Here is some interesting information released by the government in response to questions posed by MPs in Parliament on Tuesday.
175 mobile phones stolen per day in Delhi!
Around 175 mobile phones were stolen every day in the national capital in January and February this year, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
While answering a question on the number of electronic devices stolen in 2016 and 2017, Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said the Delhi Police has registered 10,497 cases of mobile phone thefts till February 28 this year.
Last year, 36,217 cases of mobile phone thefts were reported, he said.
Till February this year, the Delhi Police registered 638 cases of laptop thefts, while last year, the number stood at 3,060, the minister added.
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7.32 crore Indians are users of alcohol, drugs
An estimated 7.32 crore people in India were users of alcohol and drugs, the Government informed the Lok Sabha quoting a 2000-01 survey.
In a written reply to a question, Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said the Social Justice and Empowerment ministry had conducted a national survey on the extent, pattern and trend of drug abuse in the years 2000-01.
"It is estimated that about 732 lakh people in India were users of alcohol and drugs of which 87 lakh used cannabis, 20 lakh used opiates and 625 lakh were users of alcohol. Thereafter, no national survey on drug abuse has been conducted," he said.
Ahir said that in 2016, the drug law enforcement agencies in India had seized 46,873.052 kg of Methaqualone and arrested 20 persons, including 8 foreign nationals.
It indicates that the drug is in demand in India and may be popular among users, he said.
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Govt gets Rs 672 cr fine from overcharging pharma cos
Drug pricing regulator NPPA has received Rs 672.28 crore fine till date from pharmaceutical companies for overcharging.
Since inception, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has issued 1,527 demand notices to companies for overcharging on sales of formulations at prices above the notified ceiling price.
"Demand notices have been issued for an amount of Rs 5,038.72 crore. Amount of the tune of Rs 672.28 crore has been deposited by the companies. An amount of Rs 3,469.91 crore is under litigation," Minister of State for Chemicals Mansukh L Mandaviya said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
NPPA has recovered Rs 294.84 crore during the current financial year till February, he added. The government had recovered Rs 90.17 crore in 2014-15 and Rs 12.36 crore in 2015-16.
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Govt procures 14.66 lakh tonnes of pulses for buffer stock
The government has procured or contracted for imports about 14.66 lakh tonnes of pulses to create a buffer stock.
"The government has approved creation of buffer up to 20 lakh tonnes of pulses. As on March 8, 2017, around 14.66 lakh tonnes of pulses have been procured or contracted for imports towards building the buffer," Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs C R Chaudhary said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
The government has contracted for imports 4.06 lakh tonnes of pulses for the buffer stock, he added.
The government has approved engaging a professional Buffer Stock Management Agency (BSMA) for efficient management of the buffer stock including procurement, storage, maintenance and liquidation of the stock as per government directive from time to time, Chaudhary added.
"The agency for designing and managing the bid process has been selected. Contract for appointment is being finalised," the minister said.
Pulses production is estimated at record 22.14 million tonnes in the 2016-17 crop year as against about 16.5 million tonnes in the previous year. The annual domestic demand is about 24-25 million tonnes and the gap is met through imports. The government had decided to create a buffer stock for market intervention in case of price rise.
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Over 3 lakh registered refugees in India till 2014
More than three lakh refugees have been registered with various states as on December 31, 2014, the Centre said on Tuesday, adding that it has no "exact data" on people seeking political asylum in the country.
Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju informed the Lok Sabha that India is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Convention related to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 protocol thereon.
However, he said, there was a standard operating procedure in place with effect from December 29, 2011 to deal with foreign nationals who claim to be refugees.
"While there is no exact data on the number of foreign citizens who have sought political asylum in India during the last five years, whereas the year-wise/state-wise/country-wise refugee estimates suggest registration of more than three lakh refugees with various states as on December 31, 2014," Rijiju added.
