opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 3777 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-24
Subject: Establishment of Offshore Campus of Johns Hopkins University
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Parbhubhai Nagarbhai Vasava, Shri Jagdambika Pal, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3777 ANSWERED ON 24.03.2025

## Establishment of Offshore Campus of Johns Hopkins University

†3777. Shri Parbhubhai Nagarbhai Vasava: Shri Anurag Singh Thakur: Shri Jagdambika Pal:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  any  discussions  were  held  between  Government  and delegation  of Johns Hopkins University (JHU), USA regarding establishment of an offshore Campus in India and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to ensure that Indian students will be benefitted from such collaborations with JHU, particularly in areas like dual and joint degree programmes, faculty exchange and research partnerships; and

(c) the time by which the JHU offshore campus is likely to be established in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

(a)  to  (c):  The  National  Education  Policy  2020  (NEP)  was  framed  and  approved  by  the Government of India to transform and improve the quality of education in the country. One of the key aspects of NEP 2020 is 'Internationalisation of Education', which aims to promote and share best academic & research practices through interactions among diverse education systems.

In alignment with the vision of NEP 2020, Ministry of Education has initiated several measures for the internationalization of the higher education system in India which include:

- University Grant Commission has issued 'UGC (Academic Collaboration between Indian and Foreign Higher Educational  Institutions  to  offer  Twinning,  Joint  Degree  and  Dual Degree  Programmes)  Regulations,  2022'.  These  regulations  aim  to  promote  enhanced

academic  collaboration  with  foreign  higher  educational  institutions  leading  towards academic and research excellence in the Indian higher educational institutions

- Further,  'University  Grants  Commission  (Setting  up  and  Operation  of  Campuses  of Foreign  Higher  Educational  Institutions  in  India)  Regulations,  2023'  was  issued  to facilitate the establishment of branch campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEIs) in India.

A delegation led by President, Johns Hopkins University (JHU), Baltimore, Maryland, USA met the various functionaries of Ministry of Education & Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi on 17  November,  2024. Deliberations were held to strengthen academic and research collaborations between JHU and premier Indian Higher Education Institutions.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3774 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-24
Subject: Incentives to States for New Higher Educational Institutes
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Malaiyarasan D

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3774 ANSWERED ON 24.03.2025

## Incentives to States for New Higher Educational Institutes

## 3774. Shri Malaiyarasan D:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  introduced  any  scheme  to  incentivize  States  for  establishing  new higher educational institutions or expanding existing ones;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the criteria for selection of Institutes under the scheme along with the nature of incentives provided;
- (d) the progress made so far in its implementation;
- (e) the budget allocated for Tamil Nadu for this purpose and the funding mechanism for supporting the establishment or expansion of these institutions; and
- (f)  the  impact  of  this  scheme  on  improving  access  to  higher  education  in  underserved  regions  and meeting the growing demand for higher education?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (Dr. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

(a) to (f): Ministry of Education is implementing Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) which is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at funding specific State government universities and colleges, so as to improve their quality by ensuring their conformity to prescribed norms and standards.

The government has launched the third phase of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) in June 2023  in  the  form  of  Pradhan  Mantri  Uchchatar  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (PM-USHA)  with  an  outlay  of  Rs. 12926.10  crore  for  the  period  2023-24  to  2025-26  to  cater  to  needs  of  educationally  unserved/ underserved  areas.  Under  PM-USHA,  priority  is  given  to  Focus  Districts.  The  focus  districts  are identified by the concerned States/ UTs based on various criteria including low Gross Enrolment Ratio, Gender  Parity,  population  proportion  and  enrolment  proportion  for  females,  transgenders,  Scheduled Castes,  Scheduled  Tribes,  and  Other  Backward  Classes,  Aspirational/  Border  Area/  Left  Wing Extremism prone district, etc.

The scheme envisages improvement in access, equity and excellence in State Higher Education system through support under various components viz., Multi-Disciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERU), Grants to Strengthen Universities (GSU), Grants to Strengthen Colleges (GSC), New Model Degree Colleges (NMDC) and Gender Inclusion and Equity Initiatives (GIEI). Under the scheme, 615 units have been approved in various States/UTs with a total amount of Rs. 8178.71 Crore under various components.

Since the inception of the scheme in 2013, a total of 99 units with a central support of Rs.526 Crore have been approved in the State of Tamil Nadu under various components. Out of this, an amount of Rs.416.13 Crore has been released to the State, so far.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3773 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-24
Subject: National Sports University in Manipur
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS &SPORTS

## (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3773 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2025

National Sports University in Manipur

3773. Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam:

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  a  regular  Vice-Chancellor  has  been  appointed  for  the National Sports University in Manipur, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) the progress of infrastructure development of the said University as per the approved timeline along with the reasons for any delays; and
- (c)  the  details  of  the  sanctioned  number  and  the  actual  number  of faculty members recruited in the National Sports University?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

## [DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA]

- (a)    Currently,  the  National  Sports  University,  Imphal,  Manipur  is functioning  under  an  officiating  Vice  Chancellor.  The  process  for appointment  of  a  regular  Vice-Chancellor  has  been  initiated  and applications for the post of Vice-Chancellor have been received in the Ministry. A Search Cum Selection Committee has also been constituted by the Central Government for recommending a panel of names out of

the applicants, for the purpose of selection of the Vice-Chancellor in National Sports University, Imphal, Manipur.

- (b) The Physical progress of infrastructure development  at the University stands at 83.50% as of February 2025. The scheduled date of completion  of  the  University  has  been  extended  from  25.12.2024  to 16.11.2025 on account of delay caused by the recent events in the State of Manipur.
- (c)  The  details  of  the  sanctioned  number  and  the  actual  number  of faculty members recruited in the National Sports University is as under:

| Faculty Strength   |   Professor |   Associate Professor |   Assistant Professor |
|--------------------|-------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
| Sanctioned         |           1 |                     2 |                     8 |
| Actual             |           1 |                     1 |                     8 |

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 3769 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-24
Subject: Unemployment Rate
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri Brijendra Singh Ola

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3769

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  MARCH, 2025

## UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

3769.  SHRI BRIJENDRA SINGH OLA:

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

- (a) whether  the  unemployment  rate  has  increased  in  the  country during the last five years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  details  of  the  status  of  employment  in  the  country,  State/UTwise?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (c):  The  official  data  on  Employment  and  Unemployment  is collected through Periodic Labour  Force Survey (PLFS), which  is conducted  by  Ministry  of  Statistics  and  Programme  Implementation (MoSPI) since 2017-18. The survey period is July to June every year.

As  per  the  data  available  in  latest  Annual  PLFS  Reports,  the estimated Unemployment Rate (UR) on usual status for persons of age 15 years and above has decreased from 4.8% in 2019-20 to 3.2% in 202324.

Further,  as  per  the  data  available  in  latest  Annual  PLFS  Report, the estimated Worker Population Ratio (WPR), indicating employment on usual status for persons of age 15 years and above has increased from 50.9% in 2019-20 to 58.2% in 2023-24. State/UT-wise details on WPR is available  in  the  PLFS  reports  at  https://www.mospi.gov.in/downloadreports?main\_cat=ODU5&cat=All&sub\_category=All

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3768 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-24
Subject: Conservation of Nadipura-Bichpura, Narmadapuram
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Darshan Singh Choudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †3768 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2025

## CONSERVATION OF NADIPURA-BICHPURA, NARMADAPURAM

## †3768.  SHRI DARSHAN SINGH CHOUDHARY:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  conservation  of Nadipura- Bichpura, the capital of the Gour Kings, located in the Bankhedi tehsil of Narmadapuram district; and
- (b) the details of the steps taken by the Government to conserve the cultural activities of the performing arts in the Gondwana region?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF CULTURE AND  TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) There  are  291  Centrally  Protected  Monuments  under  the  jurisdiction  of Archaeological  Survey  of  India  (ASI)  in  Madhya  Pradesh.  Monuments located  in  the  Bankhedi  tehsil  of  Narmadapuram  district  is  not  under  the protection of ASI.
- (b) South  Central  Zone  Cultural  Centre  (SCZCC),  Nagpur  (an  autonomous organization  under  Ministry  of  Culture)  has  organized  various  cultural programmes/festivals/workshops like Orange City Craft Mela & Folk Dance Festival, Lok Kala Yatra, Lok Kala Darshan, Lok Nritya Bharat Bharti, Tribal Dance Festival, Theatre & Training workshops, Guru Shishya Parampara etc. in Gondwana region.

Artists of Gondwana region have also performed in various programmes/festivals  organized  by  North  Central  Zone  Cultural  Centre (NCZCC),  Prayagraj (an autonomous  organization under Ministry of Culture)  like  Narmada  Utsav  held  at  Madhya  Pradesh,  Bhagwan  Birsa Munda programme held at New Delhi, Rashtriya Shilpa Mela held at Uttar Pradesh, Vilupt Lok Evam Janjatiya Kala Utthan Mahotsav held at Madhya Pradesh, Adi Parv held at New Delhi and Maha Kumbh-2025 (Kalagram) held  at  Uttar  Pradesh.  NCZCC  also  provides  opportunities  to  the  artists from Gondwana region to perform at various platforms whether it be Gond painting or Gond folk art form.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3765 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-24
Subject: External Debt
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Shri Amra Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3765 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2025

## EXTERNAL DEBT

## 3765. Shri Amra Ram:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the external debt burden on the country as on 31st December, 2024;
- (b) the details of such external debt burden as on 31st March, 2014; and
- (c) the annual interest payable against the said external debt?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

- (a):  As of end-September 2024 (the latest available data), India's external debt is USD 711.8 billion.
- (b):  India's external debt as of end-March 2014 stood at USD 446.2 billion.
- (c):  The interest paid on external debt in 2023-24 (Provisional) was USD 27.1 billion and for 2013-14 it was USD 11.2 billion.
Lok Sabha Question No. 3762 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-24
Subject: Vacancies in NCLT
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Sasikanth Senthil, Km. Sudha R

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3762

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE 24th of MARCH, 2025 /

CHAITRA 3, 1947 (SAKA)

VACANCIES IN NCLT

## QUESTION

3762.    SHRI SASIKANTH SENTHIL: KM. SUDHA R:

Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- ( a) the total number of vacancies currently existing in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) along with the number of courts functioning full-time and part-time;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  increase  the NCLT Benches and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons for the delay in appointing judicial and technical members to fill these  vacancies  and  the  timeline  proposed  for  addressing  the issue;
- (c)  the  impact  of  these  vacancies  on  the  timely  resolution  of insolvency cases under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC);
- (d)  whether  any  disciplinary  action  has  been  taken  against  any former as well as incumbent member/chairperson of NCLT; and
- (e)  whether the  Government has conducted any assessment of the backlog of cases caused by the delays in NCLT functioning and if so, the details thereof along with the measures being taken to ensure that all NCLT courts operate full-time and efficiently to expedite corporate insolvency resolutions?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (HARSH MALHOTRA) (a)  As  on  date,  two  posts  of  Judicial  member  and  one  post  of Technical  Member  are  vacant  in  benches  of  National  Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). As on 07.03.2025, 30 courts are functioning, out  of  which  26  are  functioning  on  full  day  basis  and  4  are functioning on half day basis. (b)  As  of  now,  there  is  no  proposal  to  increase  NCLT  Benches forthwith. Filling up of vacancies is a continuous process. (c)  Cases are disposed in the Tribunal as per procedure provided in  law  and  increased  pendency  cannot be directly attributed to only vacancies. NCLT is a quasi-judicial body. There are several reasons  for  the  pendency  of  cases  in  NCLT  which,  inter-alia includes circumstances and complexity of each case, nature of evidence, number of Interlocutory Applications (IAs), stay by the higher courts, cooperation of stake holders etc. (d) There has been no disciplinary case against any former as well as incumbent member/President of NCLT. (e)  To  facilitate  expeditious  disposal,  Government  is  taking necessary steps on an ongoing basis, which include implementation  of  e-court  and  hybrid  court  project,  regular colloquiums  for  capacity  building  of  members,  provisions  of infrastructure, filling up of vacancies, etc.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3760 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-24
Subject: Impact of Rising Household Debt and Borrowing Trends
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Adv. Adoor Prakash, Dr. Dharamvira Gandhi, Shri Benny Behanan, Shri Gaurav Gogoi, Dr. Kirsan Namdeo

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3760

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 MARCH 2025

## IMPACT OF RISING HOUSEHOLD DEBT AND BORROWING TRENDS

## 3760. Shri Gaurav Gogoi:

Adv. Adoor Prakash:

Shri Benny Behanan:

- Dr. Kirsan Namdeo:
- Dr. Dharamvira Gandhi:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- a) the data on household debt levels including outstanding personal loans and credit card debt, as of 2025;
- b) the measures taken by the Government to mitigate rising debt burdens on middle and lowerincome households, including regulatory interventions;
- c) whether  the  Government  has  assessed  the  impact  of  rising  household  debt  on  financial stability and consumer spending; and
- d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- a) As  per  the  latest  available  data  from  the  Reserve  Bank  of  India,  the  stock  of  household financial liabilities, including personal loans and credit card debt, amounts to ₹ 120.96 lakh crore as of end-March 2024.
- b) In  a  major  reform  measure,  the  Union  Budget  2025-26  has  proposed  that  there  will  be  no income tax payable upto income of ₹ 12 lakh under the new tax regime. The proposed income tax structure, with change in slabs and rates, is expected to substantially reduce the taxes of the middle class and leave more money in their hands, boosting household savings. The focus of the Government on ease of doing business, skilling, employment generation, social security and overall economic growth is expected to improve the incomes and financial positions of middle and lower income households.
3. c & d)  The Reserve Bank of India in its Financial Stability Report published in December 2024 has mentioned that the increase in household debt is driven by a growing number of borrowers rather than an increase in average indebtedness. As per the data released by the Ministry of Statistics  and  Programme  Implementation  on  28 th February  2025,  the  compound  average growth rate between 2019-20 and 2023-24 in household gross disposable income and private final consumption expenditure, both at current prices, was closely comparable to each other at 10.1 per cent and 10.3 per cent respectively.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3752 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-24
Subject: Rights of Gig Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri Joyanta Basumatary

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3752 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2025

## RIGHTS OF GIG WORKERS

3752. SHRI JOYANTA BASUMATARY:

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

- (a)whether it is a fact that the Government is failing to address the challenges  faced  by  gig  workers  in  accessing  social  security
- benefits, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)the manner in which the Government protect labour rights of gig workers in the absence of a dedicated central law;
- (c)whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  introduce  any  central legislation specifically addressing the rights of gig workers in the country; and
- (d)if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): For  the  first  time,  the  definition  of  'gig  workers'  and 'platform  workers'  and  provisions    related  to  the  same  have  been provided  in  the  Code  on  Social  Security,  2020  which  has  been enacted by the Parliament.

The Code provides for framing of suitable social security measures for gig workers and platform workers on matters relating to life and disability cover, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits, old age protection, etc.

Recognizing  the  contribution  of  gig  workers  of  online platforms, the Union Government in its Budget announcement made on 1.2.2025, proposed to register them on e-Shram portal, arrange for  their  identity  cards  and  provide  health  care  under  Ayushman Bharat-  Pradhan  Mantri  Jan  Aarogya  Yojana  (AB-  PMJAY)  health scheme.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 3751 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-24
Subject: SC/ST Cells in IITs
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Dr. Gumma Thanuja Rani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3751 ANSWERED ON-24/03/2025

## SC/ST Cells in IITs

## 3751.  Dr. Gumma Thanuja Rani:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is true that out of the 19 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) that have SC/ST cells, 16 are non-functional and have not conducted any recent events;
- (b) if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c) the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  that  the  IITs  which currently  do  not  have  any  SC/ST  cells  comply  the  guidelines  of  the  University Grants Commission (UGC);
- (d) whether it is also true that there is a lack of funds for the existing SC/ST cells;
- (e) if so, the steps taken by the Government to ensure timely allocation and disbursal of funds to these cells; and
- (f) whether it  is  also  true  that  many  of  the  cells  do  not  have  any  room  allotted  for meetings and discussions and do not have any information or a mechanism to check the implementation of reservation policy?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

(a) to (f): Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are autonomous Institutions governed by Institute  of  Technology  Act,  1961  and  the  statutes  framed  thereunder.  All  IITs  have functional  SC/ST  cell,  and  receive  necessary  funding  and  logistical  support  from  their respective institutions for smooth functioning.

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