Question raised in Rajya Sabha on packaged foods with abnormal salt and fat contents, 03/03/2020. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has informed that Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) study has alleged that the quantity of salt and fat in the samples tested were higher than the threshold limits proposed in the draft Food Safety and Standards (Labelling & Display) Regulations. Out of total 33 samples tested in the said study, 19 samples are of ‘prepared food’ where ‘Front- of-Pack’ Labelling is not applicable.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on ayush medicines for preventing coronavirus infection, 03/03/2020. Homoeopathy, Unani and Ayurveda are advocated for health promotion prevention of diseases. As such, the advisory in terms of Homoeopathy, Unani and Ayurveda is general in nature. People should also follow general measures as per health advisory.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on kharif crop damage due to excessive rain, 03/03/2020. The State Government of Madhya Pradesh has reported crop loss of 60.47 lakh hectares due to excessive rains during 2019-20. The Memorandum in this regard was received by the Union Government on 01.10.2019.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on power generation from hydro power plants, 03/03/2020. The details of annual production target and real production from hydro power stations (above 25 MW) during the last five years is given.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on rise of infant mortality rate in India, 03/03/2020. As per Sample Registration System Report released in May, 2019, Infant Mortality Rate is 33 per 1,000 live births in 2017 in comparison to global average of 30 per 1,000 live births in 2017 as per UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation report.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on C-Section births in the country, 03/03/2020. As per the National Family Health Survey, birth by Caesarean Section (%) in the country has increased from 8.5% as per NFHS-3 (2005-06) to 17.2% as per NFHS-4 (2015-16) (annual data for NFHS is not available).

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on impact of coronavirus on solar industry, 03/03/2020. A total of 8004.64 MW of renewable energy capacity has been installed during the period from April 2019 to January, 2020 as compared to 5978.47 MW installed during the same period during the financial year 2018-19.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on scarcity of fodder, 03/03/2020. Union Government in conjunction with the State Government and Union Territories is already taking necessary measures to reduce the shortage of fodder through various Centrally Sponsored Schemes viz., National Livestock Mission with a Sub Mission on Feed and Fodder Development, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna, Additional Fodder Development Programme. Under these programmes, financial assistance is provided to the States and Union Territories for various fodder developmental programmes planned by them.

A Bill further to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and to amend the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015. This Act may be called the Mineral Laws (Amendment) Act, 2020. It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 10th day of January, 2020.

In essence, the notion of benefit sharing is recognition of the natural rights of affected communities over mineral resources in their traditional and historical homelands. Communities have a right to benefit first—culturally, economically and politically. These rights can be seen from the prism of both immediate as well as long-term benefits.

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