opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 295 (STARRED), answered on 2026-03-12
Subject: Flight Operations from Halwara Airport
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Dr. Amar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. : 295

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  12th March 2026 )

## FLIGHT OPERATIONS FROM HALWARA AIRPORT

295.    DR. AMAR  SINGH Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  regular  commercial  flight operations  have  not  commenced  from  Halwara  Airport,  Punjab  despite  the inauguration of terminal building and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether any proposals have been received or considered for starting regular flights  from  Halwara  Airport  to  major  destinations  including  Delhi,  Mumbai, Shri Hazur Sahib, Shri Patna Sahib and Varanasi and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  include  the  said  Airport  under  any regional  connectivity  or  route  support  scheme  including  UDAN  Scheme  to ensure viability of operations; and
- (d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  alongwith  the  time  by  which  regular  commercial flight services are proposed to be operationalised from Halwara Airport?

## ANSWER

Minister of CIVIL AVIATION                      (Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu)

- (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

******

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (A)  to  (D)  IN RESPECT  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.295  FOR REPLY  ON  12.03.2026  REGARDING  'FLIGHT  OPERATIONS  FROM HALWARA AIRPORT' ASKED BY DR. AMAR SINGH.

(a) to (d): Halwara Airport, owned by the Indian Air Force has been developed through  a  joint  venture  between  the  State  Government  of  Punjab  and  the Airports  Authority  of  India.  The  development  work  at  the  airport  has  been completed.      At  present,  there  are  no  scheduled  flight  operations  at  Halwara Airport. However, M/s Air India has proposed to operate 14 flights per week to/from Halwara Airport in the Summer Schedule 2026.  With the repeal of the Air Corporations Act in March 1994, Indian domestic aviation was deregulated. Airlines  are  free  to  induct  capacity  with  any  aircraft  type  and  to  select  the markets and networks they wish to serve. Hence, it is upto the airline operators to introduce air services to/from any airport in the country, depending on their operational and commercial viability.  In case, any airline submits a valid bid for routes connecting Halwara airport in future rounds of bidding, the same may be considered as per the provisions of the UDAN scheme.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3448 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-12
Subject: Availability of Pilots
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Mr Pathan Yusuf

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3448

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  12th March 2026 )

## AVAILABILITY OF PILOTS

3448.     MR PATHAN YUSUF Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) the total number of pilots in the country, airline-wise;
- (b) the total number of female pilots in the country, airline-wise;
- (c) the number of foreign pilots hired by Indian airlines, airline-wise; and
- (d) the details of the pilot to aircraft ratio in the country, airline-wise?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION      (Shri Murlidhar Mohol) (a  &  b)  The  total  number  of  pilots  including  female  pilots  in  the  country  is tabulated as under:

|   S.No. | Airlines          |   Male |   Female |   Total |
|---------|-------------------|--------|----------|---------|
|       1 | Aakasa Air        |    685 |       76 |     761 |
|       2 | Alliance Air      |     90 |       25 |     115 |
|       3 | Air India         |   2615 |      508 |    3123 |
|       4 | Air India Express |   1586 |      234 |    1820 |
|       5 | Indigo            |   4230 |      970 |    5200 |
|       6 | Spicejet          |    317 |       58 |     375 |

;

- c) Total number of foreign pilot hired by Indian airlines:
- d) Pilot to aircraft ratio:

|   S. No. | Airlines          |   foreign pilots |
|----------|-------------------|------------------|
|        1 | Alliance Air      |               15 |
|        2 | Air India Express |               48 |
|        3 | Indigo            |               29 |

|   S. | No. Airline       |   Pilot-to-Aircraft Ratio |
|------|-------------------|---------------------------|
|    1 | Akasa Air         |                      9.33 |
|    2 | Alliance Air      |                      6    |
|    3 | Air India         |                      9.1  |
|    4 | IndiGo            |                      7.6  |
|    5 | Air India Express |                      8.8  |
|    6 | SpiceJet          |                      9.4  |

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3447 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-12
Subject: Targeted Income Group under Affordable Rental Housing Complexes Scheme
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Anurag Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3447

TO BE ANSWERED ON MARCH 12, 2026

## TARGETED INCOME GROUP UNDER AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING

## COMPLEXES SCHEME

NO. 3447.    SHRI ANURAG SHARMA:

Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the income groups identified and targeted by the Government under the Affordable  Rental  Housing  Complexes  (ARHCs)  vertical  of  PMAY-U  2.0;
- and
- (b) whether the Government has set any targets in terms of the number of private/public agencies and the estimated timeline for their enrolment for the construction of ARHCs and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## (SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)

- (a) &  (b):  Ministry  of  Housing  and  Urban  Affairs  (MoHUA)  launched Affordable  Rental  Housing  Complexes  (ARHCs)  as  a  sub-scheme  of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban (PMAY-U) in July 2020 to address the  housing  need  faced  by  migrant  workers,  urban  poor,  and  informal sector  labourers.  This  scheme  has  been  implemented  through  two models.

Further,  based  on  the  learnings  of  ARHCs,  a  dedicated  vertical  of Affordable Rental Housing (ARH) has been provisioned under PMAY-U 2.0 which aims to promote construction of affordable rental housing close to the workplaces of the intended beneficiaries including urban migrants/industrial workers/working women/students/urban poor etc. from Economically  Weaker  Section  (EWS)/Low  Income  Group  (LIG)  category across the country. The ARH vertical is implemented through two models:

Model-1: Converting existing Government funded vacant houses into ARH through Public Private Partnership mode or by Public Agencies.

Model-2: Construct, Operate and Maintain rental housing by Private/Public Entities for urban poor, working women,  employees  of  Industries, Industrial Estates, Institutions and other eligible EWS/LIG families.

The  Scheme  Guidelines  of  PMAY-U  2.0  are  available  at  https://pmayurban.gov.in/uploads/guidelines/Operational-Guidelines-of-PMAY-U-2.pdf.

Through  this  vertical,  enabling  eco-system  is  created  by  incentivizing Public/Private  Entities  to  leverage  investment  for  creating  affordable rental housing stock. These include fast-tracked, single-window approvals  through  a  green-channel  process;  50%  additional  Floor  Area Ratio (FAR) with free Transferable Development Right (TDR); exemptions from  land  conversion  and  statutory  charges;  and  parity  of  municipal service charges with residential projects to further encourage participation and reduce construction costs. Further, increased Technology Innovation Grant (TIG) of ₹5,000 per sqm . of carpet area has been provisioned to incentivize public and private entities to build new ARH units.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3437 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-12
Subject: Domestic Consumption and Production of Petroleum Products
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Dr. Thirumaavalavan Tholkappiyan

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 3437

TO BE ANSWERED ON -12 th  MARCH, 2026

## DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS

3437. Dr. Thirumaavalavan Tholkappiyan:

## पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũी

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state: -

- (a ) the details about the total amount required for the nation's domestic consumption of crude, petrol, diesel and gas; and
- (b) the details about the amount of domestic production of petrol, diesel and gas?

## ANSWER

## पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũालय मŐ राǛमंũी ( ŵी सुरे श गोपी )

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI)

- (a) Details of the consumption of crude, petrol, diesel and gas for FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26 (till January) in the country is as follows:

| Product Name                           |   Consumption in FY 2024-25 |   Consumption in FY 2025-26 (till January) |
|----------------------------------------|-----------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| Crude Consumption/ Processing (in MMT) |                       268.6 |                                      226.7 |
| Petrol (in MMT)                        |                        40   |                                       35.4 |
| Diesel (in MMT)                        |                        91.4 |                                       78.3 |
| Gas (in MMSCM)                         |                     71314   |                                    58095   |

Source: PPAC

- (b) Details of the amount of domestics production of crude, petrol, diesel and gas for FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26 (till January) in the country is as follows:

| Product Name    |   Production in FY 2024-25 |   Production in FY 2025- 26 (till January) |
|-----------------|----------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| Petrol (in MMT) |                       48.3 |                                       41.7 |
| Diesel (in MMT) |                      118.2 |                                      100.5 |
| Gas (in MMSCM)  |                    36113   |                                    29288   |

Source: PPAC

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 3434 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-12
Subject: Construction of Roads in Forest Zone
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri Amar Sharadrao Kale

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3434

ANSWERED ON 12 TH  MARCH, 2026

## CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS IN FOREST ZONE

†3434. SHRI AMAR SHARADRAO KALE:

Will the MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

## be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  approximately  4.52  kms.  of  road  which  passes  through forest area has been included in improvement works of Karanja-WaghodaJalalkheda  Road  (SH-323)  and  Hingani  Bor  Dharan-Dhanoli-Kajli-Savli  to National  Highway-06  Road  (MDR-58)  under  Hybrid  Annuity  Programme (Phase-II)  of  Maharashtra  State  Infrastructure  Development  Corporation (MSIDC) in Wardha district;
- (b) whether  necessary  permission/NOC  has  been  obtained  from  the Forest Department for the said work;
- (c) if  not, the action taken or proposed to be taken by the Government regarding  issuing  of  work  order,  construction  of  bridges  and  felling  of trees without permission;
- (d) whether it has come to the notice of Government that the said area falls under  the  habitat of wild animals  like tigers, bears  etc.  and construction of road may adversely affect the ecosystem and wildlife; and
- (e) if  so, the action taken for protection of forest and environment and the wildlife?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

(a) to (e) The Government in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is concerned with the development and maintenance of National Highways.  Karanja-Waghoda-Jalalkheda  Road  (SH-323)  and  Hingani  Bor Dharan-Dhanoli-Kajli-Savli to National Highway-06 Road (MDR-58) are State roads,  the  development  of  which  is  being  implemented  by  Maharashtra State  Infrastructure  Development  Corporation  (MSIDC)  through  State Government funds.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3433 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-12
Subject: Prices of Petrol, Diesel and LPG
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shri E T Mohammed Basheer

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3433 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 MARCH, 2026

## Prices of Petrol, Diesel and LPG

## 3433.  SHRI E T MOHAMMED BASHEER:

## पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũी

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  in  the  short  term  to  keep  petrol,  diesel  and  LPG prices stable for domestic consumers despite fluctuations in global crude oil prices; and
- (b) whether the Government plans to use measures such as changes in taxes, subsidies or fuel reserves to prevent sudden price hikes and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũालय मŐ राǛ मंũी ( ŵी सुरे श गोपी )

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI)

(a) & (b): Prices  of  petrol  and  diesel  in  the  country  are  market-determined  and  the  Public Sector  Oil  Marketing  Companies  (OMCs)  take  appropriate  decision  on  pricing  of  petrol  and diesel.

Government  makes  fiscal  interventions  whenever  necessary  to  calibrate  the  tax  structure applicable for petroleum products. Central Excise duty was reduced by the Central Government by  a  total  of  Rs.  13/litre  and  Rs.  16/litre  on  petrol  and  diesel  respectively  in  two  tranches  in November 2021 and May 2022, which was fully passed on to consumers. In March, 2024, OMCs reduced the retail  prices of petrol  and diesel by  Rs. 2 per litre each.  But in April 2025, when excise duty on Petrol and Diesel was increased by Rs. 2 per litre each it was not passed on to consumers.

The retail selling price of a 14.2 Kg domestic LPG cylinder is currently Rs. 913 in Delhi. After a targeted  subsidy  of  Rs.  300/cylinder  to  PMUY  consumers,  Government  of  India  is  providing 14.2  Kg  LPG cylinders  at  an  effective  price  of  Rs.  613  per  cylinder  (in  Delhi)  to  all  eligible PMUY beneficiaries.

Government  has  paid  a  compensation  of  Rs.  22,000  crore  to  OMCs  in  FY  2022-23  and  has approved another compensation of Rs. 30,000 crore in FY 2025-26.

To  augment  domestic  LPG  availability,  the  Ministry  directed  all  domestic/SEZ  refineries  and petrochemical complexes to channel C3 and C4 streams towards LPG production and supply the same  exclusively  to  PSU  OMCs,  in  exercise  of  powers  under  Section  3  of  the  Essential Commodities Act, 1955 read with Clauses 3 and 5 of the Petroleum Products (Maintenance of Production, Storage and Supply) Order, 1999.

Government  of  India,  through  a  Special  Purpose  Vehicle  called  Indian  Strategic  Petroleum Reserve  Limited  (ISPRL),  has  established  Strategic  Petroleum  Reserves  (SPR)  facilities  with total capacity of 5.33 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) of crude oil.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3421 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-12
Subject: Swachh Survekshan Report 2025
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri T R Baalu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3421

TO BE ANSWERED ON MARCH 12, 2026

## SWACHH SURVEKSHAN REPORT 2025

NO. 3421.   SHRI T R BAALU:

Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Swachh Survekshan report 2025 has revealed that most of the  cities  with  a  population  above  ten  lakhs  have  failed  to  meet  the prescribed norms for cleanliness and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  even  cities  where  Smart  City  projects  are  being  implemented are facing poor cleanliness conditions and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the remedial measures taken along with the special financial assistance provided to such City Corporations to ensure that citizens are assured of good living conditions?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)

- (a) :  MoHUA  has  been  conducting  an  annual  cleanliness  survey  Swachh  Survekshan  since  the  year  2016,  which  has  over  the  years played  a  key  role  in  triggering  positive  competition  amongst  cities towards  achieving  the  objectives  of  the  Mission.  As  per  Census  2011, there are 47 ULBs having million plus population, out of which 44 ULBs were assessed (3 ULBs from West Bengal didn't participate in SS 202425).  Out  of  the  44  cities  assessed,  42  cities  scored  above  the  national average, while 2 cities scored below the national average.
- (b) &  (c): Out  of 96  cities  where  Smart  City projects are being implemented, 37 cities scored between 80-100% of the maximum marks, indicating strong performance. Another 23 cities fall in the 60-80% range, reflecting satisfactory performance. With the aim to improve the performance of low performing cities, MoHUA has launched the Swachh Shehar Jodi (SSJ) initiative, under which top-performing 'mentor cities' are paired with lower-performing 'mentee cities' based on their performance in Swachh Survekshan rankings.

Further,  under  SBM-U  2.0  financial  assistance  is  provided  to  all  urban local  bodies  to  achieve  Garbage  Free  Status  through  100%  scientific management of all fractions of municipal waste. Under SBM - U 2.0, the total financial outlay of the States and UTs for the entire Mission Period is ₹1,41,600 crore, including Central Assistance of ₹36,465 crore.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3418 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-12
Subject: Inclusion of Gangota Caste of Bihar in ST List
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Ajay Kumar Mandal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  3418

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2026

## INCLUSION OF GANGOTA CASTE OF BIHAR IN ST LIST

## ✝ 3418. SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to include Gangota caste of Bihar in the list of Scheduled Tribes;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  an  ethnographic  report  on  Gangota  caste  was commissioned  by  the  Government  of  Bihar  and  forwarded  to  the  Union Government;
- (d)  if  so,  the  date  on  which  the  said  report  was  received  along  with  the recommendations made therein; and
- (e)  the  time by which the Government proposes to issue a notification on the basis of the report along with the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)

(a) to (e): The Government of India on 15.6.1999 (further amended on 25.6.2002 and 14.9.2022) has laid down the modalities for deciding the claims for inclusion in, exclusion from and other modifications in Orders specifying Scheduled Tribes lists. As per the modalities, only those proposals which have been recommended and  justified  by  the  concerned  State  Government  /  UT  Administration  and concurred with by the Office of Registrar General of India (ORGI) and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) are to be considered and legislation amended.  All  actions  on  the  proposals  are  taken  as  per  these  approved modalities.

The  State  Government  of  Bihar  sent  a  proposal dated  04.11.2019  for inclusion of 'Gangota' community in the Scheduled Tribes list of the State along with an ethnographic report. As per the approved modalities, the said proposal was  referred  to  the  ORGI  for  examination  and  furnishing  comments  on  the matter. The ORGI did not support the proposal. The comments of the ORGI have been  referred  to  State  Government  in  February  2021  with  a  request  for furnishing  justifications/additional  information,  if  any,  with  regard  to  the proposal.

The proposals for inclusion in the list of Scheduled Tribes of a State or Union  Territory  follow  certain  processes  as  per  the  modalities.  This  is  a continuous process. Proposals received from the State Government should be accompanied by an ethnographic report.  The  proposals  are  examined  by  the Office of the RGI and then by the NCST. In case the proposal is not recommended by the ORGI, the State Governments are communicated the points raised by the ORGI,  so  that  additional  information,  if  any,  may  be  furnished  by  the  State Government. Many such proposals may therefore remain under examination at different levels.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 3411 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-12
Subject: MSME Clusters Development Project in Assam
Ministry: MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: Shri Amarsing Tisso

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3411 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2026

## MSME CLUSTERS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN ASSAM

## 3411.      SHRI AMARSING TISSO:

Will the Minister of MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Cluster Development Projects, Common Facility Centres or Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) clusters have been sanctioned in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts of Assam during the last three years;
- (b) the details of funds allocated, released and utilised, district-wise; and
- (c) the steps taken to promote agro-based and forest-based MSMEs, including ginger, turmeric and agarwood processing units in the said districts?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

(a) to (c): The  Scheme  of  Fund  for  Regeneration  of  Traditional  Industries  (SFURTI)  was  in continuation up to 30.09.2022, hence no new clusters has been approved under the scheme during the last three years. However to promote agro-based and forest-based MSMEs, Lumbajong Ginger and  Turmeric  Cluster  has  been  approved  in  the  Karbi  Anglong  district  with  a  committed Government of India assistance of ₹358.82 lakh, during FY 2020-21,out of which ₹351.57 lakh has been released and utilised. No cluster under the SFURTI Scheme or the MSE-Cluster Development Scheme has been sanctioned in the Dima Hasao district.

Under SFURTI, clusters are supported through a wide range of Soft Interventions aimed at strengthening  artisan  and  farmer  capabilities,  improving  productivity,  and  enhancing  market linkages.  These  interventions  include  general  awareness  programmes;  skill  development  and capacity-building; and training in machine handling and maintenance. Support is also provided for institution development, onboarding on e-commerce platforms, exposure visits, design and product development,  and  participation  in  seminars,  workshops  and  training  programmes  on  technology upgradation.

*****