opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 681 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Halt of Vande Bharat Train at Mancherial Railway Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Vamsi Krishna Gaddam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 681 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025

HALT OF VANDE BHARAT TRAIN AT MANCHERIAL RAILWAY STATION 681. SHRI VAMSI KRISHNA GADDAM:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to introduce Vande Bharat Express  services  with  a  halt  at  Mancherial  Railway  station, considering passenger demand from professionals, students and the industrial workforce;
- (b) if so, details thereof;  and
- (c) if not, then reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (c) As on 15th  July, 2025, 144  Vande Bharat train services, including 20101/20102 Nagpur-Secunderabad Vande Bharat Express are operational on the Indian Railways network.

Presently, Manchiryal is being served  by 61 train services which includes 11 pairs connecting Manchiryal to Secunderabad and 17 pairs of train services connecting to Nagpur.

Besides, introduction of new  trains including Vande Bharat services and provision of stoppage of trains are ongoing processes on Indian Railways subject to operational feasibility, traffic justification, etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 680 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Status of Survey for New Railway Line in Bihar
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Rajesh Ranjan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 680 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025

## STATUS OF SURVEY FOR NEW RAILWAY LINE IN BIHAR

†680. SHRI RAJESH RANJAN :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that tenders have been invited after preparing a detailed  project  for  the  construction  of  new  railway  line  between Kursela-Bihariganj and Kishanganj-Jalagarh in Bihar;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  the status of  the survey for construction of new railway line from Bihariganj  to  Virpur  via  Murliganj-Triveniganj-Jadia-Bhemnagar  as on date?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (c) : Railway projects are sanctioned on the basis of remunerativeness,  traffic  projections,  last  mile    connectivity,  missing links  and   alternate routes, augmentation of congested/saturated lines, demands raised by State Governments, Central Ministries, Members of Parliament,  other  public  representatives,  Railway's  own  operational requirement, socio-economic considerations etc. depending upon throwforward of ongoing projects and overall availability of funds.

Kursela-Bihariganj (58 Km) New Line and Jalalgarh - Kishanganj (51.87 Km) New Line projects were included in the budget 2008-09. However execution  of  these  projects  could  not  be  taken  up  due  to  low  traffic projections.  Subsequently,  several  representations  were  received  to revive these two projects and after sanction of Bikramshila - Katarea New  Line  project,  Kursela  -  Bihariganj  New  Line  has  become  an operational requirement. As such, it has been decided to take up these projects.

Separately,  a  Survey  for  Bihariganj-Virpur  via  Murliganj,  Triveniganj, Bhimnagar New Line Project has been taken up. Field Survey has been completed.

The Sanctioning of the project requires consultation with various stakeholders  including  State  Governments  and  necessary  approvals  viz. appraisal of NITI Aayog, Ministry of Finance etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 677 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Timeline for Redressal of Complaints
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: Dr. Thirumaavalavan Tholkappiyan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS AND PUBLIC GRIEVANCES)

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 677

(ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025)

## TIMELINE FOR REDRESSAL OF COMPLAINTS

## 677. DR. THIRUMAAVALAVAN THOLKAPPIYAN:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has reduced the timeline for redressing the complaints received from the public, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has the data about the number of complaints accepted and redressed and the number of complaints that were rejected as unacceptable; and
- (c) 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  (c):    Government  issued  Comprehensive  Guidelines  for  Effective  Redressal  of  Public Grievances  on  23 rd   August  2024.  These  guidelines  envisage  reduction  in  upper  limit  of resolution time from 30 days to 21 days. Since 2020 more than 1.25 crore grievances have been redressed on the CPGRAMS portal. The year wise details are as follows:

| S.No   | Year                   | Number of Grievances Redressed   |
|--------|------------------------|----------------------------------|
| 1.     | 2020                   | 2319569                          |
| 2.     | 2021                   | 2135923                          |
| 3.     | 2022                   | 2143468                          |
| 4.     | 2023                   | 2307674                          |
| 5.     | 2024                   | 2645869                          |
| 6.     | 2025 (till 30 th June) | 1032509                          |
|        | Total                  | 1,25,85,012                      |

********
Lok Sabha Question No. 676 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Krishnanagar-Karimpur-Domkal Railway Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Md Abu Taher Khan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 676

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025

## KRISHNANAGAR-KARIMPUR-DOMKAL RAILWAY LINE

## 676.   MD ABU TAHER KHAN :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  the  current  status  of  work  of  starting  the  long awaited Krishnagar-Karimpur- Domkal rail line; and
- (b)   whether the Government has any plan to start the said new Railway line, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) and (b): Railway projects are sanctioned on the basis of remunerativeness,  traffic  projections,  last  mile    connectivity,  missing links  and   alternate routes, augmentation of congested/saturated lines, demands  raised  by  State  Governments,  Central  Ministries,  Members  of Parliament, other public representatives, Railway's own  operational requirement, socio-economic considerations etc. depending upon throwforward of ongoing projects and overall availability of funds.

Survey of Krishnanagar-Karimpur (86 Km) New Rail Line project has been completed  and  Detailed  Project  Report  (DPR)  prepared    at  a  cost  of Rs.2433.51 Crore. However, the project could not be taken forward due to low traffic projection.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 674 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Guideline for Inclusion of Minerals in 'Major Mineral' Category
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri Chandra Prakash Choudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 674

ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025

## GUIDELINE FOR INCLUSION OF MINERALS IN 'MAJOR MINERAL' CATEGORY

674. SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH CHOUDHARY:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the criteria for classifying a mineral as a "major mineral" under Indian mining laws; (b) whether there are any guidelines/clarifications on the grant of mining leases for mica, quartz, feldspar and barytes under the major mineral category and if so, the details thereof; (c)  whether  the  addition  of  minerals  to  the  major  category  affects  environmental clearance procedures and compliance norms and if so, the details thereof; (d) whether the Government will ensure the interests of local communities and smallscale miners are protected after reclassification, if so, the details thereof; and (e)  the  details  of  regulatory  mechanisms  proposed  to  manage  newly  added  major
- minerals effectively?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a): As per Section 3(e) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act, 1957), 'minor minerals' means building stones, gravel, ordinary clay,  ordinary  sand  other  than  sand  used  for  prescribed  purposes  and  any  other mineral which the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare to be a minor mineral. All other minerals are considered as major minerals.
- (b): The Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3(e) of the MMDR Act, has classified the minerals Barytes, Felspar, Mica and Quartz as major minerals vide Notification No. S.O. 924 (E) dated 20 th  February, 2025.
- (c):  The  norms  for  grant  of  environmental  clearance  are  governed  as  per  the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006, as amended from time to time, issued  under  the  provisions  of  the  Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986,  which  is administered by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

(d): The Central Government, vide Order dated 1 st  May, 2025 issued under Section 20A of  the  MMDR  Act,  has  made  certain  transitory  provisions  to  facilitate  smooth transition of existing mining leases granted in respect of these minerals from minor minerals to major minerals.

(e):  Pursuant  to  reclassification  of  minerals  Barytes,  Felspar,  Mica  and  Quartz  as major minerals, the existing leases of these minerals are now regulated in accordance with the provisions of the MMDR Act and the Rules framed thereunder in respect of major minerals.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 673 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Uniformity in Telecom Tariffs and Service Charges
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Shri Kishori Lal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 673 ANSWERED ON 23 RD  JULY, 2025

## UNIFORMITY IN TELECOM TARIFFS AND SERVICE CHARGES

## 673. SHRI KISHORI LAL:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the reasons for not a single/uniform charge for all mobile services in India;
- (b) whether the Government has any proposal for the standardization of certain charges and fees within the telecom sector in the country;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) if not, the reasons for not implementing uniform service charges and tariffs in the sector;
- (e) whether  it  is  mandatory  that  mobile  device  makers  adopt  USB  Type-C  as  the  standard charging port for electronic products in the country; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) As per the existing regulatory tariff framework, tariff for telecommunication service is  under  forbearance  except  for  services  such  as  National  Roaming,  Rural  Fixed  Line  Services, mobile number portability charges, leased circuits and USSD. Subject to compliance with extant regulatory  provisions,  service  providers  are  free  to  design  and  offer  tariffs  based  on  their understanding of the market situation.

Service providers have the flexibility to decide various tariff components like the rates for different types of calls, SMS, data offers etc. with multiple combinations including recharge value and validity for different service areas of their operation.

Tariffs are offered by service providers taking into account several factors including input costs, level of competition and other commercial considerations, subject to their compliance with regulatory principles which include, inter alia, the principles of transparency, non-predation and nondiscrimination.

It may be noted that adequate competition exists in the market with four telecom operators offering competitive plans in the market. It may also be noted that the Indian telecom tariffs are amongst the lowest in the world and in India's neighbourhood as well.

(e) &(f) It is not mandatory in India for mobile device manufacturers to adopt USB Type-C as the standard charging port for electronic products.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 670 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Uniform Mobile Charges
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Prof. Sougata Ray

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 670 ANSWERED ON 23 RD  JULY, 2025

## UNIFORM MOBILE CHARGES

## 670. PROF. SOUGATA RAY:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the reasons for not a single/ uniform charge for all mobile services in India;
- (b) whether the Government has any proposal for the standardisation of certain charges and fees within the telecom sector in the country;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) if not, the reasons for not implementing uniform service charges and tariffs in the sector;
- (e) whether  it  is  mandatory  that  mobile  device  makers  adopt  USB  Type-C  as  the  standard charging port for electronic products in the country; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) As per the existing regulatory tariff framework, tariff for telecommunication service is  under  forbearance  except  for  services  such  as  National  Roaming,  Rural  Fixed  Line  Services, mobile number portability charges, leased circuits and USSD. Subject to compliance with extant regulatory  provisions,  service  providers  are  free  to  design  and  offer  tariffs  based  on  their understanding of the market situation.

Service providers have the flexibility to decide various tariff components like the rates for different types of calls, SMS, data offers etc. with multiple combinations including recharge value and validity for different service areas of their operation.

Tariffs are offered by service providers taking into account several factors including input costs, level  of  competition  and  other  commercial  considerations,  subject  to  their  compliance  with regulatory principles which include, inter alia, the principles of transparency, non-predation and nondiscrimination.

It  may  be  noted  that  adequate  competition  exists  in  the  market  with  four  telecom  operators offering competitive plans in the market. It may also be noted that the Indian telecom tariffs are amongst the lowest in the world and in India's neighbourhood as well.

(e) &(f) It is not mandatory in India for mobile device manufacturers to adopt USB Type-C as the standard charging port for electronic products.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 667 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Wind Turbines in Generating Water
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Ms. Mahua Moitra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 667 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 23 RD  JULY, 2025

## WIND TURBINES IN GENERATING WATER

## 667. Ms MAHUA MOITRA:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is considering to use the Wind Turbines in generating water from  moisture  in  air  for  coastal  areas  and  separating  oxygen  from  air  for  larger societal benefit; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) & (b)  The Electricity produced from Wind Turbines can be utilized to generate water from moisture in air through condensation process. However, this technology is still at a nascent  R&D  stage.  Suitable  proposals  in  this  area  are  considered  under  the Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development (RE-RTD) Program of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. National Institute of Ocean Technology under  Ministry  of  Earth  Sciences  has  developed  on  experimental  basis,  an  Air conditioner  cum  Water  generator  system  capable  of  generating  100  litres  of  fresh water per day, while serving as a normal air conditioner. The system works on the principle  that  in  the  process  of  cooling  air,  water  vapour  present  in  the  air  is  also condensed to produce water. The system can be powered using electricity produced from wind turbines.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 665 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Sustainable Development Goal Index-2025
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: Shri Subbarayan K, Com. Selvaraj V

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 665 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025

## SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL INDEX-2025

665. COM. SELVARAJ V: SHRI SUBBARAYAN K:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that India scored 67 in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Index 2025 placing at 99th among 167 nations; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the progress made so far in attaining the 17 goals including poverty, health and education?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION; MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE

(RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a)  No  Sir,  there  is  no  Sustainable  Development  Goals  (SDG)  Index  released  by  the  United Nations.
- (b) In view of the reply to part (a), does not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 664 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Resumption of Direct Train Service
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Rani Srikumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 664 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025

## RESUMPTION OF DIRECT TRAIN SERVICE

664. DR. RANI SRIKUMAR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Union Government is aware of the delay in resuming direct passenger train  services  on  the  Tirunelveli-Pavoorchatram-Tenkasi-Kollam route despite the completion of gauge conversion in 2018;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether any timeline has been established for the resumption of these train services to alleviate the hardships faced by daily commuters and the local population; and
- (d) the details of the steps being taken to address the concerns raised by the residents  of  Tenkasi  district  and  ensure  timely  restoration  of  the  train services?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  to  (d)  At  present,    Tirunelveli  -  Pavurchatram  -  Sengottai  -  Tenkasi  Kollam sector is presently being served by the daily service of 16791/16792 Tuticorin - Palakkad Palaruvi Express. Further, 14 train services are catering to  the  needs  of  Tirunelveli  -  Sengottai  sector  and  16  train  services  are catering to the needs of Sengottai - Kollam sector.

Besides,  introduction  of  train  services  is  an  on-going  process  on  Indian Railways, subject to traffic justification, operational feasibility, availability of resources, etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 659 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Rooftop Solar System in Rural Areas
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Parshottambhai Rupala

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 659

ANSWERED ON 23/07/2025

## ROOFTOP SOLAR SYSTEM IN RURAL AREAS

659. SHRI PARSHOTTAMBHAI RUPALAA

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

- (a) the details of progress made under Solar Rooftop Programme in the rural areas of the country along with number of farms covered thereunder;
- (b) the details of rural households that have rooftop solar system in the country including Gujarat; and
- (c) the details of local village and block level support provided under the said programme?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy is implementing PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG: MBY) across the country since February, 2024. The scheme targets to achieve rooftop solar installations in one crore households in the residential sector by providing central financial assistance.

The scheme is demand driven, wherein all residential consumers in the country including of the rural areas 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.

Since  the  launch  of  the  scheme  in  February  2024,  as  of  14.07.2025,  a  total  of  15.45  lakh households in the country and 5.23 lakh households in Gujarat have benefitted from rooftop solar installation including that of rural areas.

- (c):  One  of  the  components  of  the  scheme  is  development  of  Model  Solar  Village  in  each d istrict of the country. An amount of ₹ 800 crore has been allocated for this component with a provision of central financial assistance of ₹ 1 crore per model village.

In addition, under the component ' Incentives to Local Bodies ' the scheme has provision of providing an incentive @ ₹ 1,000 per rooftop solar installation in the respective jurisdiction of the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) & Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) at the Gram Panchayat level.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 652 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Theft of Coal in Railway Stations
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Shri Virendra Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINTSTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 652 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025

## THEFT OF COAL IN RAILWAY STATIONS

## 652. SHRI VIRENDRA SINGH:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of incidents of theft of coal in the area around Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Railway Station in Chandauli district of Uttar Pradesh;
- (b) if so, the details of number of such incidents reported and the action taken thereon during the last five years;
- (c) whether high quality coal is deliberately auctioned at low quality rates at Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction causing a loss of crores of rupees to the Government;
- (d) if so, whether any accountability has been fixed in this regard along with the punitive action taken thereon;
- (e) whether the coal theft mafia in Chandauli and surrounding areas have connections with local leaders or influential persons; and
- (f) if so, the details of the policy formulated for taking strict action against them?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a) & (b): Three incidents of coal theft were reported during the last five years around Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Railway station, wherein 10 persons were arrested and stolen property worth Rs. 7,350 was recovered.
- (c) & (d): No auction for coal has been conducted at Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay junction.
- (e) & (f): No organized crime of coal theft and nexus has been reported in this area.

*****