opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2658 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Gaps in Child Labour Law Enforcement, Exemptions and Migrant Vulnerabilities
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri Maddila Gurumoorthy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2658 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

## GAPS IN CHILD LABOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, EXEMPTIONS AND

MIGRANT VULNERABILITIES

2658. SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY:

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

- (a)whether the Government has assessed the concentration of child labour in unregistered and home-based informal enterprises keeps
- it outside regular labour inspections and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether the Government proposes to review the 'family enterprise' exemption under the Child  Labour  (Amendment) Act, 2016,  given  its  misuse  to  conceal  child  labour  in  hazardous activities and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether the Government has identified the reasons for very low conviction  rates  in  child  labour  cases,  including  shortage  of inspectors along with weak inter-agency coordination and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)whether  the  Government  plans  to  address  the  vulnerability  of migrant  children  in  hazardous  work  arising  from  inconsistent definitions of a 'child' across laws and weak inter -State tracking mechanisms; and
- (e)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e): Government has enacted the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition  and  Regulation)  Act,  1986  which  provides  for  the complete  prohibition  of  work  or  employment  of  children  including migrant children below 14 years in any occupation and process. The Act also prohibits adolescents in the age group of 14 to 18 years to work in hazardous occupations and processes. However, children are permitted  to  help their families or family enterprises  in nonhazardous occupations/ processes, only after school hours or during vacations.

The Act was amended in the year 2016 and the definition of the 'child' was linked to the age of compulsory education under Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.

The  government  also  framed  the  Child  and  Adolescent Labour  (Prohibition  and  Regulation)  Rules,  1988  which  inter  -alia, provide for District Nodal Officer (DNO) and Task Force at district level to ensure that the provisions of the Act are properly enforced. Effective was  developed  to  monitor  and

In addition, an online portal -'PENCIL' (Platform for Enforcement  for  No  Child  Labour) -track complaints.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2657 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: UDISE Report on Students Dropped Out of Schools
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Adv. Chandra Shekhar, Shri Hanuman Beniwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2657

ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

## UDISE Report on Students Dropped Out of Schools

†2657. Adv. Chandra Shekhar: Shri Hanuman Beniwal:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of boys and girls who have dropped out of schools in the country as per the reports of UDISE of the Ministry from the year 2022-23 till date, year and State/UT-wise;
- (b) whether it is a fact that there has been an increase in the number of school dropouts in 2023-24 as compared to 2022-23, if so, the details and the reasons thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any study to ascertain the reasons for students dropping out of schools despite provisions of free education and the Right to Education, if so, the details thereof; and (d) the details of efforts made and budget spent by the Government during the last five years to increase
- school enrolment and reduce dropout rates?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) and (b): As per UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus), State/UT wise and gender wise dropout rate from the year 2022-23 to 2024-25 are available at https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl\_ques. Dropout rates at national level have decreased across all pedagogical levels.
- (c):  As  per  report  titled  'Periodic  Labour  Force  Survey  (PLFS)'  for  the  year  2023-24  released  by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), the major reasons for the students who  never  attended  the  schools  are  to  supplement  household  income,  to  attend  domestic  chores, education not considered necessary, etc.
- (d): State/UT-wise details of Central Share approved by the Project Approval Board and the Central Share released under Samagra Shiksha for the year 2020-21 to 2024-25 is at https://www.education.gov.in/en/parl\_ques.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2653 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Funds for Tiger Reserves
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Sunil Bose

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2653

## TO BE ANSWERED ON- 09.03.2026

## Funds of Tiger Reserves

## 2653.   SHRI SUNIL BOSE:

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

- (a) the details of projects/schemes implemented/proposed to be implemented under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in the Biligiri Ranganatha Swami Temple Tiger Reserve and Bandipura Tiger Reserve in Chamarajanagar district; and
- (b) the details of the funds allocated/released and utilized in Bandipura Tiger Reserve under various projects/schemes under the Ministry?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) Funding  assistance  is  provided  under  the  Project  Tiger  Component  of  ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat (IDWH) to  tiger  range  States  including  Biligiri  Ranganatha  Swamy  Temple  (BRT)  Tiger Reserve and Bandipur (Bandipura) Tiger Reserve of Karnataka for conservation of tigers, raising awareness on tiger and other wildlife conservation, habitat management, protection, eco-development, human resource and infrastructure development as per the Sanctioned Annual Plan of Operation of the tiger reserve, which stems out from a

Statutory Tiger Conservation Plan.

The details of funding assistance provided to Bandipur Tiger Reserve under the Project Tiger component of IDWH during last three years are as under:

| Year    | Tiger Reserve   |   Utilized Amount (Rs. In Lakh) |
|---------|-----------------|---------------------------------|
| 2022-23 | Bandipur        |                         722.335 |
| 2023-24 | Bandipur        |                         713.55  |
| 2024-25 | Bandipur        |                         720.12  |

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2649 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Renaming of Sports Stadiums
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Mr Pathan Yusuf

## Government of India Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Department of Sports

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2649 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

## Renaming of Sports Stadiums

## 2649. MR PATHAN YUSUF:

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government maintains data on sports stadiums whose name have been changed during the last 11 years;
- (b) if so, the details of such stadiums along with their new and old name and the sports they are associated with; and
- (c) the details of expenditure incurred, if any, on such change of name, stadium-wise?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS [ DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA ]

(a) to (c) 'Sports' being a State subject, the responsibility of development of sports, including naming of sports stadiums, rests primarily with the respective  State/Union  Territory  Governments.  The  Union  Government only  supplements  their  efforts  by  bridging  critical  gaps.  The  details  of various  sports  infrastructure  across  the  country,  which  are  under  the jurisdiction  of  respective  State/Union  Territory  Governments,  are  not maintained in this Ministry.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2648 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Minimum Wages for Domestic Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Dr. Bachhav Shobha Dinesh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2648 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

## MINIMUM WAGES FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS

2648. DR. BACHHAV SHOBHA DINESH:

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

- (a)whether the Government has taken cognizance of demands raised by  domestic  workers' organisations  and  civil  society  groups  for fixing minimum wages for domestic workers to prevent financial exploitation and harassment and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether  any  consultations  or  discussions  have  been  held  with State  Governments or stakeholders in  this  regard  and  if  so,  the details thereof; and
- (c)whether the Government proposes to introduce a uniform national framework for minimum wages for domestic workers in future and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): The provisions of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 have been rationalized  and  subsumed  under  the  Code  on  Wages  2019,  which have been made effective from 21.11.2025 with an aim to universalize the  applicability  of  minimum  wages  across  all  employments  in  an establishment.

The  Code  on  Wages,  2019  empowers  both  Central  and State  Governments as appropriate governments to fix, review and revise  the  minimum  rates  of  wages  for  the  establishments  falling under their respective jurisdiction.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2647 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Skill Development under PM-DAKSH
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Shri Rao Rajendra Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2647

ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

## SKILL DEVELOPMENT UNDER PM-DAKSH

2647. SHRI RAO RAJENDRA SINGH:

Will  the  Minister  of  SKILL  DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  aligned  skill  development  programmes  with market demand under the schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi Yojana (PM-DAKSH), if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has assessed the extent to which its skill development,  entrepreneurship  and  rehabilitation  schemes  have  contributed  to sustainable livelihoods rather than providing only short-term relief and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) Whether any statistical  tracking  or  evaluation  exists  on  long-term  outcomes such as employment stability, income growth and social mobility of beneficiaries and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

- (a) Under  Pradhan  Mantri  Dakshta Aur  Kushalta  Sampann  Hitgrahi  (PM-DAKSH) Scheme,  trainings  are  conducted  across  National  Skill  Qualification  Framework (NSQF)  compliant  courses  based  on  proposals  submitted  by  empaneled  training institutes, considering factors like demand, viable batch size, geographical conditions etc.
- (b) and (c) Yes, the Evaluation study of PM-DAKSH Scheme shows strong relevance and  learning  effectiveness,  with  over  90%  of  beneficiaries  reporting  alignment  of training with career goals, local labour market needs, and achievement of intended learning  outcomes.  Impact  results  indicate  strong  non-material  gains  such  as improved confidence, self-esteem and social recognition, particularly among women and  marginalized  groups. Sustainability  outcomes  are  largely  positive,  with  most beneficiaries continuing to use acquired skills, expecting long-term income growth, reinvesting in  development  and  feeling  capable  of  maintaining  improvements independently.
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Lok Sabha Question No. 2646 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Sports Infrastructure in District-Level
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Dr. Bhola Singh

## Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports

## Government of India Department of Sports

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2646 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

Sports Infrastructure in District-Level

## 2646. DR. BHOLA SINGH:

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of district-level sports infrastructure projects approved or developed during the last three years and the current year;
- (b)  whether  district-wise  data  on  sports  infrastructure  and  athlete training is maintained;
- (c) if so, the details thereof, including facilities established or upgraded in Uttar Pradesh; and
- (d)  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  strengthen grassroot sports development and talent identification across districts?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS [ DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA ]

(a) to (d) 'Sports' being a State subject, the responsibility of development of  sports,  including  development  of  district-level  sports  infrastructure projects,  maintaining  district-wise  data  on  sports  infrastructure  and athlete  training  and  strengthening  grassroot  sports  development  and talent identification, rests primarily with the State/Union Territory Governments.  The  Union  Government  supplements  their  efforts  by bridging critical gaps. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports implements  the  following  schemes  for  development  of  sports  in  the country, including in the State of Uttar Pradesh:

- i. Khelo India -National Programme for Development of Sports;
- ii. Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs);

- iii. Cash Incentives to Medal Winners in International Sports Events and their coaches;
- iv. National Sports Awards;
- v. Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons;
- vi. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Program for Sportspersons;
- vii. National Sports Development Fund;
- viii. Running  Sports  Training  centres  through  Sports  Authority  of India (SAI); and
- ix. National Centre for Sports Science and Research (NCSSR).

Details of the above schemes are available in the public domain on the websites of this Ministry and the Sports Authority of India.

Further, the Khelo India Scheme and National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), implemented by this Ministry, under which financial assistance for  development of sports infrastructure is provided are demand-driven schemes.  The  proposals  received  from  the  State/  UT  Government  and other  eligible  entities,  are  considered  for  financial  support,  subject  to their completeness, technical feasibility and availability of funds under the scheme.

The  details  of  the  sports  infrastructure  projects  approved    under  the Khelo India Scheme and NSDF, across the country, including in the State of Uttar Pradesh, are available in the public domain on the dashboards of the Ministry at https://mdsd.kheloindia.gov.in. and http://www.nsdf.yas.gov.in/nsdf-glance.html.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2645 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Scholarship Schemes in Darjeeling and Kalimpong
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Raju Bista

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2645 ANSWERED ON 09/03/2026

## Scholarship Schemes in Darjeeling and Kalimpong

## 2645. Shri Raju Bista:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of students who have benefited under various central scholarship schemes in the State of West Bengal since 2019, particularly in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, yearwise;
- (b)  the  details  of  Scheduled  Castes  (SC),  Scheduled  Tribes  (ST),  Other  Backward  Classes (OBC) and Minority Communities beneficiaries of the said scheme in the said two districts, category-wise; and
- (c) the total amount of scholarship funds released to students in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts under these Central Scholarship Schemes since 2019, year-wise?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (c):  The  Government  is  implementing  different  scholarship  schemes  for  providing financial assistance to all categories of students, subject to extant scheme guidelines. As per the information provided by the scheme implementing Ministry/ Department and NIC-NSP, the number of students who have benefited under various central scholarship schemes in the State  of  West  Bengal,  particularly  in  Darjeeling  and  Kalimpong  districts,  since  2019  yearwise and category -wise; and the total amount of scholarship funds released to students may be accessed at https://www.education.gov.in/parl\_ques.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2641 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Groundwater Pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Neeraj Maurya

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2641 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

## Groundwater Pollution

## 2641. SHRI NEERAJ MAURYA:

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

- (a) whether the level of fluoride and ammonia due to effluent discharge from fertilizers plants and chemical industries in groundwater has crossed the dangerous limit and has affected air quality index in Bareilly and Badaun districts of Amla Lok Sabha Constituency;
- (b) whether  the  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  (CPCB)  has  conducted  a  toxicity  test  of  soil  and ground water in the vicinity of Indian Farmers Fertilizers Cooperative Limited (IFFCO);
- (c) if so, whether the presence of heavy metals has been confirmed in the groundwater;
- (d) the  amount  of  environmental  compensation  imposed  under  Pollution  Compensation  Act  on  the local industries units which violated the conditions of Environment Clearance during the last three years; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to declare the area as a critically polluted area on the basis of a cumulative environmental impact assessment data in view of the increasing cases of cancer and kidney diseases in the said area?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (e) The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) generates groundwater quality data at a regional scale across the country, including state of Uttar Pradesh, through its groundwater quality monitoring programme and scientific studies conducted as per the approved Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

As  per  the  Annual  Ground  Water  Quality  Report-2025,  no  occurrence  of  fluoride  above  the permissible limit of 1.5 mg/l has been reported from Bareilly and Badaun districts of Amla lok Sabha Constituency.

Under Ground Water Quality Monitoring Programme, CGWB monitors ground water quality at the regional scale including Badaun district, however, these observations are not specific to the vicinity of

IFFCO.  The  outcome  of  the  report  is  available  at  Annual  Ground  Water  Quality  Report-2025  in https://cgwb.gov.in/cgwbpnm/public/uploads/documents/1762854375262680475file.pdf

Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) was formulated by CPCB, which is a rational number  (ranging  from  0  to  100)  to  characterize  environmental  quality  at  a  given  industrial  area following algorithm of pollution source, pathway and receptor. The industrial area having aggregated CEPI scores 70 and above are considered as Critically Polluted Areas (CPAs), whereas CEPI scores ≥60  and  <70  are  considered  as  Severely  Polluted  Areas  (SPAs)  and  CEPI  scores  less  than  60  are considered as Other Polluted Areas (OPAs).

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2638 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Green Skill Development Programme
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri V K Sreekandan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2638

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

## Green Skill Development Programme

## 2638 SHRI V K SREEKANDAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government has approved a new Green Skill Development Programme course;
- (b) if so the details thereof;
- (c) whether the said course is focused on value addition to water hyacinth;
- (d) whether it is true that the said course will be offered in Kerala through the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE)- Malabar Botanical Garden and Institute for Plant Sciences in Kozhikode; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) to (e): Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP) aims to skill youth in environment, forest  and  wildlife sectors for  gainful  employment  and/or self-employment. GSDP was launched in June 2017, on a pilot basis to meet skill gaps in the economy. Based on the success of the pilot, the programme was extended to pan-India level in 2018-19. Ten (10) courses  as  approved  by  the  National  Council  for  Vocational  Education  and  Training (NCVET) are being implemented under GSDP : (1) Waste Optimisation Professional (2) Apiculturist (Wild bee) - NTFP (Non Timber Forest Produce) (3) Nature Conservator Cum Ecotourism Guide (4) Solar Enterprise Assistant Manager (5) Micro Entrepreneur- NTFP -Plant Origin (6) Soil Pollution Monitoring Specialist (7) Water Hyacinth (Value added Handicraft) Micro-Entrepreneur (8) EV Charging Installation Technician (9) Environmental Impact Assessor (10) Junior Parataxonomist

The GSDP courses aim to increase livelihood opportunities for unskilled population and promote entrepreneurial skills through systematic training on collection, processing, value- addition  and  marketing  of products  made from  materials including water hyacinth. All these courses are implemented by all the 54 EIACP Centres including the EIACP centre - Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE).

*****