opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2538 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-16
Subject: Lakhpati Didi  Beneficiaries
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Adv. Chandra Shekhar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2538 ANSWERED ON 16/12/2025

## LAKHPATI DIDI BENEFICIARIES

## 2538. Adv. Chandra Shekhar:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  and  number  of  women  belonging  to  Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward  Classes (SC/ST/OBC) and designated as Lakhpati Didis under the target of  three  crore  by  2027  announced  in  the  Budget  2025-26, category-wise;
- (b) whether the Ministry analysed the proportion of SC/ST women beneficiaries in the current 1.25 crore, especially considering their socio-economic status;  and
- (c) if  so,  the  details  of  measures  proposed  for  the  States  where Dalit and Adivasi women reportedly face exclusion from SHGs and Drone Didi training programmes?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT\ (DR. CHANDRA SEKHAR PEMMASANI)

- (a): Lakhpati Didi is an initiative of Deendayal Antyodaya YojanaNational Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) with the objective to empower and enable Self-Help Groups (SHG) rural women to earn a minimum income of Rupees one lakh per annum on a sustainable basis, for at least 4 agricultural seasons and/ or business cycles. As of  31.12.2024,  21.45%  of  total  Lakhpati  Didis  belongs  to  the  SC category, 14.18% belongs to the ST category, and 42.89% belongs to OBC category.
- (b) & (c): Under NRLM, women from Vulnerable communities including SC/STs are mobilised into SHGs in coordination with the

States. The target group under DAY-NRLM is determined by a welldefined, transparent and equitable process of participatory identification of poor (PIP), anchored by the members of the target communities.  All  households  identified  as  poor  through  the  PIP, processes, including households with at least one deprivation, data presented to the Gram Sabha for vetting and subsequently approved by  Gram  Panchayat  and  thus  become  DAY-NRLM  Target  Group households and are eligible for all the benefits under the programme.

The State Missions have been advised to prioritize Integrated Action  Plan  (IAP)  Districts  for  DAY-NRLM  intensive  activities.  The Social  Management  Framework  (SMF)  for  DAY-NRLM  focuses  on social inclusion, social accountability and social safeguards particularly  focusing  on  marginalized  and  vulnerable  social  groups including the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and the Scheduled Tribes (STs) and the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Every State has been directed to prepare a social inclusion plan to guide their efforts to mobilize vulnerable groups including the SCs and the STs into  SHGs  and  promote  their  financial  and  economic  inclusion  to ensure better livelihoods.

As per the 'Namo Drone Didi' guidelines, the CLFs/State Level Committee  identifies  one  active  SHG  member  to  be  trained  and designated as the drone pilot.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2537 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-16
Subject: Trade Deficit with China
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri V K Sreekandan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2537 ANSWERED ON 16/12/2025

## TRADE DEFICIT WITH CHINA

## 2537: SHRI V K SREEKANDAN:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE  &  INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

(a)  whether it  is  a  fact  that  trade  deficit  with  China  widens  despite  exports  surge  to China;

(b) whether it is also a fact that exports to China grew by 25% during the April- October 2025 period;

(c) whether it is also true that India's trade deficit with China continued to widen touching US $64 billion in the first seven months of the current financial year;

(d) whether it is also true that to address this issue the Government has formed an InterMinisterial Panel for Import Surge Monitoring; and

(e) if so, the details thereof including the composition and the action taken by the panel in this regard so far?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्यमंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद) (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) to (c): India's trade deficit with China has increased from USD 58.09 billion in AprOct, 2024 to USD 63.97 billion in Apr-Oct, 2025, a rise of 10.1%. However, the deficit is mainly due to imports of raw materials, intermediate goods and capital goods, like auto components, electronic parts and assemblies, mobile phone parts, machinery and its parts,  Active  Pharmaceutical  Ingredients,  etc.  which  are  used  for  making  finished products which are also exported out of India. India's export to China has also increased from USD 8.04 billion in Apr-Oct, 2024 to USD 10.02 billion in Apr-Oct, 2025, a rise of 24.7%.

(d)  &  (e):  An  Inter-Ministerial  Committee  (IMC) has been  constituted to consider the trends with respect to imports and exports and recommend corrective action wherever required.  The  composition  of  the  IMC  includes  representatives  from  Department  of Commerce, Department of Revenue, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Directorate General of Foreign Trade and Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics. The IMC monitors exports and imports regularly and takes corrective measures in consultation with various stakeholders.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2532 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-16
Subject: National Seeds Bill 2025
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Adv Dean Kuriakose

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2532

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 TH  DECEMBER, 2025

## NATIONAL SEEDS BILL 2025

## 2532.  ADV DEAN KURIAKOSE:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government had discussions with farmer organization representatives during the preparation of the National Seeds Bill 2025;
- (b)  if so, whether the Government will exclude small farmers, FPOs and community seed growers from the legislative aspects of this Bill; and (c)  whether the Government is aware that foreign multinational companies may capture the
- Indian Market affecting the sovereignty of the country, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAM NATH THAKUR)

(a) to (c): The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India has drafted the Seeds Bill, 2025 to align with current requirements and after taking into consideration the issues raised by various stakeholders from time to time including farmers' organizations. The provisions  of  the  Bill  are  not  applicable  to  the  farmers  and  farmer's  varieties including  traditional  varieties.  The  Bill  protect  the  farmer's  rights  in  conformity  with  the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001 to grow, sow, save, exchange and sell farm-saved seeds. In addition, various provisions are available under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Right's Act, 2001 to safeguard farmers, community seed growers, traditional and indigenous seed varieties. The Bill has provisions for compulsory registration of all varieties sold in the market, registration  of  seed  producer,  seed  processing  unit  and  dealer,  registration  of  plant nurseries, regulation of seed sale prices under emergent situation, compulsory labelling of performance of seeds, mandatory on boarding on SATHI portal etc. to ensure the quality of seeds following nationally determined standards supplied to the farmers. At present, the draft Seeds Bill, 2025 is at the pre-legislative consultation phase and was  put  in  public  domain  to  further  elicit  inputs  from  stakeholders  including  farmer organizations.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 213 (STARRED), answered on 2025-12-15
Subject: Missing of Important Letters from PMML
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Dr. Sambit Patra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. †*213

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 15 TH  DECEMBER, 2025

## MISSING OF IMPORTANT LETTERS FROM PMML

## †*213. DR. SAMBIT PATRA:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Prime Minister's Museum and Library (PMML) has formulated any policy for conducting annual audit of the documents available in the museum and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether certain documents related to India's first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru have been found missing from the museum during the annual inspection of the Prime Minister's Museum and Library (PMML) in the year 2025 and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the said documents were improperly and illegally removed from the Prime Minister's Museum;
- (d) if  so,  whether the persons who are responsible for the same have been identified and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken against them as per rules; and
- (e) whether any decision has been taken in the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Prime Minister's Museum and Library (PMML) in the year 2025 regarding the nonavailability of documents related to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, if so, the details thereof?

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

- (a) to (e) : A statement is laid on the table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (E)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. †*213 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025 ASKED BY DR. SAMBIT PATRA, HON`BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT REGARDING MISSING OF IMPORTANT LETTERS FROM PMML (a) : No, there is no annual audit of documents in Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML). (b) : No documents related to India's first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru have been found missing from the museum during the annual inspection of the PMML in the year 2025. (c) & (d) : Does not arise. (e) : In the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the PMML in the year 2025, no decision regarding the non-availability of documents related to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, was taken.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 206 (STARRED), answered on 2025-12-15
Subject: Reassessment of Digital Competition Rules, 2025
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 206

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2025/ Agrahayana 24, 1947 (Saka)

Reassessment of Digital Competition Rules, 2025

QUESTION

206.   Shri Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi:

Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received encouraging feedback from stakeholders, including those in Odisha, following the request for proposal to reassess the Digital Competition Rules, 2025, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the progress made in selection of the agency and reassessment timeline;
- (c) the key focus areas identified to further strengthen India's digital market competitiveness; and
- (d) the manner in which the reassessment is likely to benefit startups and digital entrepreneurs, particularly in emerging regions such as Odisha and aspirational districts like Kandhamal?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE (SHRIMATI NIRMALA SITHARAMAN) AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS

(a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House. *****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO PARTS (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 206 FOR 15.12.2025  REGARDING  REASSESSMENT OF DIGITAL COMPETITION RULES, 2025

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

- (a) There are no Digital Competition Rules 2025.  Hence there is no

request for proposal to reassess the same has been issued. (b) , (c) & (d) In view of the answer to part (a) question doesn't arise.
Lok Sabha Question No. 204 (STARRED), answered on 2025-12-15
Subject: Development of Shabarikolla Village, Karnataka
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Jagadish Shettar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*204 ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025

## DEVELOPMENT OF SHABARIKOLLA VILLAGE, KARNATAKA

*204. SHRI JAGADISH SHETTAR:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

whether the Government has any plans to develop Shabarikolla, holy village in Ramdurg taluka of Belagavi district in Karnataka in view of its mythological significance and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM              (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.*204 ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF SHABARIKOLLA VILLAGE, KARNATAKA RAISED BY SHRI JAGADISH SHETTAR

Development of tourist destinations and products is primarily undertaken  by the respective State Government/Union  Territory (UT) Administration.  The  Ministry  complements  the  efforts  of  States/UTs  by developing tourism infrastructure through various schemes and initiatives in consultation with the State Governments/ UT Administrations.

No  proposal  is  under  consideration  of  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  for development  of  Shabarikolla,  holy  village  in  Ramdurg  taluka  of  Belagavi district in Karnataka. However, the Ministry has sanctioned two projects in the Belagavi district of Karnataka, which is given below:

| Name of Scheme                                                     | Name of project/Sanction year                               |   Sanction Cost (Rs. in Crore) |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| PRASHAD                                                            | Development of RenukaYallama Devi temple (2024-25)          |                          18.37 |
| Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI Scheme) | Development of Savadatti Yallammagudda in Belgavi (2024-25) |                         100    |

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2530 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-15
Subject: Human-Wildlife Conflicts in Uttarakhand
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Anil Baluni

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2530 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025

## Human-Wildlife Conflicts in Uttarakhand

2530.   SHRI ANIL BALUNI:

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

(a)whether the Government proposes to formulate a new policy for the State of Uttarakhand in order to check rapidly increasing incidents of human-wildlife conflict;

(b)whether the Government proposes to run a joint special campaign with State Government to check the increasing incidents of wild animal attacks in Uttarakhand;

(c)whether the Government is conducting any specific studies or carrying investigations expert to understand the reasons behind the increasing conflict between wild animals and humans; and (d)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (d)          Incidences  of  crop  damage  due  to  human-wildlife  conflict  are  reported  from different part of country from time to time. However, the management of wildlife including mitigation  of  human-animal  conflicts  is  primarily  the  responsibility  of  the concerned  State Government/Union Territory Administration. The State Government/Union Territory Administration is the first responder in Human Wildlife Conflict situations.

As  per  information  received  from  the  State  of  Uttarakhand,  a  'Human-Wildlife  Conflict Mitigation Cell' has been constituted in the state. Under this mechanism, systematic work is being carried out for the identification, monitoring, and resolution of situations arising due to human-wildlife conflict, along with documentation and maintenance of relevant records and data. Further, with the assistance of the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, the exercise for the estimation of the leopard population has been completed in the State.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2521 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-15
Subject: Vacant Post of Director in NIT, Hazratbal, Srinagar
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Mian Altaf Ahmad

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2521 ANSWERED ON-15/12/2025

## Vacant Post of Director in NIT, Hazratbal, Srinagar

## 2521.   Shri Mian Altaf Ahmad:

Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  post  of  Director,  National  Institute  of  Technology  (NIT),  Hazratbal, Srinagar, has been lying vacant for more than two years;
- (b) if so, the reasons for the delay in filling up the said post;
- (c) whether  any  steps  have  been  initiated  by  the  Government  to  appoint  a  regular Director at the said Institute; and
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  time  by  which  the  said  post  is  likely  to  be filled?

## A N S W E R

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

(a) to (d): The regular Director appointed for the National Institute of Technology, Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir) assumed the charge of the post in May, 2023 for a period of five years. After  08  months  only,  the  Director  had  to  revert  to  his  parent  organization  due  to administrative reasons therein.  Since then, the charge of the post has been assigned to the regular Director of another NIT for smooth functioning of the Institute.

The  Search-cum-Selection  Committee  has  been  constituted  as  per  Section  17  (1)  of  the National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (NITSER) Act, 2007 (29 of 2007) and the Statutes framed under the Act and interviews with the shortlisted candidates have already been conducted.

*-*-*-*-*
Lok Sabha Question No. 2517 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-15
Subject: Hostel Capacity of IIT Patna
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Dinesh Chandra Yadav, Shri Giridhari Yadav, Shri Kaushalendra Kumar

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2517 ANSWERED ON-15/12/2025

## Hostel Capacity of IIT Patna

## †2517. Shri Dinesh Chandra Yadav: Shri Giridhari Yadav: Shri Kaushalendra Kumar:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the present status of proposal to increase the hostel and other infrastructure capacity of IIT Patna as announced in Budget 2025-26; and
- (b) the details of the amount spent so far for the said work?

## ANSWER

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

(a) and (b): In the Union Budget for 2025-26, Government had announced the expansion of hostel and other infrastructure capacity at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Patna. The Hon'ble  Prime  Minister  has  laid  the  foundation  stone  for  the  third  phase  expansion  of Infrastructure projects at IIT Patna on 27.09.2025 through video conference. The expansion has  been  financed  through  the  Higher  Education  Financing  Agency  (HEFA)  which  has approved an amount of ₹644.54 crore for developing hostel facilities 2000-seat boys' hostel, 500-seat girls' hostel, and a 250-seat international hostel, along with academic buildings and a dedicated research park. In the financial year 2025-26, more than ₹200 cr. has been released to  IIT  Patna  under  the  scheme  of  support  to  IITs  for  both  recurring  and  non-recurring expenditure.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2515 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-15
Subject: Promotion of Medical and Wellness Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Dr. C N Manjunath

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2515

## ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025

## PROMOTION OF MEDICAL AND WELLNESS TOURISM

## 2515. DR. C N MANJUNATH:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  assessed  the  current  scale  and economic contribution of India's medical and wellness tourism sector;
- (b) whether  there  is  any  framework  to  promote  synergy  between accredited  super-speciality  hospitals  and  traditional  AYUSHbased wellness centres under a unified national brand, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  coordinating  with  the  Ministry  of Health  and  Family  Welfare  and  the  Ministry  of  AYUSH  to streamline  regulatory  norms,  visa  support  and  international marketing for promoting medical and wellness tourism;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  any  plan  to  develop  dedicated medical and wellness tourism hubs with integrated infrastructure in key regions such as Bengaluru, Kochi, Gurugram, Varanasi and Rishikesh; and
- (e)
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF TOURISM      (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a)  to  (e):  Development  and  promotion  of  tourist  destinations  and products,  including  medical  tourism  is  undertaken  by  the  respective State  Government/Union  Territory  (UT)  Administration. The  Ministry promotes various tourism products of the country, including medical & Wellness tourism through various initiatives.

The  Ministry  of  Tourism  does  not  maintain  data  on  economic contribution of India's medical and wellness tourism sector. There is no proposal in the Ministry of Tourism to create a unified national brand to promote synergy between accredited super-speciality hospitals and traditional AYUSH-based wellness centres. The National Accreditation  Board  for  Hospitals  &  Healthcare  Providers  (NABH) provides  accreditation  for  hospitals,  wellness  centres,  healthcare facilities and empanelment for Medical Value Travel Facilitators. The Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) under the Ministry of Commerce has developed a comprehensive website viz., http://www.indiahealthcaretourism.com which provides information on accredited hospitals and wellness centres, visa, healthcare providers etc. The Ministry of Tourism has provided a link to this portal on its official websites. The  Ministry  of  Tourism  through  its  central  sector  schemes  of ' Swadesh  Darshan, ' Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual,  Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) and ' Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism  Infrastructure  Development ' extends  financial  assistance  to the  State  Governments/UT  Administrations  for  tourism  infrastructure development in the country. The central financial assistance is being extended  according  to  guidelines  and  based  on  proposals/detailed project reports received from the States and UT Governments.

*******