opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 392 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Stress among students
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 392 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2018 Stress among students

## 392. SHRIMATI DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH: Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a)					the	action	taken	by	the	Government	in	consultation	with	State	Government	to	frame proper	 guidelines	 to	 abolish	 stress	 among	 students	 arising	 out	 stiff	 competition	 in employment,	rising	expectation	of	parents	and	highly	commercialization	of	education	field; and (b)					whether	Government	intends	to	introduce	spiritual	matters	and	Gandhian	literature

- and	if	so,	the	details	thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a):						Government	have	been	taking	various	steps	such	as	peer	assisted	learning,	special languages	 classes	 for	 week	 students	 in	 order	 to	 ease	 the	 academic	 stress.	 	 In	 addition, institutions	conduct	Workshops/Seminars	on	Happiness	and	Wellness,	regular	sessions	on Yoga,	induction	programs,	extracurricular	activities	including	sports	and	cultural	activities and appointment of Student Counselors for overall personality development and distressing	students. (b):					The	model	curriculum	prepared	by	All	India	Council	for	Technical	Education	(AICTE) is	outcome	based	and	Universal	Human	Values,	culture	&	spirituality	have	been	also	made part	 of	 the	 model	 curriculum.	 Moreover,	 the	 Government	 has	 set	 up	 137	 nos.	 Gandhian Centres	 in	 various	 Universities/	 Colleges/	 Institutes	 under	 the	 scheme	 of	 Epoch	 Making Social	Thinker	of	India.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 388 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Indo-US Meeting on IP
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: DHARAM VIRA GANDHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL POLICY & PROMOTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 388.

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE 5 TH  FEBRUARY,  2018.

## INDO-US MEETING ON IP

## 388.   SHRI DHARAM VIRA:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state:

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether the USA and India High Level Working Group on IP met in 2017;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  the  issues  raised  by  the  US  in  the  working  Group  and issues mentioned by the Indian delegation in the working group; and
- (c) the  main  outcome  or  decision  taken  in  the  said  meeting  of  the  High  Level working Group?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज् य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज् यमंत्री (श्री सी.आर. चौधरी) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI C.R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a)  to  (c): The Working  Group  on  Intellectual  Property  (IP)  met  in  2017  under  the aegis of India-US Trade Policy Forum (TPF). The issues raised by the two sides  pertained  to  copyright,  trade  secrets,  patents,  trademarks,  genetic resources, traditional knowledge and Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL).  The  U.S.  side  inter  alia,  raised  the  issues  of  guidelines  for examination  of  Computer  Related  Inventions  (CRI)  patent  applications, protection  of  trade  secrets,  functioning  of  Intellectual  Property  Appellate Board (IPAB) and the WIPO Copyright Internet Treaties. The Indian side inter alia, raised the issues of inclusion of TKDL as part of PCT Minimum documentation  and  blocking  of  copyright  infringing  websites.  The  steps undertaken by the Government of India to strengthen the administration of IPRs in India, such as augmentation of manpower, clearing the backlog in Patent  and  Trademark  applications  and  IPR  awareness  programmes, were also highlighted during the meeting. Both sides reiterated the goal of providing their respective populations, especially the vulnerable sections, with  access  to  quality  healthcare.  The  two  sides  also  agreed  to  a workshop on Copyright issues, as also the need to work together to tackle the problem of online piracy.

*********
Lok Sabha Question No. 387 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Foreign Markets for Luxury Goods
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: VINOD KUMAR BOIANAPALLI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 387 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 th  FEBRUARY,2018

## FOREIGN MARKETS FOR LUXURY GOODS

## 387.   SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वा ͨणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंğी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of types of products which the Government plans to export or which are proposed to  be exported as part  of the luxury goods  to markets like China,  Latin America and Russia;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  provide  some  benefits  to  industries producing these products; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Jh lh- vkj- pkS/kjh½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a) , (b) and (c) :  For export purposes, there is no separate classification as such for luxury goods. At present, there is no specific policy or scheme for promoting export of goods to markets in China, Latin America and Russia. However, the Government is providing benefits to exported merchandise under the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme to all notified products under the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20. The benefits under this Scheme are available to around 7950 tariff lines and are not geography specific at present.  These  benefits  are  at  the  rates  ranging  from  2%  to  7%  of  the realized FOB value of exported goods.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 386 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Ghost Traines and Franchisee Centres
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: NINONG ERING

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 386 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2018

## GHOST TRAINES AND FRANCHISEE CENTRES

## 386. SHRI NINONG ERING:

## Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state :

- (a) the  number  of  ghost  trainees  that  have  been  enrolled  in  skill  development centres under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY);
- (b) the data of non-existent ghost franchisee centres which had been listed under the PMKVY;
- (c) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to    recover    money    from    the    ghost stakeholders; and
- (d) the steps  taken  to  ensure transparency in the PMKVY?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI ANANTKUMAR HEGDE)

(a) to (d) Under PMKVY 2016-20, the enrolments of candidates are verified with Aadhar in order to eliminate the possibilities of fake enrolments. However, there have been cases where PMKVY 2016-20 guidelines were not followed, such as:

- Candidates with different name than enrolled are found at the center
- No candidates with the enrolled name are found at the center
- The  enrolled  candidates  confirm  that  they  have  not  been  trained  under PMKVY.
- Any other fraudulent  method to  enroll  candidates  in  PMKVY  who  have  not undergone PMKVY training

The provisions for penalty grid guide the action that needs to be taken against training centers that do not follow PMKVY guidelines. NSDC, implementing agency of PMKVY under MSDE, has suspended training centers for noncompliance of PMKVY guidelines on multiple parameters including but not limited to above cases, the list of which is published on PMKVY official website. Further, in case a training centre is suspended  due  to  noncompliance  of  PMKVY  guidelines,  the  recovery  of  financial disbursement for the ongoing batches is made as per the penalty grid approved by MSDE.

Under PMKVY 2016-20, focus on continuous monitoring for tracking effective functioning  of  skill  centre  has  been  envisaged.  Under  this  self-audit  reporting,  call validations, surprise visits and monitoring through the Skills Development Management  System  (SDMS)  have  been  adopted  which  ensures  transparency. Additionally,  other  interventions  also  made  towards  promotion  of  digitalization  of PMKVY  like  free  skill  course  content,  Direct  benefit  transfer,  Aadhaar  linkages, biometric attendance of candidates etc.. Scheme encourages social media platform (facebook and twitter), digital channel for mobilization of candidates for Kaushal mela and Rozgar mela for its resounding success with full transparency.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 385 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Funds allocated to various PSUs
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: RAYAPATI SAMBASIVA RAO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 385 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2018

## FUNDS ALLOCATED TO VARIOUS PSUs

| 385:     | SHRI RAYAPATI SAMBASIVA RAO: Will the MINISTER OF CULTURE be pleased to state:                                                                                                  |
|----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| (a)      | the major schemes that aim at improving the functioning of various PSUs under the Ministry;                                                                                     |
| (b)      | whether the Government has done any evaluation of such PSUs and their working;                                                                                                  |
| (c)      | if so, the details and the findings thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and                                                                                               |
| (d)      | the allocations made to each PSU during the last 5 years along with the details of amount spent, unspent along with the reasons for unspent allocations during the said period? |
|          | ANSWER                                                                                                                                                                          |
|          | MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR CULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FORESTANDCLIMATECHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)                                                            |
| (a)      | No, Madam. There is no PSU under the Ministry of Culture and hence there is no scheme in the Ministry of Culture aimed at improving the functioning of PSUs.                    |
| (b), (c) | &(d): Question does not arise.                                                                                                                                                  |
Lok Sabha Question No. 383 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Sanskrit Colleges
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: NEELAM SONKER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.383 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5.2.2018

## Sanskrit Colleges

## †383. SHRIMATI NEELAM SONKER:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- a) the  total  number  of  sanskirt  colleges  in  the  country  and  whether  there  is shortage of teachers in these colleges;
- b) if so, the details thereof;
- c) whether sanskrit language has been made mandatory in all secondary and middle  level  schools  of  the  country  and  whether  adequate  number  of sanskrit teachers are available in all these Government schools;
- d) if  so,  the  total  number  of  sanskrit  teachers  in  the  country  and  the  details regarding the availability and shortage of sanskrit teachers, State-wise; and
- e) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  the  number  of  teachers  as well as promotion of the language in these colleges?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## (DR. SATYAPAL SINGH)

- (a) & (b): As per All India Survey on Higher Education, there are 807 Sanskrit Colleges and 3495 teachers in the country. The figures of total sanctioned posts and current vacancies are not centrally maintained in MHRD.
- (c)  to  (e):  Sanskrit  has  not  been  made  mandatory in  schools.  The  recruitment and service conditions of teachers are primarily in the domain of State Govts and UT Administrations. The Central Government provides assistance to State Govts/UT Administrations for additional teachers to maintain appropriate Pupil: Teacher ratio. The Central Government in various meetings of State Education Secretaries, Conferences, Joint Review Missions etc., advises the State Govts/UT Administrations for timely teacher recruitment and deployments.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 382 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Mandatory NCERT Books
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: B. SREERAMULU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.382 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 th  FEBRUARY 2018

## Mandatory NCERT Books.

## 382. SHRI B. SRIRAMULU:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has made NCERT books mandatory in all its affiliated schools and if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the schools thereto;
- (b) whether the CBSE has tied up with private players for use of digital education and smart board technology in schools and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  steps  taken  /  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  control  schools  from charging extra money in the form of high commission from private publishers to prescribe their expensive textbooks ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

****

(a)&(b):  No Madam.

- (c): In  so  far  as  the  schools  affiliated  to  Central  Board  of  Secondary  Education (CBSE)  are  concerned,  CBSE  has  advised  schools  to  provide  textbooks published  by  NCERT  on  MRP  vide  circular  no.  CBSE/AFF/CIRCULAR/ 16a/2017/1335026  dated  18.12.2017.  This  circular  can  be  accessed  on  the website http://cbse.nic.in/newsite/cir2017.html.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 381 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Skill Development at Block Levels
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: RAMESH BIDHURI, NEELAM SONKER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 381 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2018

## SKILL DEVELOPMENT AT BLOCK LEVELS

## † 381. SHRI RAMESH BIDHURI: SHRIMATI NEELAM SONKER:

## Will the Minister of SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state :

- (a) whether in comparison to other countries, India has very small percentage of skill workforce and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the number of skilled labourers out of total labourers is very less in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  action  plan  to  set  up  training centres  at  district  and  block  levels  in  rural  regions  for  skilled  labour  training  and encouraging youngsters in these centres and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether foreign investment is decreasing in absence of skilled work force and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (SHRI ANANTKUMAR HEGDE)

- (a) to (c) As compared to developed countries, where the percentage of skilled workforce  is  between  60%  and  90%  of  the  total  workforce,  India  has  4.69%  of workforce with formal vocational skills. In order to increase the percentage of skilled work  force,  currently,  over  40  Skill  Development  Programmes  (SDPs)  are  being implemented by over 18 Ministries/Departments of the Government of India.

Ministry  of  Skill  Development  and  Entrepreneurship  is  implementing flagship scheme  known  as  Pradhan  Mantri  Kaushal  Vikas  Yojana  (PMKVY)  on  pan-India basis with an objective to provide skilling to one crore people (60 lakh under Fresh Short Term Training and 40 lakh under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)) over the four  years  (2016-2020)  with  an  outlay  of  Rs.  12,000  crore.  PMKVY  enables  large number of prospective youth for taking Short Term Training (STT) and Recognition of Prior Learning  (RPL)  through  accredited  and  affiliated  training partner/training centers. Under PMKVY, as on 01.02.2018, 44.13 lakh (appx.) candidates have been trained (29.91 lakh STT + 7.82 lakh RPL) / undergoing training (6.4 lakh appx.) under Short Term Training and Recognition of Prior Learning.

Under  the  PMKVY  scheme,  skill  development  training  is  being  imparted through 7549 accredited and affiliated centres located at districts and block levels in the country.

- (d) Skill  India  programmes  is  preparing  high  skill  work  force  and  it  is  in  turn leveraging  Make  in  India  programme  of  the  Government  of  India  which  aims  to promote foreign investment in the country.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 376 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Setting up of LNG Terminal
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: HARI OM PANDEY, MANOJ KUMAR TIWARI, (SMT.) RATNA DE(NAG)

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 376

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2018

## SETTING UP OF LNG TERMINAL

376.    SHRI HARI OM PANDAY: SHRI MANOJ TIWARI: DR. RATNA DE (NAG):

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

## isVªksfy;e vkSj izkd`frd xSl ea=h

- (a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  set  up  LNG  Terminals  at  large  scale  in  the  entire country  particularly  in  Ambedkar  Nagar  and  Hooghly  in  near  future  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government also proposes to set up a LNG pumps at large scale in the country particularly in Delhi and National Capital Region in near future; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor along with the details of plan out lay and funding pattern thereto?

## ANSWER

## पेट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्री ( श्री धमेन्द  र प्रधान)

## MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a): At present, Government has no proposal to set up Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Terminal in Ambedkar Nagar and Hoogly.
- (b)  &  (c): As  per  the  available  information,  Government  has  not  received  any  proposal/ application for setting up of LNG pumps in Delhi and National Capital Region in near future. However,  Petroleum  &  Natural  Gas  Regulatory  Board (PNGRB)  grants  authorization  for setting  of  Compressed  Natural  Gas  (CNG)  &  Liquefied  Natural  Gas  (LNG)  pumps  in  the country. They have received proposal from Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) for setting up of Liquefied Compressed Natural Gas  (LCNG)  & LNG  Dispensing facilities in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Recently, PNGRB has received one more proposal for setting up of LCNG Retail Outlets across various States of India from H-Energy Private Limited. These proposals will be processed on finalization of the internal guidelines for grant of No Objection Certificate (NOC).

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 374 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Stampede at Taj Mahal
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, NARANBHAI KACHHADIA, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN, SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, P.R. SUNDARAM, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., SUDHEER GUPTA, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT

(a)to(c)      No, Madam.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.374 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5.2.2018

## STAMPEDE AT TAJ MAHAL

374. SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

- KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:
- SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:
- SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN:
- DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:
- SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:
- DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:
- SHRI P.R. SUNDARAM:
- SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJASINH SHANKARRAO:
- SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:
- SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:
- DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a stampede has occurred at the mausoleum's east entry gate at Taj Mahal recently; (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons  therefore  along  with  the  number  of people who got injured due to stampede; (c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to avoid such incidents in future; (d) whether the Government has also introduced a new ticket price system in Taj Mahal and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor; (e) whether  Archaeological  Survey  of  India  (ASI)  has  restricted  daily  visitors  in  Taj Mahal  and  whether  this  cap  is  also  applicable  on  foreign  tourists  and  if  so,  the details thereof; and the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to protect the world heritage

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (f) monument of Taj Mahal?

- (d) A  preliminary  notification  for  new  ticket  price  at  Taj  Mahal  has  been  notified  on 21.12.2017.  As per the notification the rates are as follows:
- (e) No, Madam.
- (f) The  conservation  and  preservation  works  are  being  taken  up  as  per  approved program  and  availability  of  funds.    The  security  management  is  being  done  by Central Industrial Security Force.

|                                                                | Cashless          | Cash              |
|----------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
| Citizen of India and visitors from SAARC and BIMSTEC countries | Rs.35/- per head  | Rs.40/- per head  |
| Other nationals                                                | Rs.550/- per head | Rs.600/- per head |
| Other nationals (for additional facilities)                    | Rs.800/- per head | Rs.850/- per head |
Lok Sabha Question No. 371 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Declaration of Teerth Sthal
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: BHOLA SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.371 ANSWERED ON 05.02.2018

## DECLARATION OF TEERTH STHAL

## 371.  SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the recent decision of  the  UP Government declaring certain sites in the State as 'Teerth Sthal' for development of religious tourism;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  assistance  proposed  to  be provided to Uttar Pradesh in this regard;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  identified/proposes  to  identify more  such  sites  which  can  be  developed  for  promotion  of religious tourism; and
- (d)
- if so, the details thereof and the action taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI K.J. ALPHONS)

- (a) to (b): As per the information provided by the State Government of  Uttar  Pradesh,  no  scheme  to  declare  various  sites  as  'Teerth Sthal' or religious sites has been promulgated by the State Government.
- (c) to (d): The  development,  promotion,  and  identification  of  new tourism  destinations  is  primarily  the  responsibility  of  the  State Governments/Union Territory (UT) Administrations. However, Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to State Governments/UT Administrations for various tourism projects subject to submission of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), availability  of  funds,  liquidation  of  pending  utilization  certificates against  the  funds  released  earlier  and  adherence  to  the  relevant scheme guidelines.

*******