opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 529 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Applications Pending for CRS License
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Shri K C Venugopal

(a) to (e)

The sanctioned strength of employees in Prasar Bharati is 45,791. But in recent years, the nature of broadcasting and media operations has undergone significant change.  Accordingly,  the  workforce  requirements  have  also  evolved.  Currently, Doordarshan  has  5,545  regular  employees,  and  Akashvani  has  9,648  regular employees.

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 529 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025)

Applications Pending for CRS License

529. SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL

## Will the Minister of Information and Broadcasting be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of sanctioned and actual strength of Prasar Bharati, Akashvani (All India Radio) along with the number of staff on contractual basis;
- (b) the status of the HR transformation exercise in all these organisations and the timeline and expected outcome of this exercise;
- (c) the data on the total number of Community Radio Stations (CRSs) in various States along with the number of applications pending for CRS license;
- (d) the  details  of  budget allocations  and  actual  spendings of the Government on the Community Radio Stations during the last three years, State-wise; and
- (e) the  details  of  measures  adopted  to  expand  the  CRS  operations  in  underrepresented linguistic areas?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## [DR. L MURUGAN]

The engagement of the workforce is carried out as per the functional requirements. As on date, Prasar Bharati has 1,574 contractual employees. Prasar Bharati carries out human resource management as per its requirements which includes periodic assessment, training and reskilling.

Government has sanctioned 540 Community Radio Stations (CRS) throughout the country. 144 applications are at different stages of examination.

To strengthen new and existing Community Radio Stations (CRS) in the country, the Government has also launched a Central Sector Scheme namely 'Supporting Community  Radio  Movement  in  India'.  With  an  outlay  of  Rs.  50.00  Crores,  the scheme is functional for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26.

The main features of the scheme are as follows:

1.  Financial  assistance  to  newly  established  CRSs  after  they  have  been operational for three months.
2.  Stations  operating  for  over  five  years  receive  support  for  renewing  or replacing old equipment.
3.  Training and awareness through workshops, webinars, and sammelans.
4.  Stakeholder  Engagement  through  regional  and  national  events  to  enable peer learning among CR stakeholders.

The details of approved community radio stations, including the budgetary allocation, as updated from time to time, are available on the Ministry website: https://mib.gov.in/ministry/our-wings/broadcating-wing.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 528 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Canal Solar Power Generation  in Andhra Pradesh
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Maddila Gurumoorthy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 528

ANSWERED ON 23/07/2025

## CANAL SOLAR POWER GENERATION IN ANDHRA PRADESH

528. SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to launch a Canal Solar Power Project on the TeluguGanga Canal which runs for approximately 150 km through the Tirupati Lok Sabha segment of Andhra Pradesh and this KP canal (Satya Sai Ganga Canal) is a major source of drinking water to Tamil Nadu Industrial SEZs and Ayacut under irrigation along its alignment and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has received any proposals for utilizing the canal banks or top for solar power generation, especially near growth centers like Sri City;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, whether the Government would consider initiating a feasibility study in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF  STATE  FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER

(SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

(a) to (d) No. Presently, there are no such proposals for the state of Andhra Pradesh.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 521 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: National Green Hydrogen Mission
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Rahul Singh Lodhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 521

ANSWERED ON 23/07/2025

## NATIONAL GREEN HYDROGEN MISSION

## 521. SHRI RAHUL SINGH LODHI

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

- (a) whether there is any proposal to include Damoh Lok Sabha Constituency under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM);
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) The Government of India is implementing the National Green Hydrogen Mission with an objective to make India a global hub of production, usage and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives.

The Mission is implemented on pan India basis. However, there is no proposal received from Damoh Lok Sabha Constituency under the Mission.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 515 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: New Telecom Towers in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Shri Selvam G, Shri C N Annadurai, Shri Navaskani K

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 515 ANSWERED ON 23 RD  JULY, 2025

## NEW TELECOM TOWERS IN TAMIL NADU

## 515. SHRI C N ANNADURAI: SHRI SELVAM G: SHRI NAVASKANI K:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of villages in Tamil Nadu where new telecom towers have been installed during the last five years, year and district-wise;
- (b) the number of towers installed under Government schemes such as USOF, BharatNet, or 4G Saturation Scheme in Tamil Nadu;
- (c) whether any villages in Tamil Nadu, particularly in hilly, forested, or tribal areas, still remain without mobile network coverage, if so, the number and names of such uncovered villages as per the latest Government survey and the timeline for providing connectivity to these villages;
- (d) the  role  of  Universal  Service  Obligation Fund  (USOF) in expanding mobile and internet services in Tamil Nadu;
- (e) the total amount sanctioned and utilised under USOF projects in the State during the last five years; and
- (f) the details of the districts and villages that have benefited from these projects?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) The Year wise and District wise details of villages in Tamil Nadu where new telecom towers  have  been  installed  in  the  last  five  years  are  available  on  Digital  Bharat  Nidhi  (DBN) [erstwhile  Universal  Service  Obligation  Fund (USOF)] website (https://usof.gov.in/en/home).  Total 256 number of towers for provisioning of mobile services have been installed under the DBN funded 4G Saturation Scheme in Tamil Nadu. The details of 5 villages that do not have mobile coverage in Tamil Nadu is available on DBN website (https://usof.gov.in/en/home).

- (d) Number  of  Gram  Panchayats  (GPs)  connected  under  BharatNet  project  and  number  of villages  connected  under  4G  Saturation  Scheme  in  Tamil  Nadu  are  available  on  DBN  website (https://usof.gov.in/en/home).
- (e) Rs. 1,610.11 crore have been utilized under various schemes funded through DBN during last five years (FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25) for the State of Tamil Nadu.
- (f) Details of the district and villages beneficiated from DBN projects are available on Digital Bharat Nidhi website (https://usof.gov.in/en/home).

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Lok Sabha Question No. 514 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Status of Bargarh-Nuapada Railway line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Pradeep Purohit

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 514 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025

## STATUS OF BARGARH-NUAPADA RAILWAY LINE

## 514. SHRI PRADEEP PUROHIT:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)   the details of the current status of the Bargarh to Nuapada railway line  project,  along  with  the  estimated  expenditure  incurred  till date;
- (b)  the details of the timeline set for land acquisition for the project and the projected cost for this phase;
- (c)   the details of the expected date for issuance of the tender for this project and the budget allocated for initial works; and
- (d)   the estimated timeline for the completion of the railway line along with a detailed breakdown of the anticipated total expenditure for the project?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (d):  Bargarh  Road  -  Nawapara  Road  New  Line  (138.32  Km) Railway Project has been sanctioned at a cost of ₹ 2622 Cr. recently.

The  project  has  been  notified  as  a  special  Railway  Project  for  land acquisition  through  the  State  Government.  Competent  Authority  for Land Acquisition (CALA) has been appointed and Notification has also been issued for acquisition of land of some of the villages. An outlay of ₹ 43 Cr. has been provided for the current financial year i.e. 2025-26.

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.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 513 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Expansion of Doordarshan Free Dish
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, Ms Kangna Ranaut, Shri Bhojraj Nag, Shri Khagen Murmu, Shri Alok Sharma, Dr. Bhola Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 513 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23-07-2025

## EXPANSION OF DOORDARSHAN FREE DISH

513. SHRI BHOJRAJ NAG: SHRI ALOK SHARMA: DR. BHOLA SINGH: MS KANGNA RANAUT: SHRI KHAGEN MURMU SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB :

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

- (a) the manner in which the number of registered publications and private satellite TV channels evolved during the recent years; and
- (b) the details regarding the expansion of Doordarshan Free Dish, DTH services and All India Radio especially in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh and rural or remote regions?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) and (b): India has a vibrant press and media ecosystem, which has witnessed growth in recent years, as mentioned below:
-  Number  of  publications  registered  with  the  Press  Registrar  General  of  India  has increased from 1.05 Lakh in 2014-15 to 1.55 Lakh in 2024-25.
-  Number of private satellite TV Channels have also increased from 821 in 2014-15 to 908 in 2024-25.

As  of  today,  92  private  channels  and  50  Doordarshan  Channels  are  available  on  DD  Free Dish. Both private and DD channels operate in various regional languages, ensuring wider audience reach across the country.

Expansion of Prasar Bharati's network across the country is a continuous process undertaken under the Broadcasting Infrastructure & Network Development (BIND) Scheme 2021-26.

Three  transmitters  have  been  approved  under  this  scheme  in  Himachal  Pradesh.  These include 5kW transmitter in Mandi and 1kW FM transmitters in Chamba and Dharampur each.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 509 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Coal Selling by Singareni Collieries
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Dr. Kadiyam Kavya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 509 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025

## Coal Selling by Singareni Collieries

## 509. Dr. Kadiyam Kavya:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

(a) the details of policy on selling coal by Singareni Collieries to Public and Private Sectors; and

(b) the measures taken by the Government to ensure transparency along with the benefits for Telangana State?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) Ministry of Coal with an objective for overall development of coal industry, greater transparency in coal allocation, ease of doing business as well as to foster competitive and fairtrade environment, has framed various policies followed by timely amendments in order to keep them in synchronization and alignment with changing needs of the market. These polices encompass sale by coal PSU's to both public and private players and have ensured transparency in allocation and availability of coal. This in turn has resulted in increased business activity, employment generation, royalty and other taxes collections which consequently have benefited all the States including the State of Telangana.

The following policy/guidelines issued by Ministry of Coal are also being followed by the Singareni  Collieries  Company  Limited  (SCCL)  for  selling  of  coal  to  various  category  of industries:-

- i. SHAKTI Policy dated 22.05.2017 for allocation of coal linkages to the Power Sector (as amended on 25.03.2019 and 08.11.2023).
- ii. Policy for Auction of linkages of Non-Regulated Sector (NRS) dated 15.02.2016 (as amended on 01.06.2020) for coal linkages to NRS.
- iii. New  Coal  Distribution Policy dated 18.10.2007 (as  amended  on  26.07.2013, 04.09.2013,  27.09.2016  and  11.04.2022)  for  Pre-SHAKTI  and  Pre-NRS  Linkage Auction Policy era linkages as well as for e-auctions and allocation of coal to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
- iv. Bridge Linkage Policy dated 08.02.2016 for short-term coal linkage to Central and State Public Sector Undertakings.

With the Revised SHAKTI Policy, 2025, the provisions of the SHAKTI Policy, 2017 (as amended) have been superseded and all the fresh coal linkages to the Power Sector by SCCL shall be under the Revised SHAKTI Policy, 2025.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 507 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Delay in Stipend Disbursement under Maulana Azad National Fellowship
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri K C Venugopal, Adv. Adoor Prakash

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 507

ANSWERED ON 23/07/2025

## DELAY IN STIPEND DISBURSEMENT UNDER MAULANA AZAD NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP

## 507.   ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH: SHRI K C VENUGOPAL:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the research students those who are already under the Maulana Azad National Fellowship have not received their stipends since December 2024, if so, the details thereof along with the reasons for delay in the disbursement of stipend;
- (b) the details of the reason for not releasing funds to the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) by the Ministry since October-November 2024 along with the current status of the fund release process;
- (c) whether the 4.9 per cent reduction in funding for the fellowship in the year 2025-26 budget has contributed to the delay in stipend disbursement, if so, the manner in which it has delayed the stipend disbursement;
- (d)  whether  the  Government has taken immediate measures or proposes to release the stipend and to prevent such delay in the future and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of the alternative measures or schemes which are being considered to support PhD researchers  for  minority  communities  given  that  the  fellowship  was  terminated  for  new applicants in the year 2022-23?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a)  to  (d):  Maulana  Azad  National  Fellowship  (MANF)  scheme  has  been  discontinued  from 2022-23  onward  in  view  of  the  overlap  among  the  other  fellowship  schemes.  However,  the existing  MANF  fellows  will  continue  to  receive  fellowships  till  the  end  of  their  respective tenure.  Committed  liabilities  under  MANF  were  not  paid  from  January  onwards  pending approval.

Recently, necessary approval was obtained on the release of funds to those students who have  been  on-boarded  under  the  MANF  in  terms  of  the  scheme  guidelines/  DBT  Mission guidelines.  Following  this,  Ministry  has  released  funds  to  nodal  agency  for  disbursement  of fellowship.

(e): The UGC and CSIR Fellowship Schemes are open for candidates of all social categories and communities including minorities. Further, students from minority communities are also covered under National Fellowship Schemes for Scheduled Castes and OBC's implemented by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 500 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: 4G Network in Remote Tribal Areas of Dahod District
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Shri Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 500 ANSWERED ON 23 RD  JULY, 2025

## 4G NETWORK IN REMOTE TRIBAL AREAS OF DAHOD DISTRICT

## †500.   SHRI JASWANTSINH SUMANBHAI BHABHOR:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether BSNL has launched 4G network in remote tribal areas of Dahod district, if so, the details thereof;

- (b) whether a list of villages not covered by mobile network in Dahod has been prepared;
- (c) if so, whether any action plan has been prepared in this regard, the details thereof; and

(d) whether any scheme has been announced for providing better internet facilities to students of Dahod for online education purpose and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

( a ) In line with Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, BSNL has placed purchase order for indigenously developed one lakh 4G sites for pan India deployment . Supply of 4G equipment has started from September 2023 and as on 30.06 . 2025, total 95,537 numbers 4G sites have been installed, out of which 90,035 numbers are ON -Air . BSNL is also executing 4G Saturation Project to enhance its network infrastructure and  service  quality  in  uncovered  rural  and  remote  areas  including  Dahod District  of  Gujarat.  Presently,  18  tribal  villages  of  Dahod  District  are  covered  with  BSNL  4G Services .

(b) & ( c ) Two villages  namely  Bhimpura  and  Punakota  of  Dahod  District  do  not  have  4G coverage. Punakota village is planned under ongoing 4G Saturation Project for 4G coverage.

(d) BharatNet  project ( earlier  known  as  National  Optical  Fiber  Network ) funded  by  Digital Bharat  Nidhi ( erstwhile  USOF ) is  being  implemented  in  a  phased  manner  to  provide  broadband connectivity  to  all  Gram  Panchayats  across  the  country . BharatNet  Phase -II  in  eight  States ( Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Taminnadu and Telangana ) is being implemented under State Led Model .

Further,  Amended  BharatNet  program  has  been  approved  by  the  Union  Cabinet  on 04 . 08 . 2023 with an outlay of  Rs . 1 . 39  Lakh  Crores  to  extend  fiber  to  all  Gram  Panchayats  and villages  on  demand  basis,  including  provisions  for  1 . 5  Crores  high  speed  FTTH  broadband connections in rural areas . BSNL is the Project Management Agency for this scheme .

The schemes / projects being implemented under Digital India initiatives to improve the digital literacy  in  rural  and  tribal  areas includes  Pradhan  Mantri  Gramin  Digital  Saksharta  Abhiyaan ( PMGDISHA ) , National Knowledge Network ( NKN ) and BHASHINI etc .

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Lok Sabha Question No. 491 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: PLI Scheme for Solar PV Modules
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Smt. Bijuli Kalita Medhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 491

ANSWERED ON 23/07/2025

## PLI SCHEME FOR SOLAR PV MODULES

491. SMT. BIJULI KALITA MEDHI

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

- (a) the details of main objectives of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for the National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules and the manner in which it aims to enhance domestic manufacturing capacity in the country;
- (b) the manner in which transparent selection process for solar PV manufacturers under the PLI Scheme contributes to the overall ecosystem for high-efficiency solar PV module production in the country; and
- (c) the details of potential economic impacts are expected from the successful implementation of the PLI Scheme for solar PV modules?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for High Efficiency Solar PV Modules is aimed  at  promoting  manufacturing  of  high  efficiency  solar  PV  modules  in  India  and  thus reducing import dependency for solar energy sector. Under PLI Scheme for High Efficiency Solar PV Modules, Letters of Award have been issued for setting up of 48,337 MW of fully/ partially integrated solar PV module manufacturing units.
- (b) Under PLI Scheme for High Efficiency Solar PV Modules, the amount of PLI is linked to the local content in the solar PV modules manufactured by the solar PV manufacturers selected under the Scheme through transparent selection process. The linkage of the PLI amount to the proportion of local content in the solar PV modules, creates avenues for the development of the  solar  PV  manufacturing  ecosystem  in  the  country,  thereby  contributing  to  the  overall ecosystem for high-efficiency solar PV module production in India.
- (c) As per the information provided by the successful bidders, as on 30.06.2025, an investment of Rs. 48,120 crore (approximately) and employment of around 38,500 persons is generated under this Scheme.

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