opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 4232 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Ban on Stoppage of Trains in Bihar
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Raja Ram Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4232 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.03.2025

## BAN ON STOPPAGE OF TRAINS IN BIHAR

4232. SHRI RAJA RAM SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:-

- a)  whether the people of Karakal, Bihar demanded to lift the ban on stoppage of trains in the following stops Dihri, Ankora, Bikramganj and other, if so, the details thereof;
2. (b) whether the Government  has  taken  cognizance of the ban regarding  the  stoppage,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the reasons therefor; and
3. (c) the details of action taken report on lifting the ban from stoppage of trains?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (c)  Dehri-On-Sone  station  is  presently  being  served  by  100 regular  train  services  while  Ankorha  and  Bikramganj  stations  are being served by  8 and 12 regular train services.  Besides, provision of stoppage of trains is an on-going process on Indian Railways, subject to operational feasibility, traffic justification etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4231 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Challenges in Spectrum Auction 2024
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Shri Vishaldada Prakashbapu Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4231 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH  MARCH, 2025

## CHALLENGES IN SPECTRUM AUCTION 2024

## 4231.   SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has examined the factors behind the subdued response to the 2024 spectrum auction where a significant portion of the offered spectrum remained unsold;

(b) if so, the details of the analysis and the primary challenges identified in attracting higher participation from telecom service providers;

(c) whether the Government has reviewed the pricing, reserve bidding mechanisms or spectrum allocation policies to address industry concerns and enhance auction outcomes;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the findings of such a review and any policy adjustments being considered; and

(e) the  specific  steps  being  planned  to  optimize  spectrum  allocation  and  ensure  that  future auctions generate greater interest and revenue for the telecom sector?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

(a) &(b) Spectrum  auction  2024  was  held  in  the  background  of  a  highly  successful  spectrum auction of 2022 where TSPs had bid for Spectrum amounting to Rs 1.5 Lakh Crores. Spectrum Auction 2024  was  primarily  conducted  to  maintain  continuity  of  services  by  giving  opportunity  to  TSPs  to replenish the Spectrum which was expiring in 2024 and to incrementally augment the existing mobile services. All the available spectrum in 800 MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz and 26GHz spectrum bands spread across 22 Licensed Service Areas (LSAs) was  put to auction.

(c), (d) &(e) The  reserve  price  along  with  other  terms  &  conditions  for  spectrum  auction  are recommended by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).  After consultation with stakeholders, TRAI employs different econometric models and considers other relevant factors to recommend Reserve Prices  of  different  bands  in  different  LSAs.    Accordingly,  these  recommended  reserve  prices  are finalised by the Government before conduct of every spectrum auction.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4229 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Tidal Energy Generation
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Azad Kirti Jha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4229

ANSWERED ON 26/03/2025

## TIDAL ENERGY GENERATION

4229. SHRI AZAD KIRTI JHA

Will the MINISTER OF NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:

- (a) the total power generation from tidal energy (in million kWh) in the country for each of the last ten years, State-wise;
- (b) The details of installed capacity (in MW) of tidal energy projects in India along with their locations and operational status;
- (c) whether the Government has undertaken any pilot projects or feasibility studies for tidal energy development and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the challenges identified in the large-scale adoption of tidal energy in India and the steps being taken to address them; and
- (e)   whether the Government has any plans or policies to promote tidal energy investment as part of its renewable energy strategy and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF  STATE  FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

- (a) to (c)  As of now, there has been no power generation from tidal energy in the country over the last ten years, in any state.  However, the Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, in association with Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited (CRISIL), conducted a study titled 'Tidal & Wave Energy in India: Survey on the Potential & Proposition of a Roadmap' in December 2014. As per report, the tidal energy potential is estimated around 12,455 MW.

No pilot project has been installed so far.

- (d)  Tidal energy is still at a nascent R&D stage and the major challenges in the large-scale adoption of tidal energy in India include high capital costs and technological barriers.
- (e)  The Ministry is implementing a 'Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development Programme (RE-RTD)' through various research institutions and industry to develop indigenous technologies  and  manufacturing  for  widespread  applications  of  new  and  renewable  energy including tidal energy in efficient and cost-effective manner in the country.

Under  the  Re-RTD  programme,  the  Ministry  provides  up  to  100%  financial  support  to Government/non-profit  research  organizations  and  upto  70%  to  Industry,  start-ups,  private Institutes, entrepreneur, and manufacturing units.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4227 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: New Warehouses in Gujarat
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Smt. Geniben Nagaji Thakor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4227

## TO BE ANSWERED  ON 26TH MARCH,  2025

## NEW WAREHOUSES IN GUJARAT

## 4227.  SMT. GENIBEN NAGAJI  THAKOR:

Will  the Minister  of  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND  PUBLIC  DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of warehouses in Gujarat;
- (b) whether the Government has any plan to open new warehouses in Gujarat; and
- (C) if  so, the details thereon

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS. FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI  BAMBHANIYA)

- (a): Presently, the covered storage  capacities (owned+hired) including  Silo, available in Gujarat for the storage offoodgrains are as under:-
- (b) &  (c): Gujarat is  a Decentralised Procurement (DCP)  State. State Government procures, stores and distributes foodgrains as per their National Food Security Act  (NFSA)/Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) requirement.

| Agencies                      | Capacity in LMT   |
|-------------------------------|-------------------|
| FoodCorporation of India      |                   |
| Central Warehouse Corporation |                   |
| State Agencies                |                   |

Food Corporation of  India  (FCI)  comes into  picture in  case of  less procurement  wherein shortfall  is  bridged by  inducting  stock or  excess procurement  wherein excess stock is  moved to deficit areas.

Requirement of  Storage capacity in FCI depends upon the level of procurement, requirement  of buffer norms and Public  Distribution  System (PDS) operations for  food grains (Rice and Wheat). FCI continuously assesses and monitors the storage  capacity and based on the requirement and storage gap assessment, storage capacities are created/hired through  following schemes at  a Pan India  level including Gujarat:

- 1 Construction of Silos under Public Private Partnership(PPP)  mode
- a a+ Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG) Scheme
- 3 Central Sector Scheme 'Storage &  Godowns'
4. Hiring of godown  from Central Warehousing  Corporation Corporations (SWCs)/State Agencies (CWC)/ State  Warehousing
- 5 Private Warehousing Scheme (PWS)
6. Creation of godowns under Asset Monetization

####
Lok Sabha Question No. 4226 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: New Draft Space Law
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: Dr. Mohammad Jawed, Shri Imran Masood

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4226

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025

## NEW DRAFT SPACE LAW

## 4226.  DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED:

SHRI IMRAN MASOOD:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the  timeline  for  finalising  and  notifying  the  new  draft  space law  and  the  manner  in  which  it  is  different  from  the  initial version prepared six years ago;
- (b) the key provisions in the new draft law to streamline foreign investment and increase private sector participation in India's space industry;
- (c) the  regulatory  and  punitive  powers  proposed  to  be  given  to Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (INSPACE)  to  ensure  better  compliance  and  governance  in  the space sector; and
- (d) the  status  and  operational  framework  of  the  proposed  Rs. 1,000  crore  venture  capital  fund  for  space  startups  and  the estimated timeline for its implementation?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC

GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH): ****

(a), (b) & (c) Being the maiden bill in the sector, the same is undergoing thorough scrutiny  in  the  Government  and  will  be  introduced  after  all  due process are complete. Dept. of Economic Affairs (DEA) and DPIIT has concurred with the approval of IN-SPACe Board for selection of M/s SIDBI Venture Capital Limited as Investment Manager for ₹1,000/- Crore VC Fund as recommended by the Empowered Committee constituted for this

(d) purpose. Further process is underway.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4225 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Revenue from Spectrum Auction
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Shri Balashowry Vallabhaneni

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4225 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH  MARCH, 2025

## REVENUE FROM SPECTRUM AUCTION

## 4225.   SHRI BALASHOWRY VALLABHANENI:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has approved the reuse of nearly 1100 MHz spectrum;
- (b) if so, the details of the bands in which the above spectrum is going to be used;

(c) the anticipated revenue that the Government is expected to generate by auctioning the said spectrum;

- (d) the time by which the said spectrum is going to be auctioned;

(e) whether the said spectrum is going to be used for 5G and 6G services and if so, the details thereof; and

(f) whether the Department of Communications has yet to take a call on the 6 GHz band and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

(a) & (b) The Government has decided to repurpose a total of 687 MHz of spectrum, in the Radio Frequency bands viz. 6425-6725 MHz, 6725-7025 MHz, 2500-2690 MHz and 1427-1518 MHz, for providing mobile telecommunication services.

(c) & (d) The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recommends the reserve price and other terms and conditions for spectrum auctions after consulting stakeholders and analyzing relevant  factors  using  econometric  models.  These  reserve  prices,  set  for  different  bands  across Licensed Service Areas (LSAs), are then finalized by the Government before the auction, which is generally held every financial year. The revenue generated from the auction depends not only on the reserve  prices  but  also  on  the  level  of  market  participation,  which  is  driven  by  the  demand  for spectrum.

(e) Such  spectrum  acquired  by  the  TSPs  through  auction  can  be  used  to  provide  mobile telecommunication services using any technology including 5G/6G.

(f) The government has already decided to repurpose a part of the 6 GHz band i.e. 6425-6725 MHz and 6725-7025 MHz for providing mobile telecommunication services.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4224 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Electricity Generation Capacity through Nuclear Energy
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Dhairyasheel Sambhajirao Mane, Shri Sudheer Gupta, Shri Chavan Ravindra Vasantrao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4224

ANSWERED ON 26/03/2025

## ELECTRICITY GENERATION CAPACITY THROUGH NUCLEAR ENERGY

## 4224.   SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA SHRI CHAVAN RAVINDRA VASANTRAO

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

- (a) the present electricity generation capacity of the Country through nuclear power generation;
- (b) whether the Government is working on any indigenously developed technology to generate electricity through atomic energy and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  extent  to  which  this  indigenously  developed  technology  will  reduce  the  Country's dependency on foreign countries and solve the problem of shortage of electricity in the Country;
- ( d) whether the Government has entered into any agreements with any foreign country/countries for supply of fuel which is the major obstacle in electricity generation through nuclear power; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof along with the names of the foreign countries?

## ANSWER

## THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  PERSONNEL,  PUBLIC  GRIEVANCES  &  PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) The present installed nuclear power capacity in the country is 8180 MW. Another reactor of 700 MW capacity has been connected to the grid on March 17, 2025, taking the capacity to 8880 MW.
- (b)  India follows an indigenous, sequential three-stage nuclear power programme to ensure long  term  energy  security  and  optimum  utilization  of  the  country's  nuclear  resources. Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) form the first stage of the programme. Their unit  size  has  been  increased  from  220  MW  to  540  MW  and  further  to  700  MW.  The indigenous 700 MW PHWR shall now be the mainstay of the nuclear power expansion

programme of the country in the near and medium terms. The standard 220 MW PHWR termed as Bharat Small Reactor (BSR), which has a proven safety and performance record, is  being  upgraded  to  reduce  the  land  requirement  and  make  it  deployable  close  to  the industries for use as a captive power plant.

(c)  Presently, there are 25 nuclear power reactors in existence with total capacity of 8880 MW, out of which 21 reactors are PHWRs consisting of more than 60% of total existing capacity. There is a plan to increase the nuclear power capacity to 22480 MW by 2031-32, out of which 15160 MW capacity will be from PHWRs.

Further, Government of India has envisioned a nuclear power capacity of 100 GW by 2047 based on both existing and emerging new technologies, which will certainly help in solving the problem of shortage of electricity in the country.

(d) & (e) The only existing long term uranium procurement agreement from any foreign country is with M/s. 'Navoiyuran' State Company, Uzbekistan. The contract is valid upto 2026 and for total quantity of 1100MTU.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 4223 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: BharatNet Project in Karnataka
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Shri P C Mohan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4223 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH  MARCH, 2025

## BHARATNET PROJECT IN KARNATAKA

## 4223.   SHRI P C MOHAN:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps being taken to expedite the implementation of BharatNet Phase-II in rural areas of Karnataka including timelines for completion;
- (b) whether the Government has identified any challenges in deploying high-speed broadband in remote and tribal areas of Karnataka;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the measures taken to address them; and
- (d) the  details  of  the  financial  allocations  for  BharatNet  in  Karnataka  under  the  Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) for the 2025-26 budget?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

(a) to (c) BharatNet  is being  implemented  in  a  phased  manner  to  provide  broadband connectivity  to  all  Gram  Panchayats  (GPs)  in  the  country  including  Karnataka.  6084  GPs  of Karnataka  have  been  made  service  ready  under  BharatNet  Phase-I.  Providing  connectivity  to remaining 6 GPs in the state and further strengthening of the network is under the scope of Amended BharatNet Program (ABP). ABP also includes connectivity to all non-GP villages on demand basis including remote and tribal areas of the state.

(d) Rs.  22,000  crore  has  been  provisioned  in  Union  Budget  (2025-26)  for  the  whole  country including Karnataka for BharatNet project for financial year 2025-26.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4218 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: National Broadband Mission in Andhra Pradesh
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Shri Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Shri G M Harish Balayogi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4218 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH  MARCH, 2025

## NATIONAL BROADBAND MISSION IN ANDHRA PRADESH

## 4218.   SHRI G M HARISH BALAYOGI: SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has established a National Fiber Grid to maintain a record of the entire optical fiber network across the country;

(b) if so, the details regarding the existing optical fiber network in Andhra Pradesh including total  fiber  length,  coverage  across  Konaseema  and  Palnadu  districts and major  service  providers involved;

(c) the  details  regarding  the  villages  in  Konaseema  and  Palnadu  districts  where  broadband connectivity is operational under the National Broadband Mission, especially in schools, colleges, health centres, Anganwadi centres, police stations, post offices, Government offices and other public institutions;

(d) whether  the  Government  has  plans  to  expand  broadband  connectivity  to  villages  in Konaseema and Palnadu  districts that currently lack access under the proposed Broadband Mission 2.0;

(e) if so, the details of the specific villages and institutions in Konaseema and Palnadu districts planned for broadband expansion along with the implementation timeline;

(f) whether the Government is collaborating with private sector companies, State Governments, or international agencies to accelerate broadband expansion in rural areas; and

- (g) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

- (a) No
- (b) In Andhra Pradesh under the BharatNet Project, 60,123 KM Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) has been laid to connect 12,935 Gram Panchayats (GPs) across all 26 districts. In addition, 20 GPs have been connected through Satellite. In Palnadu district, 2577 KM OFC has been laid to connect 510 GPs and in Konaseema district, 1444 KM OFC has been laid to connect 384 GPs.

(c) In  Konaseema  1269  Fiber  to  the  Home  (FTTH)  connections  and in  Palnadu  1271 FTTH connections are provisioned to schools, colleges, health centres, Anganwadi centres, police stations, post offices, Government offices and other public institutions.

(d) & (e) The  National  Broadband  Mission  (NBM)  2.0  aims  to  address  the  challenges  of broadband connectivity in areas lacking access through the connectivity to GPs and about 3.8 Lakh non-GP villages on-demand basis under the Amended BharatNet programme.

(f) & (g) The  amended  BharatNet  Programme  is  planned  to  be  implemented  through  the collaboration of Private companies selected through an open tendering process.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4217 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Number of Dilapidated Railway Bridges
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Rajeev Rai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4217 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.03.2025

## NUMBER OF DILAPIDATED RAILWAY BRIDGES

## † 4217. SHRI RAJEEV RAI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of dilapidated railway bridges in the country which pose threat to train operations thereupon;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  formulated  any  scheme  to repair/rebuilt the said bridges;
- (c) if  so,  the  number  of  such  bridges  in  the  districts  of  Mau, Ghazipur,  Gorakhpur,  Azamgarh  and  Ballia  in  Uttar  Pradesh proposed to be repair/rebuilt by the Government; and
- (d) the time by when the said repair/rebuilding work is likely to get completed?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (d):  There is a well established system of inspection of  railway bridges on Indian Railways. All the railway bridges are inspected twice a year, one before the onset of monsoon and one detailed inspection after  the  monsoon.    In  addition,  certain  railway  bridges  are  also inspected more frequently depending upon their condition.

Repair  /  strengthening  /  rehabilitation  /  rebuilding  of    railway bridges  is  a  continuous  process  and  is  undertaken  whenever  so warranted  by  their  physical  condition  as  ascertained  during  these inspections and not on the basis of age.

All  railway  bridges  are  safe  for  train  movement  at  permitted speed.

The  information  on  railway  bridges  is  maintained  Zone-wise. Uttar Pradesh  is covered  under  East  Central Railway, Northern Railway,  North  Central  Railway,  North  Eastern  Railway  and  West Central Railway.

During 2014-2025 (upto Feb'2025), 14294 nos of railway bridges were repaired / rehabilitated/ strengthened /rebuild  in  Indian  Railway which include 4163 nos of railway bridges in zonal railways covering Uttar Pradesh.

As on 01.04.2024, 9784 nos of railway bridges are sanctioned for repairs/  strengthening/  rehabilitation/  rebuilding  on  Indian  Railway which include 2658 nos of railway bridges in zonal railways covering

Uttar Pradesh.

Completion  of  Bridge  works  depends  on  various  factors  like preparation of the schemes, approval of General Arrangement Drawing (GAD), availability of approach road, duration of working season in a year  due  to  climatic  conditions,  availability  of  blocks,  imposition  of speed restrictions etc.

*****