  improve  their health conditions; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the remedial steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)

(a) to (c): The Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India conducted the Socio - Economic and Caste  Census  (SECC)  in  the  year  2011  through  a  comprehensive  door  to  door  enumeration  across  the country. The SECC was carried out by the respective State/Union Territory Governments with the financial and technical support of the Government of India. It was carried out with an aim of identifying households living below the poverty line (BPL) in India that would get various entitlements. Under the Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011, poorly fed/ malnourishment or abuse of women and children does not form parts of the parameters/indicators for arriving the SECC data.

(d)  &  (e):  The  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  (MWCD)  is  running  various  Schemes/ programmes  to  improve  health  conditions  of  women  and  children.    Budget  Estimates  (BE),  Revised

Estimates (RE) and the Expenditure incurred by the Ministry for some of its major Schemes related to health conditions of women and children for the year 2014-15 are given in the table below:

(Rs. in Crores)

|       |                                                                | Year 2014-15     | Year 2014-15      | Year 2014-15   |
|-------|----------------------------------------------------------------|------------------|-------------------|----------------|
| S.No. | Schemes/Programmes                                             | Budget Estimates | Revised Estimates | Expenditure    |
| 1     | Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)                   | 18195.00         | 16553.60          | 16581.55       |
| 2     | National Nutrition Mission (NNM)                               | 300.00           | 20.00             | 20.00          |
| 3     | Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls- SABLA | 700.00           | 630.00            | 625.14         |
| 4     | Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahayog Yojana (IGMSY)                  | 400.00           | 360.00            | 343.14         |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2218 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-06
Subject: New Development Bank Loan
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: ADVOCATE NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR

- (a) whether  the  New  Development  Bank  (NDB)  formed  by  BRICS  group  of emerging nations have approved its first lot of loan to the nations;
- (b) if so, the details of loan approved by the bank, country-wise including India;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  identified  the  projects  where  this  loan  will  be utilised; and
- (d) if  so,  the  details  of  the  projects, their  locations  and the time by which these projects are likely to be completed?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI JAYANT SINHA)

- (a) & (b): The New Development Bank (NDB) on April 13, 2016 approved its first set of loans as under:
- i) Sovereign  loan  of  RMB  525  million  (equivalent  of  USD  81  million)  to  the People's Republic of China for Lingang Distributed Solar Power Project implemented by Shanghai Lingang Hongbo New energy Development Co. Ltd ;
- ii) Loan of USD 180 million with sovereign guarantee from the Republic of South Africa to Eskom Holdings State-Owned-Company Limited for integrating renewable energy independent power producers (RE-IPP) projects and augmenting transmission capacity for further development of Soweto Area;
- iii) Loan of USD 250 million with sovereign guarantee from the Government of India to Canara Bank for Renewable Energy Financing Scheme; and
- iv) Two-step  loan  of  USD  300  million  without  sovereign  guarantee  to  Banco Nacional  de  Desenvolvimento  Econômico  e  Social  (BNDES)  for  financing  of renewable energy and associated transmission projects in Brazil.

(c) & (d): The loan of USD 250 million is for on-lending to renewable energy projects under  Renewable  Energy  Financing  Scheme  (wind,  solar,  small  hydropower, biomass, geo-thermal, waste to energy and municipal waste to electricity, etc.). The loan is developed as Multi-tranche Financing Facility with three tranches of USD 75 million  (available  from  2016),  followed  by  second  tranche  of  USD  75  million (available  till  31  December  2019)  and  third  tranche  loan  of  USD  100  million ( available till 31 December 2022). Canara Bank has identified few maiden projects for financing with this loan. The details are given below:

|   S. No. | Name of the Company                      | Location                  | Capacity                        | Project completion date   |
|----------|------------------------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------|
|        1 | M/s Mysore Mercantile Co Ltd             | Gojnaur, Gadag, Karnataka | 6MW Wind power generation       | 14.08.2015                |
|        2 | M/s Welspun Energy Rajasthan Private Ltd | Pratapgarh, Rajasthan     | 200.80 MW Wind power generation | 30.01.2016                |
|        3 | M/s Nupower Renewables Ltd.              | Sangli Maharashtra        | 49MW Wind power generation      | 30.06.2016                |

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2216 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-06
Subject: Shortage of Medical Officers in ECHS Polyclinics
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: PRABHAS KUMAR SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEPARTMENT OF EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2216

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 6 TH  MAY, 2016

## SHORTAGE OF MEDICAL OFFICERS IN ECHS POLYCLINICS

2216.  DR. PRABHAS KUMAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

j{kk ea=h

- (a) whether there is a shortage of Medical officers, specialists, nurses and paramedical staff in various Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) polyclinics and the Armed forces medical facilities;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  meet  the shortage;
- (c) whether all the posts of doctors and paramedical / non-medical staff reserved for Ex-servicemen have been filled;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

j{kk jkT; ea=h

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(a) & (b): Yes,  Madam.    Authorized  and  in  position  strength  of  Medical Officers, Specialists  and  Para-Medical staff (which  also  includes Nursing Assistants) in Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) Polyclinics is as under:

| S. No.   | Category            |   Authorised |   In Position |
|----------|---------------------|--------------|---------------|
| (i)      | Medical Specialists |          322 |           168 |
| (ii)     | Medical Officers    |          953 |           700 |
| (iii)    | Para Medical Staff  |         2523 |          1872 |

2. To ameliorate the situation, the remuneration of Officer-in-Charge Polyclinic,  Specialist,  Medical  Officer,  Dental  Officer  and  Para-medical staff has been increased.
3. Primarily, Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) cater to entitled serving personnel and their dependents if there is spare capacity to treat in  AFMS, then members of ECHS are provided treatment with requisite facilities.

(c) & (d): No, Madam.  The reasons for non filling of posts of Doctors and Para-Medical / Non-Medical staff reserved for Ex-Servicemen are as under:-

- (i) Ex-Servicemen (ESM) not applying for the Medical Officers / Specialists and Para-Medical / Non-Medical posts of ECHS Polyclinics due to low remuneration.
- (ii) Non availability of suitable ESM in certain places.
- (iii) Resignations due to various reasons.
- (iv) Staff  is  employed  on  contract  basis  for  a  period  of  two years  at  the  maximum,  subject  to  review  of  their  conduct and performance  after  eleven  months  and  recruitment process is time consuming.
- (e) Wide publicity is being given to fill up the vacancies through Army Placement  Agency,  Kendriya  Sainik  Board  /  Rajya  Sainik  Board  /  Zila Sainik  Board,  Directorate  General  of  Resettlement  and  advertisements through National / Regional Newspapers, ECHS website etc.
- ********