opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 15 (STARRED), answered on 2016-04-25
Subject: APEC Membership
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVNTHI)

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 15 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 th  APRIL, 2016

## APEC MEMBERSHIP

## *15.   SHRI MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVANTHI):

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

- (a) the membership status of India in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum at present;
- (b) whether  last  year's  Indo-US  joint  declaration  has  merely  noted  India's  interest  in APEC and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the United States has invited India to participate in APEC as an observer;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken or being taken by the Government to seek membership of APEC; and
- (e) the  justification  of  the  Government  of  India  for  not  joining  the  APEC  as  a  full member despite having an 'Act East Policy' as a foreign relations priority?

## ANSWER

वािणÏ य एवं उɮयोग राÏ य मंत्री ) Įीमती िनमर्ला सीतारमण ( ( èवतंत्र प्रभार )

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

a) to  e):   A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.  15  FOR ANSWER ON 25 TH  APRIL, 2016 REGARDING  'APEC MEMBERSHIP '

- (a) India had applied for membership of APEC in 1991 on the basis of its geographic location, potential  size  of  the  economy  and  degree  of  trade  interaction  with  the  Asia-Pacific. However, at the 5 th APEC Leaders' meeting in Vancouver in 1997, a decision was taken to place a 10 year moratorium on expanding membership which continues informally till date.
- (b) & (c) The US-India Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region issued on 25 January 2015 states that 'as part of these efforts, the United States welcomes India's  interest  in  joining  the  Asia  Pacific  Economic  Cooperation  forum,  as  the  Indian economy is a dynamic part of the Asian economy.'
- (d) & (e) India is engaging with APEC member countries to develop a consensus on lifting the  informal  moratorium  on  accepting  new  members  and  to    engage  for  India's candidature for membership of APEC.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 14 (STARRED), answered on 2016-04-25
Subject: Expansion of Steel Plants
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: RITI PATHAK, ANIRUDHAN SAMPATH

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*14 FOR ANSWER ON 25/04/2016

## EXPANSION OF STEEL PLANTS

*14. SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK: DR. A. SAMPATH:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

(a) the  details  of  the  various  public  sector  steel  plants  under  implementation  at present, plant-wise;

(b) whether the Government as facilitator has formulated any specific scheme for the expansion of various public sector steel plants in the country;

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

- (d) whether the Government has fixed any time schedule in this regard; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STEEL AND MINES (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR) (a)to(e):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the  Lok Sabha.

********

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (A)  TO  (E)  OF  THE  LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.*14  FOR  ANSWER  ON  25/04/2016  TABLED BY SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK AND DR. A. SAMPATH, MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT REGARDING EXPANSION OF STEEL PLANTS.

- (a) The plant-wise details of the projects under implementation in the public sector at present are as follows:-

| Name of the Project                                          | Crude Steel Capacity                            |
|--------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| NMDC Integrated Steel Plant at Nagarnar, Chhattisgarh (NMDC) | 3.0 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) (New Plant) |
| Expansion of Bhilai Steel Plant, Bhilai, Chhattisgarh (SAIL) | Expansion from 3.93 MTPA to 7.0 MTPA            |
| Modernisation & Upgradation of Vizag Steel Plant (RINL)      | Expansion from 6.3 MTPA to 7.3 MTPA             |

(b)to(e): Steel, being a deregulated sector, the decisions for expansion of steel plants are taken by the individual public sector  companies based on commercial considerations and market dynamics. The role of the Government as facilitator is to help  in  resolving  the  issues  with  the  State  Governments  and  other  Ministries/ Departments to expedite the implementation.

- ********
Lok Sabha Question No. 10 (STARRED), answered on 2016-04-25
Subject: New MSME Policy
Ministry: MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: VINOD KUMAR BOIANAPALLI, RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *10 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.04.2016

## NEW MSME POLICY

## *10. SHRI    B. VINOD KUMAR: SHRIMATI   RAKSHATAI KHADSE:

Will the Minister of MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  constituted  a  high  powered  committee  to  draft  a comprehensive new policy for the Micro, Small  and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the said Committee has submitted its report to the Government;
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the main recommendations of the committee and the present status of their implementation;
- (d) whether the Government has considered the integration of critical aspects of MSMEs requirements like raw material, capital, manufacturing and marketing including the revision of investment limits for the MSMEs in the new policy; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI KALRAJ MISHRA)

(a)to(e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *10  FOR ANSWER ON 25.04.2016

(a): Yes, Madam. The Government of India has established a One Man Committee with  Shri  Prabhat  Kumar,    former  Cabinet  Secretary,    Government  of  India  to  make appropriate recommendations for a national policy on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

(b) to (e): The Committee has not submitted its recommendations to the Government.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3 (STARRED), answered on 2016-04-25
Subject: MSME Sector
Ministry: MICRO,SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: PRABHAS KUMAR SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No.*3

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.04.2016

## MSME SECTOR

## *3. DR. PRABHAS KUMAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  persons  currently  employed  in  the  Micro,  Small  and  Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) both in the registered and unregistered entities separately;
- (b) whether the Government has undertaken any measures to increase the registration of MSMEs in the country and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the  measures  taken  /  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  quality  and  make MSMEs products compete with imported products particularly those from China ; and
- (d) whether the Government has undertaken/plans to undertake measures to expand the potential of MSMEs in the untapped sectors, if so, the details and the results thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SHRI KALRAJ MISHRA)

(a) to (d):          A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*3 FOR ANSWER ON 25.4.2016

(a): The  Government  monitors  the  employment  in  the  Micro,  Small  and  Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector in the country by periodically conducting All India Census of the sector.  The last (Fourth) Census data was collected with reference to base year 2006-07.  The results were  published  in 2011-12. As  this data did not contain information on wholesale/retail  trade, legal, educational and social services, hotel & restaurants, transports and storage & warehousing (except cold storage),  this has been extracted from Economic Census 2005.  The combined data puts the total employment in MSMEs at 805.24 lakh. The employment in Registered Sector is 93.09 lakh and Unregistered Sector is 712.15 lakh.

(b): Vide Notification No. 2576 dated 18 September, 2015, the Ministry has simplified the procedure  for  registration  of  MSMEs.    Now  the  registration  is  web-based  online  filing  of single page information based on self certification.

(c) & (d): The Government is making MSMEs competitive through various programmes. The flagship programme among these is National Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme.  The Government also promotes Micro & Small Enterprises by reserving a part of its own procurement through such enterprises. The Government has also launched Standup India, Startup India, Make in India and Skill India programmes which promote MSMEs and manufacturing in India.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 230 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-25
Subject: Funds to Central Universities
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: C.R. CHAUDHARY

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 230 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.4.2016

## Funds to Central Universities

## 230. SHRI  C.R. CHAUDHARY:

Will the Minister of Human Resource Development be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of funds allocated to various Central Universities of the countries and the utilisations of the  funds and  un-utilised  funds lying with various central universities during the year 2012-13 i.e. beginning of the Twelfth plan period; and
- (b) the funds collected from own-source of revenues in various Central Universities from admission fees and sponsored research funding in various Central Universities during the year 2012-13?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a): The University Grants Commission has informed that during the year 2012-13, an amount of Rs. 2014.19 crores was allocated/released to 39 Central Universities(CUs) and against this  allocated amount, CUs reported the expenditure of  Rs.  1445.90  crores  during  2012-13.  The  unutilised  funds  of  an  amount  of  Rs. 568.29  crores  at  the  end  of  2012-13  have  been  utilised  in  the  subsequent  years against the total XII Plan allocation of the University.
- (b):  Such data is not maintained centrally.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 225 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-25
Subject: Setting up of Industries
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: SAKUNTALA LAGURI, LAXMAN GILUWA, MAULANA BADRUDDIN AJMAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL POLICY & PROMOTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 225. TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE 25 TH    APRIL, 2016.

## SETTING UP OF INDUSTRIES

225.   SHRIMATI SAKUNTALA LAGURI: SHRI LAXMAN GILUWA: SHRI BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state:

## वाणिज् यवव द्यग म त्री

- (a) the  details  of  industries  set  up  in  various  States  of  the  country  especially, North Eastern States including, Assam during the last three years along with the  investments  made  therein,  sector-wise  and  the  employment  generated therefrom;
- (b) whether  the  investment  has  been  made  under  Public  Private  Partnership (PPP) mode in these States and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  effort  to  set  up  industries  in  such areas where there is a plenty of raw material available which is required for setting up of such industry; and
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons  therefor  along  with  the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् यवव द्यग ााज् यम त्रीस् वतं त्र्रभााा(स्ीमतंीिरममलााीीतंाामि( THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRIMATI NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a): Setting up of industries is a State Subject hence details in this regard are not maintained by Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP). In order  to  promote  industries,  DIPP  is  implementing  policy/schemes  viz. North  East  Industrial  &  Investment  Promotion  Policy,  2007,  Freight Subsidy  scheme,  2013,  Modified  Industrial  Infrastructure  Upgradation Scheme,  2013,  Special  Package  Schemes  for  the  States  of  Jammu  & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand and Indian Leather Development Programme.
- (b) to (d): In view of above, details are not available with DIPP.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 223 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-25
Subject: Steel Consumption
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: T.G. VENKATESH BABU

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.223 FOR ANSWER ON 25/04/2016

## STEEL CONSUMPTION

223. SHRI VENKATESH BABU T.G.:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

- (a) the total quantity of steel produced and imported for domestic consumption in the country during each of the last three years;

(b) whether the Government is aware of the import, sale and storage of cheaper quality of steel not in conformity with Quality Control Order (QCO), if so, the details thereof;

- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps to cease the poor quality steel imports and initiated any action against those indulging in such malpractices; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF (SHRI VISHNU DEO SAI) STEEL AND MINES

- (a) Total production & import of steel during the last 3 years is as follows:-

| Year     | Total Finished Steel (million tones)   | Total Finished Steel (million tones)   |
|----------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
|          | Production of Sale                     | Import                                 |
| 2013-14  | 87.67                                  | 5.45                                   |
| 2014-15  | 92.16                                  | 9.32                                   |
| 2015-16* | 90.39                                  | 11.71                                  |

Source: JPC: * prov.

(b) After  the  issue  of  the  quality  control  orders,  import  of  seconds  &  defective products  by  some  unscrupulous  importers  were  reported  in  respect  of  some categories  of  steel  products.    However,  Government  does  not  maintain  data  on import, sale and storage of such sub-standard steel products standards-wise.

(c)&(d):  Government  has  notified  the  following  Steel  and  Steel  Products  (Quality Control) Orders inter-alia to ensure availability of quality steel to end-users.

- (i) Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2012.
- (ii) Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Second Order, 2012.
- (iii) Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2015.

Further,  Government  has  issued  orders  to  allow  import  of  steel  products strictly as per the aforesaid Steel Quality Control Order inter-alia prohibiting import of sub-standard steel products not conforming to the relevant Indian Standards.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 222 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-25
Subject: Music Teachers
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: MANOJ KUMAR TIWARI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 222 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.04.2016

## MUSIC TEACHERS

## † 222. SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:

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

(a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  impart  music  related education in Kendriya Vidyalayas and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the salary of music teachers is proposed to be at par with teachers of other disciplines and if so, the details thereof; and

- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a):    Music  education  is  imparted  through  music  teachers  in  all Kendriya Vidyalayas.

(b)  &  (c):  The  salary  of  Primary  Teacher  (Music)  in  the  Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan is at par with the post of Primary Teacher (PRT) as both the cadres have been assigned the duties & responsibilities to impart education to the students in Primary Sections.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 221 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-25
Subject: Special Tourist Security Force
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†221 ANSWERED ON 25.04.2016

## SPECIAL TOURIST SECURITY FORCE

## †221. SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is adopting any special measures for the  safety  of  Historical  sites  and  idols  in  temples  at  tourist places;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to use technical applications  and  constitute  a  special  tourist  place  security force for the protection of such tourist places;
- (d)
- (e)
- if so, the details thereof; and
- the action taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) to (e): The primary responsibility, including the safety of Historical  sites  and  idols,  is  in  the  domain  of  the  respective State/UT Government.  However, the Government of India provides Central Financial Assistance to the States and UTs for the purpose. Further,  a  committee  of  Ministry  of  Culture  has  recommended  a Special Force along with the help of tools and electronic gadgets for protection of Monuments and Art Installations as part of a comprehensive security policy.

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 218 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-25
Subject: Tobacco Board
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: SHOBHA KARANDLAJE, PRATHAP SIMHA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.218 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 th  APRIL, 2016

## TOBACCO BOARD

## 218.  KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE: SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

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

- (a) whether the Tobacco Board is equipped to balance the stringent antitobacco regulations at home and abroad and the concerns of growers for remunerative prices;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  response  of  the  tobacco  trade  at  the  latest auctions;
- (c) whether the Government has taken steps to ensure that tobacco farmers would not be pushed into distress like last year which had forced some farmers to commit suicide, and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether  the  Tobacco  board  is  implementing  various  extension  and  developmental schemes for improvement of productivity and quality of Indian FCV Tobacco to make it more competitive in the international market and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## वािणÏ  य एवं उɮयोग राÏ य मंत्री ) Įीमती िनमर्ला सीतारमण ( ( èवतंत्र प्रभार ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

## (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a) to (b) The Tobacco Board, set up under an Act of Parliament [TOBACCO BOARD ACT, 1975]  is regulating the production and curing of only  Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco based on the demand for tobacco in India and abroad, marketability of different types of FCV tobacco and other factors to ensure fair and remunerative prices to growers.  Response of the traders in recently concluded auction the state of Karnataka  has been encouraging. The average price realized was higher by 26% over the last year.  In the current ongoing auction in the state of Andhra Pradesh, as on 18.04.2016, the  average price are given to growers has been higher by 17% over the last year for the corresponding volume.
- (c)  Does not arise.
- (d)  Tobacco  Board  is  implementing  various  extension  and  developmental  schemes  for  improvement  of productivity  and  quality  of  Indian  FCV  Tobacco  to  make  it  more  competitive  in  the  international market. Subsidy is extended to the registered FCV tobacco growers by the Tobacco Board under its various  schemes/components  like  Farm  Mechanization,  Improvement  of  Yield  and  quality  of Tobacco, Improvement of curing practices, Post Harvest Product Management and Elimination of Non Tobacco Related Material.
- ******
Lok Sabha Question No. 217 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-25
Subject: Social Security Agreements
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: SUDHEER GUPTA, SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 217 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.04.2016

SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENTS

## 217. SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

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

- (a)the name of the countries with which the Government has signed a social security agreement so far;
- (b)whether the Government has entered into an agreement on social security with Australia recently and if so, the details thereof and the likely benefits of the agreement to the country;
- (c)the  agency  identified  to  implement  the  provisions  of  the  said
- agreement in the country;
- (d)whether the Government proposes to sign more such types of social
- security agreement with other countries; and
- (e)if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a): As  on  date,  India  has  signed  Social  Security  Agreements (SSAs)  with  18  countries  namely  Belgium,  Germany,  Switzerland, Denmark, Luxembourg, France, South Korea, the Netherlands, Hungary,  Finland,  Sweden,  Czech  Republic,  Norway,  Canada,  japan, Austria, Portugal and Australia.

- (b): The Government  of  India  entered  into  Social  Security Agreement  with  Australia  on  26 th   November,  2014  which  came  into operation from 1 st  January, 2016. Bilateral social security agreements protect  the  interest  of  Indian  professionals,  skilled  workers  working abroad by providing the following benefits:
- i)
- Avoiding making double social security contributions
- ii)
- Exportability of benefits
- iii) Aggregating the contribution period (in two countries) to prevent loss of benefits (Totalization)
- (c): The Employees Provident Fund Organisation, an autonomous body under Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India is the competent authority for implementing the Social Security Agreements in the country.
- (d) & (e): Yes, Madam.    India  is negotiating Social Security Agreements with an additional 6 countries namely Spain, Russia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, USA and Cyprus.

******