Increase in Trade Dificit With China

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

RAJYA SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO-203

ANSWERED ON-07.12.2011

a) whether it is fact that trade deficit with China has increased during the last three years;
b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
c) what are the measures before Government for correcting this imbalance?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI ANAND SHARMA)


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

ANNEXURE

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 203 FOR ANSWER ON 7TH DECEMBER 2011 REGARDING “INCREASE IN TRADE DEFICIT WITH CHINA”

(a)    The trade deficit with China has risen with a dip in the year 2009-10. During the year 2008-09 the trade deficit was US$ 23,144 million. But in the year 2009-10 the trade deficit came down to US$ 19,207 million. The trade deficit during the year 2010-11 was US$ 23,864 million.

(b)    The details of exports to and imports from China during the last three years are given below: -

Bilateral Trade Statistics

(Values in US$ millions)

Year	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11
Exports to China	9,353	11,617	19,615
Imports from China	32,497	30,824	43,479
Trade Deficit	23,144	19,207	23,864

 (Source: DGCI&S)

 Chinese export to India relies strongly on manufactured items meeting the demand of fast expanding sectors like telecom and power in India. Chinese companies supply relevant equipments at most competitive prices. India’s exports are characterized by primary products, raw material and intermediate products. Further there are non-tariff barriers on imports of agricultural products in China as well as limited market access of Indian products.

 (c)    The Government of India has addressed the issue of growing trade deficit at the highest level. At the Ministerial level, we have India-China Joint Group on Economic Relations, Trade, Science and Technology (JEG) where trade related issues are taken up regularly. The Eighth Session of India-China JEG was held on 19th January, 2010 in Beijing. As an outcome of 8th JEG a Memorandum of Understanding on extension of Trade and Economic Cooperation was signed. The MoU recognises that a balanced trade is conducive to long term, sustainable and harmonious development of economic cooperation between the two countries. Indian exporters are encouraged to participate in major trade fairs in China to show-case Indian products in the Chinese market and increase engagement with Chinese companies. Participation of Indian exporters in trade fairs aims to promote Indian products amongst Chinese importers.  With a view to reducing trade deficit, efforts are also being made to diversify the trade basket with emphasis on manufactured goods. We are also pursuing market access issues to tackle non-tariff barriers in the Chinese market at different fora. Business to Business relations are encouraged through schemes such as Market Access Initiative (MAI)/Market Development Assistance (MDA). Apart from these measures the Government of India is alive to the challenges of import surges and various unfair trade practices through available safeguard measures under WTO.


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Fund For SSI

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

RAJYA SABHA

QUESTION NO  200

ANSWERED ON  05.12.2011

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

(a) the details of the fund utilized by Government for sending SSI/SE business delegations to other countries for exploring new areas of technology infusion/ upgradation, facilitating joint venture, etc. during the last five years, year-wise;

(b) the details of the funds utilized by Government on participation of Indian SSI/SE in exhibition, fairs and buyer-seller meets in India in which international bodies participated, year-wise;

(c) whether Government has received any complaints of submission of false
information/documents by some organization for claiming grant from Government; and

(d) if yes, the action taken by Government thereon?

ANSWER

(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *200 FOR ANSWER ON 5.12.2011

(a): Details of funds utilized by the Government for sending Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) business delegations to other countries under International Cooperation (IC) Scheme of the Ministry for exploring new areas of technology infusion/upgradation, facilitating joint venture, etc. during the last five years are as under:
(b): Details of funds utilized by the Government for participation of Indian MSMEs in various exhibitions, fairs and buyer-seller meets held in India in which international bodies participated under IC Scheme and Marketing Assistance Scheme being implemented by National Small Industries Corporation Limited (NSIC), a public sector undertaking under this Ministry, during the last five years are as under:
(c)&(d): Whenever, any complaint is received, action as appropriate as per guidelines and rules is taken in the matter after due examination.

(Rs. lakh)

Name of the Scheme	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11
International Cooperation Scheme	154.42	63.55	175.00	200.00	399.42

(Rs. lakh)

Name of the Scheme	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11
International Cooperation Scheme	20.58	2.93	--	--	--
Marketing Assistance Scheme	203.65	307.49	479.33	610.04	769.75

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Schools Belonging To Minorities

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

RAJYA SABHA

QUESTION NO  1348

ANSWERED ON  02.12.2011

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to satate :-
(a) the details of financial assistance given by Government of construction/expansion of schools belonging to educationally backward minorities, across the country, State-wise;

(b) the details of schools constructed/upgraded during the last three years, State-wise; and

(c) the details of targets fixed/achieved by Government?
  

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Dr. D. PURANDESWARI

(a) to (c) The Infrastructure Development of Minority Institutions (IDMI) Scheme was carved out from the Area Intensive and Madarsa Modernisation Programme (AIMMP) in 2008-09 to facilitate education of minorities by augmenting and strengthening school infrastructure in Minority Institutions. Financial assistance given to States and number of institutions supported between 2008-09 and 2011-12 is provided below:

2008-09

S.No. Name of the  Amount  No. of institutions
        State        (Rs.in lakh)

 Uttar Pradesh 25.00 1

2009-10

 Uttar Pradesh 448.00 22

2010-11

1. Karnataka 281.98 15
2. Maharashtra 387.61 19
3. Uttarakhand 190.29 12
4. Jammu & Kashmir 25.00 01
5. Rajasthan 102.83 07
6. Haryana         201.12 12
7. Uttar Pradesh 327.73 16
8. Gujarat         191.20 15
9. Kerala         337.73 15
10. Madhya Pradesh 252.94 12
 Total Rs. 2298.43 124

2011-12
S.No. Name of the  Amount  No. of institutions
        State        (Rs.in lakh)

1. Maharasthra 177.45 10
2. Uttarakhand 104.91 08
3. Karnataka 157.25 10
4. Uttar Pradesh 200.39 10
5. Kerala         221.53 10
6. Haryana         145.36 10
 TOTAL        1006.89 58

In addition, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) focuses on monitoring progress in respect of 121 Minority Concentration Districts identified under the Prime Minister’s New 15-Point Programme for the welfare of Minorities. The amounts sanctioned under SSA for various interventions in these 121 districts are: Rs 4857 crore for 2008-09, Rs 5286 crore for 2009-10, Rs 4479 crore for 2010-11 and Rs 11870 crore for 2011-12.

Details about opening and construction of new primary and upper primary schools in the Minority Concentration Districts under SSA between 2008-09 and 2011-12 are given below:-

Year Opening of   Opening of       Construction of      Construction of
        new Primary  new Upper        Primary School upper primary school 
         School       Primary school
 
 Target Achvt. Target Achvt. Target Achvt. Target Achvt.

2008-09 1423 1386 4301 3176 4404 3266 4154 2662
2009-10 1719 1625 1719 1625 3465 3237 1348 1220
2010-11 11930 11922 2370 2364 4969 3573 1147 1103
2011-12 1470 13      445     1       1522     793      67     4 
               (as on         (as on           (as on 
               30.9.11)       30.9.11)        30.9.11)
 

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Development Of Skills Through Vocational Education

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

RAJYA SABHA

QUESTION NO  1332

ANSWERED ON  02.12.2011

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to satate :-
(a) whether it is a fact that only 5 percent of Indians in the age group of 19-24 years acquire some skills through vocational education;
(b) the amount spent during Tenth Five Year Plan on vocational education and in the Eleventh Five Year Plan, so far;
(c) the results achieved in improving skills through vocational education during the last three years, State-wise and yearwise; and
(d) the plans of Government for further development of skills through Vocational Education?
   

ANSWER

     
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(Dr. D. PURANDESWARI)
(a) According to the report of Operations Research Group (1996) the proportionate share of vocational student’s vis-à-vis total enrolment at the higher secondary stage was 4.8% .
(b) Rs.6337.97 lakh was released during 10th Five Year Plan under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Vocationalisation of Secondary Education” . Rs.497.94 lakh has been released in the 11th Five Year Plan so far, after the approval of the revised Scheme on 15.9.2011 by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) .
(c ) & (d) The scheme was not implemented during the last three years as it was under revision. In addition to assisting vocational education in Government secondary schools, the children of socio economically weaker sections in private schools will be assisted through Public Private Partnership (PPP) under the revised Scheme. Capacity building of vocational teachers is provided for. A vocational education cell has been established under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). A close partnership with industry and other provisions of the National Vocational Education Qualifications Framework (NVEQF) would enhance the pool of skilled manpower in the country. 

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Equity Fund Infusion Into AI

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  CIVIL AVIATION

RAJYA SABHA

QUESTION NO  1102

ANSWERED ON  01.12.2011

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to satate :-
(a) whether Government is considering for equity fund infusion into Air India (AI);

(b) if so, the details thereof and reasons therefor;

(c) the details of equity fund injected during the last three years into Air India;

(d) the financial performance details of Air India for the last three years; and

(e) the intended measures to improve the performance of AI?
   
ANSWER
     
THE MINISTER OF OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS & MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIAITON (SHRI VAYALAR RAVI)

(a) and (b): Government has constituted a Group of Ministers(GoM) to reveiw/monitor the financial and oparational performance of Air India. On the directions of GoM, Air India had prepared its Turn Around Plan (TAP) and Financial Restructuring Plan (FRP), which have been examined by a Group of Officers (GoO). The recommendations of GoO have been referred by GoM for RBI’s views and regulatory forbearance on FRP.

(c): Government has infused Rs. 800 crore in the FY 2009-10, Rs. 1200 crore in FY 2010-11 and Rs.1200 crore for the FY 2011-12 as equity in Air India.

(d): Air India incurred a loss of Rs.5548.26 crore during 2008-09, Rs.5552.55 crore during 2009-10 and the estimated loss for 2010-11 is Rs.6994 crore.

(e): In order to improve its operating and financial performance, Air India has taken various steps such as Rationalization of routes to cut losses, induction of new aircraft on international routes to increase passenger appeal, phasing out of old fleet and consequential reduction in maintenance cost, return of leased aircraft at the end of their tenure or prematurely, enhanced utilizationof the new fleet resulting in production of higher ASKMs, Grounding of ageing fleet including B747-400 which would be used only for certain lines of operations and for operating VVIP flights,Increase in passenger/cargo revenue, excess baggage revenue through aggressive sales & marketing efforts including for attracting government traffic and upgradation of IT Infrastructure and solutions.

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