opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1352 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Online Education
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Dr. Kalyan Vaijinathrao Kale

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1352 ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025

## Online Education

†1352. Dr. Kalyan Vaijinathrao Kale:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received any cases of fake degrees being given online;
- (b) if so, the State-wise details thereof;
- (c) the action taken by the Government against the culprits of such cases, State-wise;
- (d) whether the involvement of universities has also been found in these cases;
- (e) if so, the details thereof;
- (f) whether the Government proposes to cancel the recognition of such universities;
- (g) if so, the details thereof; and
- (h) the details of steps taken by the Government to ensure the future of children?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (h)  As  per  the  record  of  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC),  no  Higher Educational Institution has been identified giving fake degrees for online programmes. Moreover, the UGC uploads the year-wise recognition/entitlement status of universities recognized/entitled  to  offer  programme  through  Open  and  Distance  Learning  (ODL) mode and Online mode along with programme names in the public domain. Added to this, notices are displayed on the official website of UGC regarding precautions to be taken by the students before enrolling for programmes offered under ODL and/or Online Learning mode.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1349 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: NDC Targets
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Harish Chandra Meena

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1349

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025

## NDC Targets

## 1349.   SHRI HARISH CHANDRA MEENA:

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

- (a) whether the Government defaulted in submission of its updated National Determined Contribution (NDC) by the February, 2025 deadline under Paris Agreement;
- (b) if so, the reasons for the delay along with the new deadline fixed for the same; and
- (c) if not, the details of latest climate action plan and the steps taken to fulfill international obligations?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (c)    Under  the  Paris  Agreement  and  the  United  Nations  Framework  Convention  on Climate Change's resolutions, all country parties are required to prepare and communicate their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) every five years based on the principle of CBDRRC and national circumstances. India has submitted its first NDC in 2015 and updated it in August  2022,  and  has  already  achieved  50%  share  in  non-fossil  fuel  power  electricity generation installed capacity and is well on track to achieve its other quantitative targets.

India's climate action is guided by its own national circumstances, NDC and the Long-Term Low  Carbon  Development  Strategy  (LT-LEDS)  to  achieve  net-zero  by  2070  and  Initial Adaptation Communication.  Towards  this  end, the Government  has  prepared and is implementing National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). It provides the overarching framework for all climate actions and comprises of missions in specific areas of solar energy, enhanced  energy  efficiency,  sustainable  lifestyles  based  on  the  precepts  of  Mission  LiFE (Lifestyle  for  Environment)  sustainable  habitat,  water,  sustaining  Himalayan  ecosystems, Green India, sustainable agriculture, human health and strategic knowledge for climate change. All these Missions are institutionalized and implemented by their respective Nodal Ministries/Departments, Further, thirty-four States/Union Territories (UTs) have prepared their State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCC) in line with NAPCC taking into account the State specific issues relating to climate change. The responsibility of the implementation of the SAPCCs rest with the respective States. In addition, the Government of India has launched various schemes and programs to scale up India's climate action. The Government has taken various steps, and stands committed to fulfil its international obligations.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1345 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Insurance Coverage Among MSMEs
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Shri Manish Tewari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1345

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

## Insurance Coverage Among MSMEs

1345. Shri Manish Tewari

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- a)  whether the Government has assessed the extent of the insurance protection gap among Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, if so, the details thereof;
- b)  whether the Government is aware that a majority of MSMEs remain uninsured or underinsured despite contributing significantly to GDP and employment;
- c)  whether the Government is promoting the adoption of digital insurance solutions for MSMEs, and if so, the specific measures taken by the Government to incentivise uptake through policy, regulatory or fiscal interventions;
- d)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  pilot  schemes  to  improve  penetration  of  B2B insurance products in the MSME sector; and
- e)  whether the Government intends to establish a dedicated framework or regulatory sandbox to accelerate innovation in MSME-focused digital insurance products?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e): Insurance companies offer various insurance products to provide coverage to MSME segment.  These products offer protection for different requirements of MSME including covers for their assets, legal liabilities, health and personal accident for their employees etc. Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India has also mandated all insurers to provide Bharat Sookshma Udyam Suraksha and Bharat Laghu Udyam Suraksha policies to cover the assets of MSMEs. In addition to this, several other policies such as Money Insurance, Fidelity Guarantee Insurance,  Professional  Indemnity,  Workmen  Compensation,  Public  Liability,  Group  Personal Accident, Group Health Insurance, Group Term Insurance etc., are also offered by the insurance companies to MSME across India.  Some of these covers are also available in digital mode.

Further, the insurance policy level data pertaining to a specific segment such as MSMEs is not collected or compiled by IRDAI.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1342 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Promotion of Agarwood Plantation and Trade in Assam
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Amarsing Tisso

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  1342

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025

## Promotion of Agarwood Plantation and Trade in Assam

## 1342.   SHRI AMARSING TISSO:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  promote  sustainable  Agarwood plantation and trade in Assam, especially in tribal  areas like  Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao;
- (b) if so, the details of such initiatives; and
- (c) the extent to which local tribal cultivators have benefited from these measures?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (c) For sustainable utilization of Agarwood and its plantation by growers, promotion of trade and industry etc, the State Government of Assam has notified 'The Assam Agarwood  Promotion  Policy  2020'.  The  State  of  Assam  has  also  exempted Agarwood under Assam Tree Outside Forest (Sustainable Management) Rules, 2022 from taking prior permission for felling and removal of its out-turn and its movement outside the  State of Assam within  the North-Eastern  States.  During Amrit Brikshya Andolan 2023 and 2024, free seedlings of Agarwood have been supplied by Assam Forest Department to public for plantation under Jan Bhagidari Model.

For promotion of Agarwood in North-Eastern Region, the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region constituted an Inter-Ministerial Task Force in 2023 involving concerned Ministries, concerned State Governments and other stakeholders. Based on the recommendation of  the Task Force,  various steps have been taken by the Government to promote sustainable Agarwood plantation and trade in the concerned States including in the State of Assam which includes a roadmap comprising various actions, constitution of Agarwood Steering Group, setting up Export Facilitation Committee, capacity building workshops with the stakeholders, roll out of centralized portal for issuing export license, etc.

Further, based on the scientific study, the Central Government has also notified the  Export  Policy  condition  on  20 th January  2025  to  enhance  export  quota  of Agarwood Chips and Powder obtained from artificially propagated sources from 25,000 kg per annum to 1,51,080 kg per annum and the export quota of Agar oil from 1,500 kg per annum to 7,050 kg per annum.

These steps taken for promotion of Agarwood involve local people in many ways such as agarwood chip cutter and processing, inoculation technician, agarwood value chain etc apart from involvement of them in plantation on their land.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1341 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Atal Model Schools
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Trivendra Singh Rawat

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1341 ANSWERED ON-28/07/2025

## Atal Model Schools

†1341. Shri Trivendra Singh Rawat:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there has been decline in the number of students in Atal Model Schools in certain regions in the wake of introduction of CBSE Curriculum therein; (b) if so, whether the Government proposes to introduce any scheme at Tehsil level such as Bus-pass, Hostel facility or any other assistance to impart quality education to the meritorious students belonging to remote and rural areas; and (c) whether the Government proposes to implement any such scheme in coordination
- with the State Governments?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (c):  Education is in the concurrent list of the Constitution and majority of the schools are under domain of the respective State and UT Governments. Atal Adarsh Vidyalayas  (AAVs)  are  run  by  NDMC  and  are  situated  in  urban  areas,  with comprehensive student welfare measures in place. These include free education, free uniforms, textbooks, and mid-day meals for all students enrolled in NDMC schools. Schemes of Ministry of Education, Department of School Education and Literacy, such as Samagra Shiksha and PM POSHAN are being implemented in NDMC schools in coordination with Directorate of Education, Govt. of NCT of Delhi.  NDMC, being a local urban body, implements educational schemes as per the directions and policies issued by the competent authorities.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1340 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Regulations for Virtual Digital Assets (VDA)
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Shri Rao Rajendra Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE LOK SABHA

## DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1340

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

## Regulations for Virtual Digital Assets (VDA)

1340. Shri Rao Rajendra Singh:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

(a) the steps taken by the Government to regulate cryptocurrency and other Virtual Digital Assets (VDA) like Non Fungible Tokens (NFT);

(b) whether the Government has any plan to revise the 30 per cent tax on crypto gains and a 1 per cent tax deducted at source (TDS) on all transactions related to cryptocurrency to boost the VDA economy in the country;

(c)  whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  on  launching  Exchange  Trade  Funds  (ETFs)  for respective VDAs in order to integrate the aforementioned into mainstream financial markets, if so, the time by which it will be implemented and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(d) the steps taken by the Government for protection of investors in the above said domain?

## ANSWER

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

(a): The crypto assets sector, including Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), is currently unregulated in India.  Notwithstanding this, government vide notification dated 7th March, 2023 has brought crypto  assets/Virtual  Digital  Assets  (VDAs)  under  the  purview  of  the  Prevention  of  Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) to bring the transactions involving VDAs within the ambit of PMLA. Further, Income from these assets is taxed under the Income-tax Act, 1961 and different aspects  of  the  VDA  sector  are  regulated  under  the  Information  Technology  Act,  2000. Additionally, Companies with exposure to crypto assets are required to disclose their holding of crypto assets in their financial statements as per the amendment brought in Schedule III to the Companies Act 2013, vide notification dated 24th March 2021 effective from 1st April 2021.

(b) to (c):      At this stage, no such proposals are under consideration.

(d): The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued advisories warning users, holders, and traders of  virtual  currencies  or  crypto  assets  about  the  potential  risks,  including  economic,  financial, operational, legal, and security concerns. Further, RBI vide its circular dated May 31, 2021, has also advised its regulated entities to continue to carry out customer due diligence processes for transactions in VCs, in line with regulations governing standards for Know Your Customer (KYC), Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Combating of Financing of Terrorism (CFT), obligations under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, etc.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1339 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Increase in Maximum Limit of Loan under PMMY
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Shri Giridhari Yadav, Shri Dinesh Chandra Yadav

## Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Financial services

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1339

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

## INCREASE IN MAXIMUM LIMIT OF LOAN UNDER PMMY

## 1339. Shri Giridhari Yadav:

## Shri Dinesh Chandra Yadav:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the features of Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY); whether the Government is considering to increase the current ceiling of loan under PM  Mudra Yojana from Rs. 20 lakh to Rs. 50 lakh keeping in view the success of the scheme;
- (b) whether the MSME manufacturing sector is facing financial hardship and payment of GST every month being the main reason;
- (c) whether the Government is considering to bailout MSMEs from this crisis; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a):  No such proposal is under consideration at present.
- (b): There is no empirical evidence to suggest that any distress of MSME manufacturing sector is due to payment of GST  every month. However, many  steps have been undertaken on the recommendations of GST council, to support MSMEs and small retailers in the country which are as under:

(i) The threshold limit of annual turnover for registration under GST for entities engaged in supply of goods has been increased from Rs. 20 lakhs to Rs. 40 lakh (other than some special category States) effective from April 1, 2019;

(ii) The threshold limit of annual turnover for supply of goods under composition scheme has been increased from Rs.75 lakhs to Rs. 1.5 crore (other than some special category States) effective from 1st April 2019;

(iii) A scheme of quarterly return filing and monthly payment (QRMP) has been introduced where small taxpayers with turnover up to Rs. 5 crores have an option to file returns on quarterly basis, instead of monthly return;

(iv) GST registration process has been made completely online on the common portal;

(v) Deemed approval of application for registration where the proper officer fails to take action within the prescribed timelines;

(vi) UPI & IMPS has been provided as an additional mode for payment of GST to facilitate taxpayers and to further encourage digital payment.

(c) and (d): In addition, Government has announced financial relief and credit support packages for the MSME sector through the Union Budget 2025-26, which includes:

-  Credit guarantee cover doubled from ₹5 crore to ₹10 crore (For Startups, from ₹10 crore to ₹20 crore);
-  Investment and turnover limits have been significantly increased;
-  New Fund of Funds;
-  Scheme for First-time Entrepreneurs;
-  Focus product scheme for footwear & leather sectors, toy sector and food processing.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1338 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Guidelines for Investigation of Death of Wild Animals
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Yaduveer Wadiyar

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1338

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025

## Guidelines for Investigation of Death of Wild Animals

## 1338.  SHRI YADUVEER WADIYAR:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  guidelines  for  wildlife  forensics,  toxicology  tests and field-level documentation in case of unnatural death of wild animals like in Male Mahadeshwara Hills Sanctuary, Karnataka and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) whether the Government  proposes to strengthen inter-linked tiger habitats in Karnataka through dedicated protection corridors, community vigilance mechanisms and enhanced response systems and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The Government of India through the National Tiger Conservation Authority has  issued  a  Standard  Operating  Procedure  (SOP)  to  deal  with  tiger  death which inter-alia addresses the issues of laboratory related diagnosis and field level documentation.
- (b) The National Tiger Conservation Authority alongwith the Wildlife Institute of India, in letter  and spirit of section 38 O  (1) (g) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act,  1972  have  identified  32  major  tiger  corridors  in  the  country  and published them in a document titled 'Connecting Tiger Populations for Longterm  Conservation',  for  undertaking  Tiger  Conservation  in  terms  of  section 38V of  the  Act.    Government  of  India  has  also  notified  the  National  Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) Guidelines, 2012 for management of tigers and their habitats along with Advisories and Standard Operating Procedures. Funding  support  is  provided  under  the  Project  Tiger  component  of  the ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-IDWH) to tiger range States for conservation of tigers, raising awareness  on  tiger &  other  wildlife  conservation,  habitat  management, protection, eco-development, human resource and infrastructure development, voluntary  village  relocation,  which  include  protection  corridors,  community vigilance  mechanisms  and  enhanced  response  systems,  as  per  sanctioned Annual Plan of Operation of the Tiger Reserve.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1337 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Women Trained under Bima Sakhi Yojana
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Dr. Shivaji Bandappa Kalge, Shri Gyaneshwar Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. †1337.

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

## Women Trained under Bima Sakhi Yojana

†1337. Dr. Shivaji Bandappa Kalge: Shri Gyaneshwar Patil:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- a)  the  number  of  women  trained  under  the  Bima  Sakhi  Yojana  in  the  country  particularly  in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh during the year 2024-2025;
- b)  the estimated impact of this scheme on rural insurance Coverage;
- c)  the impact of the scheme on financial literacy and insurance awareness among women in rural and remote areas of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh;
- d)  the steps proposed to be taken by the Government to assess the success of this scheme; and
- e)  the  steps  taken  to  spread  awareness  about  this  scheme  and  to  make  it  popular  among women?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (e): Bima  Sakhi-  'Mahila  Career  Agents  (MCA)  Scheme'  of  LIC  was  launched  on  9 th December, 2024. The scheme aims to provide employment opportunities & financial independence to women.

As on 31 st  March, 2025, the total number of women enrolled as Bima Sakhi is 1,48,888 out of which nearly 15% i.e. 13,528 and 8,964 pertain to the state of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh respectively.  Further,  all  Bima  Sakhi  agents  go  through  Training  within  3  months  of  their appointment as per the provisions of the scheme.

As on, 31 st , March, 2025, 60.13% of total premium collected by Bima Sakhis, is from rural areas. Further, at present nearly 25 percent of the panchayats have minimum one Bima Sakhi agent, indicating their outreach in rural areas.

Bima Sakhi Yojana, being an intiative of LIC, is being promoted throughout the country by LIC's various branches and Divisional offices, traditional and digital media and by pitching in public forums.

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