1418 NIT Srinagar students have returned to institute
As many as 1,418 of the 1,441 NIT Srinagar students, who chose not to sit for examination in April, had returned to the institute by the beginning of this week, the government said on Thursday.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, HRD Minister Smriti Irani said for students who exercised the option of not taking Minor-I examination in April, the test has been rescheduled from May 5 to May 8.
‘Govt. has asked China to cease its activities in PoK’
The government on Thursday said it has asked China to cease its activities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and has raised its concern at the “highest level”.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs Gen. V.K. Singh said China is assisting Pakistan in the development of the so-called “China Pakistan Economic Corridor” (CPEC).
“Some of the proposed projects under CEPC are in PoK,” he said, adding that Pakistan has been in illegal occupation of parts of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir since 1947.
“Government has conveyed to the Chinese side, including at the highest level, its concerns about their activities in PoK and asked them to cease their activities,” Mr. Singh said.
Divorce Act to be amended for Christians to halve separation period
The government on Thursday said a proposal is ready to amend the Divorce Act to halve the separation period for Christian couples seeking to file for divorce by mutual consent.
In a written reply in Lok Sabha, Law Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda said the government plans to amend Section 10 A of the 1869 law to reduce the minimum mandatory period of separation from two years to one year to bring uniformity with other personal laws.
Govt. to deliberate on criminalising marital rape
The Home Ministry has asked the Law Commission to deliberate on the issue of criminalising marital rape, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.
“The Ministry of Home has requested the Law Commission to deliberate upon the subject of marital rape during the course of its comprehensive review of Criminal Justice System,” Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said in a written reply.
Monsoon forecasting has become more reliable: Govt.
Monsoon forecasting has become more “reliable” with average error of the forecast and actual rainfall standing at 5.92 per cent for the Long Period Average (LPA) from 2003-2015 as compared to 7.94 per cent from 1990 to 2003, the government said on Thursday.
In a written response to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Y.C. Chowdary, Minister of State for Earth Sciences, said this indicates that monsoon forecast has become more “reliable”.
Concession to OBC candidates: JNU puts matter of before Academic Council
The Jawaharlal Nehru University has decided to place before its Academic Council the matter relating to giving relaxation in qualifying marks in the entrance test to OBC candidates, the government said on Thursday.
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, HRD Minister Smriti Irani said JNU had earlier been allowing 10 per cent relaxation in qualifying marks in the entrance test or the second stage to OBC (non-creamy layer) candidates.
India falls short in reducing malnutrition among infants: Maneka
India has fallen short of the target of reducing malnutrition among infants as the country was unable to bring the rate of decline of underweight children below the age of three to 26 per cent in 2015, the Rajya Sabha was told on Thursday.
“As per the Millennium Development Goals India Country Report 2015, the proportion of underweight children below three years was estimated at 52 per cent in 1990. In order to meet the MDG target, the proportion of under-weight child should have come down to 26 per cent by 2015,” Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said in a written reply.
23.6 per cent sanctioned posts in KVs vacant: Irani
The government on Thursday said 10,644 teaching positions are vacant in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs), which constitutes 23.6 per cent of the total sanctioned posts.
In a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, HRD Minister Smriti Irani said that “as on March 1, 2016, 10,644 of the total 45,057 sanctioned posts in KV schools are vacant”.
“252 posts of principal and 133 posts of vice-principal were among the vacancies,” she said.
In a reply to another question, the Minister said government has set up an expert committee to develop prototype aptitude test at national level for class IX. The committee is yet to submit its report, she added.
Govt. to bring legislation to tackle trafficking
The government has proposed to bring a comprehensive legislation to tackle trafficking, slavery, sexual exploitation and forced labour of women and children, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.
“An inter-Ministerial committee under the chairmanship of Secretary, Women and Child Development has been constituted on 16 October, 2015, for preparing a comprehensive legislation on tackling various aspects of trafficking,” Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said in a written reply.
NE States have dropout level far above national average
Nagaland has the highest dropout rate at primary level of 19.4 per cent in the country while most other north-eastern States have a dropout rate far above the national average.
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, HRD Minister Smriti Irani said, “Overall the annual average dropout rate at primary level has reduced from 5.6 per cent during 2012-13 to 4.3 per cent during 2014-15.”
In a written reply to a separate question, Ms. Irani said lack of toilet facilities in schools for girl child has been one of the reasons for girls to dropout from schools.
Govt. initiates action to set up panel to revise Delhi Metro fares
The government has initiated “necessary action” to set up a committee to revise the Delhi Metro rail fares, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.
“Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (DMRC) has requested to constitute 4th Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) for recommending fares for Delhi Metro network. Government has initiated necessary action for this,” Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu said in a written reply.
No confirmed case of whistleblowers’ harassment in past three years: Govt.
The Central Vigilance Commission has not come across during the last three years any confirmed incident of victimisation, harassment or life threat to whistleblowers exposing corruption in government departments, Union minister Jitendra Singh said on Thursday.
The CVC, from time to time, receives complaints or representations alleging harassment and life threat for making disclosure under Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informers (PIDPI) resolutions, also known as whistleblower resolution, regarding irregularities in various ministries.
“However, the CVC as designated agency under PIDPI resolution, 2004 has not come across any confirmed incident of victimisation, harassment or life threat to the complainant during the last three years,” Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
The Whistleblowers Protection (Amendment) Bill 2015 aimed at ensuring safety of those exposing corruption is pending in Parliament.
No proposal to regulate fee charged by lawyers: Govt.
There is no proposal pending before the government or the Bar Council of India to regulate the fee charged by advocates, the Lok Sabha was informed on Thursday.
Law Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda said in a written reply that as per the Bar Council of India, the standard of professional conduct and etiquettes for lawyers, including charging of fee, is prescribed in the council’s rules.
‘No proposal with DGCA for allowing commercial use of drones’
There is no proposal at present with aviation regulator DGCA for allowing commercial use of drones in the country, government said on Thursday.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has recently put out draft guidelines for obtaining Unique Identification Number (UIN) for operations of civil drones and unmanned aircraft system, after consultations with various stakeholders including the security agencies.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma informed the Lok Sabha that civil use of drones by non-government agencies, organisations or individuals is restricted.
This is being done to “regulate unwarranted use of drones and for the safety of manned aircraft/ air space and personnel until regulations for drones are in place,” he said in a written reply.
182 PhDs awarded by IITs in humanities, social sciences
IITs awarded 182 PhDs for research in subjects like literature, art, culture, history, economics, psychology, sociology, which are taught under humanities and social sciences, in the last three years, the government on Thursday said.
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, HRD Minister Smriti Irani said most IITs teach literature, culture, art, history, economics, psychology, sociology etc under humanities and social sciences.
Panel of yoga education recommended seven courses: Irani
A government appointed committee on yoga education has recommended seven programmes for implementation in universities, the government on Thursday said.
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, HRD Minister Smriti Irani said the recommendations of the panel are being examined.
Food fortification: Task force formed to frame regulations
The government has constituted a task force to frame regulations on food fortification to combat malnutrition, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.
“A consultation with stakeholders was held to evolve a comprehensive policy including draft regulations on micro-nutrient fortification. A taskforce is constituted for recommending actions/regulations on food fortifications,” Union Minister Maneka Gandhi said in a written reply.
MIAL’s proposal to reduce transit time for passengers rejected: Govt.
The Civil Aviation Ministry has rejected Mumbai airport operator MIAL’s proposal to reduce the exempted hours for transit passengers at the airports so that user charges can be levied and collected from them.
In a written reply in Lok Sabha on Thursday, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma said the proposal was rejected after examining it in consultation with stakeholders, including Airports Authority of India, Federation of Indian Airlines and other airport operators.
Govt. to build 1,000 km of expressways for Rs. 16,680 crore
To ensure quicker connectivity, the government plans to build 1,000 km of expressways at an investment of Rs. 16,680 crore under its NHDP programme, which include the Vadodara-Mumbai project.
“The central government has approved a plan for constructing 1,000 km of expressways under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) phase VI at a cost of Rs. 16,680 crore on design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis,” Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Pon Radhakrishnan told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.
29 port-based industrial projects to boost exports by $110 billion
Twenty nine port-based coastal industrial centres, planned under coastal economic zones, are expected to boost exports by $110 billion besides creating 1 crore new jobs, the government said on Thursday.
The clusters are planned in the vicinity of India’s top 12 major ports.
“Twenty nine port based/coastal industrial clusters have been proposed across 14 coastal economic zones ... The consultants have projected that these industrial cluster projects will enable creation of approximately 1 crore new jobs, including 40 lakh direct jobs and boost exports by $110 billion in the next 10 years,” Minister of State for Shipping Pon. Radhakrishnan told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.
