opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 5050 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: Inoperative Accounts under EPFO
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri Benny Behanan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5050

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026

## INOPERATIVE ACCOUNTS UNDER EPFO

## 5050. SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:

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

- (a)the  details  of  total  number  of  inoperative  accounts  under  the Employees'  Provident  Fund  Organisation  (EPFO)  identified  for automatic refund;
- (b)the  details  of  the  total  accumulated  balance  lying  in  such inoperative accounts, as on date;
- (c) whether the interest on balance in the said accounts continues to accrue and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)the  details  of  projected  timeline  for  completion  of  refunds, including  phase-wise  targets  and  monthly  disbursal  estimates
- under the said initiative?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): A  total  of  1.33  lakh  accounts  have  been  identified  for  autoinitiation of claims in a phased manner. These claims will be settled by the respective Regional Offices following due procedure.
- (b): Rs. 5.68 crore.
- (c): No interest is accrued on balance in the said accounts.
- (d): In  the  first  phase,  the  payments  shall  be  auto  initiated  for inoperative accounts which are Aadhaar and Bank verified and have balances up to ₹1,000 after confirmation of the bank account being active.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5049 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: Setting up of ESI Dispensaries
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri K C Venugopal

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5049

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026

## SETTING UP OF ESI DISPENSARIES

5049. SHRI K C VENUGOPAL:

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

(a)whether the Government is likely to consider to set up Employees' State Insurance  (ESI) dispensaries  in  Alappuzha  Lok  Sabha Constituency due to the prescence of large number of workers in informal labour sector, including coir and fishing; and (b)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): Employees  State  Insurance  Corporation  (ESIC)  accords approval  for  opening  of  new  dispensaries  with  the  consent  of  the respective State Governments as the operation and management of dispensaries is done by the concerned State Government as per the provision of Section 58 of the erstwhile Employees State Insurance Act 1948, now subsumed in Code on Social Security, 2020.

No  proposal  for  setting  up  of  new  dispensary  in  the Alapphuzha district has been received from Government of Kerala.

At present, medical services to Insured Persons and their families  in  Alappuzha  district  are  being  provided  through  one  55bedded  ESI  Hospital  at  Alleppey  and  14  ESI  dispensaries  in  the Alappuzha district.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5039 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: Afforestation and Climate Adaptation Schemes
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Naresh Chandra Uttam Patel

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5039

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026

## Afforestation and Climate Adaptation Schemes

## 5039. SHRI NARESH CHANDRA UTTAM PATEL:

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

- (a)    the  details  of  schemes  related  to  afforestation  and  climate  adaptation  implemented  in Fatehpur district; and
- (b)  the provisions for providing employment to the local youth under the said schemes?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) & (b) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change supports afforestation, ecological  restoration and climate  adaptation activities across  States, including in Fatehpur district of Uttar  Pradesh, through Centrally Sponsored Schemes  such as the National Mission for a Green India (GIM), Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), and Nagar Van Yojana, implemented by State Governments.

India's climate actions are guided by the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC),  comprising  nine national missions covering both mitigation and adaptation including the Green India Mission. State-specific strategies are outlined in  the  State  Action  Plans  on  Climate  Change  (SAPCCs),  including  that  of  Uttar Pradesh. The National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC), established in  2015,  provides  support  for  adaptation  projects  in  vulnerable  States/UTs;  30 projects have been sanctioned with a total cost of ₹847.48 crore, including a project in Uttar Pradesh on ecosystem-based adaptation in the Bundelkhand region (₹19.80 crore), which has been completed.

These schemes are demand-driven and implemented as per approved plans based on  proposals  received  from  States/UTs.  Implementation  involves  engagement  of local communities, including youth, generating wage-based employment; however, no separate provision is exclusively earmarked for local youth. In Fatehpur district, afforestation activities are primarily undertaken under the Social Forestry Scheme, generating 2,56,300 person-days during 2024-25.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5038 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: Borrowings and Fiscal Management of Karnataka
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Dr. K Sudhakar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5038 TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, 23 rd  March, 2026 02 CHAITRA, 1948 (SAKA)

## BORROWINGS AND FISCAL MANAGEMENT OF KARNTAKA

## 5038. DR. K SUDHAKAR:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Union Government has data regarding the borrowings of the Government of Karnataka during the last two years as well as during the period 2013-2018, if so, the details thereof, year-wise;
- (b) the details regarding the state of fiscal management and fiscal prudence maintained by the Government of Karnataka during the said period;
- (c) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  borrowings  of  Karnataka  have  hit  the  upper  limits  as prescribed under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether such a fiscal slip is likely to have drastic impacts on social welfare schemes by the Government, if so, the details of the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Union Government to ensure that such a situation does not arise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

- (a) As  per  the  Reserve  Bank  of  India, the details  of  Open  Market  Borrowings  of the Government of Karnataka during the last two years as well as during the period 20132018 are as follows:

(Rs. in crore)

|   S. No. | Financial Year   | Open Market Borrowings   |
|----------|------------------|--------------------------|
|        1 | 2013-14          | 14,997                   |
|        2 | 2014-15          | 18,500                   |
|        3 | 2015-16          | 16,188                   |
|        4 | 2016-17          | 28,007                   |
|        5 | 2017-18          | 22,098                   |
|        6 | 2023-24          | 81,000                   |
|        7 | 2024-25          | 92,025                   |

(b) to (d) All States including Karnataka have enacted their Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management  (FRBM)  Act  which  makes  the  State  Government  responsible  to  ensure prudence  in  fiscal  management  and  fiscal  stability  by  progressive  elimination  of  revenue deficit, reduction in fiscal deficit, prudent debt management consistent with fiscal sustainability and greater transparency in fiscal operations of the government. Compliance to the  State  FRBM  Act  is  monitored  by  the  respective  State  Legislatures.  Department  of Expenditure,  Ministry  of  Finance,  usually  considers  the  fiscal  limits  as  per  the  accepted recommendations of the Finance Commission while exercising powers to approve borrowings by States under Article 293(3) of the Constitution of India.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5035 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: Construction of Permanent School Building for KV No. 2, Dhanbad
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Dulu Mahato

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5035 ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026

## Construction of Permanent School Building for KV No. 2, Dhanbad

5035. Shri Dulu Mahato:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that in February 2018, a land parcel measuring 05.00 acres was transferred to Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) for construction of a

permanent school building for KV No. 2, Dhanbad, if so, the details thereof; (b) whether  this  said  land  remained  unusable  due  to  illegal  encroachment  and pending court case, stalling the project for five years; (c) if  so,  the  reasons for allotment of such land along with the corrective action taken or proposed to be taken by the Government against those responsible for this misleading transfer; (d) whether an alternate land parcel measuring 4.30 acres was allotted to KVS by the  State  Government  of  Jharkhand  in  September  2023,  if  so,  the  details thereof; (e) whether  this  alternate  land  suffers  from  shortcomings  such  as  earth  filling, approach road and drinking water supply, if so, the details thereof; and (f) the  time  by  which  the  Government  is  likely  to  resolve  these  issues,  finalize

- transfer and commence construction of the permanent building?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) As per information received from Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), land measuring 5.00 acres was transferred by the State Government of Jharkhand to KVS for  construction  of  a  permanent  school  building  for  Kendriya  Vidyalaya  No.  2, Dhanbad. However, construction work could not be initiated due to encroachment and a pending court case on the said land.

(d) to (f) As per information received from KVS, an alternate land measuring 4.30 acres at  Mauja-Sabalpur,  District  Dhanbad,  identified  by  the  State  Government,  was accepted  in  September,  2023,  subject  to  the  condition  that  the  State  Government would construct an approach road, carry out earth filling on the western side of the plot, and provide drinking water supply to the site at its own cost. The  said  land  measuring  4.30  acres  has  been  transferred  to  KVS  on  a permanent  basis  in  November,  2025  and  the  work  has  been  entrusted  to  Central Public Works Department (CPWD) for construction of the KV No. 2, Dhanbad building. Construction of permanent buildings for KVs is a continuous process, which depends upon identification of suitable land, completion of transfer / lease formalities in favour of KVS by the sponsoring authorities, submission of drawings / estimates by construction agency, availability of funds and requisite approvals etc.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5034 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: Relaxation of Forest Regulations in Don Area, VTR
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Sunil Kumar

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5034

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026

## Relaxation of Forest Regulations in Don Area, VTR

5034. SHRI SUNIL KUMAR:

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

(a)   whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  within  the  Don  area  of  the  Valmiki  Tiger  Reserve (VTR) in  Valmiki  Nagar  Lok  Sabha Constituency,  there  are  two  Panchayats  with  a  population  of approximately  15,000  to  20,000  and  the  residents  of  this  inaccessible  terrain  have  to  travel  to Ramnagar, Bagaha, Narkatiaganj, Gorakhpur or Patna for better medical treatment;

(b)  if  so,  whether  the  Government  is  also  aware  that  in  cases  of  emergency,  even  critically  ill patients  are  denied  entry  or  exit  through  the  forest  during  late-night  hours,  forcing  them  to  spend the night at the Forest Department's barriers; and

(c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  relax  its  regulations  in  the  interest  of  the  forestdwelling population of the Tiger Reserve and the Don area?

## ANSWER

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

(a),  (b)  &  (c)  Yes,  as  reported  by  the  State,  there  are  two  Gram  Panchayats  viz.,  Naurangiya  and Bankatwa Karmahiya located in the Don area, surrounded by the forests of Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR).    There  are  no  such  reports  of  residents  from  these  two  Gram  Panchayats  under  reference having been stuck/stopped at the check-posts on the forest roads, in case of medical emergencies.

The  residents  are  using  the  forest  roads  to  access  the  nearby  towns  and  they  have unrestricted access to use the forest roads.  These roads are repaired and maintained every year by the VTR administration to facilitate unhindered movement of vehicles. To provide access to the better medical facility to the residents of these two Gram Panchayats exclusively two ambulances are being operated and maintained by the VTR administration.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5032 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: Preservation and Digitisation of Manuscript Heritage
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Smt. Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam

## MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5032 ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026

## Preservation and Digitisation of Manuscript Heritage

5032. Smt. Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has undertaken steps for the preservation, conservation and digitisation of India's manuscript heritage;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, including the conservation and restoration measures being implemented to safeguard fragile manuscripts; and
- (c) the  details  of  the  progress  made  in  digitisation  and  creation  of  a  secure  and  accessible  digital repository for long-term preservation and scholarly access?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a)  to  (c)  Yes  Sir.  Gyan  Bharatam  Mission  (GBM),  announced  during  Union  Budget  2025-26,  is  a flagship  initiative  of  the  Ministry  of  Culture  (MoC),  Government  of  India  to  undertake  manuscripts related activities under various components including survey and registration of manuscripts, building robust technology infrastructure and partnership, documentation, preservation, conservation, digitization,  publication  of  manuscripts  and  capacity  building  &  research.  The  steps  envisaged  under GBM to safeguard India's manuscript heritage includes onboarding of institutions making conservation of  manuscripts  an  integral  activity  there  through  preventive and curative  methods,  establishment  and upgradation  of  conservation  laboratories  in  the  onboarded  institutions,  conducting  capacity  building programs,  workshops  and  hands-on  training  etc.  Recently,  two-day  conservation  workshop  was successfully concluded at National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property (NRLC), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh from 12 th - 13 th February, 2026 with participation of more than 40 participants from  the  institutions  onboarded  with  GBM.  Technical  partners  have  been  onboarded  for  various functions  including  metadata  creation  and  its  integration  on  National  Digital  Repository  (NDR), deployment of equipments, AI-integrated digital platform and long-term data storage. More than 8 lakh digitized  manuscripts  in  different  formats  such  as  DVD,  HDD,  microfilms  are  available  across  the country, out of which, 1.29 lakh manuscripts are accessible, in view mode, to the public on the Gyan Bharatam Portal.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5031 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: Investment Awareness Programmes in the Country
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Balwant Baswant Wankhade

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5031

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2026/CHAITRA 02, 1948 (SAKA)

## INVESTMENT AWARENESS PROGRAMMES IN THE COUNTRY

5031. SHRI BALWANT BASWANT WANKHADE:

Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the Government is organising any investment awareness programmes in the country;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof,  including the  objectives  and main features of such
- programmes;
- (c) whether the Government has organised such progrmmes in rural areas of the country during the last two years;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the criteria fixed for the selection of rural areas for the said purpose; and
- (e) the details of funds allocated and utilised for this purpose during the last three years and the current year?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS AND MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(HARSH MALHOTRA)

- (a) & (b) The  Ministry  of  Corporate  Affairs  through  Investor  Education  and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) is organising Investor Awareness Programmes (IAPs) across the country. The objectives and main features of these programmes are as under:
- (i) Promoting  financial  literacy:  Educating  stakeholders  on  basic  financial concepts,  responsible  financial  behaviour,  and  safe  usage  of  financial
- services.
- (ii) Enhancing  investor  awareness:  Spread  knowledge  about  investor  rights, investment risks, and informed decision-making.
- (iii) Awareness about financial fraud and cybercrime: Create awareness about scams,  phishing  attempts,  fraudulent  investment  schemes,  and  digital payment frauds.
- (iv) Promoting safe digital financial practices: Encourage secure use of digital banking, mobile payments, and online platforms.
- (v) Strengthening citizen protection: Empower individuals to identify, avoid, and report fraudulent financial activities.

(c) & (d):  These IAPs are organised across the country with a focus on rural and under-served regions.  Rural areas for IAPs are selected based on specific criteria such as being underserved, remote including Tier-2 and Tier-3 towns and villages. About 75% of the programmes are conducted in these locations using the wide network of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB).

(e):  The  details  of  funds  utilized  for  this  purpose  by  IEPFA  during  the  last  three years and the current year are as under:

| Financial year      |   Funds Utilized (₹ in Crore) |
|---------------------|-------------------------------|
| 2022-23             |                          8.45 |
| 2023-24             |                          3.4  |
| 2024-25             |                          5.07 |
| 2025-26 (Till Date) |                          2.69 |

******
Lok Sabha Question No. 5030 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: Overseas Employment for Youth
Ministry: SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Asked by: Dr. Indra Hang Subba

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO -5030

ANSWERED ON -23.03.2026

## OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT FOR YOUTH

5030.  DR. INDRA HANG SUBBA:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes any scheme to impart skill development to the Indian youth for overseas employment;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  total  number  of  persons  proposed  to  be  skilled  and already skilled under the scheme; and
- (c) the details of the funds allocated for this purpose?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a  to  c):        Ministry  of  Skill  Development  and  Entrepreneurship  (MSDE)  has  established  and operationalized seven Skill India International Centres (SIICs) in different states on a pilot basis to  facilitate  international  employment  opportunities for the Indian youth. These centres aim to provide  internationally  aligned  domain  skill  training,  language  training  and  pre-departure orientation to support safe and informed migration of skilled workers.

In addition, Pre-Departure Orientation Training (PDOT) under the Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PKVY) of the Ministry of External Affairs is imparted at these centres to orient candidates on language  familiarisation,  cultural  aspects  of  destination  countries,  labour  laws,  and  safe migration practices.

Since 2023, a total number of 2,929 candidates have been trained (including domain training and  language  training)  at  SIIC-Varanasi  and  SIIC-Bhubaneshwar,  and  deployment  of  433 candidates has been facilitated for overseas employment.

The  Ministry,  through  the  National  Skill  Development  Fund  (NSDF),  has  approved  funds amounting  to  ₹70.59  crore  for  establishment  and  operationalization  of  seven  SIICs  which includes Operational Expenditure (OPEX) for seven centres and Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) for five centres.

*****