opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1654 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Establishment of Industries in Kosi-Seemanchal Region
Ministry: HEAVY INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Shri Rajesh Ranjan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1654

ANSWERED ON 10.02.2026

## ESTABLISHMENT OF INDUSTRIES IN KOSI-SEEMANCHAL REGION

## 1654.  SHRI RAJESH RANJAN:

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

(a) whether the Government is aware that till date no major industrial cluster, industrial park or exportoriented industrial unit has been established in the Kosi-Seemanchal region of Bihar;

(b)  if  so,  the  reasons  therefor  and  the  concrete  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  the  industrial development of this region;

(c)  whether  any  proposal  for  setting  up  a  multimodal  logistics  park,  warehouses  and  an  Inland Container Depot (ICD) in the Kosi-Seemanchal region is under consideration of the Government; and

(d) if so, the time frame thereof?

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

(a) & (b): Ministry  of  Heavy  Industries  is  implementing  the  Scheme  for  'Enhancement  of Competitiveness in the Indian Capital Goods Sector- Phase II'. The Scheme is a pan India demand driven  Scheme  under  which  projects  are  to  be  submitted  by  Project  Implementing  Organizations (PIOs) in association with Industry Partner(s) from any State/ UT of the country.  Further, no proposal, under the Scheme has been received from Kosi-Seamanchal region of Bihar.

(c) & (d): As per inputs received from Department of Commerce, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Department of Food and Public Distribution of India, there are no proposals under consideration for setting up a multimodal logistics park, warehouses and an Inland Container Depot (ICD) in the Kosi-Seemanchal region.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1647 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Jute Industry
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Shri Kalyan Banerjee

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1647 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.02.2026

## JUTE INDUSTRY

## 1647. SHRI KALYAN BANERJEE:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंत्री be pleased to state :

(a) whether it is a fact that the jute industries in the country are fully dependent on the Government order and due to decline in orders, the industries and workers are facing of serious production crisis; (b) if so, the details of the action taken by the Government to rescue the raw jute market and protect the farmers of West Bengal, Assam, Bihar and Odisha; and

- (c) the steps proposed to be taken by the Government to rescue and protect the ailing jute industries of West  Bengal,  which  contributes  the  maximum  area  to  the  tune  of  about  80.7%  and  83.7%  of  total national area and production, respectively?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र राज्  य मंत्री ( श्री पबित्र मार्घेररटा )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA)

(a) to (c): The Government, under Jute Packaging Material (Compulsory Use in Packing Commodities) Act 1987, extends  support to jute industry through procurement of B.Twill jute bags for packaging of food grains which constitutes 80% of total production of the industry.

Apart from this, the Government of India announces Minimum Support Price for raw jute every year to protect jute farmers throughout the country including farmers of West Bengal, Assam, Bihar and Odisha.  Further,  Jute-Improved  Cultivation  and  Advanced  Retting  Exercise  (Jute-ICARE)  scheme  is implemented to provide High Yield Variety certified jute seeds and retting powder to Jute farmers, to help increase the productivity and improve quality of Raw Jute and farmers' income.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1645 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Impact of AI on Intellectual Property Rights in India
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri Prabhakar Reddy Vemireddy, Shri G M Harish Balayogi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1645.

TO BE ANSWERED ON TUESDAY, THE 10 TH  FEBRUARY, 2026.

## IMPACT OF AI ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS IN INDIA

## 1645.  SHRI G M HARISH BALAYOGI:

## SHRI PRABHAKAR REDDY VEMIREDDY:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY be pleased to state: वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether the Government has conducted or commissioned any studies, expert committee  reviews,  or  stakeholder  consultations  to  assess  the  impact  of artificial  intelligence  on  intellectual  property  rights  in  India  over  the  last  five years;
- (b) If so, details regarding the assessment, if any, of potential economic, legal, or commercial  losses  suffered  by  creators,  innovators,  rights  holders,  and assignees  in  India  on  account  of  AI-generated  or  AI-assisted  content  and technologies;
- (c) whether the  Government  is  considering  or  has  proposed  any  amendments, policy  reforms,  or  regulatory  guidelines  to  India's  intellectual  property  rights framework in light of the evolving impact of artificial intelligence; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not reasons therefore?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री ( श्री णिणिन प्रसाद ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

- (a) & (b): Nil
- (c) & (d): An eight-member committee has been constituted by DPIIT on April 28, 2025 to  study  and  analyze  the  emerging  issues  related  to  generative  AI  and its implications on Copyright law. The Committee has finalized a  working paper on  the  issue  of  use  of  copyrighted  content  in  AI  training.  It  has  been published  for  stakeholders'  feedback. The  Terms  of  Reference  (ToR)  of  the Committee was:
- i. To identify and analyse the legal and policy issues arising from the use of Artificial Intelligence in the context of copyright.
- ii. To examine the adequacy of existing provisions of the Copyright Act, 1957 in addressing these issues
- iii. To make recommendations, if any, basis the above
- iv. To  prepare  and  finalize  a  working  paper  based  on  the  above  analysis, which will be published by the Department.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1639 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Registered Startups
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri V K Sreekandan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRY AND INTERNAL TRADE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1639. TO BE ANSWERED ON TUESDAY, THE 10 TH  FEBRUARY, 2026.

## REGISTERED STARTUPS

## 1639.  SHRI V K SREEKANDAN:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

be pleased to state: वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री

- (a) whether it is a fact that nearly 44,000 startups registered with the Government in 2025;
- (b) whether it is also true that this was the highest annual spike since the launch of Startup in the country;
- (c) whether  it  is  also  true  that  the  Startups  in  the  country  have  grown  to  over 2,00,000 in the country;
- (d) whether it is also a fact that more than Rs. 25,000 crore has been invested through the Fund of Funds for startups that had been created; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री ( श्री णिणिन प्रसाद ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

- (a) & (b): As per eligibility conditions prescribed under G.S.R. notification 127 (E) dated 19th  February  2019,  entities  are  recognised  as  'startups'  under  the  Startup India initiative by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).

In  2025,  a  total  of  49,429  entities  were  recognized  as  startups,  the  highest during a year since the launch of the Startup India initiative.

- (c): As on 31st December 2025, a total of 2,07,135 entities have been recognised as startups under the Startup India initiative by DPIIT.
- (d) & (e): The Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) has been established to catalyze venture capital investments and is operationalized through Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), which provides capital to Securities and Exchange  Board  of  India  (SEBI)-registered  Alternative  Investment  Funds (AIFs)  which  in  turn  invest  in  startups  through  equity  and  equity-linked instruments. As on 31st December 2025, supported AIFs under the Scheme have invested Rs. 25,547.98 crore in 1,371 selected startups.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1634 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Technology Mission on Sugarcane
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Neeraj Maurya

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1634

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH  FEBRUARY, 2026

## TECHNOLOGY MISSION ON SUGARCANE

1634.  SHRI NEERAJ MAURYA:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that Uttar Pradesh, particularly the Aonla Parliamentary Constituency,  is  one  of  the  major  sugarcane-producing  regions  of  the  country,  where sugarcane is cultivated on a large scale and millions of farmers are directly associated with it;
- (b)  whether  it  is  also  a  fact  that  the  Technology  Mission  on  Sugarcane  is  currently  being implemented in only a few selected States/regions of the country and has not so far been implemented in Uttar Pradesh;
- (c) if  so,  the reasons therefor despite the fact that Uttar Pradesh is the largest sugarcaneproducing State in the country and regions such as Aonla urgently require technological interventions  in  productivity  enhancement,  water-use  efficiency,  disease  control  and mechanization; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to implement the Technology Mission on Sugarcane in Uttar Pradesh, particularly in the Aonla Parliamentary Constituency, under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) or as a complementary initiative, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a): Sugarcane  is  cultivated  in  Uttar  Pradesh  including  in  areas  covered  in  the  Aonla Parliamentary  Constituency.  The  State  Government  of  Uttar  Pradesh  has  informed  that, sugarcane  is  cultivated  in  an  area  of  22,330.75  Ha  by  39,644  farmers  in  the  Aonla Parliamentary Constituency during 2025-26.

(b) to (d): Further,  in  Uttar  Pradesh,  various  schemes  of  the  Central  government  for promoting  new  production  technologies  like  National  Food  Security  and  Nutrition  Mission (NFSNM), Per Drop More Crop (PDMC), Pradhan Mantri-Rashtriya Vikas Krishi Yojana (PMRKVY) are being implemented for sugarcane farmers. Under these schemes, assistance is being provided for demonstrations, drip irrigation and distribution of foundation cum primary seed,  micro-nutrients,  pesticides,  bio-fertilizers  &  seedlings  produced  through  single  bud method by farmer groups & women self-help groups. The sugarcane farmers of the Aonla Parliamentary Constituency have also been provided various benefits under these schemes.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1633 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: National Turmeric Board
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Shri K E Prakash

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1633 ANSWERED ON 10/02/2026

## NATIONAL TURMERIC BOARD

## 1633. SHRI. K E PRAKASH

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has approved or is considering the establishment of a regional office of the National Turmeric Board along with an accredited turmeric testing laboratory at Erode, Tamil Nadu;
- (b) if so, the present status of approval, allocation of funds, implementing agency and timeline for commencement of operations;
- (c) the objectives and scope of activities proposed for the said regional office and testing laboratory; and
- (d) whether the Government has examined the absence of representation from Tamil Nadu one of the leading turmeric producing States with strong agricultural performance on the National Turmeric Board, despite representations made in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्यमंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) to (c): The Spices Board has a regional office at Erode, Tamil Nadu and a Quality Evaluation Laboratory at Chennai which caters to the testing requirements of all spices, including turmeric and its value-added products in the state of Tamil Nadu. Further, the National  Turmeric  Board  has  been  undertaking  various  activities  inter  alia  including awareness  and  training  programmes,  buyer-seller  meets  etc.,  across  the  country, including in the state of Tamil Nadu. However, presently, no such specific proposal on establishment of regional office of the National Turmeric Board along with an accredited turmeric  testing  laboratory  at  Erode,  Tamil  Nadu  is  under  consideration  in  this department.

(d): The composition of the National Turmeric Board inter alia includes three members to represent turmeric producing States, on rotation basis, three members to represent turmeric  growers  and two  members to  represent exporters of  turmeric  and  turmeric products. Currently one of the members representing turmeric growers is from Tamil Nadu.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1631 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Proposals for Enhancing Backward Classes Reservations
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Eatala Rajender

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1631 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.02.2026

## PROPOSALS FOR ENHANCING BACKWARD CLASSES RESERVATIONS

## 1631. SHRI EATALA RAJENDER:

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

(a) whether the Government of Telangana has sent any proposals for enhancing Backward Classes reservations to 42% which need Centre's approval in a process to enhance the reservations in education, employment and local body polls in the State; and

(b) if so, the details thereof and the current status thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): As informed, two Bills have been received from the Secretary to State Legislature, Telangana for consideration and assent of the Hon'ble President of India which are under examination.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1625 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Expansion of Heavy Industry
Ministry: HEAVY INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Shri Ummeda Ram Beniwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1625

ANSWERED ON 10.02.2026

## EXPANSION OF HEAVY INDUSTRY

## 1625.  SHRI UMMEDA RAM BENIWAL:

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

- (a) whether the Ministry has undertaken any studies on employment generation through heavy industry expansion in western Rajasthan;
- (b) if so, the findings thereof; and
- (c) whether similar assessments have been conducted in other industrially emerging regions of the country, if so, the details thereof?

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

- (a): Since Industry is a State Subject as per the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India, the Ministry of Heavy Industry (MHI) does not maintain any centralized data relating to generation of new employment through expansion of heavy industry in any part of the country including western Rajasthan.

(b) & (c) :

Does not arise.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 1616 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Modernising Parking Lots
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Manish Tewari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1616

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH  FEBRUARY, 2026/ MAGHA 21, 1947 (SAKA)

MODERNISING PARKING LOTS

1616.   SHRI MANISH TEWARI:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the project by Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) in August 2022 to modernise 89 paid parking lots in Chandigarh through FASTagenabled, cashless payments and real-time monitoring;
- (b) the original timeline for implementation of this project and the reasons for delay so far, including any disputes over taxes and contractual terms;
- (c) the current status of the Request for Proposal process, and whether the contract  has  been  awarded,  along  with  the  amount  of  projected  annual revenue from the project and the actual monthly revenue since July 2024;
- (d) whether the MCC has been asked by the UT administration to present a status report before moving ahead, the date on which such presentation is to be  made,  and  the  estimated  time  by  which  the  project  will  begin  full operations; and
- (e)  the  measures  put  in  place  to  ensure  transparency  in  the  contract  and implementation once the system goes live?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e) The  UT  Administration  of  Chandigarh  has  informed  that  the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) has implemented a single parking pass  namely  MCOnePass  across  all  paid  parking  sites  with  effect  from 27.01.2026.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 1616 FOR 10.02.2026

Transparency  in  the  contract  is  ensured  through  digital  payments, electronic receipts, real-time monitoring, centralized dashboard-based reporting and bank-led digital infrastructure.

The total revenue generated from paid parking operations w.e.f. July 2024  is  Rs.  22,43,90,681/-  and  the  net  actual  revenue  stands  at  Rs. 10,21,71,097/- after deducting the operational cost.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1613 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Career Progress of Agniveers
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Rahul Gandhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1613

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH  FEBRUARY, 2026/ MAGHA 21, 1947 (SAKA) CAREER PROGRESS OF AGNIVEERS

1613.   SHRI RAHUL GANDHI:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Ministry of Home Affairs has been tasked to coordinate the career progression of Agniveers after their term from the armed forces ends;

- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along with the  rationale behind assigning this responsibility  to  the  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  instead  of  the  Ministry  of Defence, given that Agniveers serve in the armed forces;
- (c) whether the Government  has assessed the potential overlap or coordination  challenges  between  the  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  and  the Ministry of Defence in managing the transition and career progression of exAgniveers; and

(d) the specific activities and programmes that the Ministry of Home Affairs will coordinate for ex-Agniveers?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (c):      The  distribution  of  subjects among Ministries/Departments has been specified in the Government  of India (Allocation of Business) Rules,1961.  As  per  amendment  issued  by  Cabinet  Secretariat  notification No.S.O.2701(E) dated  16.06.2025,  the  subject  'Coordinating  activities  for further progress of ExAgniveers' is allocated to MHA.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 1613 FOR 10.02.2026

(d): A dedicated Ex-Agniveer wing   and an Ex-Agniveer cell under Ministry of Home Affairs have been created for smooth coordination, monitoring and formulation of rehabilitation policies for Ex-Agniveers.

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 130 (STARRED), answered on 2026-02-09
Subject: Mortgage Free Loans to Traders under PMMY
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Shri Jitendra Kumar Dohare

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. †* 130

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2026/ MAGHA 20, 1947 (SAKA)

Mortgage Free Loans to Traders under PMMY

†*130.    SHRI JITENDRA KUMAR DOHARE:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

(a)   whether there is any proposal to provide mortgage free loans up to Rs. 30 lakh to traders registered under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) and to increase the loan limit, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the excessive fees being charged by banks for sanctioning and renewal of trading limits is likely to be controlled by the Government and a maximum one-time fee of 1 per cent is to be fixed, if

so, the details thereof; and

(c)  whether there is any scheme to provide free insurance cover up to 75 per cent of the stock value to the registered traders affected by the incidents like natural calamity/fire and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE FINANCE MINISTER

(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

(a)

to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. †* 130 FOR ANSWER ON 09.02.2026 BY SHRI JITENDRA KUMAR DOHARE ON MORTGAGE FREE LOANS TO TRADERS UNDER PMMY

(a) to (c): The limit of Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY)  collateral free loan has been enhanced to  Rs.20  lakh  from  Rs.10  lakh  w.e.f.  24.10.2024  for  those  entrepreneurs  who  have  availed  and successfully repaid previous loans under the 'Tarun' category, under a new category 'Tarun Plus'.

No such proposal to further enhance collateral free loans up to Rs. 30 lakh to traders registered under PMMY is under consideration.

Credit related matters such as pricing of loans by banks have been deregulated by RBI and are governed by the respective bank's lending policies, subject to extant broad regulatory guidelines of RBI.

Also as per RBI guidelines, the bank shall provide a Key Facts Statement (KFS) including tenure of the loan, repayment details, rate of interest, details of processing and other applicable charges, etc. to all prospective borrowers to help them take an informed view before executing the loan contract. The KFS shall be written in a language understood by the borrowers and the contents of it shall also be explained to the borrower.

For the loans extended under PMMY, Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) can avail guarantee cover under Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units (CGFMU), though there is no specific scheme to provide free insurance to registered traders affected by natural calamities/fire under the Scheme.

*****