opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 4541 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: PM-SGMBY in Delhi
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Ramvir Singh Bidhuri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4541

ANSWERED ON 20/08/2025

## PM-SGMBY IN DELHI

## 4541. SHRI RAMVIR SINGH BIDHURI

Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of households are provided with solar connections under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PM-SGMBY) in Delhi during the last year;
- (b) the amount of subsidy given so far under the said yojana in Delhi and the quantity of electricity saved so far; and
- (c) the steps being taken by the Government to further expand the said yojana?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER

## (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

(a) to (c) The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) is implementing PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG: MBY) across the country including the NCT of Delhi, since February, 2024. The scheme targets to achieve rooftop solar installations in one crore households in the residential sector by 2026-27.

The scheme is demand driven, and no state-wise targets are allocated. All residential consumers in the country having grid connected electricity connection of the local DISCOM can avail the benefits of the scheme by applying on the National Portal of the scheme.

A total of 2274 households have been benefitted with installation of rooftop solar under the scheme in the NCT of Delhi during the last year i.e. 13.02.2024 to 31.12.2024.

An amount of Rs 21.33 crore has been disbursed as Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to the beneficiaries under the scheme in the NCT of Delhi as on 12.08.2025.

Since the launch of the scheme, a total of 14.89 MW rooftop solar capacity has been installed under the scheme as on 12.08.2025.

The Government has taken following measures to expand the scheme:

- Online process from registration to disbursal of subsidy directly in to the bank account of the residential consumer through National Portal.
- Availability of collateral free loan from nationalized banks at concessional interest rate of reporate plus 50 bps i.e. 6% per annum for the present with tenure of 10 years.
- Simplified the regulatory approval process by waiving technical feasibility requirement and introducing auto load enhancement upto 10 kW.
- Simplified process for registration of vendors to ensure sufficient and qualified vendors are available.
- Capacity building and training programmes being conducted for creating skilled manpower.
- Creating awareness about the scheme, through awareness and outreach program such as print advertising in leading newspapers, TV commercials campaigns, Radio campaigns across FM stations including regional channels, etc., in the country
- Regular monitoring of the progress of the scheme at different levels including with states/DISCOMs.
- Established grievance redressal mechanism for timely resolution of grievances. A Call Centre with telephone number 15555 is operational in 12 languages.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4539 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: Special Maternity Leave
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: Shri Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4539

(ANSWERED ON 20.08.2025)

## SPECIAL MATERNITY LEAVE

## 4539. SHRI VISHWESHWAR HEGDE KAGERI:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has made provisions for special maternity leave in cases of stillbirth or death of a child soon after birth for women employees;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether there is a provision for Special Casual Leave for Government employees donating organs; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): Considering the potential emotional trauma caused due to stillbirth or death of a child soon after birth which has a far reaching impact on the life of mother, this Department on 2nd September  2022  made a  provision  to  provide  60  days  of  Special  Maternity  Leave  to  a  female Central Government employees, in such cases.

In  recognition  of  the  noble  and  selfless  act  of  donating  an  organ  to  save  or  improve another human life, and with the aim of encouraging organ donation among Central Government employees,  Special  Casual  Leave  is  provided  by  issue  of  orders  on  25th  April,  2023  by  this Department so that a maximum of 42 days of Special Casual Leave can be granted to a Central Government servant for donating an organ. This is extended as a special welfare measure in the larger public interest.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 4538 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: Speed of Vande Bharat Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Imran Masood

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4538 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.08.2025

## SPEED OF VANDE BHARAT TRAINS

†4538.     SHRI IMRAN MASOOD:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the reasons for decline in the average speed of Vande Bharat trains though they are designed to run at high speeds;
- (b) the details of the steps being taken by the Government to address track conditions, infrastructure challenges, difficult terrain and weather affects  to  improve  the  operating  speed  of  Vande  Bharat  trains  on  all routes;
- (c) the details of the progress made so far in modernisation of railway infrastructure to  improve  semi high speed and high speed rail services; and
- (d) the  time  limit  and  the  strategy  to  ensure  the  expected  speed  for running Vande Bharat trains on new routes?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (d)  Upgradation  and  improvement  of  railway  tracks  on  Indian Railways to increase the speed potential have been carried out in a big way during last 10 years. The measures for track upgradation include use of 60 kg rails, wider base concrete sleepers, thick web switches, longer

rail  panels,  H  Beam  sleepers,  modern  track  renewal  and  maintenance machines etc. As a result of above measure, there has been significant increase in speed potential of the tracks. The details of speed potential of railway tracks during 2014 vis a vis 2025 are as under:

| Sectional Speed   | 2014     | 2014   | 2025     | 2025   |
|-------------------|----------|--------|----------|--------|
| (kmph)            | Track Km | %      | Track Km | %      |
| < 110             | 47,897   | 60.4   | 22,862   | 21.6   |
| 110 - 130         | 26,409   | 33.3   | 59,800   | 56.6   |
| 130 & above       | 5,036    | 6.3    | 23,010   | 21.8   |
| Total             | 79,342   | 100    | 1,05,672 | 100    |

On  Indian  Railways  (IR),  the  average  speed  of  the  train  services, including Vande Bharat services, is dependent inter alia on the Maximum Permissible Speed (MPS) of the section,  track structure, geometry along the  route  including    gradients  and  curves,  topographical  conditions, number  of  stoppages  enroute,  line  capacity  utilisation  of  sections, maintenance  works  in  the  section  etc.  Accordingly,  the  Vande  Bharat train services have been charted at the Maximum Permissible Speed of the respective sections over which the trains are being operated.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4531 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: Solar Parks in Maharashtra
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Balya Mama Suresh Gopinath Mhatre

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4531

ANSWERED ON 20/08/2025

## SOLAR PARKS IN MAHARASHTRA

## 4531. SHRI BALYA MAMA SURESH GOPINATH MHATRE

Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of Solar Parks and ultra mega solar energy projects sanctioned so far in Maharashtra along with the number of projects operational;
- (b) whether the projects are confined to a limited number of districts and the rest are neglected and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been conducted for these projects and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether despite construction of Solar Parks in some areas production has not been started due to non-availability of grid connectivity and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether any project is held up or slowed down in pace due to lack of co-ordination in the implementation of projects between the Union and the State Government of Maharashtra and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  &  (b) There are currently four  solar parks sanctioned in Maharashtra under scheme for 'Development of Solar Parks and Ultra-Mega Solar Power Projects'. These solar parks are located in Beed, Dhule and Chandrapur districts of Maharashtra.

The solar parks under the scheme are sanctioned based on the proposals received from the State Government, including identification of sites for the parks.

- (c)  Based  on  the  notification  of  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change,  the development of solar parks is exempted from Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
- (d) & (e) There are no such instances of solar parks in Maharashtra approved under the above scheme, where production has not started due to non-availability of grid-connectivity.

The  Union  Government  works  in  co-ordination  with  the  State  Government  and  other stakeholders, to ensure that the implementation of the solar parks is expedited.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4529 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: Restoration of Pass Facility for Journalists
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Putta Mahesh Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4529

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.08.2025

## RESTORATION OF PASS FACILITY FOR JOURNALISTS

## 4529. SHRI PUTTA MAHESH KUMAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the  Government is  aware  that  the  complimentary  railway  pass facility  for  accredited  journalists  was  discontinued  during  the  COVID-19 pandemic and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any representations have been received from journalist associations or media professionals requesting restoration of this facility and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  contemplating  reinstating  the  railway  pass facility in view of the crucial role played by journalists in ensuring timely and transparent information dissemination; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

( SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (d): Indian Railways strives to provide affordable services to all strata of the society and gave subsidy of Rs. 60,466 crore on passenger tickets in 2023-24. This amounts to concession of 45% on an average, to every person, travelling on Railways. In other words, if the cost of providing service is Rs. 100, then the price of ticket is Rs. 55 only. This subsidy is continuing for all passengers. Further, concessions beyond this subsidy amount are continuing for many categories like 4 categories of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjans), 11 categories of patients and 8 categories of students.

-2-

Proposals/requests/suggestions/representations, both formal and informal for different facilities/Works across the country are received from State Governments,  Members  of  Parliament,  Ministries  of  Central  Government, elected representatives, Railways'  own requirements, organizations/rail users etc. at various levels including Railway Board, Zonal Railways, Division Office etc. As receipt of such proposals/complaints/suggestions is a continuous and dynamic process, centralized compendium of such requests is not maintained. However, these are examined and action as found feasible and justified is taken from time to time .

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4527 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: Re-establishment of Schemes
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Rajesh Naranbhai Chudasama

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION DIARY NO.4527

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.08.2025

## RE-ESTABLISH OF SCHEMES

## 4527. SHRI RAJESH NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning to re-establish schemes like Nai Udaan and Naya Savera which promote education among religious minorities in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the budget allocation for educational scholarship schemes for minorities during the last five years, year-wise and the amount of money spent, State-wise?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a)& (b): The  Ministry  of  Minority  Affairs  implemented  'Nai  Udaan'  Scheme  to  provide financial support to the minority candidates who qualify in the preliminary examinations conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), and State Public Service Commissions (SPSCs). Further,  Ministry of Minority Affairs also implemented a scheme namely  'Free  Coaching  and  Allied  Scheme  for  the  candidates/students  belonging  to  minority communities/ Naya Savera' under which Free Coaching was provided to assist students/candidates belonging  to  the  notified  minority  communities  by  way  of  special  coaching  for  qualifying examinations  for  admission  in  technical/professional  courses  and  competitive  examination  for recruitment to Group 'A, 'B' & 'C' services and other equivalent posts under the Central and State Governments including public sector undertakings, banks, railways  etc.

The  'Nai  Udaan'  and  'Naya  Savera'  Schemes  have  been  discontinued  w.e.f.  Financial  2022-23. Further, as of now, there is no such proposal under consideration in the Ministry for re-establishing of these schemes.

- (c):      The  Ministry  has  implemented  the  following  three  Scholarship  schemes  for  the  education empowerment  of  the  six  centrally  notified  minority  communities  viz.  Buddhist,  Christian,  Jain, Muslim, Parsi and Sikh:
- i) Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme;
- ii) Post Matric Scholarship Scheme; and
- iii) Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Scheme.

The Schemes intend to provide financial assistance to the poor and meritorious students belonging to minority communities to enable them to pursue professional and technical courses. However, the Scholarship schemes have not been approved for implementation beyond 2021-22. The details of amount spent under these schemes, year-wise and state -wise, are available in public domain on the website of the Ministry, i.e.,www.minorityaffairs.gov.in.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4522 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: Growth Plan of BSNL
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Shri Sudheer Gupta, Shri Chavan Ravindra Vasantrao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4522 ANSWERED ON 20 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## GROWTH PLAN OF BSNL

## 4522.   SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA: SHRI CHAVAN RAVINDRA VASANTRAO:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the Government  has prepared  a plan/strategy  to push the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), the State run telecom operator's  growth, improve their  customer experience and boost its revenues and  if so, the details thereof and the steps taken in this regard;

(b) whether the Government has held any high level performance review meeting with the top officials of the  BSNL  and if so, the  details thereof  and the issues  discussed during the said meeting;

(c) whether the Government has set any  target revenue growth for the coming years  under the said plan;

- (d) if so, the details thereof and the timeline set for  achieving the same; and

(e) the other specific measures taken/proposed to be taken to improve the financial health and operational efficiency of BSNL?

## ANSWER

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

- ( a ) Government has taken various steps for revival of BSNL as mentioned below:
-  In 2019, first revival package amounting to around Rs. 69 Thousand Crores was given that brought down the operating costs of BSNL/MTNL.
-  In 2022, revival package amounting to around Rs. 1.64 Lakh Crores was given. It focused on infusing fresh capital, restructuring debt, viability gap funding for rural telephony etc.
-  In  2023,  Government approved the allotment of 4G/5G spectrum to BSNL with the total outlay of around Rs. 89 Thousand Crores.
-  In 2025 an additional amount of Rs 6,982 Crores has been approved as additional CAPEX support for rollout of 4G network by BSNL across the country.

As a result of these packages, BSNL has started earning operating profits from F.Y. 2020-21.

(b) to (d) High level performance review meetings are held with the top officials of the BSNL on  a  regular  basis.  The  discussions  focus  on  strengthening  BSNL's  role  in  the  telecom  sector, accelerating infrastructure rollout, enhancing citizen-centric service delivery, Growth and Modernization etc.

(e) In line with Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, BSNL has placed purchase order for indigenously developed 4G sites for pan India deployment. Supply of 4G equipment has started from September 2023 and as on 31.07.2025, total 96,300 4G sites have been installed and 91,281 sites are ON-Air. The equipment is 5G upgradable from technology perspective.

To enhance the network infrastructure and service quality, BSNL is executing the various schemes of Government such as 4G Saturation Scheme, Border Out Post ( BOP )/ Border Intelligence Post ( BIP ) etc . The details of these schemes are available on https://usof.gov.in.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4514 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: Financial Position of MTNL
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Ms Sayani Ghosh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4514 ANSWERED ON 20 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## FINANCIAL POSITION OF MTNL

## 4514.   MS SAYANI GHOSH:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) has defaulted  on  loan  repayments  exceeding  Rs.  8,300  crore  to  a  consortium  of  public  sector  banks between August 2024 and February 2025 and if so, the details of the total loan defaulted during the last ten years;

(b) the total outstanding financial liabilities of MTNL including bank dues, State Government Bonds and dues to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) as of date;

(c) the reasons for MTNL's repeated loan defaults and the steps taken by the Government to address the company's liquidity crisis;

(d) whether any bailout package or revival roadmap is under consideration for MTNL and  if so, the details thereof;

- (e) the impact of these defaults on the financial health of the lending public sector banks; and

(f) whether the Government is exploring any merger, disinvestment or strategic partnership to manage MTNL sustainability and  if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

( a ) to (f) The total bank loans defaulted of MTNL during the last ten years is Rs. 8,659.08 crore with total debt liability of Rs. 34,713.08 crore as on 31.07.2025. These loans have been declared as Non-Performing Asset (NPA).

The Financial distress is due to decline in revenue from operations. As per Cabinet Approval in 2022, a Committee of Secretaries comprising of (i) Secretary, Department of Expenditure, (ii) Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, (iii) Secretary, Department of Investment & Public Asset Management and (iv) Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises has been constituted to take up the issues related to debt resolution of MTNL  through asset monetisation etc.

An agreement between BSNL and MTNL has been signed, with effect from 1 st  January 2025, to run MTNL's telecommunication services by taking over maintenance and operational activities of MTNL on EBIDTA neutral basis.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4512 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: Dues of Tilam Sangh
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Kuldeep Indora

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 45 12

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20TH AUGUST, 2025

## DUES OF TILAM  SAN(,H

## 4512  SHRI KULDEEP INDORA:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that payment of Rs. 57.04 crore to Rajasthan State Oil  seeds Growers Co-operative Federation  Ltd.  (Tilam  Sangh) is still  pending against  the procurement  made by the Food Corporation of  India (FCI) between 2007-08 and 2014-15 and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether during  2009- 10 to 2014-15,  a deduction  in  cost of Rs. 41.57 crore was made by the department without any clear justification;
- (c) the present  status of claims for payment of claims for the years 2015-16 (Rs. 6.73 crore), 2016- 17 (Rs. 7.37 crore) and 2017-18 (Rs. 3.34 crore) and whether it is still pending due to delay in fixation of rates; and
- (d) if  so, the time by which  the pending payment will  be made to the Tilam  Sangh, representing the co-operative institutions particularly  of Sriganganagar, Bikaner, Udaipur, Raj samand, Kota and Jhalawar-Bundi districts?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

(a) to  d): Department  of  Food  and  Public  Distribution (DFPD) reimburses  the  expenditure incurred  by States, that have  opted  for Decentralized Procurement (DCP)  mode  for procurement/distribution  of food-grains to the beneficiaries of  Central Schemes as per allocation made by Government of India. Further, funds are also released by Food Corporation of  India (FCI) to  the  States for  the  quantum  of  food-grains handed  over  to  them  by  States for Central  Pool. Rajasthan being a non-DCP State receives funds from  FCI.

Final  rates of  procurement incidentals are fixed  on  the basis of  audited accounts and supporting documents furnished by  the  State Government to  DFPD  and any difference between provisional rates and final  rates of  incidentals are settled  accordingly.

As per information received from  FCI, all  claims of  State Government for  the period of RMS 2007-08 to 2014-15 have been settled as per Final Cost Sheets, issued by DFPD.

SeqcSe  See