opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1557 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-29
Subject: Ragging in Universities/Colleges
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KURUPPASSERY VARKEY THOMAS, ASHWINI KUMAR

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1557

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.07.2015

**Ragging In Universities/Colleges**

1557. PROF. K.V. THOMAS:

SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) 	whether cases of ragging in universities/colleges and technical institutes under the administrative control of the Government are increasing in every academic session;

(b)	 if so, the details thereof during the last three years and the current year, State and year-wise;

(c) 	the number of students committed suicide or left the colleges/institutes due to such cases during the above period, State and year-wise;

(d) 	whether the Government has issued any fresh directions to educational institutes to strictly deal with such incidents in the present academic session; and

(e) 	if so, the details thereof?

**ANSWER**

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

1. No, Madam. The UGC has reported that the cases of ragging are not increasing.
2. Does not arise.
3. The UGC has reported that no such case has been reported so far due to      ragging.
4. & (e) Yes, Madam.  A circular has been issued by UGC to all Universities/Colleges and Institutions of higher education on 24/07/2015 for curbing the menace of ragging.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1544 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-29
Subject: Enrolment Rate in Rural Areas
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: V. PANNEER SELVAM

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1544**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 29** **th** **JULY, 2015**

**Enrolment Rate in Rural Areas**

**1544.	SHRI V. PANNEERSELVAM:**

**Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:**

(a) 	whether the Government data on rising enrolment rates in schools hides a critical fact that actual attendance rates in rural areas and among poor children is abysmally low;

(b) 	if so, the details thereof;

(c) 	whether it is a fact that the average rural attendance rate is merely 71.8 per cent as per Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) survey, 2013 and the percentage was 73.4 in 2010 against world-wide average attendance rate of 91 per cent according to UNICEF; and

(d) 	if so, the details thereof and the necessary steps taken to improve enrolment rate as well as actual attendance?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)**

(a)&(b) Ministry of Human Resource Development commissioned a research study on students and teachers attendance in primary and upper primary schools.  The study was conducted by the Indian Market Research Bureau (IMRB) in 26 States and National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi having sample size 325 to 400 schools in each State, and with a total sample size of 8760 schools from rural areas and 1185 schools from urban areas. The study has revealed that 81.7% children were found present in schools in rural areas in 2012-13.

(c)		The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2013 brought out by PRATHAM, a non- governmental organization, has stated that the country is close to universal enrolment for the age group 6-14, with the percentage of children enrolled in schools at 96% and the percentage of out-of-school children remaining at 3.3%.   The students attendance in rural areas shows slight decline especially in upper primary schools from 73.1% in 2012-13 to 71.8% in 2013-14.

(d)	To increase enrolment rate as well as attendance, the Central Government under its flagship programmes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) has adopted strategies inter-alia, for strengthening school infrastructure, improving pupil-teacher ratios, providing incentives like free textbooks, uniforms for eligible category of children, mid-day meal in schools, and strategies for promoting education of girls and children belonging to disadvantaged group.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 1543 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-29
Subject: Cut Off Marks
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: K. C. VENUGOPAL

Approved by JS

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1543**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.07.2015**

**Cut Off Marks**

1543. SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether University of Delhi had decided to deduct 10 per cent marks of non-Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) boards students from their best of four subjects for admission;

(b) if so, the criteria of this decision;

(c) whether the Government has received any complaints in this regard and if so, the action taken to mitigate the concerns of students coming from non-CBSE boards;

(d) whether the Government has noticed that deduction of 10 per cent marks is a huge penalty for students especially at a time when the cut offs are unrealistically very high; and

(e) if so, the steps taken by the Government to remove the concerns of thousands of students coming from non-CBSE boards?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)**

(a) to (e): 	 University of Delhi has reported that there is no such decision to deduct 10% marks of non-CBSE board students from their best of four subjects. It has been clarified that all discipline subjects must have at least a 70% component of theory exams (theory exam does not include Internal Assessment/ Continuous Evaluation etc.), irrespective of the Board, for it to be considered for calculation of best of four. Even subjects offered by CBSE, having theory component of less than 70%, are also treated the same way. University has also informed that some aggrieved students had approached Hon’ble High Court of Delhi in the matter but their petition was dismissed by the Hon’ble High Court vide order dated 17.07.2015.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1541 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-29
Subject: Procurement for e-Passport
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: SHASHI THAROOR

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1541

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.07.2015

PROCUREMENT FOR E-PASSPORT

1541.		DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

1. whether the Government has completed the tendering and procurement process necessary for rolling out the e-passport scheme;
2. if so, the details thereof, including the proposed time period for implementing the scheme;
3. if not, the reasons therefor;
4. whether the Government has converted all existing and valid hand written passports into Machine Readable Passports (MRPs) to meet the November, 2015 deadline of foreign Governments after which non-MRPs would be invalid; and
5. if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
#### 

#### ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) & (b)  	The Government has given its approval for procurement of electronic contactless inlays alongwith its operation system required for manufacturing of e-passports to the India Security Press (ISP), Nashik. The ISP has accordingly floated a global Pre-Qualification Bid (PQB) in July 2014. The evaluation report on the PQBs received from nine global companies has already been submitted to the Board of Directors of Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Ltd. (SPMCIL) in October 2014 for their approval. The technical specifications for Request for Proposal (RFP) to be issued to security cleared companies are also being worked out. Further, as per the directives of Ministry of Communications and Information Technology for providing preference to the Domestically Manufactured Electronic Products (DMEP) in Government procurement, the ISP has also finalized a separate development tender. The entire tendering process involving dual-bid system is likely to be completed in the year 2016.

(c)   Does not arise.

(d) & (e)  	Out of approximately 6 crores valid Indian passports in circulation as on date, about 2.5 lakhs passports are estimated to be non-Machine Readable Passports. The Government has been regularly advising such passport holders through public notices to get their passports renewed voluntarily before November 2015.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1539 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-29
Subject: Skill Development University
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: RAJESH RANJAN  (PAPPU  YADAV), P.P. CHAUDHARY, SUNIL KUMAR SINGH

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1539**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.07.2015**

**SKILL DEVELOPMENT UNIVERSITY**

**†1539.SHRI RAJESH RANJAN:**

**SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY:**

**SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:**

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

(a)	whether the Government proposes to set up Skill Development University in the country;

(b)	if so, the details thereof and the locations identified for the purpose;

(c)	the present status of the proposals and the time by which these are likely to be set up; and

(d)	the roadmap of skill development courses of the university and the opportunities of employment likely to be created after the completion of the courses?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF**

**SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP**

**(SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY)**

(a) to (d)	Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has constituted a Working Group to explore the feasibility for setting up of Skill Development University in the States which can function as reputed national institutes responsible for aggregating skill development effort through implementation of a credible, aspirational and nationally acceptable skill training system. The Working Group has recently submitted its report along with the draft bill.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1537 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-29
Subject: Agreement with Sri Lanka regarding Fishermen
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: M. CHANDRAKASI

#### 1 GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1537

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.07.2015

AGREEMENT WITH SRI LANKA REGARDING FISHERMEN

1537.		SHRI M. CHANDRAKASI:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

1. whether any agreement has been reached with the Government of Sri Lanka regarding release of boats of Indian fishermen seized by the Sri Lankan Navy;

1. if so, the details thereof and the detained-boats released and handed over to the Indian fishermen since then;
2. the details of boats which are still with Sri Lanka and the steps taken for release of such boats; and
3. the details of boats of foreign countries including that of Sri Lanka seized/detained and released by Indian Government?

#### 2 

#### 3 ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) to (c)	There are several bilateral institutional mechanisms in place to ensure cooperation and understanding between India and Sri Lanka, including practical arrangements to deal with the fishermen issue. Government attaches the highest importance to the safety, security and welfare of Indian fishermen. As soon as reports of apprehension of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities are received, Government, through diplomatic channels, immediately takes up the matter with the Government of Sri Lanka to secure the early release and repatriation of Indian fishermen along with their vessels. As per available information, the number of Indian fishermen apprehended by Sri Lankan Navy in 2012 was 197, in 2013 it was 676 and in 2014 it stood at 787. Due to Government’s steadfast efforts, all these fishermen were subsequently released and repatriated to India. Since January 2015, a total of 217 Indian fishermen have been apprehended by Sri Lankan authorities and there are 31 vessels belonging to Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody. Due to efforts of the Government, 177 of the apprehended 217 Indian fishermen have been released and repatriated. Government remains engaged with the Government of Sri Lanka to secure the expeditious release and repatriation of 40 Indian fishermen and 31 vessels which are currently in Sri Lankan custody.

(d) 	As per information available, presently, there are 5 Sri Lankan fishermen and 5 Sri Lankan vessels in Indian custody. Since January this year, Indian authorities have apprehended 33 Sri Lankan fishermen and 6 Sri Lankan vessels of which 28 fishermen and 1 vessel have already been released and repatriated. There are also 92 vessels belonging to Pakistani fishermen in Indian custody. There has been no release of Pakistani vessels, so far, in the year 2015. India has released 111 Bangladeshi fishermen and 5 vessels in 2015. Presently, there are no Bangladeshi fishermen or vessels in Indian custody.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1536 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-29
Subject: Excellence Status to HNBGU
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: MAJ. GEN. (RETD) BHUWAN CHANDRA KHANDURI AVSM

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

**LOK SABHA**

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1536

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.07.2015

**Excellence Status to HNBGU**

1536. MAJ GEN B C KHANDURI AVSM (Retd):

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government proposes to grant centre of excellence status to Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University (HNBGU);

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) the total number of teaching posts sanctioned and lying vacant and the time since when these posts are lying vacant;

(d) the reasons for keeping these posts vacant and the steps taken by the Government to fill up these posts; and

(e) the present status of requests for affiliation of colleges pending with the Government?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)**

(a) & (b): Accreditation of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is a pre-condition for applying for centre of excellence. As of now, Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University (HNBGU) is not accredited from NAAC.

(c) & (d): As per the information provided by HNBGU, the details regarding sanctioned and vacant posts are as under:-

| **Name of Posts**   | **No. of Sanctioned Posts**   | **No. of Vacant Posts**   |
|---------------------|-------------------------------|---------------------------|
| Professor           | 43                            | 29                        |
| Associate Professor | 84                            | 48                        |
| Assistant Professor | 341                           | 98                        |
| **Total**           | **468**                       | **175**                   |

The University Grants Commission sanctioned the teaching posts in the year 2011. The posts were advertised in 2011 itself. However, due to stay order of Hon’ble High Court of Uttarakhand in appointments, the University could not fill up the vacant posts. After vacation of stay order, the posts have been re-advertised.

(e): As per the information provided by HNBGU, the University does not grant affiliation to any new institutions. Only such institutions which have been affiliated with University prior to 15.01.2009, i.e. the date of its up-gradation as Central University, stand affiliated with the University.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1534 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-29
Subject: Launch of e-Yantra
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: POONAM  MAHAJAN

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1534

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.07.2015

**Launch of e-Yantra**

1534.	SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) 	whether the Government has launched e-Yantra to incorporate robotics into engineering education;

(b)	if so, the details thereof including the amount of funds sanctioned for the same;

(c)		the number of projects undertaken under the aegis of e-Yantra since its inception, year-wise; and

(d)	whether e-Yantra has been successful in engaging students in the country in order to turn them into engineers who can support a rapidly growing economy and if so, the results thereof?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)**

(a) 	Yes, Madam.

(b)	The Project titled “e-Yantra Robot Enhanced Teaching of Subjects in Engineering Colleges” was awarded to the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. The objective of the project is to enable effective Embedded Systems and Robotics education through Project Based Learning (PBL) across engineering colleges in India, by:

- Providing training for teachers and students – through workshops where participants are taught  basics of embedded systems and micro controller programming
- Engaging teachers and students in hands-on experiments with robots – through competitions where participants are given robots to devise a solution, and

- Helping colleges to set up Robotics labs/clubs – by awarding a basic set of robots and expert advice to colleges, facilitating setting up of labs, in addition to training their teachers through workshops, transferring pedagogy know-how and setting up community fora to address the needs of this community.

The funds sanctioned by the Ministry since 2009 till date for this project is 
Rs. 3,04,39,000/-.

(c) 	Only 1 project in phased manner is being undertaken under the aegis of e-Yantra since its inception in year 2009.

(d)	Yes, as per the information available from the Project Investigator (PI), the project has benefited over 22000 students. Over 1000 teachers have been trained on Robotics. Robotics laboratories have been set up in 107 engineering colleges. Over 1100 robots have been distributed through this project and over 75 workshops have been conducted for the training of teachers and students in the area.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1533 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-29
Subject: m Passport
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: ABHISHEK BANERJEE

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1533

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.07.2015

M PASSPORT

1533.		SHRI ABHISHEK BANERJEE:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

1. whether a new mobile application ‘m Passport’ has been launched on the occasion of Passport Seva Diwas; and
2. if so, the details of the time frame by which the use of this app can be scaled up?
#### 1 

#### 2 ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) & (b)	On the occasion of Passport Seva Divas, a prototype of an Android based ‘mPassport Police’ app, aimed at speedy police verification,  was  presented. The app would have the capability to capture passport applicant’s personal particulars and photograph and transmit the same electronically to concerned stakeholders.  The app, after development and testing, should be available for actual use in 2016.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1532 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-29
Subject: Monitoring of Work
Ministry: URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: PINAKI MISRA

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1532**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON JULY 29, 2015**

**MONITORING OF WORK**

**No. 1532	        SHRI PINAKI MISRA:**

**Will the MINISTER OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:**

**(a)	the procedure laid down to monitor the work carried out by the contracts of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD);**

**(b)	whether CPWD get the Customer Satisfaction Certificate (CSC) for the work carried out by the contractor before issuing the work completion certificate and if so, the details thereof;**

**(c)	if not, whether the Government proposes to make it mandatory for the CPWD to obtain the CSC for every work carried out by the contractor before issuing the job completion certificate; and**

**(d)	if so, the time by which such measures are likely to be implemented in order to improve the quality of the work carried out by the contractors?**

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE

IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT

(SH. BABUL SUPRIYO)

1. : After conclusion of the contract, the contractor is required to submit a Time & Progress Chart for each mile stone and get it approved by the Department. The Chart is prepared in direct relation to the time stated in the Contract documents for completion of items of the work. It indicates the forecast of the dates of commencement and completion of various trades or sections of the work and may be amended as necessary by agreement between the Engineer-in-Charge and the Contractor 
within the limitations of time imposed in the Contract documents.

Cont……

-2-

Further, to ensure good progress during the execution of the work, the contractor in all cases in which the time allowed for any work, exceeds one month (save for special jobs for which a separate programme has been agreed upon) complete the work as per milestones given in the agreement.

Project Management is done by using project management software for works costing more than Rs. 5 Crore.

The Project management is done using M.S. Project software for works costing more than Rs. 5 Crore and upto Rs. 20 Crore. For works costing more than 20 Crore, project management is done using Primavera Software.

1. No, Madam. However, for costing more than Rs. 10 crore, the client department sets up a review committee to review the progress of work in accordance with GFR 134. Therefore, monitoring of progress of work is a continuous process in which CPWD representative as well as client department representatives are present.
2. No such proposal is under consideration.
3. Does not arise.

*******