opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3858 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-12
Subject: Subsidy on Education Loan
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: ARJUNLAL MEENA

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

# DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

# 

# LOK SABHA

# 

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3858

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2015

**Subsidy on Education Loan**

**3858** SHRI ARJUN LAL MEENA:

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

1. whether there is any scheme for providing subsidy on education loan to the 	students belonging to Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe categories for study 	abroad;
2. if so, the details thereof;
3. the criteria prescribed for the selection of beneficiaries for this purpose;
4. the number of applications received under the said scheme during the last 	three years and the current year, State/UT and year-wise; and
5. the funds allocated and spent for this purpose during the above period along 	with the number of students belonging to the above categories benefitted 	therefrom?
### 
### A N S W E R
**MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**
**(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)**
    1. No, Madam.
    2. to (e) Does not arise.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3855 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-12
Subject: Welfare of IBDA
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE, NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, SONA RAM CHOUDHARY, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, SHASHI THAROOR

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3855

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2015

WELFARE OF IBDA

†3855.	SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE:

SHRI NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

COL. SONARAM CHOUDHARY:

DR.  SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

DR.  SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

1. whether the Government is aware that some officers of the Ministry take servants from this country at low salary during their foreign posting and in some cases those servants are even exploited and not allowed to come back at their own will and if so, the details thereof;
2. whether the Government is likely to consider a policy of hiring India Based Domestic Assistants (IBDAs) for diplomats, on account of the recent controversies involving diplomats and their IBDAs;

(c)	whether the Government is likely to grant IBDAs the status of Government employees instead of the present contract based employment with the concerned diplomat and if so, the details thereof;

(d)	whether the Government would also consider constituting a helpline and a department to redress grievances of IBDAs involving their diplomats or their spouses; and

(e)	if so, the details thereof?

#### ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

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

(a) to (e)	Service Staff are engaged to assist our diplomats in fulfilling their diplomatic responsibilities as India’s representatives abroad on mutually agreed terms of engagement in accordance with the rules framed by the Government from time to time. The Ministry has recently revised its policy on deployment of Service Staff for its diplomats which addresses the rights and responsibilities of both the Service Staff and the diplomats.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3854 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-12
Subject: Users of Social Media
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: PONNUSAMY VENUGOPAL

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY**

**DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3854**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 12** **th** **AUGUST, 2015**

**USERS OF SOCIAL MEDIA**

**3854. DR. P. VENUGOPAL:**

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

(a)	 whether there are 143 million users of social media across the country;

(b) 	if so, the details of social media users from urban and rural areas separately;

(c) 	whether the urban areas witnessed a growth of 35 per cent with 118 million users as of April, 2015; and

(d)	 the percentage growth during the last one year, urban/rural area wise?

ANSWER

**THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY**

**(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)**

(a)to (d)	    The Government does not maintain the information about social media users in the country. However, as per Internet and Mobile Association of India social media report 2014, there are 143 million social media users in the country as on April 2015. Out of this, 118 million social media users belong to urban areas and 25 million users belong to rural areas. Urban areas and rural areas have witnessed a growth of 35% and 100% respectively since December 2013.

****************
Lok Sabha Question No. 3853 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-12
Subject: Kindergarten Classes in KVs
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: MEENAKASHI LEKHI

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3853**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON  12.08.2015**

**KINDERGARTEN CLASSES IN KVs**

**3853. SHRIMATI MEENAKASHI LEKHI:**

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

(a)	whether the Government has any proposal to introduce Kindergarten classes i.e. KG-I and KG-II in Kendriya Vidyalayas;

(b)	if so, the details thereof; and

(c)	if not, the reasons therefor?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)**

(a) to (c):  As per the Admission Guidelines of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs), children are admitted in class-I at the age of five years as on 31 st March of the academic session in which admission is sought. However, in terms of Article 94 of the Education Code for KVs, schools  having three sections or more in classes upto class X may start upto two sections of pre-primary classes on self-financing basis subject to the guidelines specified therein.  At present, pre-primary classes are functioning in 20 KVs across the country. The Pre-primary classes are not integral part of the KVS system as these students are not given automatic admission in the next higher class.

**********
Lok Sabha Question No. 3852 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-12
Subject: Awareness Programme on Water Harvesting
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: R.K. BHARATHI MOHAN

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3852**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 12** **TH** **AUGUST, 2015**

**Awareness Programme on Water Harvesting**

**3852.	SHRI BHARATHI MOHAN R.K.:**

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

(a)	whether the Government has initiated any awareness programme about the importance of water harvesting at the school level; and

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

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)**

(a) & (b)	A three tier painting competition is conducted for school children of 6 th , 7 th and 8 th standard through Central Ground Water Board throughout the country, i.e. at school level, state level and national level on various water related themes for spreading awareness on water conservation among the children. The Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) framework for implementation prescribes, inter alia, facilities for water harvesting in new school buildings.

National Curriculum Framework (NCF) – 2005 emphasises on the protection of environment as a common core of the school curriculum. Contents and visuals related to water harvesting by indigenous and modern methods have been included in National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks of Environment Studies ‘Looking Around’ for Class V, Social Science (Geography) textbook for class X titled ‘Contemporary India-II’, Science textbooks and Project books in Environment Education. Under National Population Education Project importance of conservation of resources including water harvesting is also included in material for training programmes.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3851 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-12
Subject: Usage of Khadi
Ministry: URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SUNIL KUMAR SINGH

## O.I.H.					GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3851**

TO BE ANSWERED ON AUGUST 12, 2015

**usage of khadi**

**No. 3851			SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:**

Will the Minister of URBAN DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a)	whether the Government proposes to make the usage of Khadi and handloom clothes mandatory in all the Government offices and residences of Ministers and Members of Parliament;

(b)	if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard; and

(c)	if not, the reasons therefor?

**ANSWER**

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT

**(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)**

(a) to (c):	No, Madam.  There is no proposal to make Khadi and handloom clothes mandatory in the Government offices and residences of Ministers and Members of Parliament (MPs). Clothes for sofas and curtains are provided for the Govt. offices and residences of Ministers and MPs as per the requisitions.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3850 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-12
Subject: Investigation against Senior Officers
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: RAGHAV LAKHANPAL

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL AND TRAINING

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3840**

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2015)

**LOKPAL AND LOKAYUKTA**

3840. SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR:

SHRI S. RAJENDRAN:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

(a) 	the current status of implementation of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013;

(b) 	the number of States that have established the institution of Lokayukta; and

(c) 	the details of assistance provided by the Union Government to each State to establish the institution of Lokayukta during each of the last three years and the current year?

**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):   The provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 have come into force with effect from the 16 th January, 2014. However, the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 requires some amendment so as to provide for situations where the composition of the Selection Committee is incomplete due to absence of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, recognised as such, etc. Accordingly, the Lokpal and other related Law (Amendment) Bill, 2014 was introduced in Lok Sabha on 18.12.2014. The said Bill stands referred to the Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law & Justice.

(b)& (c):   As per the provisions of section 63 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013:

“Every State shall establish a body to be known as the Lokayukta for the State, if not so established, constituted or appointed, by a law made by the State Legislature, to deal with complaints relating to corruption against certain public functionaries, within a period of one year from the date of commencement of this Act.”

In view of the above mentioned statutory provision the Central Government is not required to maintain any consolidated data in respect of the Lokayuktas established by the State Governments/Union Territories.

Also, there is no provision in the Act for providing any assistance to the State Governments for establishing Lokayuktas. The Central Government, however, requested the Chief Ministers of all States to ensure timely action for implementation of the obligation under section 63 of the Act. In this regard, a copy of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 along with a copy of the Part III of the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011, as passed by Lok Sabha on 27.12.2011, which contained provisions relating to State Lokayuktas was forwarded for consideration of the same as a model Bill.

***********
Lok Sabha Question No. 3849 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-12
Subject: Minority Commission
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: ELUMALAI VELLAIGOUNDER

## 3849.         SHRI ELUMALAI V:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the details of States and Union Territories where Minority Commissions have been set up;
- (b)  the details of States and Union Territories where these Commissions have not been set up so far;
- (c)  the time by which such Commissions would be set up in the remaining States and UTs;
- (d) whether the Government of those States where Hindus are in minority have also constituted the Minority Commission; and
- (e)  if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)

- (a) As  per  information  furnished  by  the  National  Commission  for  Minorities  (NCM),  the States  of  Andhra  Pradesh,  Telengana,  Assam,  Bihar,  Chhattisgarh,  NCT  of  Delhi, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya  Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand and West Bengal have set up State Minority Commission.
- (b) The States of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya,    Mizoram,  Nagaland,  Orissa,  Sikkim  and  UTs  of  Andaman  &  Nicobar Islands,  Chandigarh,  Daman  &  Diu,  Dadra  & Nagar  Haveli, Lakshadweep  and Puducherry have not  yet set up a Minority Commission in their respective States/UTs. The NCM Act does not extend to state of Jammu&Kashmir.  Tripura has passed a Bill in this regard on 26.11.2008 which awaits assent of the President.
- (c) No time frame can be  given, as it is for the concerned States/UTs to set  up  Minority Commissions in their respective States/UTs.
- (d)&(e)    In so far as the Central Government is concerned, Hindus have not been declared  as a minority  community  under  Section  2(c)  of  National  Commission  for  Minorities  (NCM) Act, 1992.  Setting up of  Minority Commissions by the State  Governments is a State subject.

*******

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3849 TO BE ANSWERED ON  12-08-2015

## Minority Commission
Lok Sabha Question No. 3848 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-12
Subject: Dual Degree Course
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAMESH POKHRIYAL NISHANK

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.** † **3848**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2015**

**Dual Degree Course**

† **3848.	DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL “NISHANK”:**

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

(a) whether the private universities have to take permission from the Government for running common curriculum or dual degree course in collaboration with the foreign universities;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the number of universities running such degree courses;

(c) whether the universities can provide education through correspondence mode anywhere;

(d) if so, the steps taken by the Government for improvement in distance education system; and

(e) whether the Government proposes to set up the virtual university in future and if so, the details thereof?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**( SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI )**

1. to (b): No, Madam. However, the University Grants Commission (UGC) (Promotion and Maintenance of Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign Education Institutions) Regulations, 2012 provide for collaboration between (i) all Foreign Education Institutions (FEI) operating in India; and (ii) Indian Educational Institutions (IEI). Under these regulations, the collaborating institutions i.e. FEI and IEI, can enter into an MoU with each other after getting approval from UGC. At present there is no provision for awarding dual degrees under these regulations.

(c) & (d): The Universities are not allowed to offer education through correspondence mode everywhere, and must abide by the University Grants Commission (UGC) policy on territorial jurisdiction notified on 27 th June, 2013. The provisions under the UGC policy are as under:

(i) A Central or State Government Universities can conduct courses through its own departments, it constituents colleges and/or through its affiliated colleges.

(ii) A University established or incorporated by or under a State At shall operate only within the territorial jurisdiction allotted to it under its Act and in no case beyond the territorial jurisdiction of State.

(iii) The  Private Universities and Deemed to be Universities cannot affiliate any college or institution for conducting courses leading to award or its diplomas, degrees or other qualifications.

(iv) No University, whether Central, State, Private or Deemed, can offer its programmes through franchise arrangement with Private Coaching Institutions even for the purpose of conducting courses through distance mode.

(e) No, Madam.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 3846 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-12
Subject: Indian Mission in Rome
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: R. VANAROJA

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3846**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2015**

**INDIAN MISSION IN ROME**

**3846.		SHRIMATI VANROJA R. :**

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)	whether it is true that India’s Mission in Rome had failed to 	purchase a building for its chancery despite requisite 	approvals for the same and had resulted in loss of crores of 	rupees due to continued hiring of property;

(b)	if so, the details thereof;

(c)	whether the mission in Rome has taken any further steps to 	buy another property for its chancery; and

(d)	if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

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

(a) & (b)	Purchase of the Chancery property could not materialize as there were reasonable doubts about the structural stability of the building, which would have required extensive renovation. Additionally, the seller was not agreeable to modify his Sale-Purchase Agreement which was found to be inconsistent with the established norms of the Government of India. Given these reasons, the Mission, displaying diligence, refrained from buying the identified property, despite approvals, and continued to function from the same hired property. Therefore, there has been no additional budgetary outgo on this account, with no loss to the Government exchequer.

(c) & (d)	The Mission is actively trying to locate a suitable property for its Chancery, to be purchased after following stipulated procedures.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3845 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-12
Subject: Vocational Training in GovernmentAided and Private Schools
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: T.G. VENKATESH BABU

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3845**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2015**

**Vocational Training in Government-Aided and Private Schools**

3845. SHRI VENKATESH BABU T.G.:

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

(a)      	whether the Government has any proposal to introduce vocational training in  	Government-aided and registered private schools in some States in the 	country;

(b)	 if so, the details thereof along with the amount allocated for the same;

(c) 	whether it is proposed to extend the scheme throughout the country in the 	near future;

(d) 	if so, the details thereof;

(e) 	whether there is any proposal to set up industry advisory boards at the State 	level to improve the level of vocational studies in schools; and

(f) 	if so, the details thereof?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT**

**(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)**

(a) to (d): Yes Madam. Under the component of Vocationalisation of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education of Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan there is a provision for performance linked incentive to the tune of Rs. 6500/- per child to government aided and recognized, unaided private schools on successful completion of two levels of the course by the students in accordance with the norms of the scheme and laid down standards. The scheme is applicable throughout the country.

(e) : Under the component of Vocationalisation of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education of Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan scheme, there is no provision to set up industry advisory boards at the State level.

(f)   : Does not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3844 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-12
Subject: Training for Atomic Officials
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: RAMA DEVI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3844

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2015

## TRAINING FOR ATOMIC OFFICIALS

## 3844.   SHRIMATI  RAMA  DEVI:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether training is imparted to officials working in nuclear power plant to deal with natural calamities such as earthquake/tsunami;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  the  training  programmes  organised  during  the  last  three years till date; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  PERSONNEL,  PUBLIC  GRIEVANCES  & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR.JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a) Yes, Sir
- (b) A  structured  training  programme  for  training  the  plant  personnel  on  various plant  procedures  including  Emergency  Operating  Procedures  (EOP)  for handling off-normal conditions is in place. The emergency procedures include contingencies  arising  out  of  floods,  tsunamis,  cyclonic  storms,  earthquakes and  fire.  Tsunamis  and  cyclonic  storms  are  relevant  to  coastal  sites  and training covers these aspects for the personnel at coastal sites. The relevant training  programmes  on  EOPs  for  off-normal  conditions  are  being  regularly conducted in batches for the plant personnel at all the nuclear power plants. Regular  retraining on  these topics is also imparted  to the operations personnel, as a part of the licensing process.  During the last three years and the  current  year  so  far,  692  training  programmes  have  been  conducted  at nuclear power stations in the country.
- (c) Does not arise

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3842 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-12
Subject: Communications to Peoples&#8217; Representatives
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: HEMANT TUKARAM GODSE

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL AND TRAINING

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3842**

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2015)

**COMMUNICATIONS TO PEOPLES’ REPRESENTATIVES**

3842. SHRI GODSE HEMANT TUKARAM:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

(a) 	whether the Union Government has issued any directives to the Chief Secretaries of States/UTs to attend communications from MPs/MLAs/other public representatives on priority basis and acknowledge within a fixed time; and

(b)	 if so, the reaction of the Chief Secretaries in this regard?

**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) & (b):   Guidelines were issued on 01.12.2011 to all Ministries / Departments and Chief Secretaries of all States / UTs regarding official dealings between the administration and Member of Parliament and State Legislatures, stating that each communication received from the Member of Parliament, a member of public, a recognized association or a public body has to be acknowledged within 15 days, followed by a reply within the next 15 days of the acknowledgement sent. These guidelines were reiterated vide Secretary(P)’s D.O. dated 09.10.2012 and vide Office Memorandum dated 19.11.2014. These instructions have further been circulated by the State Governments to all their officers.

***********