opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2946 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: Establishment for IICT for AVGC-XR Sector
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Ms Kangna Ranaut, Shri Ravindra Shukla Alias Ravi Kishan, Shri Haribhai Patel, Shri Manoj Tiwari, Shri Kanwar Singh Tanwar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2946

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025

## ESTABLISHMENT FOR IICT FOR AVGC-XR SECTOR

2946: SHRI MANOJ TIWARI

SHRI KANWAR SINGH TANWAR

SHRI HARIBHAI PATEL

MS KANGNA RANAUT

## SHRI RAVINDRA SHUKLA ALIAS RAVI KISHAN

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

- a) whether the Government proposes to set up/is setting up an Indian Institute of Creative Technology for the field of animation, visual effects, gaming, comics and extended reality and if so, the main objectives thereof;
- b) whether Mahesana Lok Sabha Constituency has also been identified for setting up of the said institute and if so, the details thereof;
- c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  develop  the  said  Indian  Institute  of  Creative Technology on the lines of IITs and IIMs in terms of governance and academic structure and if so, the details thereof; and
- d) whether any time limit has been fixed by the Government for conducting academic programmes, infrastructure development and student admission process at the said institute and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS. (DR. L. MURUGAN);

(a) to (d)

The Government has established Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) as a Section 8  company  under  the  Companies  Act,  2013  in  collaboration  with  the  Government  of Maharashtra, FICCI and CIl for creative technologies.

- A world-class institution to provide high-quality education, research, innovation and skill development in the AVGC-XR domain.
- IICT-NFDC campus, Mumbai was inaugurated on 18th July 2025 with a vision to set up a permanent campus in Film City, Goregaon East, Mumbai.
- Rs. 392.85 crore has been allocated for the development and operations of IICT.
- IICT  is  modelled  on  the  lines  of  IITs  and  IIMs,  as  an  institution  for  creative technologies.
- IICT has signed MoUs with major global companies like: Google, Meta, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, WPP and others for academic collaboration.
- IICTs  curriculum  is  aligned  with  the  real-world  demands  of  AVGC-XR,  VFX, animation, and gaming sectors through industry collaboration.
- IICT is designed to provide advanced training for professionals and trainers in AVGCXR domains.

The governance structure includes a Board of Directors and a Governing Council comprising experts from academia, government and industry.

The inaugural academic session of IICT is scheduled to commence from September 2025, offering  17  specialized  courses  in  Gaming,  Post-Production,  Animation,  Comics,  XR  and related certifications. The details of the courses offered and student admission process can be viewed at https://iict.org .

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2945 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: Bhoramdev Sahakari Sugar Factory
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Santosh Pandey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2945

TO BE ANSWERED ON 6TH AUGUST, 2025

## BIIORAMDEV  SAHAKARI SUGAR FACTORY

## 2945. SHRI SANTOSH PANDEY:

Will the  Minister  of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION  be pleased to state:

- (a): whether the  Government has received any  complaints regarding irregular purchase, sale and rate  fixation of  sugarcane syrup  and molasses from  the  ethanol plant  at Bhoramdev Sahakari Sugar Factory Kabirdham in  the Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha constituency, if  so, the details thereof;
- (b): whether it  is true that the rate for purchase and sale of molasses fixed without tender by  the cooperative sugar factory, the recovery of  money created from the factory by purchase and sale through re-tender, if  so, the details thereof;
- (c): whether molasses is  distributed by  the  cooperative sugar factory through pipeline; and
- (d): if  so, the details thereof along with  the molasses distributed  during the last three year?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRIMATI  NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI  BAMBHANIYA)

(a): Central  Government has not  received any complaint  regarding irregUlar purchase and sale and rate fixation  of  sugarcane syrup and molasses from the ethanol plant  at  Bhoramdev Sahakari Sugar Factory Kabirdham in  the Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha constituency. However,  State Government of Chhattisgarh has received complaint made by Hon'ble  Member of  Parliament Shri Santosh Pandey on the aforesaid subject.

- (c): Yes,  molasses is  being  distributed  by  the  cooperative  sugar  factory through pipeline.
- (d): Details of  molasses distributed by the Sugar Factory through pipeline during the last three years are as follows:

| Year     | Quantity of Molasses (MT)   |
|----------|-----------------------------|
| 2022-23  | 50                          |
| 2023 -24 | Nil                         |
| 2024-25  | 4100                        |

+iScScieSc+e
Lok Sabha Question No. 2942 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: Privatisation of Railways Services
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Arvind Ganpat Sawant

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2942 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025

## PRIVATISATION OF RAILWAYS SERVICES

2942. SHRI ARVIND GANPAT SAWANT:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether the Government plans privatisation in Railways, if so, the details thereof;

(b)  the  details  of  the  services  of  Railways  identified  for  privatisation; and

(c)  the  manner in which revenue, the Government will earn from such privatisation?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (c): Indian Railways is wholly owned by Government of India. All zonal  railways,  Production  units,  workshops  etc.  are  integral  part  of Indian railways. All assets like railway tracks, signaling system, rolling stocks  etc.  are  under  the  ownership  of  Indian  Railways  only.  Trains operations is the responsibility of Indian Railways.

Presently, there is no plan to privatise the Indian Railways.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2941 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: Number of Telephone Connections
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Shri Arun Kumar Sagar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2941 ANSWERED ON 6 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## NUMBER OF TELEPHONE CONNECTIONS

## †2941.  SHRI ARUN KUMAR SAGAR:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of telephone connections which have been sanctioned in the Country during the last three years as on date;
- (b) the number of telephone connections which have been issued;
- (c) the waiting list for telephone connections during the current year; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to bring the waiting list to an end?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) Total telephone subscribers in the country for the last three years as on date is as follows:
- (c) There is no waiting list as telephone connections are available on demand.
- (d) Question does not arise in view of reply to (c) above.

| Period ending   |   Total telephone connections (million) |
|-----------------|-----------------------------------------|
| 31.03.2022      |                                 1166.93 |
| 31.03.2023      |                                 1172.34 |
| 31.03.2024      |                                 1199.28 |
| 31.03.2025      |                                 1200.8  |
| 30.06.2025      |                                 1218.36 |

Source:  Telecom Regulatory Authority of India

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2940 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: Antyodaya Shramik Suraksha Yojana
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Shri Devusinh Chauhan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2940 ANSWERED ON 6 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## ANTYODAYA SHRAMIK SURAKSHA YOJANA

## 2940.   SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the current status of the Antyodaya Shramik Suraksha Yojana;

- (b) whether the Government is collaborating with any organisations or NGOs to implement the scheme successfully;

- (c) if so, the details of the organisations involved and their specific roles;

- (d) the details of the number of workers and families benefited from the scheme; and

- (e) the details of future plans for the expansion or enhancement of the said scheme?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The Scheme was launched on pilot  basis by India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) in  Kheda district of Gujarat in July 2023.

- (b) No, Sir, IPPB has not collaborated with any government organisations or NGOs.

- (c) Does not arise.

- (d) Antyodaya Shramik Suraksha Yojana (ASSY) has benefited a total of 8,42,514 workers and families.

- (e) IPPB has tied up with Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) to cover the Shramiks registered on e-shram portal under ASSY.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2935 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: National Mission on Quantum Computing (NMQC)
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Dr. Indra Hang Subba

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2935

## ANSWERED ON 06/08/2025

NATIONAL MISSION ON QUANTUM COMPUTING (NMQC)

## 2935.DR. INDRA HANG SUBBA:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) the total amount of funds allocated, disbursed and utilized for the National Mission on Quantum Computing (NMQC) during the last five years along with the outcome of utilisation of the said budgetary allocation;
- (b) whether any amount of funds have been allocated to the universities, IITs, NITs and regional institutions in the North East Region during the last five years;
- (c) if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी तथा पृ थ्िी विज्ञान मंत्रालय क े राज्य मंत्री ( स्ितंत्र प्रभार) ( डॉ. जितेंद्र स ंह )

- (a) The Government of India approved the National Quantum Mission (NQM) with an outlay of ₹6003.65 crore for a period of eight years. Under the Mission four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) have been established in the financial year 202425  in  the  areas  of  Quantum  Computing,  Quantum  Communication,  Quantum Sensing  and  Metrology,  and  Quantum  Materials  and  Devices.  The  total allocation, disbursement, and utilization under the mission is given below:

| Financial Year   | Funds Allocated Funds Disbursed Funds Utilized     |
|------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
| 2024-25          | Rs. 86.00 Crores Rs. 43.07 Crores Rs. 32.77 Crores |

The outcome of budget utilization includes the establishment of four T-Hubs, comprising of 14 Technical Groups having 17 Project Teams across 17 states and 2 Union Territories. These hubs bring together a total of 152 researchers from 43 institutions.

- (b) to (d): Yes Sir. Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam is one of the  member  institutes  under  the  Thematic  Hub  of  Quantum  Computing.  The amount of funds allocated to IIT Guwahati is:

| Financial Year   | Funds Allocated   |
|------------------|-------------------|
| 2024-25          | Rs. 6,92,800      |

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2931 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: SEHER Programme
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: Shri Baijayant Panda

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2931

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025

## SEHER PROGRAMME

## 2931.   SHRI BAIJAYANT PANDA:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the steps undertaken by the Government for imparting financial and credit education to women under SEHER Programme;
- (b) the details of the number of beneficiaries of the said programme, State-wise;
- (c) whether the said programme offers any specific benefits to women belonging to SC/ST/OBC and PwD community and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has undertaken any awareness initiatives for the promotion of the said programme and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the details of the amount of funds allocated for the same?

## 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)  to  (e)  SEHER  is  a  credit  education  program  launched  by  TransUnion  CIBIL  under  a  NITI Aayog initiative to impart financial literacy to women relating to entrepreneurship. The program is  inclusive and open to all women. The credit awareness modules under SEHER program are disseminated  through  physical  and  digital  mode.  As  a  public  private  partnership  initiative,  it endeavors  to collaborate with Ministries/Departments of government  and  other  industry stakeholders. So far through collaborations with the Raising and Accelerating  MSME Performance  (RAMP)  Scheme  of  the  Ministry  of  Micro,  Small  and  Medium  Enterprises  and SIDBI  cluster-level  knowledge  sharing  sessions  are  being  delivered.  There  is  no  specific allocation for SEHER program from the Government of India.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2930 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: Startups and MSMEs in High-tech Sectors
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Adv Gowaal Kagada Padavi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2930 ANSWERED ON 06/08/2025

## STARTUPS AND MSMEs IN HIGH-TECH SECTORS

## 2930. ADV GOWAAL KAGADA PADAVI:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) The details of the initiatives under NM-QTA geared towards supporting startups and MSMEs in high-tech sectors;
- (b) the  details  of  the  number  of  grant-in-aid  projects  sanctioned  to  private entities;
- (c) the  details  of  funds  earmarked  for  skilling  and  training  in  quantum computing within academic institutions;
- (d) the details of roadmap for industry-academia collaboration; and
- (e) the details of the number of patents or prototypes generated till date?

## ANSWER

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

विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी तथा पृ थ्िी विज्ञान मंत्रालय क े राज्य मंत्री ( स्ितंत्र प्रभार) ( डॉ. जितेंद्र स ंह )

- (a) Department of Science and Technology (DST) is implementing the National Quantum Mission (NQM). Under the Mission, four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs), each focusing on a specific domain of quantum technologies have been established in the financial year 2024-25. One of the major mandates of the T-Hubs is to support  startups  and  MSMEs  working  in  high-tech  sectors  such  as  quantum computing,  quantum  communication,  quantum  sensing  &  metrology  and quantum materials & devices.
- (b) DST has supported eight startups in the area of quantum technologies: QuNu  Labs, QpiAI, Dimira Technologies, PRENISHQ, QuPrayog, Pristine Diamonds, Quanastra, and Quan2D Technologies.
- (c) Under NQM, a total of ₹205.49 crore has been earmarked for skilling and training in quantum computing and related areas within academic institutions.
- (d) The NQM places strong emphasis on industry-academia collaboration as a core part of its implementation roadmap. This includes formation of T-Hubs that bring together academic institutions, R&D organizations, startups, and industry to  engage  in  translational  research,  prototype  co-development,  scaling  of technologies, and commercialization efforts.
- (e) QuNu Labs has developed a distinctive quantum security platform named Qshield.  QpiAI  has  developed  a  Quantum  Computer  with  25-Qubit  Quantum Processor based on Superconducting Qubit technology.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2927 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: Fix Base Year for GDP, IIP and CPI
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: Dr. C M Ramesh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2927 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025

## FIX BASE YEAR FOR GDP, IIP AND CPI

2927. DR. C M RAMESH:

Will  the  Minister  of  STATISTICS  AND  PROGRAMME  IMPLEMENTATION  be pleased to State:

- (a) whether the Government has undertaken the exercise to revise the base year of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Index Industrial Production (IIP) and Consumer Price Index (CPI), if so, the details thereof, along with reasons therefor;
- (b) the base year proposed to be fixed by the Government for GDP, IIP and CPI;
- (c) the items of basket taken for CPI and the manner in which it is different from the existing basket; and
- (d)  whether  the  Government  is  going  to  take  up  the  Economic  Census, service sector survey and private capex survey, if so, the details thereof including the timeline?

## 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): Yes Sir, the Ministry is underway to revise the base year of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Index Industrial Production (IIP) and Consumer Price Index (CPI). The base year is revised periodically to better capture the structural changes happening in the economy by updating the methodology of compilation and incorporation of new data sources. (b): The proposed new base year for the GDP and IIP is 2022-23, and for CPI the proposed base year is 2024. (c): For the CPI, list of items and their respective weights derived from the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey of 2023-24 is used in the revised index. (d): The Ministry has conducted its first Forward-Looking Survey on Private Corporate  Sector  CAPEX  Investment  Intentions  from  November  2024  to January  2025  and  the  findings  of  the  survey  have  been  published.  The Ministry  has  also  conducted  a  Pilot  Study  on  Annual  Survey  of  Services Sector Enterprises (ASSSE) to capture insights into the Incorporated Service Sector. The decision to conduct the next Economic Census i.e., 8th EC is yet to be taken.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2926 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: Budget sanctioned and allocated to Karnataka
Ministry: COMMUNICATION
Asked by: Shri Govind Makthappa Karjol

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2926 ANSWERED ON 6 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## BUDGET SANCTIONED AND ALLOCATED TO KARNATAKA

## 2926.   SHRI GOVIND MAKTHAPPA KARJOL:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the budget sanctioned and allocated to the State of Karnataka  under various schemes of the Union Government during the last two years, head-wise;
- (b) whether the State of Karnataka has given Utilisation Certificate after expenditure under all the schemes, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) whether the Government monitors the accounting of the budget given by them under various heads, if  so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) Under Central  Sector  Schemes  of  Department,  no  funds  are  allocated  to  states  including Karnataka.

However, the details of funds allocated/disbursed to various project implementing agencies for the state of Karnataka during 2023-24 and 2024-25 for various schemes under Digital Bharat Nidhi, DBN (erstwhile Universal Service Obligation Fund, USOF) is tabulated below:

| Rupees in crores   | Rupees in crores                                       | Rupees in crores   | Rupees in crores   | Rupees in crores   |
|--------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
| Sl. No.            | Name of Schemes                                        | 2023-24            | 2024-25            | Total              |
| 1                  | BharatNet                                              | 152.96             | 177.57             | 330.53             |
| 2                  | 4G Saturation Mobile Project                           | 88.76              | 105.38             | 194.14             |
| 3                  | Provision of Mobile Services in 354 Uncovered villages | 0.24               | 0.24               | 0.48               |
|                    | Grand Total                                            | 241.96             | 283.19             | 525.15             |

(b) & (c) The funds disbursed from Digital Bharat Nidhi are monitored based on terms and conditions of the agreement between Digital Bharat Nidhi and Project Implementing agencies which also includes Utilization certificates.

*****