The present Statistical Abstract 2016 is the Eighth in the series brought out by this Directorate on the basis of secondary data sources. The uniqueness of Statistical Abstract is that it contains time series data on various socio-economic parameters and serves as an effective quantitative tool for reaching to logical conclusions in the context of planning and public policy making. The present edition of Statistical Abstract is thoroughly improved in terms of coverage and quality.

The Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI) has been releasing its annual publication "National Health Profile (NHP)" on a regular basis since the calendar year 2005. This publication of vital national significance brings out very substantial health information under six major indicators viz, Demographic, Socio-economic, health status, health finance, health infrastructure and human resources for the specified calendar year and much more relevant information required for an efficient public health system in our country.

The Yearbook series is a result of joint efforts by major African regional organizations to set up a joint data collection mechanism of socioeconomic data on African countries as well as the development of a common harmonized database.

Coal Directory of India provides Coal and Lignite Statistics spreading over eleven sections covering some general economy data, brief history of coal sector in India, present status, reserve, production, dispatches, pit head closing stock, price, export and import, trends of coal consumption in power, steel and cement production, captive coal and lignite blocks, world coal statistics and brief colliery statistics. Coal Directory of India 2015-16 is an exhaustive data-base related to coal and lignite.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) produces comprehensive renewable energy statistics on a range of topics. This publication presents renewable power generation capacity statistics for the last decade (2007-2016) in trilingual tables. Renewable power generation capacity is measured as the maximum net generating capacity of power plants and other installations that use renewable energy sources to produce electricity. For most countries and technologies, the data reflects the capacity installed and connected at the end of the calendar year.

This publication, 24th in the series is an annual publication of CSO and is a continued effort to provide a comprehensive picture of Energy Sector in India. Energy Statistics is an integrated and updated database of reserves, installed capacity, production, consumption, import, export and whole sale prices of different sources viz. coal, crude petroleum, natural gas and electricity. Energy Balance and Sankey Diagram (Energy flow diagram) further aims to enhance its utility.

Question raised in Rajya Sabha on Open defecation free villages, 27/03/2017. State-wise, number of villages declared open defecation free as on 10th March, 2017 is at Annexure-1. Sanitation Coverage as on 2.10.2014 were 41.64% and 31.82% in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh respectively which has increased to 77.58% and 56.71% respectively as on 23.3.2017. 60% and 31% villages of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF). Also 5 districts of Chhattisgarh and 2 districts of Madhya Pradesh have been declared ODF.

The Compendium of Environment Statistics aims to serve as reference material for environment planners and policy makers as well as other Government and Non-Government organizations and research institutions to increase awareness and knowledge of the environmental situation of the country. The need for improvements in the field of data and statistics to monitor progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the associated need for statistical capacity building in developing countries have been highly recognized.

Question raised in Lok Sabha on Wildlife Preservation, 21/03/2017. Local communities are involved in the conservation of wildlife and its habitats by the concerned state and UT Governments as the protection and conservation of wildlife is primarily the responsibility of the concerned State/UT Governments. The State Governments have declared 67 Conservation Reserves and 26 Community Reserves in the country. The list is at Annexure.