opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 52 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-21
Subject: Promotion of Commerce Stream in KVs
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Smt. Manju Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 52 ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025

## PROMOTION OF COMMERCE STREAM IN KVs

## † 52.   SMT. MANJU SHARMA:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the Kendriya Vidyalayas in the country where the commerce stream have been closed during the last five years;
- (b) the reasons for the closure of commerce stream in these schools; and
- (c) the efforts being made by the Government to promote commerce stream in Kendriya Vidyalayas?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (c) Streams in class-XI/XII in the Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) are primarily decided by the students' choice and demand. If the enrolment of students in a particular  stream  is  significantly  low,  the  stream  allocation  in  the  Vidyalaya  is realigned  in  the  interest  of  the  students  and  to  ensure  optimal  utilization  of resources.

As per the standing instructions in the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) Admission  Guidelines,  Class-XI  KV  students,  who  wish  to  pursue  a  particular stream, including Commerce and where the desired stream is not available, are permitted to take admission in a nearby KV offering that stream.

As per information received from KVS, Commerce stream has been opened in  33  KVs  and  closed  in  19  KVs  across  the  country  during  the  last  five  years i.e. 2020-21 to 2024-25.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 50 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-21
Subject: Keezhadi Excavation Findings
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Thiru Dayanidhi Maran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 50

ANSWERED ON-21.07.2025

## KEEZHADI EXCAVATION FINDINGS

50. Thiru Dayanidhi Maran:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the specific scientific accuracy concerns raised by the Archaeological Survey of India that necessitated requesting a revised report from the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology regarding the Keezhadi excavation findings;
- (b)  the  timeline  provided  to  the  Tamil  Nadu  State  Department  of  Archaeology  for submitting the revised Keezhadi excavation report incorporating ASI's scientific accuracy requirements;
- (c) the details of the additional excavation phases and funding support being provided by ASI for the tenth phase of Keezhadi excavation that began on June 18, 2024, which has already identified six terracotta pipelines and various urban settlement structures; and
- (d) the details regarding the coordination mechanism established between ASI and the Tamil  Nadu  State  Department  of  Archaeology  to  ensure  scientific  integrity  in  future excavation reports from the Vaigai river valley archaeological sites?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has not requested for any revised report on Keezhadi from the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology.
- (b) Question does not arise.
- (c) Since 2018, Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology is conducting excavations at the site, for which ASI does not provide any funding support.
- (d)  ASI  provides  permission  for  excavations  as  per  the  provisions  of  the  Ancient Monuments  and  Archaeological  Sites  and  Remains  Act  1958  and  Rules  1959  and ensures  implementation  of  the  Act.  It  also  provides  technical  support,  as  and  when requested by any agency including State Department of Archaeology.

-----
Lok Sabha Question No. 32 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-21
Subject: Establishment of Institutes under Joint Venture of Central and State Government
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Ajay Kumar Mandal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-32

ANSWERED ON-21/07/2025

## ESTABLISHMENT OF INSTITUTES UNDER JOINT VENTURE OF CENTRAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT

†32. SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the new educational institutes established (like Universities, Engineering and Medical Colleges, technical institutes, institutes of National Importance) under joint venture of Central Government and State Government of Bihar or centrally sponsored initiative in Bihar during the last six years;
- (b)  the  details  of  the  institutes  including  category/status  (Government/Cooperative/Private), year of establishment, place and the financial assistance provided to them; and
- (c) the details of present functionality of the above institutes and details of current students, courses introduced and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) classrooms and labs etc.?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

(a)  to  (c):  Ministry  of  Education  is  implementing  Rashtriya  Uchchatar  Shiksha  Abhiyan (RUSA) which is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at funding specific State government universities  and  colleges,  so  as  to  improve  their  quality  by  ensuring  their  conformity  to prescribed norms and standards.

The government has launched the third phase of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) in June 2023 in the form of Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) with an outlay of Rs. 12926.10 crore, including the committed liabilities of the earlier phase of RUSA, for the period 2023-24 to 2025-26, to cater to the needs of educationally unserved/ underserved areas.

As per the PM-USHA guidelines, districts without any government HEIs were eligible for establishment of New Model Degree College (NMDC). No NMDCs have been approved in Bihar during the last 6 years (i.e., from 2019 to 2024).

However, under RUSA 2.0, four New Model degree Colleges have been approved in 2018 in Bihar for an amount of Rs.12 crore each, under the component of New Model Degree College in the districts  of  Araria,  Katihar,  Purnia  and  Gaya.  As  on  date,  NMDC  Purnia  is completed.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 29 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-21
Subject: Phase-I of Elephant Census
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Mr Pathan Yusuf

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 29

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025

## Phase-I of Elephant Census

## 29. MR PATHAN YUSUF:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that Phase-I of the synchronized elephant census completed in the Northeastern States;
- (b) if so, the detailed findings thereof;
- (c) whether any timeline for Phase-II of such census has been proposed in other regions; 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) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India and the State Forest Departments, has initiated the 'All India Synchronized Elephant Estimation' in 2022-23. The data collection has been completed across all regions and all such estimation reports are made public after their completion.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 27 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-21
Subject: Social Security Benefits for Gig Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri K C Venugopal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 27

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025

## SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FOR GIG WORKERS

## 27. SHRI K C VENUGOPAL:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)whether the Government has any data on the number of workers engaged in Gig Economy, and if so, the details thereof alongwith number of Gig workforce, State-wise;
- (b)whether the Government is aware that the majority of the platformbased gig workers work for eight to ten hours daily and yet do not receive any basic social security benefits;
- (c)the  details  of  the  concrete  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to extend  essential  social  security  coverage  to  these  gig  workers, including any regulatory measures or amendments under consideration;
- (d)whether  the  Government  is  exploring  a  reclassification  of  gig workers to bring them within the ambit of existing social security schemes and if so, the details thereof along with specific proposals being evaluated; and
- (e)the  timeline  by  which  the  Government  expects  to  implement  a comprehensive framework ensuring fair social security benefits for platform-based gig workers?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

- (a) As per an estimation by NITI Aayog vide its report titled 'India`s Booming Gig and Platform Economy' published in June 2022, the number of gig workers and platform workers in the country was 7.7  million  in  2020-21  which  is  expected  to  rise  to  23.5  million  by 2029-30.
- (b) to (e): For  the  first  time,  the  definition  of  'gig  workers'  and 'platform  workers'  and  provisions  related  to  the  same  have  been provided  in  the  Code  on  Social  Security,  2020  which  has  been enacted by the Parliament.

The Code provides for framing of suitable social security measures for gig workers and platform workers on matters relating to life and disability cover, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits, old age protection, etc.

The Government in its Budget Announcement for financial year 2025-26 has announced several key measures for the welfare of Gig workers  of online platforms (platform workers) viz. their registration on the e-Shram portal, issuance of identity cards, and extension of health care benefits under Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 26 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-21
Subject: Problems Faced by Farmers in Rural Banks in Uttar Pradesh
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Shri Devesh Shakya

## Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Financial Services

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 26

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, JULY 21, 2025/ ASHADHA 30, 1947 (SAKA)

## Problems Faced by Farmers in Rural Banks in Uttar Pradesh

## † 26. Shri. Devesh Shakya:

Will the MINISTER OF FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the 'Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank' was constituted on 1 May, 2025 by merging of Baroda UP Bank, Aryavart Bank and Prathama UP Gramin Bank;
- (b)  whether it is also a fact that the farmers of rural areas in Etawah, Etah, Kasganj, Moradabad and Amroha have to face technical problems like lack of updation of Bank Code, Branch data etc. when they visit their banks to receive loan under Government Schemes;
- (c) if so, whether the Government is aware of such problems and the time by which these problems are likely to be resolved; and
- (d)  whether the Government has fixed any timeline for the resolution of these problems with a view to enable farmers to get timely benefits of the schemes?

## Answer

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

- (a) The Central Government, vide Gazette Notification S.O. 1634(E) dated 5th April 2025, notified the amalgamation of Baroda U.P. Bank, Aryavart Bank and Prathama U.P. Gramin Bank into a single Regional Rural Bank i.e. Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank, with its head office at Lucknow under the sponsorship of Bank of Baroda, with effect from 1 st day of May, 2025.

(b to d): The Government has constituted State Level Monitoring Committee (SLMC) and National Level  Project  Monitoring  Unit  (NLPMU)  to  oversee  and  monitor  the  implementation  of  the amalgamation programme. To protect the interest of rural customers, the NLPMU has advised all Regional  Rural  Banks  (RRBs)  to  give  adequate  publicity  of  amalgamation  through  various communication channels (electronic & print media, SMS to customers, customer awareness meets at branch level etc).  Further, RRBs have been advised to take necessary steps to set up call centres to handle customer grievances. As informed by NABARD, all branches continue to function under the  new  entities,  ensuring  uninterrupted  access  to  banking  services.  Migration  of  customer accounts, deposits, and loans is being carried out without any major disruption.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 25 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-21
Subject: Conservation and Development of Heritage Sites
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Shankar Lalwani, Shri Kota Srinivasa Poojary, Shri Praveen Patel, Shri P P Chaudhary, Shri Parbhubhai Nagarbhai Vasava, Shri Rajkumar Chahar, Smt. Aparajita Sarangi, Shri Arun Govil, Shri Manoj Tiwari, Shri Rajesh Naranbhai Chudasama, Dr. Hemang Joshi, Shri Godam Nagesh, Shri Bibhu Prasad Tarai, Shri Jagdambika Pal, Shri Naba Charan Majhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.25

## ANSWERED ON 21/07/2025

## CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF HERITAGE SITES

## ✝ 25.    SHRI ARUN GOVIL:

SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:

SHRI PRAVEEN PATEL:

SHRI KOTA SRINIVASA POOJARY:

SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA:

SHRI RAJESH NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA:

SHRI SHANKAR LALWANI:

SHRI P P CHAUDHARY:

SMT. APARAJITA SARANGI:

SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

SHRI BIBHU PRASAD TARAI:

SHRI RAJKUMAR CHAHAR:

DR. HEMANG JOSHI:

SHRI NABA CHARAN MAJHI:

SHRI GODAM NAGESH:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:-

- (a) the number of antiquities retrieved from the foreign countries;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  implemented  any    conservation  and  development projects for the revival of heritage sites across the country including the States of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan;
- (c) if so, the details, thereof;
- (d) whether any action  has been taken for the digitization of the cultural heritage of India particularly for Rajasthan State; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) A total of 655 antiquities have been retrieved from foreign countries since 1976.

- (b)&(c) Archaeological  Survey  of  India  (ASI)  takes  up  conservation  and  maintenance work  of  ancient  monuments  and  archaeological  sites  of  national  importance including provision of amenities like drinking water, toilet blocks, pathways and landscaping  etc.  in  the  country  including  the  State  of  Uttar  Pradesh  and Rajasthan. Maintenance of these monuments and sites is a continuous process and is taken up as per the need and availability of resources.
- (d)&(e) The  National  Mission  on  Monuments  and  Antiquities  (NMMA),  established  in 2007,  has  documented  2,160  Built  Heritage  and  Sites  and  42,606  Antiquities from the state of Rajasthan. The data has been published at the NMMA website: http://nmma.nic.in.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 22 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-21
Subject: Development of Gosabara-Mokarsagar Wetland Complex in Porbandar
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Smt. Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.22 ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025

## DEVELOPMENT OF GOSABARA-MOKARSAGAR WETLAND COMPLEX IN PORBANDAR

22.  SMT. POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  initiated  any  plans  to  develop  the Gosabara-Mokarsagar wetland complex in Porbandar into a sustainable eco-tourism destination;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the eco-tourism project is aligned with conservation goals, focusing  on  preserving  the  wetland's  biodiversity  while  promoting tourism; and
- (d) if  so,  the details thereof and safeguards that are in place to ensure minimal disturbance to migratory and resident bird species?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) to (d): Development and promotion of Tourism is primarily undertaken by  the  concerned  State  Government.  However,  the  Ministry  of  Tourism under its various schemes  complements  these  efforts  by providing financial  assistance  to  the  State  Governments/UT  Administrations  for development of tourism projects.

In the year 2024-25, the Ministry of Tourism issued operational guidelines for 'Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale'(SASCI) scheme with the objective to comprehensively develop iconic tourist centres in the country, branding and marketing them at global scale. Under the said scheme  the Government  of  India  has  sanctioned  40  projects  in  the  country  for Rs.3295.76 Crore  including  the  project  'Ecotourism  Destination  at  Kerly Mokarsagar'  for  Rs.99.50  Crore  in  Gujarat.  The  projects  under  SASCI scheme have been identified based on the project proposals submitted by the  concerned  State  Governments,  its  examination  on  the  prescribed parameters and as per the institutional framework detailed in the scheme

guidelines. As per the contours of the scheme, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the projects is to be formulated by the concerned State Government after analysing all the relevant factors including environmental. Further, it is the responsibility  of  the  concerned  State  to  obtain  all  necessary  clearances which  are  required  as  per  the  prevailing  rules  and  regulations  including those relating to environment, forest & pollution, Archaeological Survey of India and other pre-construction clearances before the implementation of the project.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 19 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-21
Subject: Assistance to Privately-Owned Heritage Homes for Conservation
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Tangella Uday Srinivas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.19 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025

## ASSISTANCE TO PRIVATELY-OWNED HERITAGE HOMES FOR CONSERVATION

19. SHRI TANGELLA UDAY SRINIVAS:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government maintains any inventory or registry of privately-owned heritage home/ buildings in the country and if so, the details thereof, State/UTwise;
- (b) whether  any  financial  assistance,  tax  incentives  or  special  schemes  exist  to support the private owners in the conservation, restoration or adaptive reuse of such heritage properties, and if so, the details thereof; and;
- (c) Whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  introduce  a  dedicated  central scheme to provide financial or technical assistance for conservation of privatelyowned heritage homes, and if so, the details and timeline thereof?;

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM

## (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) The  Archaeological  Survey  of  India  does  not  maintain  any  inventory  of privately - owned heritage homes specifically, however the Government of India  has  established  the  National  Mission  on  Monuments  and  Antiquities (NMMA)  in  2007  to  prepare  two  national  register  on  monuments  and antiquities from length and breadth of across the country. So far the NMMA has documented and published data for 11,406 Built Heritage & Sites which are  100  or  more  years  old.  State  wise  list  is  attached  in  Annuxure-1  The data has been published at the NMMA website: http://nmma.nic.in.
- (b)&(c) This is outside the mandate of ASI.

*******

| S. No.   | State Name       |   Total Data |
|----------|------------------|--------------|
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh   |         1788 |
| 2        | Bihar            |           20 |
| 3        | Chhattisgarh     |           60 |
| 4        | Delhi            |          872 |
| 5        | Gujrat           |           46 |
| 6        | Haryana          |            1 |
| 7        | Himachal Pradesh |          280 |
| 8        | Jammu & Kashmir  |          292 |
| 9        | Karnataka        |          312 |
| 10       | Kerala           |          174 |
| 11       | Madhya Pradesh   |          749 |
| 12       | Maharashtra      |           32 |
| 13       | Odisha           |         2015 |
| 14       | Punjab           |          687 |
| 15       | Rajasthan        |         2160 |
| 16       | Tamil Nadu       |          922 |
| 17       | Telangana        |          629 |
| 18       | Tripura          |            4 |
| 19       | Uttar Pradesh    |          228 |
| 20       | West Bengal      |          135 |
|          | Total            |        11406 |
Lok Sabha Question No. 17 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-21
Subject: Lending Norms for Small Finance Banks (SFBs)
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Shri Basavaraj Bommai

## Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Financial Services

## LOK SABHA Unstarred Question No. 17

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, 21 JULY, 2025/ ASHADHA 30, 1947 (SAKA)

## Lending Norms for Small Finance Banks (SFBs)

## 17.  Shri Basavaraj Bommai

Will the Minister of Finance be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is a huge shortfall in priority sector lending in the last three years;
- (b) if so, the year-wise details along with the reasons thereof;
- (c) whether the RBI eases priority sector lending norms for Small Finance Banks (SFBs);
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the  extent  to  which  the  new  norms  would  promote  various  sectors  particularly agriculture, education, housing, renewable energy, MSME and weaker sections in the country?

## Answer

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

(a)and (b) In terms of Master Directions on Priority Sector Lending (PSL) dated March 24, 2025 issued by Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Banks having shortfall in priority sector lending vis-à-vis the prescribed target/sub-targets shall be allocated amounts for contribution to the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) and other funds with NABARD/NHB/SIDBI/MUDRA Ltd., as decided by the Reserve Bank from time to time.

The details of the aggregate PSL Shortfall of all banks, allocated to various funds for the last three years are as follows:

| Year       | Amount (in ₹ crore)   |
|------------|-----------------------|
| FY 2022-23 | 2,10,000              |
| FY 2023-24 | 1,50,000              |
| FY 2024-25 | 1,63,000              |

The PSL shortfall decreased considerably in recent years, due to the reason that banks were able  to  lend  more  under  priority  sector  viz.  Agriculture,  Micro,  Small  and  Medium Enterprises  (MSMEs),  Education,  Housing,  etc.,  as  deemed  crucial  for  socio-economic development and inclusive growth of the country.

(c) to (e): A Small Finance Bank (SFB) was earlier required to extend 75% of its Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) to eligible sectors under Priority Sector Lending (PSL).

In  terms  of  the  revised  guidelines  on  Priority  Sector  Lending  Norms  on  Small  Finance Banks dated 20 June 2025 issued by RBI, PSL target of SFBs has been reduced from 75% to 60% of ANBC. As per norms, 40 % of its ANBC should be allocated to different subsectors as per the extant PSL prescriptions. The additional 20% can be allocated to any one or more sub-sectors under the PSL which include agriculture, small and marginal farmers, micro enterprises, education, housing, renewable energy and advances to weaker sections, where it may have a competitive advantage.

*********