Evidence of the representatives of Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications in connection with the comprehensive examination of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).

To hear the views of Principal Registrar, Central Administrative Tribunal on the subject ‘Functioning of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT)’.

Briefing by the representatives of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on the subject ‘Regulation of Cable Television in India’.

I. Oral evidence of the representatives of Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) on the subject "Derailment in Indian Railways" based on C&AG Report No. 22 of 2022; and II. Oral evidence of the representatives of Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) on the following subjects: (i) “Loss due to indecision of Railway Administration in the matter of land acquisition: East Central Railway” based on Para 3.3 of C&AG Report No. 5 of 2021; (ii) “Loss of opportunity to earn additional freight and extra expenditure on haulage: South Western Railway” based on Para 2.2 of C&AG Report No. 25 of 2022; (iii) “Loss of revenue: South Western Railway” based on Para 2.3 of C&AG Report No. 25 of 2022; (iv) “Injudicious procurement of an additional CNC horizontal Boring and Milling Machine: Patiala Locomotive Works” based on Para 3.2 of C&AG Report No. 25 of 2022; (v) “Infructuous expenditure on creation of Mid-Life Rehabilitation facilities at Parel Workshop: Central Railway” based on Para 3.3 of C&AG Report No. 25 of 2022; (vi) “Blocking of capital due to non-completion of approach roads: Central Railway” based on Para 3.4 of C&AG Report No. 25 of 2022; (vii) “Loss of revenue due to running of Suvidha Express trains: South Western Railway” based on Para 4.1 of C&AG Report No. 25 of 2022; (viii) “Extra expenditure due to delay in finalizing power purchase agreements through Open Access: West Central Railway” based on Para 4.2 of C&AG Report No. 25 of 2022; (ix) “Short closure of electrification works due to incomplete pre-requisite works: South East Central Railway” based on Para 4.4 of C&AG Report No. 25 of 2022; and (x) “Avoidable expenditure on procurement of Channel Air Boxes: Banaras Locomotive Works” based on Para 4.5 of C&AG Report No. 25 of 2022.

I. Oral evidence of the representatives of Ministry of Road Transport & Highways on the subject “Implementation of Phase-I of Bharatmala Pariyojana” based on C&AG Report No. 19 of 2023; and II. Oral evidence of the representatives of Ministry of Home Affairs on the following subjects: (i) “Irregular payment of Licence Fee in lieu of rent-free accommodation” based on Para 3.1 of C&AG Report No. 24 of 2022; (ii) “Report on Audit of Pay & Allowances in Police Department, UT, Chandigarh” based on Para 3.2 of C&AG Report No. 24 of 2022; (iii) “Subject-specific Compliance Audit on “GST Refunds”” based on Para 3.3 of C&AG Report No. 24 of 2022; (iv) “Short assessment of rent” based on Para 3.4 of C&AG Report No. 24 of 2022; (v) “Avoidable payment due to non-charging of Service Tax/GST from the passengers” based on Para 3.5 of C&AG Report No. 24 of 2022; (vi) “Short realisation of Entry Fees and Licence Fees” based on Para 3.6 of C&AG Report No. 24 of 2022; (vii) “Grant of concession without the support of declaration in Form “F”” based on Para 3.7 of C&AG Report No. 24 of 2022; (viii) “Loss of revenue due to non-registration of lease agreement” based on Para 3.8 of C&AG Report No. 24 of 2022; (ix) “Short levy of tax and interest due to excess allowance of ITC on purchase of Capital Goods” based on Para 3.9 of C&AG Report No. 24 of 2022; and (x) “Evasion of Tax due to suppression of sales” based on Para 3.10 of C&AG Report No. 24 of 2022.

Oral evidence of the representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare), National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited on the subject ‘Providing credit to the agricultural and rural sector including appraisal of NABARD’s role’.

Briefing by representatives of the Ministry of Power and Central Electricity Authority on the subject ‘Prospects of Thermal Power Plants in the light of enhanced Renewable Energy Target’.

Oral evidence of the representatives of the Ministry of Textiles on the Subject ‘Development and Promotion of Jute Industry’.

To hear the Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC) and Chairman, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and representatives of various Institutes/Universities on the subject "Research based Education and Anusandhan scenario in Sciences and related fields".

Briefing by the Representatives of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Department of Food and Public Distribution) in connection with the examination of the subject ‘Transforming Fair Price Shops’.

Briefing by Audit on the following Subjects allocated to Sub-Committee-III (Railways):- (i) “Punctuality and travel time in train operations in Indian Railways” based on Para 2.1 of C&AG Report No. 22 of 2021; and (ii) “Internally generated resources of Indian Railways - (a) Freight Earnings” based on Para 1.2.3 of C&AG Report No. 23 of 2022.

Briefing by the representatives of the Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) on the subject “Financing of projects of Indian Railways".

To consider and adopt the following draft Reports: (i) Draft 246th Report on 'The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023'; (ii) Draft 247th Report on ' The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023'; and (iii) Draft 248th Report on 'The Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023'.

To hear the views of Secretary, Department of Pharmaceutical on the subject "Antimicrobial Resistance in India, with regard to Jan Aushadhi" and Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare alongwith DG, CGHS on further consideration of the subject "Functioning of CGHS".

Evidence of the representatives of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)’ in connection with its comprehensive examination.

I. Oral evidence of the representatives of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on the subject “Performance Audit of Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana - Union Government (Civil)” based on C&AG Report No. 11 of 2023; and II. Oral evidence of the representatives of Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on the following subjects: (i) “Revenue loss to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) (Para 19.1); Loss of revenue and undue benefit to the licensee (Para 19.2); Loss of revenue due to failure to revise casual occupation and service charges (Para 19.3); Avoidable payment of compensation charges for Low Power Factor (Para 19.4)” based on Chapter XIX of C&AG Report No. 4 of 2018. (ii) “Implementation of Port Operation Management System (POMS) in Chennai Port Trust” based on Para 7.1 of C&AG Report No. 3 of 2020. (iii) “Dredging Activities in Kolkata Port Trust” based on Para 6.1 of C&AG Report No. 10 of 2020. (iv) “Assessment of Environmental Issues in Visakhapatnam Port Authority” based on Para 7.2 of C&AG Report No. 1 of 2023.

Consideration and Adoption of Draft Action Taken Report of the Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs on the subject 'Evaluation of Implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban)'

Briefing on the subject ‘Impact of National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) on the Poor and Destitute in the Villages’ by the representatives of the Ministry of Rural Development.

Briefing by Audit on the following Subjects allocated to Sub-Committee-V (Civil-II):- (i) “Unfruitful expenditure on project for providing broadband connectivity in North East Region and other Inaccessible Regions” based on Chapter IV (Para 4.1) of C&AG Report No. 3 of 2021; and (ii) “Undue delay in decision making regarding allotment/assignment of Spectrum in E-band and V-band for Microwave Access network and backhaul Network” based on Para 2.2 of C&AG Report No. 15 of 2022.

Oral Evidence of the representatives of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on the Subject 'Regional Rapid Transit System and role of NCRTC'.