opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 5033 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-01
Subject: Creamy layer for SCs, STs and OBCs
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Manickam Tagore B

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5033 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.04.2025

## CREAMY LAYER FOR SCs, STs AND OBCs

## 5033. SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

(a) the current status of the review of the creamy layer for SCs, STs and OBCs as of 2025, including the criteria used for the assessment and any changes proposed to the existing definition of the creamy layer;

- (b) whether the Ministry conducted any recent surveys or studies to evaluate the effectiveness of the creamy layer system in ensuring the benefits reach the economically weaker sections within SCs, STs, and OBCs, if so, the key findings and recommendations of these surveys; and
- (c) whether the recommendations has the Ministry made for the review of the creamy layer for SCs, STs and OBCs, particularly in light of the evolving economic landscape;
- (d) whether these recommendations propose changes in income or asset-based thresholds for creamy layer categorization?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI B.L.VERMA)

(a) to (d): Creamy layer is applicable only for Other Backward Classes(OBCs). In so far review of creamy layer of OBCs is concerned, the revision of income limit is done on an ongoing basis from time to time. The last order for revision of the non-creamy layer annual income limit from Rs. 6 lakh to Rs. 8 lakh was issued by Department of Personnel and Training (DoP&T) on 13.9.2017. At present there is no proposal for further revision of the OBC non-creamy layer income limit.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5030 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-01
Subject: Investment Cap in EV Charging Infrastructure
Ministry: HEAVY INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Dr. Amar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5030

ANSWERED ON 01.04.2025

## INVESTMENT CAP IN EV CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE

## 5030.  DR. AMAR SINGH:

## Will the Minister of HEAVY INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  plans  to  introduce  a  new  EV  incentive  policy  capping  the investment in charging infrastructure;
- (b) if so, the details of this policy and the rationale behind setting a cap on such investments;
- (c) the data regarding the number of public and private EV charging stations installed in the country since 2020, year-wise along with projected infrastructure expansion targets under the new policy; and
- (d) the revenue collected from import tariffs on electric vehicles over the past five years, along with estimates of revenue foregone due to the new reduced tariff structure?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEAVY INDUSTRIES (SHRI BHUPATHIRAJU SRINIVASA VARMA)

- (a) & (b):

No such policy is under consideration.

- (c): Ministry  of  Power  (MoP)  has  shared  details  year-wise  public  EV  charging  station deployed in the country since FY 2020 as tabulated below:
- (d): As  per  information  received  from  Department  of  Revenue,  Ministry  of  Finance,  the amount of duty collected on Electric vehicles for the last 5 years is tabulated as below:

|   S. No. | Calendar Year        | No. of PCS   |
|----------|----------------------|--------------|
|        1 | up to December' 2022 | 5,151        |
|        2 | 2023                 | 6752         |
|        3 | 2024                 | 13299        |
|        4 | up to March' 2025    | 1165         |

| Year                  |   Basic Customs Duty (in Rs. Crore) |   IGST (in Rs. Crore) |
|-----------------------|-------------------------------------|-----------------------|
| 2019-20               |                                   6 |                     2 |
| 2020-21               |                                  18 |                     3 |
| 2021-22               |                                 114 |                    18 |
| 2022-23               |                                 482 |                   166 |
| 2023-24               |                                 970 |                   228 |
| 2024-25 (Till Feb . ) |                                 874 |                   205 |

Department  of  Revenue  has  further  informed  that  the  revenue  forgone  calculation exercise is not undertaken at the individual commodity level and hence no such data is available with Department of Revenue.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5022 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-01
Subject: Impact of Import Restrictions on Domestic Steel Production
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Shri Sukhdeo Bhagat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STEEL

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5022

## FOR ANSWER ON 01.04.2025

## IMPACT OF IMPORT RESTRICTIONS ON DOMESTIC STEEL PRODUCTION

5022. SHRI SUKHDEO BHAGAT:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

(a) whether recent import restrictions on low-ash metallurgical coke could significantly reduce steel production and delay expansion plans;

(b)  whether imposed specific quotas are reportedly insufficient for their operational needs, potentially leading to shutdowns or reduced blast furnace operations by mid2025; and

(c) the extent to which the Ministry of Steel plan to address the potential decline in domestic steel production and mitigate delays in expansion projects resulting from these import curbs?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE          (SHRI BHUPATHIRAJU SRINIVASA VARMA) MINISTRY OF STEEL

- (a) No, Sir.

(b)&(c):      The domestic production capacity of low-ash metallurgical coke is adequate to meet the domestic demand.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5019 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-01
Subject: Complaint regarding Sale of Chinese Garlic
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Suresh Kumar Kashyap

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5019

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01 ST  APRIL, 2025

## COMPLAINT REGARDING SALE OF CHINESE GARLIC

5019.  SHRI SURESH KUMAR KASHYAP:

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

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  received  any  information  or  complaint  about  Chinese garlic  (poisonous  garlic)  being  sold  in  large  numbers  in  the  Indian  market  these  days despite the ban imposed since many years, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether it is a serious issue not only for the economy but also for the health of the people of India; and

(c) the route through which it has crossed the Indian border and reached the Indian markets and the steps taken by the Government so far to check it?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (c): The  import  of  agricultural  commodities  is  regulated  through  the  Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 and commodities are allowed for import after detailed pest risk analysis conducted by Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine  and  Storage  (DPPQ&S),  Faridabad  and  accordingly  pest  mitigation measures  adopted  by  exporting  countries.  Further,  various  agencies  of  Central Government namely Plant Quarantine Stations,  Central  Board  of  Indirect  Taxes  & Customs (CBIC) and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) inspect the import of commodities and their mode of entry and take necessary action against the defaulters as per the provisions of Plant Quarantine Order, 2003 and Customs Act, 1962.

Due to repeated interceptions of quarantine significance fungus Embellisia alli and Urocytsis cepulae in Garlic consignments imported from China, ban on import of Chinese Garlic has been imposed from 06.09.2005. CBIC has reported that Customs field formations & DRI has seized 546 metric tones of Chinese Garlic during 2023-24, and 507 metric tones during 2024-25. Further, Food Safety and Standards Authority of  India  (FSSAI)  has also  received  a complaint regarding sale  of Chinese  garlic in Chennai  markets  and  has  directed  the  Tamil  Nadu  Food  Safety  Department  for monitoring and surveillance activities. All Plant Quarantine Stations under DA&FW has been directed to take necessary measures to stop illegal import of Chinese Garlic into the country.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5018 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-01
Subject: Inclusion of Languages
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Sunil Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5018

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 01 ST  APRIL, 2025/ CHAITRA 11, 1947 (SAKA)

INCLUSION OF LANGUAGES

†5018. SHRI SUNIL KUMAR:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government proposes to include Bhojpuri language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution on the lines of Maithili language being included is the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution;

(b) whether Bhojpuri language in spoken not only in the country but also abroad; and

(c) the time by which Bhojpuri language is taken to be Eighth Schedule of the Constitution?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a)  to  (c):  There  have  been  demands  from  time  to  time  for  inclusion  of several  languages,  including  Bhojpuri,  in  the  Eighth  Schedule  to  the Constitution. However, there are no fixed criteria for consideration of any language for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. As the evolution of dialects and languages is a dynamic process, influenced by socio-cultural,  economic  and  political  developments,  it  is  difficult  to  fix any  criterion  for  languages  for  inclusion  in  the  Eighth  Schedule  to  the Constitution.  The   earlier   attempts,   through   the   Pahwa   (1996)   and

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 5018 FOR 01.04.2025

Sitakant Mohapatra (2003) Committees, to evolve such fixed criteria have been inconclusive.  The  Government  is  conscious  of  the  sentiments  and requirements  for  inclusion  of  other  languages  in  the  Eighth  Schedule. Such requests have to be considered keeping in mind these sentiments, and the other relevant considerations.

According to the  information  available,  Bhojpuri  is  also  spoken  in  other countries besides India.

Since  at  present,  there  are  no  fixed  criteria  for  any  language  to  be considered  for  inclusion  in  the  Eighth  Schedule  to  the  Constitution,  no time-frame can be fixed for consideration of the demands for inclusion of more languages in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5014 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-01
Subject: Agriculture Research Institute in Sidhi district
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. Rajesh Mishra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5014

TO BE ANSWERED ON 1 ST  APRIL, 2025

## AGRICULTURE RESEARCH INSTITUTE IN SIDHI DISTRICT

5014.   DR. RAJESH MISHRA:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE कृ षि  और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  set  up  an  agricultural  research institute for processing purpose on 100 acre land of agriculture department located in  village  panchayat  Mankisar  (District  panchayat  Samariya)  of  Sidhi  district whether the agriculture farm is operation at present;

- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the details of the schemes for the welfare of the farmers of Sidhi as it is a full-fledged agro-based district?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण राज्य मंत्री (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)

(a) & (b): At present, there is no proposal to set up an agriculture research institute for  processing  on  100  acres  land  of  agriculture  department  located  in  village panchayat Mankisar (District panchayat Samariya) of Sidhi district.

(c): The  Government  implements  several  schemes  for  the  welfare  of  farmers including the farmers of Sidhi. Some of the major schemes include Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (PMKMY),  Pradhan  Mantri  Annadata  Aay  Sanrakshan  Abhiyan  (PM-AASH),  Pradhan Mantri  Fasal  Bima  Yojana  (PMFBY)/Restructured  Weather  Based  Crop  Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS), Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), etc.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 5010 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-01
Subject: Trade Agreements with Foreign Countries
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Dr. Thirumaavalavan Tholkappiyan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5010 ANSWERED ON 01/04/2025

## TRADE AGREEMENTS WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES

## 5010.  DR. THIRUMAAVALAVAN THOLKAPPIYAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government has signed Trade Agreements with foreign countries during the last three years;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether  the  Government  has  any  new  proposals  to  sign  Trade  Agreements  with  foreign countries; and

(d) if  so,  the  details  of  goods  and  services  that  will  be  Imported  from  these  countries  and Exported to these countries?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

## (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) & (b) Government  has  signed  the  following   Free  Trade  Agreements  (FTAs)  with  its trading partners during the last 3 years:

|   Sl. No. | Name of the Agreement                                                                        | Date of Signing of the Agreement Date   | of Implementation of the Agreement                                                            |
|-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | India-UAE CEPA                                                                               | 18 th February, 2022                    | 1 st May 2022                                                                                 |
|         2 | India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (Ind-Aus ECTA)                      | 2 nd April, 2022                        | 29 December 2022.                                                                             |
|         3 | India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) | 10 March 2024                           | Will be implemented after completion of ratification process by India and the EFTA countries. |

(c) & (d) Government  is  currently  negotiating  the  following  FTAs  including  expansion  of existing agreement with its trading partners:

- i. India - UK Free Trade Agreement
- ii. India - Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement
- iii. India - Peru Free Trade Agreement
- iv. India - Oman Free Trade Agreement
- v. India - EU Free Trade Agreement
- vi. India - Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement
- vii. India and New Zealand announced launch of  FTA Negotiations on 16th March, 2025

Trade in goods, services, customs procedures, trade facilitation, technical barriers to trade, trade remedies etc. are part of the ongoing negotiations,

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4997 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-01
Subject: Turmeric Board
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri Sunil Bose

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4997 ANSWERED ON 01/04/2025

## TURMERIC BOARD

## 4997.  SHRI SUNIL BOSE:

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

(a) the details of the Turmeric Board and the details of projects and programmes initiated by the Turmeric Board, particularly in Karnataka; and

(b) the details of funds allocated, released and utilized under the Turmeric Board, particularly in Karnataka?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

## (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) & (b) National  Turmeric  Board  was  constituted  vide  Notification  F.No.2/2/23-Plant-D dated 04.10.2023 with the following objectives: -

(i) Promote new product development and value addition in turmeric;

(ii)  Promote  awareness  and  consumption  of  turmeric  and  turmeric  products  in  international markets;

(iii) Facilitate market research in potential international markets for development of value-added turmeric products;

(iv) Facilitate creation and improvement of infrastructure and logistics for exports of turmeric and turmeric products;

(v)  Encourage  building  of  resilient  and  sustainable  supply  chains  for  turmeric  and  turmeric products by strengthening forward and backward linkages;

(vi) Promote compliance with quality and safety standards across the supply chain of turmeric;

(vii)  Promote  capacity  building  and  skill  development  of  turmeric  growers  for  value  addition activities;

(viii)  Strengthen  documentation  of  traditional  knowledge  related  to  use  of  turmeric  and  its applications;

(ix)  Encourage studies,  clinical trials and research on medicinal, health  and wellness  enhancing properties of turmeric; and

(x)  Any  other  objective  as  may  be  determined  by  the  Central  Government  for  promotion  and development of the turmeric sector.

The  National  Turmeric  Board  was  inaugurated  on  January  14,  2025,  with  its  headquarters  at Nizamabad, Telangana. In the year 2024-25, Spices Board has undertaken various programs and activities  for  spices,  including  turmeric,  in  Karnataka  which  inter  alia  include  market  linkage programmes, buyer seller meets, capacity building programmes and assistance for installation of turmeric boilers. The total expenditure incurred by Spices Board on the above programs in 202425 has been of Rs. 2.24 Cr benefiting 2941 beneficiaries.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4987 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-01
Subject: National Horticulture Mission
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Shri Rajesh Verma, Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar, Smt. Shambhavi, Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4987

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01 ST  APRIL, 2025

## NATIONAL HORTICULTURE MISSION

4987.  SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE:

SMT. SHAMBHAVI: SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR: SHRI RAJESH VERMA: DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

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

- (a) the  detailed  data  on  the  total area  brought  under the National  Horticulture  Mission till March 2025;
- (b) whether new horticulture varieties have been introduced under the Mission during the last five years and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the impact of the scheme on the productivity of the crops by quality planting material and micro irrigation in the past five years;
- (d) the detailed data on the employment generated through the Mission during the past five years; and
- (e) the detailed  data  on  the  number  of  Post-Harvest  Management  and  marketing infrastructure created under the mission during the past five years?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

- (a) & (b): National Horticulture Mission, a sub-scheme  of Mission for Integrated Development  of  Horticulture  (MIDH)  is  being  implemented  by  Ministry  of  Agriculture  & Farmers Welfare since 2014 for the holistic development of horticulture in the country. Since inception of MIDH scheme i.e. from 2014-15 to 2024-25, an additional area of 13.97 Lakhs hectare has been covered under horticulture crops. All horticulture crops irrespective of their varieties are covered under MIDH scheme.
- (c): Different  components  of  MIDH  scheme  including  quality  planting  material  &  micro irrigation have shown a positive impact on the productivity of horticulture crops which has increased from 12.10 MT/ha in 2019-20 to 12.56 MT/ha in 2024-25 (I st  advance estimates).
- (d) & (e): During  the  last  five  years,  a  total  of  55748  Post  Harvest  Management infrastructures including Cold storage/C.A. storage, Pack houses, Ripening chamber, Reefer vehicles, Primary / Mobile/ Minimal processing unit, preservation unit and Food processing etc. have been setup and a total of 11140 marketing infrastructures including Static/mobile vending cart/platform, retail outlets, Rural and primary markets/ Apni Mandi/Direct markets, wholesale and terminal markets etc. have been setup under MIDH scheme. As the MIDH scheme  is  being  implemented  by  State  Governments,  the  beneficiary  data  including employment generation is maintained by the States.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 4985 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-01
Subject: Expansion of EV Charging Stations
Ministry: HEAVY INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4985

ANSWERED ON 01.04.2025

## EXPANSION OF EV CHARGING STATIONS

## 4985.  DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY:

## Will the Minister of HEAVY INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:

(a) whether lack of EV charging infrastructure has been found to be the primary barrier to EV adoption  in  the  country,  if  so,  the  strategies  employed  by  the  Government  to  enhance  the charging infrastructure;

(b) whether the Government has plans to provide budgetary allocations or incentives to support the rapid expansion of EV charging networks across urban and rural areas;

(c) the steps taken by the Government to collaborate with private sector partners to accelerate the development and deployment of charging stations nationwide; and

(d) the initiatives taken by the Government to promote research and development in charging technologies and battery efficiency?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEAVY INDUSTRIES (SHRI BHUPATHIRAJU SRINIVASA VARMA)

- (a) & (b): Lack of EV charging infrastructure is a barrier to the EV adoption in the country. Under the FAME-II scheme, an allocation of Rs.839 crore was made for setting up of Electric Vehicle Public Charging Stations (EVPCS).  An allocation of Rs.2,000 crore has been made under the PM E-DRIVE scheme for setting up EVPCS all across the country including urban and rural areas.
- (c): Ministry  of  Power  has  issued  'Guidelines  for  Installation  and  Operation  of  Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure-2024', on 17.09.2024. These guidelines emphasize the role of public-private partnerships in expanding the EV charging infrastructure.  Setting up EV charging station has been designated as de-licensed activity, simplifying the process for businesses.
- (d): The Government is promoting Research and Development (R&D) related to EVs in the following manner: -
- i. The expenditure incurred on Engineering R&D and product design & development is allowed to be considered as part of Eligible Investment under PLI ACC scheme.
- ii. Under the Capital Goods scheme of MHI, up to 80% of the cost of R&D projects including those related to EVs is supported. These projects are housed in leading academic institutes like IITs, IISc. etc. The balance 20% is borne by the industry partners.

******