No official estimate of black money: Govt.
There is no official estimation of amount of black money that has been sent to foreign countries by Indians, government said on Tuesday.
“Determination of black money sent to foreign countries by Indian persons is subject matter of investigation and other follow-up actions by relevant law enforcement agencies, including Income Tax Department, Enforcement Directorate, CBI etc, which is on-going.
“However, details regarding the amount of money involved in such cases are not maintained centrally,” Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
Asked whether Indian share in black money stashed in tax havens across the world is at $152 billion to $181 billion, as per the recent estimate by economists from Bank of Italy, he said there seems to be no empirical evidence to suggest that the figures arrived at on the basis of certain assumptions and presumptions, necessarily represent Indian’s share in black money stashed in tax havens.
These economists have reportedly analysed data from IMF and the Bank of International Settlement (BIS) and applied certain assumptions to arrive at the estimation, he added.
The Minister pointed out that by applying another set of assumptions, the same economists have reportedly estimated Indian share in black assets at $4 billion to $5 billion.
“In the context of these estimation, they have reportedly put the caveat that these estimations have to be considered with great care and in no way can represent firm data,” Mr. Sinha said.
’Farmers earn lesser than industrial, services sector workers’
Farmers are earning less than workers in industrial and services sectors because of lower farm output, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.
“Income from the farm sector is less as compared to income from industrial and services sector,” Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh told the Lok Sabha.
“Less income is due to low productivity in the agriculture sector, on account of preponderance of small and marginal holdings coupled with uncertainty of weather, lack of market access and lack of access to irrigation,” he added.
The Minister said that although the share of agriculture sector in total Gross Value Added in 2015-16 is only 15.3 per cent at 2011-12 prices, the share of agriculture workers in the total workers is 54.6 per cent as per Census 2011.
However, he said the industry and services sectors together account for 84.7 per cent of the Gross value Added and only 45.40 per cent of the total workers are engaged in these two sectors.
“As per the Census data, the total number of agricultural workers in the country increased from 234.1 million in 2001 to 263 million in 2011. Therefore, it cannot be categorically stated that farmers are leaving the profession of agriculture,” Mr. Singh said.
Army facing shortage of over 8,600 officers
The Army is facing a shortage of 8,671 officers, excluding the medical and dental corps and the military nursing service, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
In a written reply, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said as against the authorised strength of 49,833 officers, the held strength is 41,162.
He said some of the major reasons for shortage of officers include increase in authorised strength due to accretions in force level from time to time, stringent selection criteria coupled with perceived high degree of risk.
The shortage of officers in the Indian Army (approximately 17 per cent) is expected to get reduced gradually depending on a number of variable factors like future accretions, number of exits, actual intake among others, Mr. Parrikar said.
Crime against women: Govt. plans probe units in 714 police districts
The Centre has proposed setting up of separate units to probe crime against women in 714 police districts in the country.
Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said in Lok Sabha on Tuesday that the initiative will strengthen the investigative apparatus especially for the heinous crimes against women like rape, dowry death, acid attack and human trafficking.
The cost will be shared between the States and the Centre on 50:50 basis.
The objective of setting up such units is to augment the investigative machinery of the states relating to the heinous crime against women, especially rape, dowry death, acid attack, human trafficking and domestic violence cases involving brutalisation of women.
It will instill confidence and encourage women to come forward and lodge their complaint and to improve the gender ratio in the state police forces for effective implementation of the legislations relating to women.
150 such units have already been established, Mr. Chaudhary said in a written reply.
These units will also provide the additional functionalities of proactive policing, intelligence gathering, tackling organised crime, monitoring proper implementation of the legislative provisions, help in awareness generation and social participation in prevention of crime against women.
J&K requested for identifying land in Valley for Pandits
The Jammu and Kashmir government has been requested for identifying suitable land in the Kashmir Valley where Kashmiri migrants could be rehabilitated, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
Further action would be taken once the land is identified, Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said in a written reply.
Responding to anoither query, the Minister said that Watan Ko Jano(know the country) , an initiative for the orphans, children from militancy-hit families and weaker sections of the society in Jammu and Kashmir to show different parts of the country, had been launched by the government.
Under the programme, groups of educated youth in the age group of 15-24 visit various parts of the country and are exposed to the diverse social and cultural heritage, Mr. Chaudhary said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
The groups during their trip interact both at inter-State and intra-State level and participate in cultural activities at different places, he said.
Under the scheme, 769 children have participated so far.
Govt. for reducing traditional ways of cremation
The government is promoting environment-friendly alternatives for cremantion as burning of corpses in traditional ways causes air and other pollution, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
“To reduce air pollution at cremation grounds due to burning of corpses, government and other agencies concerned are promoting environment-friendly alternatives for cremation like electric cremation.
“Government is also promiting use of CNG/PNG for cremation to reduce pollution and creating awareness to change the mindset of people for adopting environment-friendly practices,” Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in a written reply.
National Green Tribunal has also directed various agencies including Delhi government, local bodies, municipal corporations and Delhi Cantonment Board to initiate programmes for providing alternative modes of cremation, he said.
Centre mulls setting up standards for alcoholic beverages
The Centre is planning to fix quality standards for alcoholic beverages, including beer and whisky, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
“The draft on the standards for alcoholic beverages was approved by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India in its meeting held on September 9 last year and has been notified to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Technical Barriers to trade and WTO Sanitary and Photo Sanitation members countries,” Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda in a written reply said.
“This will be finalised after examination of the comments and suggestions received from the stakeholders,” Nadda said.
Over 24,000 animal cruelty cases reported in last three years
Over 24,000 cases of cruelty to animals have been reported in the past three years, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar informed the Parliament on Tuesday.
As many as “7853, 14235 and 2265 cases” were registered under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, during 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 respectively, he said.
“The enforcement of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960 and Rules made thereunder (Animal Protection Laws) is the responsibility of the state government/UTs concerned which are empowered to take action in cases of cruelty inflicted on animals,” Mr. Javadekar said in a written reply.
Group of Secretaries calls for fixing GM crop regulatory issues
A group of secretaries has recommended resolving regulatory issues of genetically modified (GM) crops, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.
Bt cotton is the only GM crop allowed for commercial cultivation in the country.
“A group of secretaries has recommended fast tracking of Biosafety Regulatory Level 1 (BRL1) trial and for resolving regulatory issues of GM crops,” Minister of State for Agriculture Mohanbhai Kalyanjibhai Kundariya said in a writen reply to the Lok Sabha.
Lalit Modi case: ‘Awaiting Chennai Police reply to respond to Interpol’
The government on Tuesday said it is awaiting an investigation status report from Chennai Police in order to respond to queries raised by the Interpol in connection with a money laundering case against former IPL chairman Lalit Modi being probed by Enforcement Directorate.
Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply that Singaporean authorities have also raised “certain queries” from India and have asked for a revised Letters Rogatory (judicial requests) in the case.
“Request for revised LR is under process,” he said.
He said in response to a request to Interpol to issue a Red Corner notice against Modi, “certain queries were raised by the Commission for the Control of Interpol Files“.
“Further, a letter to the predicate agency (Chennai Police) has been sent for obtaining investigation status of the scheduled offence. The reply from predicate agency is awaited for responding to the queries raised by the Commission for the Control of Interpol Files,” he said.
He said the ED had initiated a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against Modi based on a complaint of the Chennai Police here.
“The Directorate (ED) has conducted search and seizure operations at the office premises of certain companies.
Documents collected so far from various authorities are being examined.
“Summons are being issued to the officials of the companies mentioned in the FIR registered by the predicate agency,” he said.
Top 50 defaulters of PSBs had exposure of Rs. 1.21 lakh crore
The top 50 defaulters of public sector banks had an exposure of Rs. 1.21 lakh crore as on December 2015.
Giving this information in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha said the number of wilful defaulters of PSBs rose from 5,554 to 7,686 in three years to December 2015 while the amount involved more than doubled to Rs. 66,190 crore from Rs. 27,749 crore.
“The total exposure of top 50 defaulters of PSBs as on December 2015 was Rs 1,21,832 crore,” he said in a written reply in the Upper House on Tuesday.
In another reply, Sinha said there were 1,365 borrower accounts having funded outstanding loans of Rs 500 crore and above at the end of December 2015.
He further said government has taken specific measures to address issues in sectors such as infrastructure, steel and textiles, where incidence of non-performing assets is high.
To another question, Mr. Sinha said Union Bank has informed that its Chitbaragaon branch has sanctioned KCC loan to certain borrowers as per bank’s norm and completed required formalities.
India, US working on plan to share info on terror, intelligence
The government on Tuesday said it is working towards finalising an agreement to share intelligence and terrorist activity-related information with the U.S.
“Government of India and the USA have agreed to finalise an agreement to expand intelligence sharing and terrorist watch-list information, after several rounds of detailed discussions, between the two countries.
“The details of the agreement are being worked out,” Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
ISI snooping on security forces through smartphone malwares
Pakistan’s ISI is spying on Indian security forces using malwares through mobile gaming and music applications such as Top Gun, mpjunkie, vdjunky, talking frog, the government said on Tuesday.
Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary also said Pakistan’s spy agency was making efforts to trap ex-servicemen in the garb of providing job opportunities and financial aid for spying.
He said during the period 2013-16, seven ex-servicemen were arrested/detected for espionage activities for the ISI.
Gold Monetisation Scheme mobilises 2.8 tonnes so far
The government has so far collected 2.8 tonnes of gold under the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS), which has been in force for a little over six months, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.
“Gold Monetisation Scheme which was announced in the Union Budget 2015—16, was launched on November 5, 2015, and a total of 2.8 tonnes of gold have so far been deposited by 105 depositors under this scheme,” Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
“Temples and trusts have so far deposited a total of 1,512 kg of gold under the scheme.”
The scheme is intended to mobilise idle gold held by households and institutions of the country and facilitate its use for productive purposes, and in the long run, reduce the country’s reliance on the import of gold.
Higher mango output may keep prices reined in this year
Mango prices are unlikely to “soar” this year as production is expected to be 2.1 per cent higher at 18.91 lakh tonnes (LT) in the 2015—16 crop year ending June, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.
Production of Mango was 18.52 lakh tonnes in the previous year.
“In view of higher production in the current year, it is unlikely that the prices of mango will soar in the domestic markets,” Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
India Inc spent Rs. 42 crore under Swachh Bharat Kosh as CSR initiative
Companies spent over Rs. 42 crore towards ‘Swachh Bharat Kosh’ as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in 2014-15, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.
The funds were used for achieving the objective of improving cleanliness levels in rural and urban areas including schools.
As many as 460 companies spent a little over Rs. 6,337 crore for CSR activities last fiscal. This included 51 PSUs which spent Rs. 2,386.60 crore.
In a written reply to Rajya Sabha, Corporate Affairs Minister Arun Jaitley said companies spent a total of Rs 42.64 crore in ‘Swachh Bharat Kosh’
Besides, firms spent Rs. 15.49 crore towards ‘Clean Ganga Fund’ during the period under review.
The new Companies Act mandates every company with a net worth of Rs. 100 crore to set aside minimum 2 per cent of their three-year average annual net profit for CSR activities.
In a separate reply, Jaitley said a high-level committee has recommended for conducting a review of the CSR provision of the Act after three years.
Govt. owes Rs.61,000-crore food subsidy to FCI
The government owed Rs. 61,000 crore to the state-run Food Corporation of India as food subsidy at the end of the last fiscal due to lower provisioning of funds in the Budget.
“The outstanding arrear of food subsidy in case of the FCI as on March 31, 2016, was about Rs 61,000 crore,” Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
“Generally, there is no delay in release of subsidy to the FCI by Government of India (GOI). However, due to short provision of subsidy in the Budget, FCI had raised short-term loan (STL) to meet its working capital requirement,” he added.
The Minister informed that the FCI raised Rs. 35,150 crore as STL in the year 2013-14, Rs. 59,415 crore in 2014-15 and further Rs. 70,820 crore in 2015-16.
Govt. orders SFIO to probe 187 firms for running Ponzi schemes
The government has ordered SFIO to conduct probe against 187 companies that had allegedly floated Ponzi, or multi-level marketing (MLM), schemes, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.
Ponzi schemes are fraudulent investment operations that lure investors with promise of high returns.
“The ministry has ordered investigation through SFIO under... the Companies Act into the affairs of 187 companies (as on April 13, 2016) against whom complaints had been received regarding alleged collection of funds through MLM/Ponzi activities in different states of country,” Corporate Affairs Minister Arun Jaitley said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
FAME India puts demand for hybrid vehicles in top gear
Incentives extended under the FAME India (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles in India) scheme has helped in pushing up demand for hybrid and electric vehicles, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.
“Initially, there was lack of demand for electric and hybrid vehicles in the absence of demand incentives. However, due to introduction of FAME India scheme, demand of hybrid and electric vehicles started picking up,” Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises G.M. Siddeshwara said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
In April 2015, to promote eco-friendly vehicles, the government launched the FAME India scheme, offering incentives on electric and hybrid vehicles of up to Rs. 29,000 for bikes and Rs. 1.38 lakh for cars.
FAME India is part of the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan.
CPCB received 241 complaints against industries in three years
The Central Pollution Control Board has received 241 complaints in the last three years against various industries for not complying with the rules pertaining to effluent treatment, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
“According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), during the last three years, it has received 10 complaints against distilleries, 25 against pulp and paper industries, 38 against sugar industries, 16 against chemical/pharmaceutical industries, seven against iron and steel plants and 145 against slaughter houses, dairy, textile and other industries,” Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in a written reply.
Irdai okays 16 FDI proposals worth Rs. 14,592 crore
Insurance regulator Irdai has approved as many as 16 proposals amounting to Rs 14,591.9 crore as foreign investment, Parliament was informed on Monday.
“Post notification of the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Act, 2015, Irdai has approved 16 proposals amounting to Rs. 14,591.89 crore as foreign investment in the insurance sector,” Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
329 posts lying vacant at Bureau of Civil Aviation Security
As many as 329 posts are lying vacant at the country’s nodal aviation security body Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) due to its organisational restructuring and other related issues, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma in a written reply said that the posts of Joint Commissioner and Additional Commissioner at the Bureau have been re-designated as Joint DG and Addl DG, which are proposed to be filled up on deputation basis.
“Out of total 443 sanctioned posts in Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, including some posts which have been deferred while creating new posts due to adjustment of some incumbents holding the posts which have been abolished and adjusted against existing equivalent posts, 329 posts are vacant,” Mr. Sharma said.
He said that the main reason for vacancies in BCAS was due to the amendments/framing of recruitment rule following change in designation and sanctioned strength and creation of additional posts approved during restructuring of the organisation in 2015.
Govt. raises Rs. 8,152 crore via NTPC bonus debenture sale to EPFO
The government raised Rs. 8,152 crore in 2015-16 by selling bonus debentures of NTPC to EPFO, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.
Disinvestment in central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) is undertaken as per the extant disinvestment policy of the government, Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
CCI closes case against public sector insurers
After finding no evidence of violations, fair trade regulator CCI has closed the case against four public sector general insurers that were alleged to have indulged in unfair business ways.
Competition Commission of India (CCI) had ordered a detailed investigation in September 2014 into the complaint against the insurers filed by Association of Third Party Administrators (ATPA).
To a query about the case, Corporate Affairs Minister Arun Jaitley told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday that Director General of CCI had submitted two reports last year to the regulator. The main probe report was given in February and a supplementary one in June.
