opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 626 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-02-26
Subject: Disinvestment Target
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF DISINVESTMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 626

TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 th  FEBRUARY, 2016 PHALGULA 7, 1937 (SAKA)

## Disinvestment Target

## 626. SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Government has been missing its disinvestment targets for the last five years and is likely to miss again this year;
- (b) if so, the facts and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  a  big shortfall in disinvestment  revenues  could  potentially upset the Government's fiscal math, amid sluggish direct tax collection;
- (d) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (e) whether the  Government  is also contemplating over an alternate method  for disinvestment; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  &  (b)  :  The  Central  Public  Sector  Enterprises  (CPSEs')  disinvestment  targets  and achievements since 2010-11 are as under:

| Year    | Target (BE) (Rs. in crore)   | Amount realised (Rs. in crore)   |
|---------|------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| 2010-11 | 40,000                       | 22,144                           |
| 2011-12 | 40,000                       | 13,894                           |
| 2012-13 | 30,000                       | 23,957                           |
| 2013-14 | 40,000                       | 15,819                           |
| 2014-15 | 43,425                       | 24,349                           |

During  the  current  financial  year,  the  department  has  been  able  to  raise  Rs.  13,344  crore (approx)  till  end-January,  2016  as  against  the  target  of  Rs.  41,000  crore  for  CPSEs' disinvestment.

The  actual  realisation  from  CPSEs'  disinvestment  depends  on  the  prevailing  market conditions and extant policy considerations.

- (c) & (d): Receipts from CPSEs' disinvestment is one of the sources of resource inflows for the Government. The annual estimates accordingly, factors in receipts from disinvestment as well.
- (e) & (f): The Government may adopt any of the permissible methods of disinvestment as per the acts, rules and regulation applicable for such transactions.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 625 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-02-26
Subject: Effect of Vark
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. BHOLA SINGH

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 625 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH FEBRUARY, 2016

## EFFECT OF VARK

## 625. DR. BHOLA SINGH:

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

- (a) whether the Government has received complaints regarding harmful effects of vark used for garnishing sweets;
- (b) if so, details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether Government has conducted any study to evaluate the effects of vark on human body; if so, details thereof and if not, reasons therefor; and
- (d) whether there is a mechanism to regulate the quality of vark used in sweets, if so, details thereof and if not, reasons therefor?

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

- (a) & (b): No,  such  complaints  have  been  received  by  the  Food  Safety  and  Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the nodal agency for regulating manufacturing, storage, distr sale and import of food items. However, a reference was received suggesting that the unhygienic practices of making Vark (Silver Leaf) using intestine of cows need to be discontinued.
- (c): Neither the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) nor th e Indian Council of Medical Research have conducted any study to evaluate the effect of vark on human body.
- (d): Regulation 2.11.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Fo Additives) Regulations, 2011 prescribes that Silver Leaf (Chani - ka- warq): Food Grade -shall be in the form of sheets, free from creases and folds and shall contain not less than 99. of silver.

The implementation and enforcement of Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and regulatio thereunder primarily r est with the State/UT Governments.   Random inspections of premises, regular  surveillance,  monitoring  and  sampling  of  food  products  are  undertaken  by  Stat Governments to ensure compliance of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Regulatio there under.
Lok Sabha Question No. 624 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-02-26
Subject: Reforms in Calculating Price Index
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: VEENA DEVI

- (a) whether the Government has carried out extensive reforms in the old process for calculating whole sale price index and consumer price index;
- (b) if so, the facts in this regard; and
- (c) the total number of goods designated for calculating of the consumer price index along with the base year of price index and the weightage likely to be given to various goods in this index?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) and (b): The Government has revised the base year of the consumer price index (CPI) series from 2010 to 2012 in  January  2015 and has also updated the index basket.  The wholesale price index (2004-05=100) series has not been revised yet.
- (c) The CPI with new base 2012=100, compiled by Central Statistics Office, has 299 items in its basket. The details of group  level weights assigned under the revised CPI  series are given below:

| Group                             | New CPI (base 2012=100)           | Weight (per cent)                 |
|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 1                                 | Food and beverages                | 45.86                             |
| 2                                 | Pan, tobacco and intoxicants      | 2.38                              |
| 3                                 | Clothing and footwear             | 6.53                              |
| 4                                 | Housing                           | 10.07                             |
| 5                                 | Fuel and light                    | 6.84                              |
| 6                                 | Miscellaneous                     | 28.32                             |
| 7                                 | All Group                         | 100.00                            |
| Source: Central Statistics Office | Source: Central Statistics Office | Source: Central Statistics Office |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 623 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-02-26
Subject: Malaria Elimination Programme
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: M. UDHAYAKUMAR

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 623 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH FEBRUARY, 2016

## MALARIA ELIMINATION PROGRAMME

## 623. ADV. M.UDHAYAKUMAR:

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

- (a) whether the Government has launched a programme aimed of eliminating malaria by 2027 ahead of World Health Organisation target of 2030;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether under the programme, A ccredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) will be provided with special kits for quick diagnosis of malaria; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

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

- (a) & (b): The National Framework for Malaria Elimination in India (2016 - 2030) has been launched.  This  framework  has  been  developed  with  a  vision  to  eliminate  malaria  from country and contribute to improved health and quality of life. The new framework encourag all Indian States with different levels of malaria transmission to interrupt indigenous trans malaria in all States/UTs ahead of 2030.
- (c) & (d): The Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) have already been trained an have been provided rapi d diagnostic test kits (RDT) for diagnosis of Malaria.
Lok Sabha Question No. 622 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-02-26
Subject: Old Helicopters
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: JYOTIRADITYA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.622

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 26 TH  FEBRUARY, 2016

## OLD  HELICOPTERS

## 622. SHRI  JYOTIRADITYA  M. SCINDIA:

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

- (a) whether the defence forces are operating with the old assets particularly helicopters which are old and ageing;
- (b) if  so,  the  total  number of  helicopters  with defence  forces  and  the  year  in  which those were inducted;
- (c) whether the old and aging helicopters have taken valuable lives of many fliers in the recent past, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to replace the old and ageing helicopter fleet with the new one?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                            (SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)

j{kk ea=h

¼Jh euksgj ijhZdj½

(a) to (d): The information is being collected and will be laid on the Table of the House.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 620 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-02-26
Subject: Promotion of MNS Officers
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: PINAKI MISRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.620

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 26 TH  FEBRUARY, 2016

## PROMOTION  OF  MNS  OFFICERS

620. SHRI  PINAKI  MISRA:

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

- (a) whether  the  rank  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  and  equivalent  in  the  Armed  forces  is a time scale promotion on completion of 13 years of service and attains the rank of full Colonel  on  completion  of  26  years  of  service  in  time  scale  promotion  scheme  but  in Military Nursing Service (MNS) the promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel is still on selection basis with no provision for time scale promotion to the rank of full Colonel, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether  this  was  a  recommendation  of  the  VI  pay  commission  specifically  for MNS, if not, the reasons for this disparity for the officers of the MNS; and
- (c) if so, the corrective action initiated in this regard and the outcome thereof?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                            (SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)

j{kk ea=h

¼Jh euksgj ijhZdj½

- (a) The Military  Nursing Service (MNS)  is  a distinct  service by  itself  as per  Article  3  of  Indian  Military  Nursing  Service  Ordinance,  1943,  having different  service  conditions  including  separate  pay  structure.    A  Military Nursing  Service  (MNS)  officer,  on  completion  of  16  years  of  reckonable commissioned service from the date of seniority in the rank of Lieutenant, gets promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Time Scale).  However, there is no provision for Colonel (Time Scale) in MNS Cadre.
- (b) & (c): The VI  CPC had recommended that the scheme of time bound promotions  up  to  the  rank  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  already  available  to Service Officers should be extended to MNS Officers as well.  The aforesaid provision was already in vogue.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 619 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-02-26
Subject: Viability Gap Funding
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: KONDA VISHWESHWAR REDDY

- (a) the  details  of  amount  disbursed  till  date  by  the  Government  to  the  solar  plant/ projects by way of viability gap funding;
- (b) whether  the  Government  plans  to  introduce  viability  gap  funding  for  other renewable and alternative energy, including biogas plants; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER Minister of State for Finance (SHRI JAYANT SINHA)

(a), (b) & (c): Around Rs.489 crore has been released to Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI),   an implementing agency, under the scheme for setting up of 750 MW of grid  connected  solar  PV  power  projects  under  Batch-I  of  Phase-II  of  National  Solar Mission with Viability Gap Funding.

The guidelines of National Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) provides for viability gap funding  up  to  40%  of  the  project  cost  for    project  schemes  relating  to  innovative methods to adopt to clean energy technology and research and development. This also includes various sources of renewable / alternate energy including bio-fuels and waste. Power is one of the sectors  eligible for VGF under the Scheme for Support to Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in infrastructure up to 20% of the project cost. The government department or the implementing agency that owns the project may, if it so decides, provide additional grants out of its budget up to further twenty per cent of the total project cost.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 617 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-02-26
Subject: Bad Debts
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: RAM TAHAL CHOUDHARY, CHANDRAKANT BHAURAO KHAIRE

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO †617 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 26 th FEBRUARY, 2016/ PHALGUNA 7, 1937 (SAKA)

## BAD DEBTS

## †617. SHRI RAM TAHAL CHOUDHARY SHRI CHANDRAKANT KHAIRE

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the names of the persons, whose loans, worth more than one crore, were written off during the last three years, company-wise and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the reasons for writing off bad debt instead of recovering the said loan;
- (c) whether any inquiry has been conducted in this regard to ascertain the reasons for writing off such loans;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the outcome of the inquiry conducted in this regard;
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (f) the reaction of the Government on the said outcome?

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

( a): The borrower's details are not disclosed as prescribed under Section 45E of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Act, 1934 and the banking laws, which provide for obligation of a bank or financial institution to maintain secrecy about the affairs of its constituents. The written off-amount during the last three years by Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) is as under.

(Rs. in Crore)

| Bank Group   | 2013   | 2014   | 2015   |
|--------------|--------|--------|--------|
| PSBs         | 27,231 | 34,409 | 52,542 |
| SCBs         | 32,992 | 42,235 | 61,174 |

Source: RBI

(b) to (f): Banks resort to write off only after exhausting all other possible avenues for recovery or when the asset coverage is not enough. However, the bank is required to adhere to the guidelines issued by RBI on write offs of loans and its Board approved policy. The banks undertake write- off for Balance Sheet purposes i.e. NPA management. The banks either make full provision as per the RBI guidelines or write-off such advances and claims such tax benefits as are applicable. However, in case of Written-off accounts, the recovery process continues.

************
Lok Sabha Question No. 616 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-02-26
Subject: Public Health Standards
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: SANGANNA AMARAPPA KARADI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 616 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH FEBRUARY, 2016

## PUBLIC HEALTH STANDA RDS

## 616. SHRI SANGANNA AMARAPPA:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  laid down  public  health  standards  in  the  country, if  so,  the details thereof along with its objectives;
- (b) whether the Government issued any guidelines under the said standard s forimplementation in the country, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons theref r; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to ensure better implementation of the said stand r s in the country?

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

- (a) & (b): The  Indian  Public  Health  Standards  Guidelines  for  District  Hospitals,  S -District/ Sub - Divisional hospitals, Community Health Centre, Primary Health Centre and Sub Centre, were revised in 2012 and are availa ble at:

http://nrhm.gov.in/nhm/nrhm/guidelines/indian - public - health - standards.html

- (c): Public health is a State subject. Under the National Health Mission (NHM), support is provided  to  States/UTs  to  inter  alia  strengthen  their  health  care  facilities  in infrastructure, human resource, drugs and equipment to IPHS based on requirements posed the States in their Programme Implementation Plans.
Lok Sabha Question No. 612 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-02-26
Subject: Income Tax Rebate on Promotion of Solar Energy
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: SAKSHI SWAMI MAHARAJ

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.612

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY THE 26 TH  FEBRUARY, 2016 7 PHALGUNA, 1937 (SAKA)

## ' INCOME TAX REBATE ON PROMOTION OF SOLAR ENERGY '

612: DR. SWAMI SAKSHI MAHARAJ:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether the Government provides income tax rebate for investment in solar energy sector and to the supplies of solar energy equipments for making investment in the said sector.
- (b) If so, the names of companies and agencies which have got the said rebate during the last three years.
- (c) Whether the Government has conducted any investigation to ascertain that the companies filing claim for the said rebate fulfils the criterion of getting rebate.
- (d) If so, the details thereof.
- (e) the names of companies filing false claims during the said period and the action taken by the Government against such companies?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): Some of the important incentives available under the Income tax Act, 1961 ('Act'), in relation to solar energy sector are as follows-
- (i)  enhanced  rate  of  depreciation  (80%)  on  prescribed  renewable  energy  devices, including solar energy devices
- (ii)  tax  incentives,  that  are  available  under  the  Act  to  the  entities  operating  in  power sector, may also apply to entities operating in solar power sector subject to fulfillment of prescribed conditions.
- (b): No such information is maintained in a centralised manner.
- (c): Investigation into tax evasion is an ongoing process. Whenever any instance of tax evasion  is  noticed  by  the  Income-tax  Department,  including  cases  of  false  claims  of deduction/exemption,  appropriate  action  including  Searches,  Surveys,  assessment  of income, levy of tax, imposition of penalty and launching of prosecution, is taken as per law, depending upon the facts and circumstances of each case.

(d):  Disclosure  of  information  regarding  specific  taxpayers  is  prohibited  except  as provided under section 138 of the Income-tax Act, 1961.

(e): Does not arise in view of reply to (d) above.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 609 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-02-26
Subject: Empanelled Advocates in Banks
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: RATTAN LAL KATARIA

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †609

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 26 th February,2016/Phalguna 7, 1937 (SAKA)

## Empanelled Advocates in Banks

## QUESTION

†609 . SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether advocates are empanelled in different public, private sector banks and financial institutions in the country to look into their legal matters;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the number of advocates empanelled by the different public, private banks and financial institutions during the last three years along with the number of SC and ST advocates out of them;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that the institutions which receive any grant from the Government exchequer are liable to provide reservation; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance

(SHRI JAYANT SINHA)

(a) to (d): Advocates are empanelled by the banks and financial institutions to handle their legal matters, as per their respective Board Policy. Empanelment is made on the basis of qualification, experience, willingness etc. of the Advocates. Since, the empanelment of Advocates is a contractual service on temporary basis, reservation policy is not applicable on such engagements. No such data is maintained by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks' Associations (IBA).

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 607 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-02-26
Subject: Interest Rate on Small Savings
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: MALLIKARJUN  KHARGE, C. N. JAYADEVAN

No.607

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY 26TH FEBRUARY, 2016

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.607

"INTEREST RATE ON SMALL SAVINGS"

SHIR MALLIKARJUN KHARGE: SHRI C. N. JAYADEVAN:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any proposal to lower the rate of interest on small savings;
- (c) the total amount of small savings presently deposited with the scheduled banks or other Government institutions?
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b): Sir, the small interest rates are perceived to limit the banking sectors ability to lower deposit rates in response to the monetary policy of the Reserve Bank of India\_ In the context of easing the transmission of the the economy, the Government has taken a comprehensive view on the social goals of certain National Small Savings Schemes. Accordingly, savings
- The spread that 1 year; 2 year and 3 year term deposits, KVPs and 5 year Recurring Deposits have over  comparable tenure Government  securities , shall stand removed\_ 25bps
- Further; the interest rates of all small saving schemes would be recalibrated on a quarterly basis, to align the small saving interest rates with the market rates of the relevant Government securities.
- The compounding of interest which is biannual in the case of 10 year National Savings Certificate (discontinued since   20-12-2015) , 5 year National Saving Certificate and Kisan Vikas Patra, shall be done on an annual basis from 1.4.16.

This is expected to help the economy move to a lower overall interest rate regime eventually and thereby help all, particularly low-income and salaried classes.

- (c) The total amount of small savings deposited with agencies, which are operating small savings schemes, on 31.12.2015 was Rs.9,51,996.59 crore (approximately).