opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2261 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-12
Subject: Ultra-Processed Food Regulation
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Subbarayan K, Com. Selvaraj V

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTHRESEARCH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2261 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 TH DECEMBER, 2025

## ULTRA-PROCESSED FOOD REGULATION

## 2261. COM. SELVARAJ V: SHRI SUBBARAYAN K:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that the Dietary Guidelines for Indians issued by the National Institute of Nutrition highlight the risks of diets high in Ultra-Processed Food (UPF), and that UPF sales in the country have risen nearly 40-fold from 2006 to 2019 and if so, the details thereof:
- (b) whether it is a fact that India still does not have a front-of-pack labelling (FOPL) regulation to help control UPF consumption, despite evidence from other countries that simple and visible warnings are effective and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government has taken note of this situation and if so, the details thereof along with the Government's reaction thereto?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

- (a): The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has informed that the Dietary Guidelines for Indians (2024) released by National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) classify ultra-processed foods (UPFs) as foods to be minimized due to their high fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) content; poor nutritional quality, and their relation with obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The guidelines further highlight that unhealthy dietary patterns, characterized by excessive intake of HFSS foods and UPFs, are important contributors to India's overall NCD and disease burden. However, while the guidelines clearly caution against the consumption of UPFs, they do not specifically mention the reported 40-fold increase in UPF sales between 2006 and 2019.
- (b) and (c): Food Regulation Division of Department of Health and Family Welfare has informed that the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 specifies the provisions for labelling of pre-packaged foods where some information/declarations are mandatory requirements to be provided on the front of the pack, such as: Name of the Food, Veg / Non-Veg Symbol, Multi-Source Edible Oil Declaration, Coffee-Chicory Mixture Statement, Gluten-Free Declaration, Irradiated Food Declaration. The above information provides the informed choice to the consumers.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2258 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-12
Subject: Training Session on Transgender Healthcare
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Smt. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2258 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 TH DECEMBER, 2025

## TRAINING SESSION ON TRANSGENDER HEALTHCARE

## 2258. SMT. KANIMOZHI KARUNANIDHI:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the recent directive of the Tamil Nadu Medical Council regarding sensitization session on healthcare of Transgender directing mandatory training thereon for all doctors, educators and medical students in the State;
- (b) whether a number of Central Medical Colleges and healthcare institutions have conducted these mandatory sensitization sessions in the country;
- (c) if so, the details of such sensitization sessions organised and attended by the doctors, educators and medical students in the country, State/UT-wise;
- (d) whether any steps have been taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to initiate comprehensive training sessions to sanitise medical and allied health professionals across the country, ensuring equitable healthcare for sexual and gender minorities; and (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)

(a) to (e): The National Medical Commission (NMC) is an apex statutory body, constituted by an act of Parliament, to regulate and oversee medical education in the country. The Competency -Based Medical Education (CBME) guidelines issued by the NMC in 2024 for Undergraduate medical students highlight the importance of ethical values, patient-centered responsiveness, effective communication skills, and gender sensitization. To nurture these competencies, the guidelines include a dedicated longitudinal curriculum titled AETCOM, focusing on Attitude, Ethics, and Communication. Further, one of the competencies has been included under the Psychiatry subject so that students demonstrate an understanding of the medico-legal, societal, ethical, and humanitarian principles on dealing with LGBTQA+ community.

Further, as informed by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences & Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, the hospital has started a Transgender OPD from 17.11.2023, which is being conducted every Friday evening.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2257 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-12
Subject: Utilisation of Health Grants in Karnataka
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Captain Brijesh Chowta

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2257 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 TH DECEMBER 2025

## UTILISATION OF HEALTH GRANTS IN KARNATAKA

## 2257. SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the total allocation of funds released to the State of Karnataka under the 15th Finance Commission Health Grants since 2021-22, district-wise including Dakshina Kannada;
- (b) the utilisation status of these grants in the said State including the number of projects completed, projects pending and the reasons for delays, if any;
- (c) whether the Government has undertaken any review of under-utilisation in districts such as Dakshina Kannada, if so, the details thereof along with the corrective measures recommended; and (d) the expected timelines for completion of ongoing primary healthcare infrastructure works
- sanctioned under the said grants?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

- (a) & (b): The total allocation and fund release under Fifteenth Finance Commission (FC XVth) for the State of Karnataka is given as under:

(Rs. in Crores)

| Period                  | Allocation AwardPeriod 2021-22   | Released   |
|-------------------------|----------------------------------|------------|
| Award Period 2021-22    | 551.53                           | 551.53     |
| Award Period 2022-23    | 551.53                           | 551.24     |
| Award Period 2023-24    | 579.11                           | 395.02     |
| Award Period 2024-25    | 608.08                           | 0.00       |
| Award Period 2025-2026  | 638.48                           | 0.00       |
| Award Period 2021 -2026 | 2,928.73                         | 1,497.79   |

- (c) & (d): The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India (MoHFW) regularly reviews the availability of healthcare facilities across the country including Karnataka State. The review is carried out mainly through Common Review Mission (CRM) which is conducted annually to review the implementatin status of the National Health Mission (NHM) and its key strategies. Review of key deliverables also done in NPCC meetings and Mid Term Review meeting.

As per the information provided by the State Government of Karnataka, the State Government has instructed the District Health Officers to monitor the implementation and utilization of the fund allocated to the districts under all the six components of 15th FC. The 15th FC fund allocation and utilization were reviewed in the half yearly meeting of the Deputy Commissioner & CEOs of all the districts. Further, progress review meeting are conducted by the State Level Committee on 15th FC where all the implementing departments were reviewed for the progress. Also, progress review meeting held by Honourable Health Minister in the districts time to time.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2256 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-12
Subject: Development Work of National Waterway-5  in Odisha
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Shri Baijayant Panda

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2256

ANSWERED ON 12.12.2025

## DEVELOPMENT WORK OF NATIONAL WATERWAY-5 IN ODISHA

2256. SHRI BAIJAYANT PANDA:

Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state :

## पȅन , पोत पįरवहन और जलमागŊ मंũी

(a) the  current  status  of  the  National Waterways-5,  Development Project connecting industrial regions of Talcher and Kalinganagar in the State of Odisha; (b)     whether the steps are being taken to ensure the economic viability of the project, if so, details thereof and if not, reasons therefor; and (c)      whether there is a proposed timeline for the completion of the NW-5 project and if

- so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a) to (c) The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for National Waterway (NW)-5 is under finalization.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2255 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-12
Subject: Status of Front of Pack Labelling Policy
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Smt. Rachna Banerjee

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2255 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 TH DECEMBER, 2025

## STATUS OF FRONT OFPACK LABELLING POLICY

## 2255. SMT. RACHNA BANERJEE:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Government has not been able to finalise a Front of Pack Labelling (FOPL) policy despite the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's (FSSAI) initial recommendation in 2014, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the FSSAI's expert panel on FOPL has submitted its recommendations, as the Supreme Court-mandated deadline expired in October 2025, if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the details of studies, consultations and other exercises carried out by FSSAI regarding FOPL since 2014, including the expenditure incurred on each of these?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (c): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has notified draft Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) amendment Regulation, 2020 on 13th September, 2022 on Front of Pack Nutrition Labelling (FoPNL) Model for comments of stakeholders. Further, FSSAI has submitted the Expert Committee's Report on Front of Pack Nutrition Labelling (FOPNL) to the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India and the matter is sub-judice.

FSSAI conducted two major studies on FOPNL i.e."Nutrient (Fat, Sugar, Sodium) Threshold study in packaged foods" and 'Survey based study for assessment of consumer's perception on Front of Pack Labelling'.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2251 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-12
Subject: New Medical Colleges in Rajasthan
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Smt. Manju Sharma

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. † 2251 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 th DECEMBER 2025

## NEWMEDICALCOLLEGES IN RAJASTHAN

## † 2251. SMT. MANJU SHARMA:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the fact that lack of Government Medical College in districts with limited medical facilities affects the health of the people and the education of aspiring doctors;
- (b) if so, the steps being taken by the Government to address the problem of lack of adequate medical facilities in such districts of the country;

(c) whether the Government proposes to set up new Government Medical colleges in Rajasthan; and (d) if so, the details thereof, district-wise?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a) to (d): Taking cognizance of providing government medical colleges across country, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is administering a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for 'Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals' with preference to underserved areas and aspirational districts, where there is no existing Government or private medical college. The fund sharing mechanism between the Centre and State Governments is in the ratio of 90:10 for North Eastern and Special Category States, and 60:40 for others. Under the Scheme, all the envisaged 157 Government Medical Colleges have been approved including twenty-three (23) medical colleges (Barmer, Bharatpur, Bhilwara, Churu, Dungarpur, Pali, Sikar, Dholpur, Alwar, Baran, Bansawara, Chittorgarh, Jaisalmer, Karauli, Nagaur, Shri Ganganagar, Sirohi, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, Tonk, Hanumangarh, Jhunjhunu, Dausa) in Rajasthan. Currently, there are 31 medical colleges functional in Rajasthan.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2250 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-12
Subject: Nutrition Tracker App
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Sanatan Pandey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2250 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2025

## NUTRITION TRACKER App.

## 2250.  SHRI SANATAN PANDEY:

Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Nutrition  Tracker  App  is  being  used  for  improving  quality  in  Anganwadi Centres (AWCs), if so, the improvement observed in monitoring the nutrition status of children; and
- (b) whether real-time data is being made available to the States through the same, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)

(a): The  'Poshan  Tracker'  application  was  rolled  out  on  1st  March  2021  as  an  important governance tool. The Poshan Tracker facilitates monitoring and tracking of all AWCs, AWWs and beneficiaries on defined indicators. Technology under Poshan Tracker is being leveraged for dynamic identification of stunting, wasting, under-weight prevalence among children. It has  facilitated  near  real  time  data  collection  for  Anganwadi  Services  such  as,  opening  of AWCs, daily attendance of children, ECCE activities, Growth Monitoring of children, delivery of Hot Cooked Meal (HCM)/Take Home Ration (THR-not raw ration) etc. The analysis from Poshan Tracker data shows improvement in malnutrition indicators (as shown in the table below) in children on stunting, wasting and underweight.

| Indicators               |   November 2022 |   November 2023 |   November 2024 |   November 2025 |
|--------------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
| Stunted Children (%)     |           40.49 |           38.47 |           39.27 |           32.92 |
| Wasted Children (%)      |            8.52 |            6.1  |            5.33 |            4.81 |
| Underweight Children (%) |           19.42 |           16.56 |           17.2  |           14.03 |

The details are also available at: https://www.poshantracker.in/statistics (b): The data of Poshan Tracker is available to all States/UTs through their respective login credentials provided at various levels.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2248 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-12
Subject: Requirement of Agrochemicals
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Mrs Ruchi Vira

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICALS AND PETROCHEMICALS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2248

## ANSWERED ON - 12/12/2025

## REQUIREMENT OF AGROCHEMICALS

†2248. MRS RUCHI VIRA:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a)        whether the Government is aware of the fact that farmers require a large stock of agrochemicals to ensure crop protection in the country;
- (b)        if so, the details of the proposed initiatives to be undertaken by the Government in this regard; and
- (c)                whether  the  regulations  related  to  the  registration  of  pesticides  in  the  country  are required  to  be  formulated  to  actively  promote  the  registration  of  the  maximum  number  of molecules, so that farmers have a wide range of options to produce various crops and to tackle their pests, diseases, weeds and resistance issues, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a) to (c) : Yes, Government is aware of the  requirement  of agrochemicals to ensure crop protection  in  the  country.  The  manufacture,  import,  storage,  sale,  distribution  and  use  of pesticides are regulated by the Insecticides Act, 1968 and the Insecticides Rules, 1971 made thereunder, which are being administered by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare through Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC). CIB&RC examines and registers insecticides after due evaluation of their safety, efficacy and quality. This ensures safe and effective pesticides are available to farmers under the provision of the said Act. As on date, there are 368 technical and 1139 pesticides formulations registered for use in the country under the Insecticides Act, 1968 providing a wide range of options to the farmers.

The  CIB&RC  has  undertaken  several  initiatives  to  strengthen  and  streamline  the registration  process  for  facilitating  availability  of  pesticides  to  the  farmers.  These  include timely conduct of Registration Committee meetings for expeditious decision making to ensure transparency  and  efficiency,  adoption  of  digital  systems  for  submission  and  processing  of applications and continuous revision of guidelines based on scientific advancements. These initiatives  support  the  availability  of  a  wide  range  of  safe  and  effective  pesticides  for  crop protection.

The existing regulatory framework under Insecticides Act provides a systematic and science-based mechanism for evaluation and registration of pesticides in the country.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 2237 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-12
Subject: Forced Sale of Fertilizer
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Shri Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2237 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 12.12.2025 FORCED SALE OF FERTILIZER

## ✝ 2237:  SHRI BHAUSAHEB RAJARAM WAKCHAURE:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a)    whether it is true that fertilizer companies forcibly assign various other products to  sellers along with urea and DAP which remain in warehouses causing losses to traders, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has received representations from pubic representatives and sellers to address the said problem;

- (c)     if so, the details thereof during the last three years till date, year-wise; and
- (d)    the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a)  to  (d)  Fertilizers  are  declared  as  an  essential  commodity  under  the  Essential Commodities  Act,  1955  and  notified  under  Fertilizer  Control  Order,  1985. State Governments are empowered to take action against persons involved in blackmarketing/ overpricing, as per provisions of EC Act. Any complaints received at  Department  of  Fertilizers  level  regarding  black  marketing/over-pricing  of fertilizers  is  sent  to  concerned State  Government  to take  appropriate action under Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and Fertilizer Control Order, 1985.

Further,  tagging/bundling  of  other  products  with  fertilizers  is  not  encouraged  by Department  of  Fertilizers.  In  this  regard,  D.O.  letters  are  regularly  written  to  State Governments  requesting  them  to  take  strict  action  as  per  extant  rules  to  prevent tagging. Besides, suitable directions are issued to fertilizer companies directing them not to indulge in such practices.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 2233 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-12
Subject: CGHS facilities for pensioners of UT Administrations
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Bishnu Pada Ray

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA

## MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2233 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 TH DECEMBER, 2025

## CGHS FACILITIES FOR PENSIONERS OF UT ADMINISTRATIONS

## †2233. SHRI BISHNU PADA RAY:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Union Government had any proposal/has decided to extend the Central Government Health Scheme facilities to all the pensioners of Union Territory Administrations in the country at par with the Central Government pensioners;
- (b) if so, the reasons for non-implementation of the said decision in the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands till date and the authority responsible for the delay in implementing to the Government's decision; and
- (c) whether the Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands has brought this issue to the attention of the Union Government seeking its early enforcement and if so, the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (c) Government has decided to extend CGHS medical facilities to the pensioners under Union Territory (UT) Administrations, except the UT of Delhi. The CGHS facilities shall be extended at par with the Central Government pensioners, on payment of requisite subscription fees as per the prevalent CGHS guidelines, subject to the conditions that the Pensioners of a Union Territory seeking CGHS coverage are not availing medical benefits from any other Government Health Scheme.

The extant norms for opening of a new CGHS Wellness Centre, inter-alia , include minimum 2500 principal CGHS Cardholders or 6000 CGHS beneficiaries subject to availability of resources, suitable accommodations, creation of posts of Medical Officers, Pharmacists, Staff Nurse, Clerical Staff etc . The sanction of posts and allocation of funds for these Wellness Centres is under the ambit of Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. The minimum financial implication involves a recurring expenditure of Rs.4.8 crore per year and a one-time non-recurring expenditure of Rs.0.75 crore to Rs.1.00 crore for which the approval of Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance is required.

*****