opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 4041 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-18
Subject: National Fair Status to Gangasagar Mela
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Bapi Haldar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-4041

ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025

## NATIONAL FAIR STATUS TO GANGASAGAR MELA

## 4041. SHRI BAPI HALDAR:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the long-standing demand from the people of West Bengal  and  the  State  Government  of  West  Bengal  to  grant  national  fair  status  to  the Gangasagar Mela, in parity with the Kumbh Mela as it annually attracts over one crore pilgrims from across India as an event of national cultural and spiritual significance;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and action taken thereon;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government is likely to consider inclusion of Gangasagar Mela in its list of centrally recognized religious events and extend financial and infrastructural support to improve pilgrim amenities, transportation and disaster management in the region; and
- (e) whether the Government has received any formal proposal from the State Government of West Bengal for the same and if so, the status thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) The Government is aware of the significance of the Gangasagar Mela, which is held annually at West Bengal and attracts a large number of pilgrims from different parts of the country. The Gangasagar Mela is organized by the State Government of West Bengal and arrangements relating to pilgrim amenities, transportation and disaster management are undertaken  at  the  State  level.  The  Central  Government,  under  its  existing  schemes  and programmes,  has  provisions  through  which  the  State  Government  may  seek  admissible support for cultural promotion and related infrastructure.

Whenever,  festivals/  fairs  of  National/  regional  importance  are  being  organized  by State  Governments,  the  Ministry  of  Culture  provides  cultural  troupes  for  performances during the event on the request of the organizers.

(e) No such proposal is under the consideration of the Government. Inclusion of any Mela in the list of Centrally recognized religious events does not come under the purview of Ministry of Culture.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4040 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-18
Subject: Central Assistance for Landslide Victims of Wayanad
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Adv. Adoor Prakash

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4040

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2025/SRAVANA 27, 1947 (SAKA)

## Central Assistance for Landslide Victims of Wayanad

## 4040. Adv. Adoor Prakash:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether the Government has extended the deadline for utilisation of the sanctioned loan  to  the  State  of  Kerala  for  rehabilitation  of  the  landslide  victims  in  Wayanad district;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the conditions;
- (c) the details of amount utilised by the State Government from the central loan; and
- (d) whether the Government has taken any decision to write off the bank loans of the landslide victims, if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (b): Yes. An amount of Rs. 529.50 crore was released to Kerala on 11.02.2025 under the  scheme  for  Special  Assistance  to  States  for  Capital  Investment  (SASCI)  2024-25  for reconstruction  of  disaster  affected  infrastructure.  Subsequently,  on  request  of  the  State Governments, guidelines of SASCI 2024-25 were amended and the date for utilization of the amount released was extended to 31.12.2025. As per the conditions of the sanction, the State Government has to notify a SASCI Nodal Agency (SNA) for implementing the projects. The funds released by the Government of India to the State Government shall be transferred by the State Government to the bank account of the SNA within 30 days.

(c): As per data available in the Public Financial Management System (PFMS), Government of Kerala has transferred Rs. 529.50 crore released by the Central Government to the SNA account of Disaster Management Department, Kerala. As on 12.08.2025, no expenditure has been incurred from this account.

(d): The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued standing guidelines on relief measures to be provided  by  respective  lending  institutions  in  areas  affected  by  natural  calamities.  The measures/directions, inter alia, include restructuring of the existing loans, sanctioning of fresh loans  on  sympathetic  consideration  without  insisting  for  personal  guarantee,  even  without additional  fresh  security,  at  concessional  rate  of  interest,  no  penal  interest  and  even  with benefit of Interest Subvention. Moreover, banks write-off non-performing assets as per their Board-approved policies and within the extant guidelines issued by RBI. The banks take all commercial  decisions  in  the  best  interest  of  the  organization  and  government  does  not interfere in such decisions.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 4038 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-18
Subject: Welfare of Sportspersons in Telangana
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Shri Arvind Dharmapuri

## Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports

## Government of India (Department of Sports)

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4038 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025

## Welfare of Sportspersons in Telangana

4038.     Shri Arvind Dharmapuri:

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

- (a) total number of athletes secure Government jobs through sports quotas in the country during the last five years, State/UT-wise;
- (b) whether various sports categories under which the athletes of Telangana have secured Central Government jobs along with the allotted job profile during the last five years and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of reservations, employment benefits and eligibility criteria for the intake of sportspersons in Government services and public sector undertakings jobs; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to create awareness among sportspersons about employment opportunities and reservation policies in Government jobs in the country including Telangana?

## THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

## ANSWER (DR MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

- (a)  to  (d):  The  recruitment  of  meritorious  sportspersons  against sports  quota  vacancies  in  Central  Government  Offices  is  done  in accordance with the consolidated instructions issued by the Department  of  Personnel  &  Training  (DoP&T)  vide  their  O.M.  No. 14032/01/2013-Est(D) dated 3 rd   October, 2013 (further  consolidated vide OM dated 18.11.2022 and 04.03.2024). These instructions and the  details  thereof  are  available  at  https://doptcirculars.nic.in  and also  on  the  website  of  the  Ministry  of  Youth  Affairs  and  Sports  to create  awareness among Sportspersons  in respect of  Government

jobs in the country including in the State of Telangana. However, the data regarding recruitment made by various Ministries / Departments in the country is not maintained by this Ministry.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 4036 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-18
Subject: Region-specific Training Modules in Jalapaiguri
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Dr. Jayanta Kumar Roy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4036

ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025

## REGION-SPECIFIC TRAINING MODULES IN JALAPAIGURI

4036.  DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  introduce  region-specific  skill  training modules for tea industry, eco-tourism and forest-based livelihoods in Jalpaiguri and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any partnerships with local Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) or Polytechnics in Jalpaiguri have been established for certified skill development; 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): Under the Government of India's Skill India Mission (SIM) , the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) delivers skill, re-skill and up-skill training through an  extensive  network  of  skill  development  centres  under  various  schemes,  viz.  Pradhan Mantri Kaushal VikasYojana (PMKVY), Jan Sikhshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) through Industrial  Training  Institutes  (ITIs),  to  all  the  sections  of  the  society  across  the  country including Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal. The SIM aims at enabling youth of India to get future ready and equipped with industry relevant skills.

PMKVY is demand-driven and sector-agnostic scheme, covering multiple trades relevant to local economies,  including those connected  to tourism, hospitality, agriculture, and handicrafts. Under PMKVY, there are 08 job roles related to tea industry, eco-tourism and forest-based livelihoods in Jalpaiguri district and 11,159 candidates have been trained under these trades in Jalpaiguri district since 2015-16 (as on 30.06.2025).

Collaborations  with  ITIs/polytechnics  are  enabled  wherever  feasible  through  convergence with State government initiatives and the Skill Hub Initiative. In Jalapiguri District of West Bengal, there are 08 ITIs, out of which, 7 are Government ITIs and 01 is Private ITI.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4034 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-18
Subject: Allocation of Funds for Flagship Programmes
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Smt. Mahima Kumari Mewar, Shri Madhavaneni Raghunandan Rao, Shri Jagdambika Pal, Shri Praveen Patel

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4034 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025

## Allocation of Funds for Flagship Programmes

4034.     Smt. Mahima Kumari Mewar:

Shri Madhavaneni Raghunandan Rao:

Shri Praveen Patel:

Shri Jagdambika Pal:

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

- (a)  the  total  outlay  for  FY2025 -26  and  its  comparison  from  the allocation of funds during the last five years;
- (b) the break-up of said allocation across flagship programmes such as Khelo India, National Sports Federation (NSFs), Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA);
- (c)  the  details  of  the  provisions  made  for  inclusive  schemes  like sports  for  Persons  with Disabilities  (PwD),  Women's  leagues,  and Tribal/youth engagement; and
- (d)  the  data  regarding  the  allocation  of  funds  for  such  schemes  for PwD, Women and Tribals?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (DR MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

- (a)  to  (d):  The  Ministry  of  Youth  Affairs  and  Sports  has  been allocated Rs. 3794.30 Crore at Budget Estimate stage for the year 2025-26.  The  funds  allocated  to  this  Ministry  during  the  last  five years is given below:

|   S. No. | Financial Year   |   Fund allocated (BE) in Crores |
|----------|------------------|---------------------------------|
|        1 | 2024-25          |                         3442.32 |
|        2 | 2023-24          |                         3397.32 |
|        3 | 2022-23          |                         3062.6  |
|        4 | 2021-22          |                         2596.14 |
|        5 | 2020-21          |                         2826.92 |

The  funds  are  allocated  Scheme-wise  in  this  department.  The details of funds allocated under various schemes of this Ministry are available  in  the  public  domain  on  the  website  of  the  Ministry  at https://yas.nic.in/ , under the 'Documents' tab. Under  the  Khelo  India  Scheme,  the  component ' Promotion  of Inclusiveness through Sports ' focuses on making sports accessible to  all,  especially  by  promoting  sports  for  women,  persons  with disabilities, marginalized communities, and by supporting rural/indigenous  games.  It  has  been  done  through  initiatives  like conduct of Khelo India Para Games (KIPG), organization of ASMITA women league in 29 sports disciplines across the country. Various indigenous games have been included as competitive/ demo sport in the Khelo India Youth games and Khelo India University Games. The details of the same is available in public domain at https://dashboard.kheloindia.gov.in.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4030 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-18
Subject: Tax Devolution Concerns of Karnataka
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Shri K Sudhakaran

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

## LOK SABHA

## UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 4030

TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, THE 18 th  AUGUST, 2025 SRAVANA 27, 1947 (SAKA)

## 'TAX DEVOLUTION CONCERNS OF KARNATAKA'

## 4030. SHRI K SUDHAKARAN:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  fiscal  impact  assessment  on  the  Karnataka's  capital expenditure due to drop in devolution of its share;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  shift  weightage  from  income  distance  to  GDP  share  of Karnataka in the 16th Finance Commission's Terms of Reference; and
- (c) the mechanisms taken into account for State's contribution to the Central pool while determining its share in devolution of funds?

## ANSWER

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

(a) The total amount of shareable taxes and duties devolved to the State of Karnataka has increased from ₹1.51 lakh crore in the 14 th Finance Commission award period (FY 2015-16 to FY 2019-20) to ₹2.08 lakh crore in the 15 th Finance Commission award period (FY 2021-22 to BE 2025-26). The interse  allocation  of  resources  including  share  in  central  taxes  between  revenue  expenditure  and  capital expenditure is a decision of the State Government.

(b) & (c):  The methodology and criteria for, inter-se, distribution of net proceeds of taxes among the States is decided by the Finance Commission for its award period.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4026 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-18
Subject: Entrance Examination for Doctoral Programmes in JNU
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Eatala Rajender, Smt. D K Aruna, Shri Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4026 ANSWERED ON-18/08/2025

## Entrance Examination for Doctoral Programmes in JNU

4026.   Shri Eatala Rajender:

Smt. D K Aruna:

Shri Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy :

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has formed a panel to conduct in-house entrance examinations for two  doctoral  programmes  i.e.  Korean  Studies  and  Cinema  Studies  in  Jawaharlal  Nehru University (JNU) to streamline the admission process of these disciplines;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  the  details  of  funds  sanctioned  and  utilized  by  the  Government  to  conduct  such entrance examinations; and
- (d)  the  manner  in  which  such  action  will  help  in  achieving  the  goals  of  Viksit  Rajya-Viksit Bharat-2047?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is a statutory autonomous organization established under an Act of Parliament and governed by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Act, 1966 and the Statutes and the Ordinances made thereunder. The University is competent to take decision on its  administrative  and  academic  matter  including  process  of  entrance  examination.  The University has informed that it has decided, to conduct the Ph.D entrance test in Korean Studies and  Cinema  Studies  in  Computer-Based  Test  (CBT)  Mode.  No  additional  fund  has  been sanctioned for conducting such entrance examination.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4018 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-18
Subject: Basic Facilities in Schools
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Balya Mama Suresh Gopinath Mhatre

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-4018

ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025

## Basic Facilities in Schools

†4018. Shri Balya Mama Suresh Gopinath Mhatre:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of Government schools wherein basic facilities like toilets, drinking water and electricity are unavailable, State/UT/district-wise;
- (b)  the  names  of  the  States/UTs  lagging  behind  in  complying  with  the  provisions  of  the  Right  to Education Act (RTE Act);
- (c) whether the Government is reviewing the 'school merger' policy under which many small schools are being closed; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a): The Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education has developed the  Unified  District  Information  System  for  Education  Plus  (UDISE+)  system  to  record  data  on indicators of school education provided by all the States and Union Territories. As per UDISE+ 202324, State/UT-wise percentage of Government schools with Girl's toilets, Boy's toilet, Drinking Water and Electricity connection facility are available at https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl\_ques.

(b) to (d): As per the data available on UDISE+, advancements have been made in improving universal access across all levels of school education. This is evidenced by Gross Access Ratio (GAR) for 201819 and 2024-25:

| Year    |   Primary |   Upper Primary |   Secondary |   Higher Secondary |
|---------|-----------|-----------------|-------------|--------------------|
| 2018-19 |     97.15 |           96.49 |       88.24 |              65.05 |
| 2024-25 |     97.83 |           96.57 |       95.35 |              94.97 |

GAR: Gross access ratio (GAR) is total villages/habitations having school within specified norm in a year out of total villages/habitations in that year.

Education  is  in  the  Concurrent  list  of  the  Constitution  and  majority  of  the  schools  come  under  the purview of the respective State Government/UT Administration. The opening, closing and rationalisation of schools are within the purview of respective State Government and UT Administration. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 provides children's access to elementary schools within the defined area or limits of neighbourhood. In pursuance to  Section  6  of  the  RTE  Act,  all  States  have  notified  area  or  limits  of  their  neighbourhood  norms. Further, Section 8 of the RTE Act, 2009 also mandates that the appropriate government shall provide free and compulsory elementary education to every child and will ensure availability of neighbourhood schools.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4013 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-18
Subject: Establishment of College under Delhi University
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Ramvir Singh Bidhuri

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4013 ANSWERED ON-18/08/2025

## Establishment of College under Delhi University

†4013. Shri Ramvir Singh Bidhuri :

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  of  NCT  of  Delhi  has  provided  land  to  the  Delhi  University  for opening  a  college  for  girl  students  in  Fatehpuri  Beri  Bhati  village  located  in  South  Delhi  Lok Sabha Constituency;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the area of the said land; and

(c) the time by which the proposed college is likely to be opened on the said land?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): The University of Delhi has informed that the Government of NCT Delhi has allotted a piece of land measuring 40 Bighas at Bhati Kalan, Fatehpur Beri, South Delhi. The establishment of  a  new  college  under  University  of  Delhi  at  Fatehpur  Beri  is  contingent  upon  several  factors such as, number of pre-existing educational institutions in the region, educational requirements in the area, anticipated availability of prospective students, availability of required resources etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4012 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-18
Subject: Indian Students Studying Abroad
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri P C Mohan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4012 ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025

## Indian Students Studying Abroad

4012. Shri P C Mohan:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number of Indian students who have gone abroad for higher education during the last five years, year and country-wise;
- (b)  whether the Government has undertaken any bilateral or multilateral measures to facilitate easier VISA processing, academic recognition or student mobility agreements with other countries;
- (c) whether the Government has developed any support system to assist such students during travel, documentation and emergencies;
- (d)  whether  any  scholarships,  low-interest  education  loans  or  financial  assistance schemes are being provided by the Government to support students from economically weaker sections for this purpose; and
- (e)  the  steps  taken/to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  that  students  from  all regions,  including  States  like  Karnataka  are  made  aware  of  and  access  to  these schemes?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (e): The Ministry of Education does not maintain data related to Indian students going abroad for higher studies. As per information provided by the Bureau of Immigration (BoI), the number of Indians who disclosed their purpose of visit as STUDY/EDUCATION while going abroad in the last five years is under:

| Year               |   2020 |   2021 |   2022 |   2023 |   2024 |
|--------------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| Number of Students | 260363 | 445582 | 752111 | 894783 | 760073 |

Government has undertaken various measures to facilitate VISA processing, academic recognition and student mobility with other countries, through framework mechanisms like agreements on Mutual Recognition of Qualifications (MRQs) and Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements.

Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) has been set up by Government of India in all Indian Missions and Posts abroad to provide on-site welfare on a means-tested basis and also to meet the contingency expenditure incurred by Indian Citizens including Indian students studying abroad. Indian Missions /Posts abroad also encourage Indian students travelling abroad for higher studies to register with them as also on MADAD Portal so that their grievances and issues can be addressed in a time bound manner.

*****