opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1200 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: GST Slab Fixed for User Development Fees
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Shri Matheswaran V S

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1200

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, JULY 28, 2025 / SRAVANA 6, 1947 (SAKA)

## GST SLAB FIXED FOR USER DEVELOPMENT FEES

1200. SHRI MATHESWARAN V S:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state: Whether the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate has been fixed for the User Development Fees (UDF) which are charged from passengers by the Airline operators and if so, the details thereof since 2017?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

GST rates and exemptions are prescribed on the recommendations of the GST Council, a Constitutional body comprising members from the  Union  and  State/UT  Governments.  GST  at  the  rate  of  18%  is applicable on the User Development Fee (UDF), which is collected by the airline operator as an agent of the airport operator.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1198 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Delay in Disbursement of Higher Wage Pensions
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri M K Raghavan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1198

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025

## DELAY IN DISBURSEMENT OF HIGHER WAGE PENSIONS

1198. SHRI M K RAGHAVAN:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)whether  the  Government  has  noticed  undue  delay  in  release  of higher  wage  pensions  to  the  employees  under  EPFO  Regional Office, Kozhikode;
- (b)if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether the Government has taken note of shortage of staff in EPFO Regional Office, Kozhikode, affecting its ability to handle the
- workload; and
- (d)if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  steps  taken  by  the Government to resolve the issue?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

(a) to (d): EPFO  received  a  total  no.  of  10,807  applications  in regional office Kozhikode for pension on higher wages out of which 90.7% of the applications have been already disposed of.

Further,  PPOs  for  pension  on  higher  wages  have  been issued to more than 80% of the already retired 725 eligible applicants who have completed all the formalities.

In  order  to  ensure  prompt  disposal  of  applications  for pension on higher wages, directions and clarifications for engagement/provision of additional manpower have been issued from time-to-time to regional offices under EPFO.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1197 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Notification on Ecologically Sensitive Areas
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Dr. Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1197

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025

## Notification on Ecologically Sensitive Areas

## 1197.     DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the current status of the draft notification classifying parts of the Western Ghats in six States as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs);
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to address the concerns of the States, especially of Kerala,  that  this  notification  would  subsume  agricultural  plantations,  curtail  the State's hydro- electricity plans and lead to a migration crisis given the State's high population density;
- (c) the steps being taken by the Government to get the States to arrive at a consensus;
- (d) whether the Government has fixed a timeline to complete the consulting process and release and implement the final notification; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a)  to  (e)  In  order  to  protect  the  rich  biodiversity  of  Western  Ghats  region,  the  Ministry Environment, Forest and Climate Change has published the draft notification on Ecologically Sensitive Area of Western Ghats, vide S.O. 3060(E) dated 31.07.2024 with an area of 56,825 square  kilometer  spread  across  six  States  namely,  Goa,  Gujarat,  Karnataka,  Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

The Government of Kerala has submitted the revised proposal on 02.11.2024, requesting for declaring 8590.69 square kilometer area in 98 villages spread across 29 talukas in 12 districts as Ecologically Sensitive Area, based on the verification of the suggestions received from the Local Self Government Department.

Moreover, Ministry has also received comments/objections/suggestions on this draft notification  from  various  stakeholders  and  the  same  have  been  forwarded  to  the  State Government for providing comments/suggestions on the matter.

In order to address the issues raised by the respective State Governments, the Ministry has constituted a Committee to examine the suggestions of the six States in a holistic manner, keeping in view the conservation aspects of the ecosystem, and the rights, privileges, needs and  developmental  aspirations  of  the  region.  The  concerns/suggestions  of  the  State Governments, including Kerala are deliberated by the Committee with the respective State Governments on merit for finalization of the draft notification.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1186 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Employment in EPFO
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri Dulu Mahato, Shri Lumbaram Choudhary, Shri Chavda Vinod Lakhamshi, Shri Govind Makthappa Karjol, Smt. Kamlesh Jangde, Dr. Bhola Singh, Shri Parshottambhai Rupala, Smt. Himadri Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1186

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025

## EMPLOYMENT IN EPFO

1186. SHRI GOVIND MAKTHAPPA KARJOL:

SMT. HIMADRI SINGH:

SHRI CHAVDA VINOD LAKHAMSHI:

DR. BHOLA SINGH:

SHRI LUMBARAM CHOUDHARY:

SHRI DULU MAHATO:

SMT. KAMLESH JANGDE:

SHRI PARSHOTTAMBHAI RUPALA:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)the details of the total  number  of  vacancies  filled  by  the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) during the last five years; and
- (b)the total number of posts lying vacant in the said organisation at present?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

- (a) & (b): The total number of vacancies filled by EPFO during the last 5 year is 6007 as detailed in the Annexure-I. Further, generation of vacancies and filling thereof is a continuous process.  To fill up the posts lying vacant in EPFO, recruitment agencies viz. Union Public  Service  Commission  (UPSC),  Staff  Selection  Commission (SSC,) National Testing Agency (NTA) etc. are regularly conducting exams.

*                                                       *****

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) & (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question no. 1186 for 28.07.2025.

Details of the year wise recruitments in EPFO in last 5 years:-

| Year             |   Number of candidates |
|------------------|------------------------|
| 2021             |                   2189 |
| 2022             |                      0 |
| 2023             |                    421 |
| 2024             |                   2979 |
| 2025 (till July) |                    418 |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1185 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Recognition of Gaudiya Nritya as Classical Dance
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Jagannath Sarkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1185

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025

## RECOGNITION OF GAUDIYA NRITYA AS CLASSICAL DANCE

## 1185. SHRI JAGANNATH SARKAR:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Gaudiya  Nritya,  a  traditional  dance  form  of  West  Bengal,  has  been  officially recognized as an Indian classical dance by the Government;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  grant  it  classical  status  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (e) the details of the department or authority within the Government responsible for granting official recognition to dance forms as classical dances; and
- (f) the procedure and criteria for a dance form to be recognized as a classical dance, including the application process and evaluation parameters thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) to (f) The Government of India does not confer classical status on any dance form.

The Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, preserves, promotes and documents India's diverse performing arts, including music, dance, drama, and folk & tribal traditions including Gaudiya Nritya.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1175 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: “AI Career for Women” Initiative
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Shri Pradeep Kumar Singh, Shri Jugal Kishore, Shri Bharatbhai Manubhai Sutariya, Shri Kripanath Mallah, Smt. Bijuli Kalita Medhi, Ms. Bansuri Swaraj, Shri Jashubhai Bhilubhai Rathva, Dr. Jayanta Kumar Roy, Shri Jagdambika Pal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1175

ANSWERED ON- 28/07/2025

## 'AI CAREER FOR WOMEN' INITIATIVE

1175. SHRI BHARATBHAI MANUBHAI SUTARIYA: SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH: SHRI JASHUBHAI BHILUBHAI RATHVA: SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH: SHRI JUGAL KISHORE: DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY: SMT. BIJULI KALITA MEDHI: MS. BANSURI SWARAJ: SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

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

- (a) the number of women benefitted from 'AI Careers for Women' initiative;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  expand  this  initiative  beyond  the existing six States to ensure greater inclusion and digital empowerment of women across the country; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (c)   AI Career for Women is an in-depth training program that offers 320 hours of training for young women and girls in rural undergraduate colleges. The program was launched  in April, 2025 and the curriculum is being developed. This Ministry has initiated the process for setting up of 08 centres of excellence in Hub colleges in four States. The training has been planned to commence in August, 2025, with a focus to train and enable economic opportunities for 8000 girls during the first year (till June, 2026). Currently, the program is planned for two years to set-up 30 hub centres and 150 spoke centres, with a further scope for expansion, based on the learnings and outcomes from the first year.

- ******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1174 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: India-(World Economic Forum) WEF ‘Skills Accelerator’ Initiative
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Smt. Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam, Shri Vijay Baghel, Shri Kripanath Mallah, Shri Ashish Dubey, Smt. Kriti Devi Debbarman, Shri Hasmukhbhai Somabhai Patel, Shri Anup Sanjay Dhotre, Shri Miteshbhai Rameshbhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1174

ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025

## INDIA(WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM) WEF 'SKILLS ACCELERATOR' INITIATIVE

† 1174.

SHRI HASMUKHBHAI SOMABHAI PATEL: SHRI MITESH PATEL BAKABHAI: SMT. KRITI DEVI DEBBARMAN: SHRI VIJAY BAGHEL: SHRI ASHISH DUBEY: SHRI ANUP SANJAY DHOTRE: SMT. POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM: SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  identified  certain  specific  States  or  regions  for implementation of India World Economic Forum (WEF) 'Skill Accelerator' initiative;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the manner in which the said initiative is likely to be helpful in addressing skill gaps across the emerging sectors such as green energy, advanced manufacturing and digital technologies; and
- (d) the details of the provisions for participation or partnership of private sector under the said initiative?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (d) The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in collaboration with  the  World  Economic  Forum  (WEF),  deliberated  on  the  'India  Skills  Accelerator' initiative during a high-level roundtable on 08.04.2025 at Kaushal Bhawan in New Delhi.

The  'India  Skills  Accelerator'  aims  to  close  these  gaps  through  inclusive  upskilling  and reskilling,  mobilizing  investment  in  lifelong  learning,  and  fostering  government-industry collaboration.  By  enabling  agile  career  transitions,  promoting  scalable  training,  and aligning education with industry need - especially in high-growth sectors like AI, robotics, and energy the  initiative  is  to  empower  India's  youth  and  drive  future -ready  workforce development. The initiate has robust private sector participation with 02 out of 04 co-chairs from the private sector.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1171 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Data of Employment Exchanges
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri Karti P Chidambaram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1171

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 th  JULY, 2025

## DATA OF EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES

## 1171.    SHRI KARTI P CHIDAMBARAM:

## Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  maintains  detailed  data  collected  by  the employment exchanges across the country during the last two years, including the number of registrations, vacancies notified, submissions made, placements, 10th class and above educated persons on the live register, placement of Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates and placements of women candidates;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  employment  exchange,  district  and  Statewise; and
- (c) whether the Government proposes to publish said data in a systematic,  updated  and  publicly  accessible  manner  through  the Employment Exchange portal and the Open Government Data (OGD) Platform  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  prescribed timeline?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

(a) to (c): Government maintains detailed data collected by the employment exchanges. State-wise data on various parameters, including the number of registrations,  vacancies  notified,  submissions  made,  placements,  10th class  and  above  educated  persons  on  the  live  register,  placement  of Scheduled  Caste  (SC)  candidates  and  placements  of  women  candidates pertaining  to  employment  exchanges  based  on  the  data  furnished  by  the States is available in the Employment Exchange Statistics at https://dge.gov.in/dge/dge-publications-reports-

The Ministry is also implementing the National Career Service (NCS) Project  for  transformation  of  the  National  Employment  Service.     National Career  Service  (NCS)  Portal  is  a  one-stop  solution  for  providing  career related  services  including  jobs  from  private  and  government  sectors, information  on  online  &  offline  job  fairs,  job  search  &  matching,  career counselling, vocational guidance, information on skill development courses, skill/training programmes etc. through a digital platform [www.ncs.gov.in]. The  updated  data/various  reports  are  systematically  published  and  are publically available at https://www.ncs.gov.in/\_layouts/15/ncsp/ViewStaticReport.aspx

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1170 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Patna Bird Sanctuary, UP
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Devesh Shakya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1170

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025

## Patna Bird Sanctuary, UP

## 1170.   SHRI DEVESH SHAKYA:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the number of birds, migratory birds, tourists visited and expenditure incurred on maintenance of Patna Bird Sanctuary at Etah District in Uttar Pradesh during the last three years and the current year;
- (b) whether  the  said  Sanctuary  has  been  included  for  conservation  and  development under any National or State Scheme;
- (c) if so, the details of the funds sanctioned and utilised so far under the said Schemes, yearwise;
- (d) whether  any  efforts  have  been  made  to  involve  local  communities,  particularly women Self-
- Help Groups (SHGs), eco-tourism guides or Forest Committees for conservation and development of the said Sanctuary and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government is  taking  any  steps to  further  develop  this  Sanctuary  and promote environmental education, bio-diversity conservation and local tourism?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) to (e) The  protection  and  management  of  wildlife  is  primarily  theresponsibility  of  the respective  State  Governments  and  Union  Territory  Administrations.The  details  of the number of birds including migratory birds and the tourists visiting the protected areas are not maintained at the level of Ministry.

The  Ministry  provides  financial  assistance  to  State  Governments  and  Union Territory  Administrations,  including  for  the  State  of  Uttar  Pradesh  under  the Centrally Sponsored Scheme 'Development of Wildlife Habitats' for conservation and management of wildlife and development of its habitats, as per the Annual Plan of  Operations  received  in  the  Ministry.  The  activities  supported under  the  scheme includes  protection  measures,  habitat  management,  awareness  creation,  fostering ecotourism involving local communities etc.

Detail  of  funds  released  to  the  State  of  Uttar  Pradesh,  including  Patna  Sanctuary under the above scheme during last three years and current year are as below:

## (₹. in lakhs)

|   2022-23 |   2023-24 |   2024-25 |   2025-26 |
|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|   266.747 |   290.644 |   393.867 |   398.512 |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1169 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Contractual Employment Practices at Tata Wistron facility in Kolar
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri M Mallesh Babu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1169 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025

## CONTRACTUAL EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES AT TATA WISTRON FACILITY IN KOLAR

1169. SHRI M MALLESH BABU:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)whether the Government is aware that a substantial proportion of the workforce employed at the Tata Wistron facility in Kolar that comprises outsourced contractual workers engaged through thirdparty agencies;
- (b)if so, whether the Government has received any representations or conducted  any  inquires  regarding  the  repeated  typically  of  11 months short-term contract cycles for such workers wherein many of them are offloaded after three such renewals; and
- (c)if so, the details thereof along with action taken by the Government to address the issues related to job security, social security  benefits  and  compliance  with  the  provisions  of  the Contract Labour (Regulations and Abolition) Act,1970?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 has been enacted to regulate the employment of contract labour in certain  establishments  and  to  provide  for  its  abolition  in  certain

- (a) to (c): circumstances and for matters connected therewith.

No  representations  have  been  received  in  this  Ministry -term contract regarding 'the repeated typically of 11 months short cycles' of contractual workers at Tata Wistron facility in Kolar.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1165 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Role of EPFO in ELI Scheme
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri Shyamkumar Daulat Barve

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1165 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025

## ROLE OF EPFO IN ELI SCHEME

†1165. SHRI SHYAMKUMAR DAULAT BARVE:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)whether giving the responsibility of Employment Linked Incentives (ELI) Scheme to the EPFO is a deviation from its protector role of employees savings and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether the Government guarantees that EPF Savings of Employees will not be directly or indirectly used under this scheme and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether  some  companies  misused  these  savings  in  Production linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme of 2020 even after the warnings by labour organizations and later on EPFO had to exclude them from the scheme; and
- (d)whether the Government is considering to establish independent monitoring  system  to  check  any  potential  misuse  or  lack  of transparency in implementation of the scheme by EPFO?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

- (a) to (c): No,  there  is  no  impact  on  the  fiduciary  role  of  EPFO  in being given the responsibility of implementing the ELI Scheme.

Further, ELI is a central sector scheme funded wholly by Government  of  India.  Payment  of  incentives  under  Part  A  of  the scheme will be through Adhaar Bridge Payment System directly into the Adhaar Seeded bank account of the First Time employee. Under Part  B,  the  incentive  will  be  released  directly  into  the  PAN  linked

Bank Account of the establishment/employer.

- (d): A  steering  committee  has  been  constituted  to  ensure effective rollout and monitoring of the ELI scheme, with representation from various labour intensive and related Ministries/Department.

*****