opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2626 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-05
Subject: Amendment in RTE Act
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: ABHISHEK SINGH, GOPAL CHINAYYA SHETTY

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  2626**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 5** **TH** **AUGUST, 2015**

**Amendment in RTE Act**

**†2626. 	SHRI ABHISHEK SINGH:**

**SHRI GOPAL SHETTY:**

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

(a) whether the Government proposes to carry out any amendment in the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether providing education to all children in the country is a constitutional/ legal obligation of the Government; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)**

(a) & (b):  	There is no proposal to amend the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 at present.

(c) & (d): 	Article 21-A has been inserted in the Constitution of India by the Constitution (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2002 to provide free and compulsory education of all children in the age group of six to fourteen years as a Fundamental Right in such a manner as the State may, by law, determine. The RTE Act, 2009, effective from 1st April, 2010, represents the consequential legislation envisaged under Article-21A. It mandates that every child of the age of six to fourteen years shall have the right to free and compulsory education in a neighbourhood school till the completion of his or her elementary education. All States/UTs are implementing the RTE Act, 2009 across the country as per their respective notified State RTE Rules.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2623 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-05
Subject: Medium of Instruction
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2623**

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2015

**Medium of Instruction**

†2623. SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

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

(a) the details of language policy as it is implemented;

(b) the names of the centrally and State sponsored schools where medium of instruction is official language Hindi;

(c) the number of schools in the country wherein medium of instruction is English along with the reasons therefor; and

(d) the details of the steps being taken by the Government to remove such contradiction in the education policy?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**(SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)**

(a) 	The National Policy on Education, 1986 reiterates the need for implementation of the three language formula, which is as follows:

(i) The First language to be studied must be the mother tongue or the regional language.

(ii) The Second language will be some other modern Indian language or English in Hindi speaking States. In non-Hindi speaking States, the second language will be Hindi or English.

(iii) The Third language will be English or a modern Indian language not studied as the second language in Hindi speaking States. In non-Hindi speaking States, the third language will be English or a modern Indian language not studied as the second language.

(b) to (d)    Education, being a subject in the Concurrent List of the Constitution, and the majority of schools being under the jurisdiction of the State Governments, it is for the respective State/ Union Territory Governments to determine the medium of instruction in State schools. No information about the medium of instruction in the State schools is maintained centrally. As regards the Centrally sponsored Schools, medium of instruction in the Jawahar Navodaya  Vidyalaya from class VI to VII or VIII is regional language. Keeping in view the difficulties faced by children in Non-Hindi speaking areas, the medium of instruction from class VIII or IX and onwards is English. In respect of schools under Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, as per Article 111 of Education Code for Kendriya Vidyalayas, the medium of instruction is bi-lingual, that is Hindi and English.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2622 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-05
Subject: Admission in International Schools
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: YOGI ADITYANATH

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2622**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2015**

Admission in International Schools

†2622. SHRI YOGI ADITYA NATH:

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

(a) whether there is provision for the admission of students belonging to the economically weaker sections in international schools situated in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the details of directions/instructions issued by the Government to international schools set up in the country?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)**

(a) to (c):	Section 12(1)(c) of the Right to Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 provides that, inter alia, an unaided school not receiving any kind of aid or grants to meet its expenses from the appropriate Government or the local authority, shall admit in class I (or pre-primary, as the case may be), to the extent of at least twenty-five per cent of the strength of that class, from children belonging to weaker section and disadvantaged group in the neighborhood and provide free and compulsory elementary education till its completion. Education, being a subject in the concurrent List of the Constitution, and the majority of Schools including International Schools being under the jurisdiction of the State Governments, it is for the respective State/Union Territory Governments to issue direction to the schools for implementation of admission policy.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2621 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-05
Subject: Funds for Skill Development
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: (SMT.) RATNA DE(NAG), HEMAMALINI, DEVUSINH JESINGBHAI CHAUHAN, BHAGWANT MANN

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2621**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2015**

**FUNDS FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT**

**QUESTION**

**2621. 	DR. RATNA DE (NAG): 					SHRIMATI HEMA MALINI:**

**SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN: 				SHRI BHAGWANT MANN:**

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

(a) 	the details of money allocated towards skill development at the Centre as well as States during the last three years till date and the utilisation of the same;

(b)	whether the Government has provided any special fund to any State for skill development;

(c) 	if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(d) 	whether the Government has received any complaints against the misuse of funds under the national skill development scheme during each of the last three years and the current year; and

(e) 	if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon and to ensure such incidence do not occur in future?

**ANSWER**

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

**SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP**

**(SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY)**

(a) to (e)	There are over 70 skill development schemes across various sectors implemented by over 20 Central Ministries/Departments to promote skilling across the Country. Funds under these schemes are provided by the concerned Ministries/Departments to the implementing agencies including States in accordance with the guidelines issued for the schemes. Further, Government has introduced the flagship scheme, ‘Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)’ with an outlay of Rs. 1500 crore for the current financial year i.e. 2015-16 which has the target to benefit 24 lakh persons with training of 14 lakh fresh entrants and certification of 10 lakh persons under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

The annual targets and achievements for skill training under various skill development schemes/programmes of over 20 Central Ministries/Departments for the year 2012-13 to 2014-15 are as under:-

(figures in lakhs)

| Year      |   Annual targets for training of persons under skill development programmes |   Number of persons trained |
|-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|
| 2012-2013 |                                                                       72.51 |                       51.88 |
| 2013-2014 |                                                                       73.43 |                       76.37 |
| 2014-2015 |                                                                      105.08 |                       76.12 |

Further, no major complaint about misuse of fund under the skill development scheme has been received by this Ministry.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2619 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-05
Subject: First Aid Facilities in Schools
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: BHAVANA GAWALI (PATIL), ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT, KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2619**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2015**

**First Aid Facilities in Schools**

† **2619. SHRIMATI BHAVANA PUNDALIKRAO GAWALI PATIL:**

**SHRI ARVIND SAWANT:**

**SHRI KRUPAL BALAJ1 TUMANE:**

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

(a) 	whether there are no first aid facilities in most of the Government schools, especially primary and secondary schools in the rural areas of the country;

(b) 	if so, the reasons therefor;

(c) 	whether the Government has prepared any scheme and programme for providing the said facilities to the students in the Government schools on the lines of public schools; and

(d) 	if so, the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government for implementation of the said scheme?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)**

(a) to (e):	The Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and Kendriya Vidyalayas which are under the administrative control of Government of India provide for a staff nurse on the school premises to handle medical emergency including administration of first aid. These schools also provide for services of a doctor on part time basis. The Guidelines issued to States / UTs emphasize the safety and security aspect of children. In addition, the MDM Guidelines also envisage that children studying in Government and Government aided schools are to be covered under Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) in convergence with the National Health Mission. The children are screened by the medical teams of the State Health Department on half-yearly basis. Under RBSK, height and weight of the children are also recorded. The State Health Departments are also distributing Iron Folic Acid, Vitamin-A, De-worming tablets and spectacles to children suffering from refractive error.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2616 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-05
Subject: Commercial Activities in Space Science
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: R.K. BHARATHI MOHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED  QUESTION No. 2616

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 05, 2015

## COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES IN SPACE SCIENCE

2616.

SHRI BHARATHI MOHAN R. K.:

## Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any plan to develop commercial activities to meet out the global needs in space science;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and action taken by the Government thereon; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PG & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a) No  Madam.  At  present,  Indian  Space  Research  Organisation has no plans to develop commercial activities to meet out the global  needs  in  space  science,  which  includes  astronomy, aeronomy, solar system studies, planetary exploration.

Antrix  Corporation  Limited  (Antrix),  the  commercial  arm  of Department  of  Space  manages  the  commercial  activities  of ISRO, which encompasses satellite launch services for foreign customers, leasing of transponders, marketing & distribution customers, marketing  of  spacecraft  subsystems  and  mission  support. However, Antrix does not deal with commercial activities in

of Indian Remote Sensing data to foreign space science.

- (b) Does not arise.
- (c) Globally,  the  space  science  related  activities  are  generally planned and carried out under cooperative mode.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2614 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-05
Subject: Recruitment of Minorities
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: VINOD KUMAR BOIANAPALLI

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL AND TRAINING

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2614**

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2015)

**RECRUITMENT OF MINORITIES**

**2614. SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR:**

Will the **PRIME MINISTER** be pleased to state:

(a) 	whether despite the deadline having been ended, many Ministries are yet to comply with the directions of the Government to file compliance report on the recruitment of minorities in their respective ministries;

(b) 	if so, the details thereof;

(c) 	whether only a fraction of actual vacancies meant for minorities have been filled by each Ministry/Department and if so, the figures relating to 2014-15 in this regard; and

(d) 	the other incentives/schemes under which job offers are made to minority communities in the country?

**ANSWER**

Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office. (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) to (c) : Yes, Madam. As per the Department of Personnel & Training’s O.M dated 8 th January, 2007, the Central Ministries/Departments are required to furnish the annual data on recruitment of candidates belonging to minority communities for the year ending 31 st March by 30 th April of the following year. During the year 2013-14, as per reports received from 74 Ministries/Departments, a total number of 128964 or about 7.89% of the total recruitments made were from the minority community.  For the year 2014-15, so far 45 Ministries/Departments have furnished the data.  As per the available information, in the year 2014-15, a total number of 9328 or about 8.51% of candidates recruited by these Ministries/Departments were from minority community.

(d) : The Ministry of Minority Affairs implements Seekho aur Kamao, a scheme for placement linked skill development of minorities. Further, a new organization Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills (MANAS) has been established on 11/11/2014 as Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for addressing all skill development needs of minority comminutes, to ensure provision of sustainable livelihoods to them, with emphasis on self-employment.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2612 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-05
Subject: Infrastructure Facilities in Schools
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KINJARAPU RAM MOHAN NAIDU

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2612**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 5** **th** **AUGUST, 2015**

**Infrastructure Facilities in Schools**

**2612.	SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU:**

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

(a)	whether despite sufficient budget for the infrastructure upgradation of schools between 	2014-15 and 2015-16, no significant increase in the number of schools meeting the Right to 	Education norms has been made;

(b)	if so, the reasons therefor along with the details of infrastructure upgradation of schools 	made during this period; and

(c)	the effective steps being taken to improve the infrastructure facilities in the schools?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)**

(a) to (c)	No, Madam. There has been a marked improvement in infrastructure facilities in schools during last 4 years. As per Unified District Information System for Education (U-DISE) data 55.2% schools had girls toilets, 74.4% schools had boys toilets and 92.9% schools had drinking water facility during 2009-10. These figures increased to 90.5%, 85.8% and 95.1% respectively during 2013-14.

The requirement of infrastructural facilities in schools are worked out every year by the respective State/Union Territory on incremental basis depending on their need and priority and this is reflected in their Annual Work Plan and Budget. The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme supports the States/UTs to provide and augment their school infrastructural facilities as per RTE norms. Under SSA 3.11 lakh school buildings, 18.54 lakh additional classroom, 2.36 lakh drinking water facilities and 9.95 lakh toilets have been sanctioned so far across State / UTs.

Further Swachh Vidyalaya Initiative has been launched to provide separate toilets for girls and boys in all government schools within a year, in collaboration with Public sector undertakings and Private Corporates.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2611 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-05
Subject: E-Commerce Service/Centres
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: SULTAN  AHMED, R.K. BHARATHI MOHAN, P. KARUNAKARAN, ANTO  ANTONY

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY**

**DEPARTMENT OF POSTS**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2611**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 05** **TH** **AUGUST, 2015**

**E-COMMERCE SERVICE/CENTRES**

**2611.  SHRI SULTAN AHMED:**

**SHRI BHARATHI MOHAN R.K.:**

**SHRI P. KARUNAKARAN:**

**SHRI ANTO ANTONY:**

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

(a) 	whether India Post is set to enter into e-commerce space;

(b) 	if so, the details thereof and the action plan formulated in this regard;

(c) 	whether India Post has started or proposed to start its e-commerce centre;

(d)	if so, the details thereof along with the business the centres are likely to undertake; and

(e) 	the employment opportunity, the e-commerce business is likely to generate particularly in rural areas?

ANSWER

**THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY**

**(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)**

(a) to (b)   Yes, Madam. The Department of Posts offers its existing products and services like Speed Post, Express Parcel/ Business Parcel to all bulk customers including eCommerce companies to provide delivery solution for their eCommerce business. There is also a web-based ePost Office at [www.epostoffice.gov.in](http://www.epostoffice.gov.in/) where sale of philatelic stamps, payment of Postal Life Insurance (PLI) premium and online generation of Electronic Indian Postal Order (eIPO) is provided.

(c) to (e)  	Department of Posts has established centers for handling Parcels including eCommerce articles. These centers act as facilitator to eCommerce businesses by providing logistics solution for delivery of their articles. Such major centers are operational in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru. Department of Posts is offering its network, services and resources as per existing norms for the requirements of eCommerce business including rural areas.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2609 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-05
Subject: Strategy on West Asia
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVNTHI), C. MAHENDRAN

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2609

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2015

STRATEGY ON WEST ASIA

2609. 	SHRI MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVANTHI):

SHRI C. MAHENDRAN:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

1. whether India is planning to revisit the strategic dimensions of our relations with Saudi Arabia, Israel and Iran;
2. if so, the details thereof;
3. the response of the Government to the announcement in Washington of a Saudi-Israeli alliance against Iran in the backdrop of the existing relation with these countries; and
4. the details of our West Asia Policy?

#### 1 

#### 2 ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

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

(a) to (d)	India’s policy on West Asia has been guided by our long standing ties with the region and our desire not to interfere in the internal affairs of States and being non-prescriptive. Despite the challenges of the regional flux, our bilateral relations with virtually all countries of the region have been progressing structurally towards safeguarding our core interests. India’s relations with other countries are not premeditated on their political alliances, but rather based on the pursuit of our national interests. India has continuously been working to enhance its relations with all the mentioned countries viz Saudi Arabia, Israel and Iran.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2608 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-05
Subject: Implementation of RTE Act
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KRISHNAN NARAYANASAMY RAMACHANDRAN

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2608**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 5** **th** **August, 2015**

**Implementation of RTE Act**

**2608.	SHRI K.N. RAMACHANDRAN:**

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

(a) 	the number of children admitted to schools after implementation of the Right to Education Act, vis-a-vis prior to its implementation;

(b) 	whether it is a fact that the enrolment ratio at Secondary and Higher Secondary level is decreasing constantly;

(c) 	if so, the details thereof; and

(d) 	the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)**

(a) :		As per Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE),  the enrolment of children at elementary level during 2009-10 was 18.79 crore which increased to 19.89 during 2013-14.

(b)&(c):	The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) at secondary level has increased from 62.90% in 2009-10 to 76.64% during 2013-14 and GER at senior secondary level have increased 36.1% to 52.21% during the same period.

(d):		The Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) programmes provide a number of incentives to encourage enrolment and retention of children in schools.  These includes enhancing access to primary, upper primary & secondary schools, strengthening school infrastructure like school building, additional classrooms, laboratories, libraries, arts & craft rooms, toilets, drinking water facilities etc., improving the teachers pupil ratio as well as strategies for gender positive textbooks, gender sensitization of teachers and educational administrators, in service training of teachers, ICT enabled education.  SSA programme also provide for free textbooks and two sets of uniform for children at elementary level.  The mid-day meal programme is also implemented in elementary schools, to help retain children in schools.

To ensure quality outcomes in government schools, the Central Government through SSA has supported State / UTs on early grade reading, writing & comprehension and early mathematics programmes through a sub-programme namely “Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat” and at upper primary level support for Mathematics and Science teaching learning. The Ministry has also launched Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan programme as sub-component of SSA and RMSA to motivate and engage children of the age group of from 6 to 18 years in Science, Mathematics and Technology through observation, experimentation inference drawing, model building etc. both through inside and outside classroom activities and processes.

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