opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2282 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Combined Recruitment Examination
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Shri S Supongmeren Jamir

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2282

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2025)

## COMBINED RECRUITMENT EXAMINATION 2282. SHRI S SUPONGMEREN JAMIR:

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether the combined recruitment examination in the year 2013 advertised for 15 exclusive post of Programme Executive and Transmission Executive for Akashvani and Doordarshan Kendra for Nagaland; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  INFORMATION  AND  BROADCASTING;  AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS [DR. L. MURUGAN]

- (a) & (b): In  the  2013  advertisement,  vacancies  were  notified  for  Programme Executives  and  Transmission  Executives  separately  through  a  single  advertisement. Out  of  the  vacancies  notified,  15  vacancies  of  Transmission  Executive  were  for Nagaland for the disciplines General & Production, Farm & Home/Farm Radio Reporter, Educational Broadcast and Tribal Dialect/Translation.

However,  the  vacancies  notified  for  Programme  Executive  in  the  above  mentioned advertisement were not exclusively for Nagaland.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2281 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Sultanganj-Banka Rail Line Project
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Giridhari Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2281 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2025

## SULTANGANJ-BANKA RAIL LINE PROJECT

†2281. SHRI GIRIDHARI YADAV:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the total cost of Sultanganj-Banka rail line project in Bihar;
- (b) the date on which the said project was sanctioned;
- (c)  the  date-wise  funds  allocated  for  the  said  project  along  with  the amounts thereof; and
- (d) the time limit fixed by the Government for the completion of the said project?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  to  (d)  :    Banka  is  already  connected  to  Sultanganj  via  Barhat  and Bhagalpur  Junction.  The  direct  connectivity  from  Banka  to  Sultanganj was sanctioned as a part of Deoghar-Banka-Sultanganj (116 Km) new line project.  Deoghar-Banka  (55  Km)  has  already  been  commissioned.  Till Mar'24, an expenditure of Rs 639 Cr has been incurred on execution of this project.

Contd….2/-

Completion of any Railway project/s depends on various factors like quick land  acquisition  by  State  Government,  forestry  clearance  by  officials  of forest department, shifting of infringing utilities, statutory clearances from various authorities, geological and topographical conditions of area, law and order situation in the area of project/s site, number of working months in  a  year  for  particular  project  site  due  to  climatic  conditions,  etc.  With above constraints, every effort is being made to complete these projects at the earliest.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2280 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: JK Road-Dhamara Rail Line Project
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Rabindra Narayan Behera

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2280 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2025

## JK ROAD - DHAMARA RAIL LINE PROJECT

## 2280. DR. RABINDRA NARAYAN BEHERA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has taken necessary action and granted sanction/permission for JK Road - Dhamara rail line project; and
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  timeline  set  for  the commencement of the said project?

## 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  including connectivity to tourist  and  religious  places  etc.  depending  upon  throwforward  of ongoing projects and overall availability of funds.

Based on Final Location Survey (FLS) for a new Railway line between Jajpur Keonjhar Road and Dhamra Port, Detailed Project Report (DPR) has  been  prepared.  As  per  DPR,  the  cost  of  the  project  is  approx. ₹2987 crore.

Sanctioning of project requires consultation with various stake-holders including State Governments and necessary approvals viz. appraisal of NITI Aayog, Ministry of Finance etc. Timelines can be estimated only after approval process is completed.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2278 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Staff in Akashvani Kendras
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Dr. Faggan Singh Kulaste

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2278

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2025)

STAFF IN AKASHVANI KENDRAS

2278.  DR. FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of Akashvani Kendras being operated by the Government particularly in Madhya Pradesh;
- (b) whether  adequate  staff  is  there  in  the  kendras  run  by  the Government; and
- (c) if so, the names of the kendras which are having sufficient number of staff?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

(DR. L. MURUGAN)

(a) to (c) : As on date, 38 Akashvani Kendras are being operated by the  Government in the state of Madhya Pradesh. These Kendras have adequate staffs as per operational requirement. *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2276 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Paid News During Elections
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Shri Chandra Prakash Joshi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2276

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2025

## PAID NEWS DURING ELECTIONS

## 2276.   SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI :

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether some specific cases of paid news during various elections in the country or otherwise have come to the notice of the Government during each of the last three years and the current year ;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the action taken by the Government against the guilty media companies and the people involved in these cases alongwith those benefiting from the said paid news;
- (d) the corrective steps taken by the Government to check the cases of paid news; and (e) the details of such cases reported from Rajasthan?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (DR. L. MURUGAN)

(a) to (e): The Election Commission of India has  established mechanism at the national, state and district  levels  to  receive  complaints  relating  to  'Paid  News'  and  take  action  thereon.  The expenditure involved in confirmed cases is included in the election expenditure of the candidates against whom the paid news cases are established.

The Press Council of India (PCI) takes action on the cases of paid news in print media reported by        the  Election  Commission  of  India  or  general  public  under  Regulation  14  of  the  Press Council (Procedure for Inquiry) Regulations, 1979  for violations of its 'Norms of Journalistic Conduct' relating to paid news.

PCI also takes Suo-motu cognizance under Regulation 13 on observing any grave violation of norms on paid news by the newspapers.

PCI has informed that the details of cases relating to paid news  received by PCI during the last three years and current year from all over the country, are as under:

| S.No.   | Year                |   Number of Cases |
|---------|---------------------|-------------------|
| 1       | 2021-22             |                74 |
| 2       | 2022-23             |                76 |
| 3       | 2023-24             |                28 |
| 4       | 2024-25 (Till date) |               290 |
| TOTAL   | TOTAL               |               468 |

Out of the above, thirteen  (13)  complaints  of  paid  news  in  2021-2022  and  111  complaints  in 2024-25 were from the state of Rajasthan.

The Council takes action against the erring print media on case to case basis after following due procedure prescribed under Press Council of India Act, 1978 and  if satisfied that it is necessary to  do  so  warns,  admonishes  or  censures  the  newspaper,  news  agency  or  editor/  journalist  or disapprove the conduct of the editor or the journalist.
Lok Sabha Question No. 2273 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Stoppage of Various Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Smt. Joba Majhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2273

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2025

## STOPPAGE OF VARIOUS TRAINS

†2273. SMT. JOBA MAJHI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:-

- (a)  whether  the  Goverment  is  aware  that  there  has  been  a  continuous demand for stoppage of different trains at certain stations viz. Tata-Itwari Passenger at Lota Pahad and Posaita station, Tatanagar Buxar Express at station, at Goilkera station, Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express and Kalinga Utkal Express at Sonuva station and Kalinga Utkal Express at Manoharpur station in the
- Adityapur station, Tatanagar Durg Express at Adityapur Ahmedabad  Express  at  Manoharpur  station, Kanta Baji Express public interest;
- (b)  if  so,  whether  the  Railways  proposes  to  provide  said  stoppages  of trains in public interest; and
- (c) if so, the time by which it is likely to be done and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (c)  Representations/demands including from the Hon'ble Member of Parliament have been received for provision of stoppages of various trains at Lotapahar, Posoita, Adityapur, Goilkera, Manoharpur and Sonua.

To cater to the needs of  passengers of Goilkera station, stoppages of four pairs  of  trains  viz.  18029/18030  Lokmanya  Tilak  (T)-Shalimar  Express, 13287/13288 Durg-Ara South Bihar Express, 12871/12872 Howrah-Titlagarh Express  and  18477/18478  Puri-Yog  Nagari  Rishikesh  Express  have  been provided during March-September, 2023. Similarly, stoppages of 12871/12872 Howrah-Titlagarh Express, 22861/22862 Shalimar-Adra Express and 13287/13288 Durg-Ara Express have been provided at Sonua w.e.f 14.03.2024.

Accordingly,  Goilkera,  Lotapahar,  Posoita,  Adityapur,  Manoharpur  and Sonua  stations  are  presently  being  served  by  20  trains,  04  trains,  04 trains, 26 trains, 22 trains and 14 trains respectively. Besides, provision of stoppage  of  train  services  is  an  on-going  process  on  Indian  Railways subject to traffic justification, operational feasibility, availability of alternative services etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2267 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Reduced Budget Allocations
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Smt. Pratima Mondal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2267

ANSWERED ON 12.03.2025

## REDUCED BUDGET ALLOCATIONS

## 2267. SMT. PRATIMA MONDAL:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the reasons for reduction of budget allocation in the Union Budget  for  2025-26 for critical education and welfare schemes targeting minority communities including the pre-matric and post-matric scholarships, merit-cum-means scholarships and schemes for madrassa education, despite the Government's previous promises of 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas'; and
- (b) whether the Government plans to reverse the cuts  and restore  adequate  funding  to ensure that minority youth especially from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, have access to quality education and development opportunities and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

- (a) & (b):  Budget for FY 2024-25 was Rs. 3183.24 crore whereas budget allocation in the Union Budget  for  2025-26 for the Ministry of Minority Affairs is Rs. 3350.00 crore. Hence, the budget is enhanced for FY 2025-26 for welfare of minority communities.

The  Right  to  Education  (RTE)  Act,  2009  makes  it  obligatory  for  the  Government  to provide free and compulsory elementary education (classes I to VIII) to each and every child. Hence, only students studying in classes IX and X are covered under the Pre-Matric Scholarship  Scheme  of  other  Ministries/Departments.  Likewise  from  2022-23,  the coverage under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme of Ministry of Minority Affairs has also been restricted to class IX and X only. Further, the Scholarship Schemes of Ministry of Minority Affairs has not been approved for implementation beyond 2021-22. Therefore, the budget allocation in the budget for the scholarship schemes for FY 2025-26 has been reduced.

The Department of School Education & Literacy implemented the Scheme for Providing Education  in  Madrasas/Minorities  (SPEMM)  upto  2020-21  and  then  transferred  to Ministry of Minority Affairs. As the scheme was approved only upto 2021-22, the Ministry of Minority Affairs implemented this Scheme only for FY 2021-22.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2266 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Railway facilities in Border Area
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Mian Altaf Ahmad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2266 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2025

## RAILWAY FACILITIES IN BORDER AREA

## 2266. SHRI MIAN ALTAF AHMAD:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is true that Rajouri and Poonch hilly and border districts of Jammu and Kashmir do not have any railway facilities;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government intends to construct a rail line from Reasi Katra to Rajouri which is about 40 kms. on priority basis;
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  timeline  by  which  such railline would be constructed; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (e) : Railway projects are sanctioned and executed Zonal Railway wise  and  not  State/District/City  wise  as  Railway  projects  may  span across State boundaries.

The work on new railway line in Jammu & Kashmir under the UdhampurSrinagar-Baramulla  Rail  Link  (USBRL)  project    of    total  length  272  Km has  already  been  completed.  USBRL  project  covers  the  district  of Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam and Baramulla in Jammu & Kashmir.

Survey for new line between Jammu and Poonch via Akhnur and Rajauri (223km) was carried out. The cost of project was assessed as ₹22,771 crore.  The project has low traffic projections.

Moreover, following 5 surveys falling in the State of Jammu & Kashmir have been taken up recently:

1. Baramulla - Uri New Line(46 Km),
2. Sopore-Kupwara New Line(37 Km),
3. Anantnag-Pahalgam New Line(78 Km),
4. Avantipore-Shopian New Line(28 Km) and
5. Banihal-Baramulla doubling(118 Km)

Sanctioning of Railway projects is a continuous and dynamic process of Indian  Railway.  Railway  Infrastructure  Projects  are  taken  up  on  the basis  of  remunerativeness,  last  mile  connectivity,  missing  links  and alternate routes including connectivity to hilly and border areas, augmentation of congested/saturated lines, socio-economic considerations  etc. depending  upon  liabilities of ongoing  projects, overall availability of funds and competing demands.

The completion of any Railway project depends on various factors like quick land acquisition by State Government, forest clearance by officials of  forest  department, deposition of cost share by State Government in cost sharing projects, priority of projects, shifting of infringing  utilities, statutory    clearances    from    various    authorities,  geological  and topographical conditions of area, law and order situation in the area of project(s)  site,  number  of  working  months    in    a  year  for  particular project site due to climatic conditions etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2263 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Stoppage of Trains at Fatehpur Railway Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Naresh Chandra Uttam Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2263

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2025

## STOPPAGE OF TRAINS AT FATEHPUR RAILWAY STATION

## †2263. SHRI NARESH CHANDRA UTTAM PATEL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the stoppage of Express trains mainly at Fatehpur Railway Station falling under Prayagraj Division, North Central Railway in my Parliamentary Constituency Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh;
- (b) revenue received by the Government from the said Railway station along with the details thereof; and
- (c) whether  the Government  proposes  to  provide stoppage  to the Swatantrata Senani Express 12561/12562, Ajmer Sealdah Express 12987/88,  Seemanchal  Express  12487/12488  and  Suhail  Dev  Express 22434/22433 at this Railway Station to enhance the revenue of the said Railway Station?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  to  (c)   To  cater  to  the  needs  of  passengers  of  Fatehpur,  stoppage  of 14005/14006  Sitamarhi-Anand  Vihar  (T)  Lichchhavi  Express  and  20415/20416 Varanasi-Indore  Kashi  Mahakal  Express  have  been  provided at  Fatehpur  w.e.f. 01.10.2023 and 10.03.2024 respectively. Accordingly, Fatehpur station is presently  being  served  by  24  pairs  of  Mail/Express  and  02  pairs  of  Passenger services  providing  connectivity  for  stations  like  Delhi,  Mumbai,  Ahmedabad, Howrah  etc.  The  revenue  earned  from  passenger  and  other  than  passenger, from   the  station  during  2024-25(upto  Feburary,  2025)  is  ₹35.5  crore.  Besides, provision of stoppage of train services is an on-going process on Indian Railways subject to traffic justification, operational feasibility etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2260 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Welfare Schemes for Minorities
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Shankar Lalwani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2260

ANSWERED ON 12.03.2025

## WELFARE SCHEMES FOR MINORITIES

2260.  SHRI  SHANKAR LALWANI:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has proposed any new policy changes or schemes for the welfare of minorities and if so, the details thereof;

(b)  the  details  of  schemes  being  formulated  by  the  Governmental  to  increase  awareness regarding welfare schemes amongst the minority groups; and

(c) the mechanism for the citizens or Non Governmental Organizations to give their feedback on the Minority Welfare policies or to participate in decision making process?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

- (a) The Ministry has launched the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PMVIKAS), which is a  flagship  Scheme  of  the  Ministry,  that  converges  five  erstwhile  schemes  viz.  'Seekho  Aur Kamao',  'Nai  Manzil',  'Nai  Roshni',  'Hamari  Dharohar'  and  'USTTAD';  and  focuses  on upliftment  of  six  notified  minority  communities  through  skill  development;  entrepreneurship and leadership of minority women; and education support for school dropouts.
- (b) & (c) The awareness campaign is carried out under the Scheme of Research / Studies, Monitoring  and  Evaluation  of  Development  Schemes  including  Publicity  of  the  Ministry  to create awareness among the six centrally notified minority communities. The Government has taken up multi-media campaigns to spread awareness of welfare schemes meant for minorities through  print  and  electronic  media,  FM  Channels  all  over  the  country.  Pocket  booklets  and pamphlets on various schemes /programmes of the Ministry are published in Hindi, English, Urdu  and  other  regional  languages.  In  order  to  directly  reach  out  to  the  public,  especially minority communities, and spread awareness among them, 'Hunar Haats' / 'Lok Samvardhan Parvs' have been organized at various locations. In addition, Ministry also supports conducting of  workshops  /  seminars  through  Project  Implementing  Agencies  (PIAs)  to  create  more awareness about the schemes / programmes implemented by this Ministry and for feedback on the schemes /programmes.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2256 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Semiconductor Production
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Phani Bhusan Choudhury

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2256

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 12.03.2025

## SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTION

## 2256. SHRI PHANI BHUSAN CHOUDHURY:

Will  the  Minister  of  ELECTRONICS  AND  INFORMATION  TECHNOLOGY  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the semiconductor production has already been started in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  said  plant  would  be  going  to  help  the  youth  of  Assam  and  North  Eastern Region(NER) for their Job and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the number of plants proposed to be established in entire Assam till now?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) to (c):   Government has approved Semicon India programme with a total outlay of Rs 76,000 crore for the development of semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem in the country. Under Semicon India Programme, Government has approved five (5) semiconductor manufacturing projects with cumulative investment of around Rs. 1,52,000 crore. This includes Tata Electronics Private Limited (TEPL)'s proposal for setting up of OSAT facility in Morigaon, Assam, with an investment of Rs. 27,120 crores with a production capacity of 48 Million Units per day.  This OSAT facility is expected to generate a direct employment to more than 15,000 professionals  depending  up  on  the  maturity  of  factory  automation.  The  approved  projects  are under various phases of implementation.

******