opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 95 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-18
Subject: Notification on Appointment of Professors
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: VISHNU DAYAL RAM, OM PRAKASH YADAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 95 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2016

## Notification on Appointment of Professors

†95. SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

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

- (a) whether the University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued any notification regarding the appointment of Professor/Associate Professors;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government is  contemplating to curtail the powers vested with the UGC;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  is  also  contemplating  to  categorise  the  universities  coming under the UGC; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a)  &  (b):  Yes,  Madam.  The  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  has  notified  the  UGC (Minimum qualifications for appointment of teachers and other academic staff in Universities and Colleges and other measures for the maintenance of standards in higher education) (4 th Amendment)  Regulations,  2016.  The  regulations  are  available  at  egazette.nic.in  and www.ugc.ac.in.

- (c): There is no decision to amend the UGC Act, 1956.

(d)  & (e): There is no such proposal. Universities are known by descriptors such as Central Universities/State  Universities/Private  Universities,  due  to  differences  in  their  incorporation and  funding.  Central  Universities  are  established  and  incorporated  by  an  Act  of  the Parliament.    These  are  fully  maintained  by  the  UGC.    State  Universities  and  Private Universities  are  established  by  Acts  of  State  Legislatures.    The  Central  Government declares Deemed to be Universities under section 3 of UGC Act, 1956.  The UGC has laid exclusive regulations for maintenance of standards in Private Universities and Deemed to be Universities.  A  university  has  to  be  declared  fit  under  section  12B  of  UGC  Act,  1956  to receive  grants  and  a  list  of  such  universities  also  maintained  by  UGC.  Some  schemes  of UGC require  that  the  University  be  accredited  with  'A'  grade.    Such  a  list  is  available  at www.naac.gov.in . A complete list of Universities and Deemed to be Universities is available at www.ugc.ac.in .

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 94 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-18
Subject: Uchchatar Avishkar Abhiyan Scheme
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 94 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2016

## Uchchatar Avishkar Abhiyan Scheme

94. SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN:
2. Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a) whether the implementation of Uchchatar Avishkar Abhiyan has been very successful so far in the country; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the Government has received proposals under the above scheme; (d) if  so,  whether  it  is  true  that  the  private  sector  has  agreed  to  contribute considerable amount of funds for the above; and (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) & (b) : Yes, Madam. The Uchhatar Avishkar Yojana (UAY) is aimed at focusing research in the IITs on the problems of the industry, and thereby improving their productivity. All these projects are sponsored by the Industry with a contribution of 25%  of  the  project  cost,  with  the  balance  met  by  MHRD  and  other  related departments.

(c) to (e) :  There has been a very good response to the call for proposals. Out of the (180) project proposals received, (92) projects were approved at a total cost of Rs. 282.65  crores.  Of  this,  Rs.  70.66  Cr  has  been  contributed  by  the  sponsoring Industry, marking a new high in the efforts for industry-academia collaboration.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 92 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-18
Subject: Inoperative EPF Accounts
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: ELUMALAI VELLAIGOUNDER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 92 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2016

## INOPERATIVE EPF ACCOUNTS

92. SHRI V. ELUMALAI:

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

- (a)whether the Employees  Provident  Fund  Organisation  provides/ proposes to provide interest on the inoperative EPF accounts;
- (b)if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether  the  Government  proposes  to  suspend  interest  credit  on inoperative EPF accounts in the absence of any fresh contributions in these accounts for three years; and
- (d)if so, the details thereof along with the other steps proposed to be taken in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## ANSWER (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a) & (b):     As per existing provisions of paragraph 60(6) of Employees' Provident Funds (EPF) Scheme, 1952, interest shall not be credited to the  account  of  a  member  from  the  date  on  which  it  has  become inoperative.

- (c): At present, there is no proposal under consideration of the Government to amend paragraph 60 (6) of the EPF Scheme, 1952.
- (d): Does not arise in view of reply to part (c) of the Question above.

*********
Lok Sabha Question No. 88 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-18
Subject: Foreign Education Providers Bill, 2013
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: B.N. CHANDRAPPA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK  SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 88 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH   JULY, 2016

## Foreign Education Providers Bill, 2013

88. SHRI B.N. CHANDRAPPA:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to introduce Foreign Education Providers Bill, 2013;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the salient features of the proposed Bill;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps to hold discussions with the stakeholders in this regard;
- (d) if so, the response of the Government in this regard; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a)  &  (b):  No,  Madam.    The  Ministry  of  Human  Resource  Development  had introduced the Foreign Educational Institutions (Regulation of Entry and Operations) Bill, 2010 in Parliament on 3 rd May, 2010, which sought to put in place a mechanism to  regulate  the  entry  and  operations  of  Foreign  Educational  Institutions  in  India. However, with the dissolution of  the  15 th Lok Sabha, the Bill has since lapsed.  At present there is no such proposal, since no policy decision has been taken in this regard.
- (c) to (e):  Does not arise in view of  (a) & (b) above.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 84 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-18
Subject: Tea Exports to Egypt
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: PONNUSAMY VENUGOPAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 84 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH  JULY, 2016

## TEA EXPORTS TO EGYPT

## 84. DR. P. VENUGOPAL:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  an  Indian  delegation  has  recently  visited  Egypt  in  a  bid  to  perk  up  the country's sagging tea exports to the African country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the sustained promotional work by the Tea Board of India alongside efforts mounted by tea industry and trade has borne fruit on export front; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx jkT; ea=h ¼Jherh fueZyk lhrkje.k½ ¼Lora= izHkkj½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

## (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam.  A delegation comprising of Deputy Chairman & Director of Tea Promotion,  Tea  Board  India  and  tea  exporters  visited  Egypt  during  March  19-23,  2016  in order  to  boost  exports  to  Egypt  and  generate  goodwill  thereon.The  delegation  held  a number of meetings with the Minister of Supply and Domestic Trade (MSIT), Egypt, officials of  Ministry  of  Foreign  Trade  &  Industry,  Egypt,  Chambers  of  Commerce  in  Cairo  & Alexandria,  Government  Officials  and  Executives  of  Government-owned  companies,  and private tea industries in Egypt.  In addition, buyer-seller meets were also organized in Cairo and in Alexandria.

(c) & (d): The sustained promotional activities revolving around participation in international  trade  fairs,  exchange  of  trade  delegations  vis-a-vis  key  export  markets  and buyer-seller  meets  along  with  the  Industry  has  paid  substantial  dividends.    Details  of increase in exports during 2015-16 as compared to 2014-15 is given in the following Table:

|            | All India        | All India      | All India              |
|------------|------------------|----------------|------------------------|
| Year       | Qty (Million kg) | Value (In Rs.) | Value (in Million US$) |
| 2015 -16   | 232.92           | 4493.10        | 686.67                 |
| 2014-15    | 199.08           | 3823.64        | 625.55                 |
| Growth (%) | 17.00            | 17.51          | 9.77                   |
Lok Sabha Question No. 83 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-18
Subject: Review of Overseas Trade Opening Agreement
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: K. MARAGATHAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 83 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 TH  JULY, 2016

## REVIEW OF OVERSEAS TRADE OPENING AGREEMENT

## 83.   SHRIMATI K. MARAGATHAM:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Indian  industries  have  sought  a  thorough  review  of  overseas  trade opening agreements like free trade agreements and preferential trade agreements in the wake of country's declining exports;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether India has signed many trade pacts, more for geopolitical reasons rather than commercial reasons; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the decision taken on such trade pacts now?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx jkT; ea=h ¼Jherh fueZyk lhrkje.k½ ¼Lora= izHkkj½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. The Indian stakeholders have sought a review of the India-ASEAN Free  Trade  Agreement  and  India  Korea  Comprehensive  Economic  Partnership  Agreement (CEPA).  Moreover, they have also sought the expansion of the existing preferential trade agreements  (PTAs)  with  Chile  and  Mercosur.  The  review  (including  expansion)  process under these agreements has commenced.

(c) & (d): The finalization of any trade agreement is a comprehensive process that looks at all aspects including commercial  and geopolitical interests. The  finalization of bilateral agreements is preceded by the establishment of a Joint Study Group (JSG) which explores the feasibility of the agreement.

…
Lok Sabha Question No. 81 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-18
Subject: Financial Assistance by UNESCO to Protect Culture
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: RODMAL NAGAR, SANKAR PRASAD DATTA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNTARRED QUESTION NO.81 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2016

## Financial Assistance by UNESCO to Protect Culture

## 81. SHRI NAGAR RODMAL:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  UNESCO  has  provided  financial  assistance for the promotion of culture in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  contribution  of  UNESCO  towards  protection  of  the  culture  and natural heritage in the country during each of the last three years and the current year?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR CULTURE & TOURISM (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) to (c) No financial assistance has been received from the UNESCO by the Government of India as a member state for the promotion of culture in the country during the last three years and current year.

India is party to various conventions of the UNESCO intended for protection of the cultural as well as natural heritage in the world.  These international treaties  endeavor  to  protect  and  safeguard  the  world's  cultural  heritage including  ancient  archaeological  sites,  intangible  and  underwater  heritage, museum  collections,  oral  traditions  and  other  forms  of  heritage,  and  to support creativity, innovation and the emergence of dynamic cultural sectors.
Lok Sabha Question No. 79 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-18
Subject: Change in the Pattern of JEE
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: K. ASHOK KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 79 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2016

## Change in the Pattern of JEE

## 79. SHRI K. ASHOK KUMAR:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  decided  that  class  Twelfth  (XII)  marks  would  not  be considered for Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) rankings;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the announcement is expected to bring relief to students looking to grab a seat in a good engineering college;
- (d) whether the JEE 2016 would be conducted on the pattern of JEE 2015; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) to (c): Yes, Madam. The following changes have been approved by the Chairman, IIT Council, in the JEE pattern for 2017:
- (i) There shall be no weightage for the 12 th Class marks in calculating the ranks in the JEE Main exam.
- (ii) For the candidates to qualify for admission in the IITs/NITs/IIITs and such other CFTIs whose admissions are based on the JEE ranks, they should have secured at least 75% marks  in  the  12 th class  exam,  or  be  in  the  top  20  percentile  in  the  12 th class  exam conducted by the respective Boards. For SC/ST students, the qualifying marks would be 65% in the 12 th class exam.
- (d) & (e):  Yes, Madam. In JEE 2016, 40% weightage has been given to the marks of class 12 th and 60% weightage to JEE(Mains) score for admission in institutions other than IITs, as was done in  JEE  2015.    All  information  on  JEE  2016  is  available  in  the  JEE  (Mains)  and  JEE (Advanced) brochures and also are on URLs: http://jeemain.nic.in/WebInfo/pdf/JEEMain2016 Bulletin.pdf and http://www.jeeadv.ac.in/pdf/ JEE \_ADV\_2016\_IB\_2.0.pdf respectively.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 77 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-18
Subject: Inclusion of Yoga in Physiotherapy
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: VIJAY KUMAR S.R., KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, T. RADHAKRISHNAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 77 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2016

## Inclusion of Yoga in Physiotherapy

## 77. SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

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

- (a) whether the University Grants Commission (UGC) has written to all universities that yoga teaching may be included in bachelors and masters programmes of Physiotherapy;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the response of the university thereto;
- (c)  the  number  of  Central  Universities  identified  to  implement  the  yoga  education programme, till date;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  also  asked  the  UGC  to  constitute  a  committee  for creation of good quality text books and manuals for the syllabus; and
- (e)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  time  by  which  the  committee  is  likely  to  be constituted?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) & (b): Yes, Madam. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has informed that it has written to the Vice-Chancellors of all Universities on 19 th May,  2016 for including Yoga  syllabus  in  Bachelors  of  Physiotherapy  (BPT)  and  Masters  of  Physiotherapy (MPT) in the 2016-17 academic session. The template of the syllabus for BPT and MPT as designed by the Ministry of AYUSH is available on UGC website at http://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/1229406\_UGC-Letter-Yoga.pdf.
- (c): Six Central Universities will have functional Yoga Departments from the academic session 2016-17.
- (d)  &  (e):  The  UGC  has  been  requested  to  constitute  a  committee  of  subject  matter experts  in  consultation  with  Ministry  of  AYUSH  for  the  creation  of  good  quality  text books and manuals for the syllabus prepared for B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D and diploma/advanced diploma courses in Yoga.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 76 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-18
Subject: UGC Regulations
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, ELUMALAI VELLAIGOUNDER, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 76 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2016

## UGC Regulations

76. SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

SHRI V. ELUMALAI:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that the University Grants Commission (UGC) has revised/proposes to  revise  its  rules  on  twinning  arrangement  of  foreign  educational  institutions/universities with their Indian counterparts;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c)  the  other  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  bring  in  transparency  and simplification in this regard; and
- (d) whether it is also a fact that Government has announced a scheme for State universities for which professors from universities abroad will be invited to spend a year to help them improve curriculum pedagogy and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a)  to  (c):  Yes,  Madam.  The  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  has  notified  the  UGC (Promotion and Maintenance of Standards of Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign  Educational  Institutions)  Regulations,  2016  with  a  view  to  increasing  synergy between  Indian  and  foreign  academic  institutions,  to  offer  students  additional  choices, improve curriculum and the delivery of knowledge and educational content. The regulations are  in  supersession  of  UGC(Promotion  and  Maintenance  of  Standards  of  Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2012.

As per the new regulations, Indian Universities and Colleges, having the highest grade of accreditation/ threshold accreditation, will now be able to apply online to the University Grants Commission (UGC) for starting twinning arrangement with quality Foreign Educational Institutions (FEIs) in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes leading to the award of a degree. The degree will be awarded by the Indian Educational Institutions (IEIs)  alone;  joint  degrees  are  not  permitted.  The  regulations  provide  for  time-bound processing  of  the  online  applications  by  the  UGC.    The  regulations  are  available  at www.egazette.nic.in / www.ugc.ac.in .

(d): It  has  been  announced  on  3 rd June,  2016  by  the  Government  that  the  Centrally Sponsored  Scheme  (CSS)  of  Rashtriya  Uchchatar  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (RUSA)  will  provide support for engagement  of  academics  from  leading  foreign  Universities with State Universities for curriculum and pedagogical reforms.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 73 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-18
Subject: Educational Contents through DTH
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SANTOSH AHLAWAT, SUDHEER GUPTA, BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 73 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2016

## Educational Contents through DTH

## 73. SHRIMATI SANTOSH AHLAWAT:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  allow  direct-to-home  (DTH)  television  channels  to telecast contents for school and university students in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the salient features of the scheme and purpose behind the move;
- (c) the time by which this would be implemented;
- (d) whether the said programme would be available in all Indian languages and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  provide  high  quality  knowledge  to  youths  pursuing higher education?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a)  to  (e)  Government  has  approved  a  project  to  launch  the  'SWAYAM  Prabha'-a  project  for operationalising  32  Direct  to  Home  (DTH)  Television  Channels  for  providing  high  quality educational content to all teachers, students and citizens across the country interested in lifelong

learning. There will be new content of four hours every day, which would be telecast (6) times a day allowing the student to choose the time of his/her convenience.

The main features of SWAYAM Prabha would be as under:law, medicine, agriculture etc.

(i)  Curriculum  based  course  contents  covering  diverse  disciplines  such  as  arts,  science, commerce, performing arts, social sciences and humanities subjects, engineering, technology, (ii) Covers all level of education: School education, undergraduate, postgraduate, engineering, out of school children, vocational courses and teacher training.

The  32  channels  are  proposed  to  be  launched  before  September  2016.  Initially  the programmes will be in English but with the passage of time the programmes will be launched in regional languages also.

****