opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 5860 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Regional Distribution of CSR Expenditure
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: Md. Rakibul Hussain

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5860

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2026 / Chaitra 09, 1948 (Saka)

## Regional Distribution of CSR Expenditure QUESTION

5860. Md. Rakibul Hussain: Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has reviewed the regional distribution of Corporate Social Responsibility  (CSR)  expenditure  by  companies  operating  in  the  country,  if  so,  the details thereof; (b) the percentage share of Assam in total National CSR spending during the last five years; (c) whether under-utilisation or concentration of CSR funds in select districts has been observed, if so, the details thereof; and (d) the steps taken by the Government to ensure equitable and need-based allocation of CSR projects in backward and flood-prone areas of Assam?

## ANSWER

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

[SHRI HARSH MALHOTRA]

(a): Under the Companies Act, 2013, CSR is a Board driven process and the Board of the company is empowered to plan, decide, execute and monitor CSR activities of the company undertaken in the areas or subjects specified in Schedule VII of the Act, based on the recommendation of its CSR committee. The first proviso to Section 135 (5) of the Act provides that the company shall give preference to the local area and areas  around  it  where  it  operates.   However,  the  emphasis  on  local  area  is  only directory  and  not  mandatory  in  nature  and  companies  need  to  balance  local  area preference with national priorities. The Government does not issue any directions to Corporates to spend in any particular area or activity.

In view of the above legal provisions, Government has not conducted a specific review.

(b): On the basis of annual filings made by the companies in the MCA21 registry, CSR expenditure in Assam during the Financial Years 2019-20 to 2023-24 is at Annexure.

(c) & (d): In view of the reply to para (a) above, the situation does not arise.

*****

Annexure Refer to part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question no. 5860 for 30.03.2026

CSR expenditure in Assam from FY 2019-20 to FY 2023-24

(Amount in Rupees Crore)

| Particulars                    | FY 2019-20   | FY 2020-21   | FY 2021-22   | FY 2022-23   | FY 2023-24   |
|--------------------------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|
| Assam                          | 285.00       | 180.23       | 406.42       | 474.96       | 488.62       |
| Total CSR expenditure in India | 24,965.82    | 26,210.95    | 27,141.45    | 30,932.08    | 34,908.75    |

(Data upto 31.03.2025) (Source: Corporate Data Management Cell)

* Companies either did not specify the names of State/UT or indicated more than one State/Ut where projects were undertaken. *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5858 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Review of Outdated and Irrelevant Courses in HEIs
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri P V Midhun Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 5858

ANSWERED ON- 30/03/2026

## Review of Outdated and Irrelevant Courses in HEIs

5858. Shri P V Midhun Reddy:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the list of courses currently offered in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) that have been identified as outdated, irrelevant or controversial, along with the details of the criteria adopted for identifying them;
- (b) whether the Government has undertaken any assessment regarding the impact of such courses  on  students'  employability  and  overall  educational  outcomes,  if  so,  the  details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) whether the Government proposes to take specific steps to review, update, discontinue such courses, if so, the details thereof including the proposed timeline for implementation of these changes and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): As per the information received from the University Grants Commission (UGC), the  Universities,  being  autonomous  institutions,  are  free  to  take  all  academic  decisions, including courses to be run, with the approval of their respective statutory authorities.

With a view to enhance employability of graduates, the UGC has issued guidelines for  Higher  Educational  Institutions  (HEIs)  to  offer  apprenticeship  embedded  degree programme  on  24.03.2025,  and  guidelines  for  internship/research  Internship  for  under graduate students on 02.02.2024. The UGC has also requested HEIs to take necessary action for implementation of these guidelines.

Further,  as  per  the  information  received  from  the  All  India  Council  for  Teacher Education (AICTE), based on AICTE's Approval Process Handbook (2024-2027) and recent policy shifts leading into 2026, the Council is moving towards AI-integrated curricula. The initiatives  taken  by  AICTE  to  promote  the  education  as  per  industry  demand  and  job orientation include model curriculum revision; multi-disciplinary approach in education; new B.Tech programmes in data science and artificial intelligence, VLSI design Tech, logistic and Diploma in IC manufacturing; introduction of minor degree courses; collaboration with Industry; AICTE internship portal; AICTE career portal; policy on working professionals to upgrade skills; AICTE- IDEA Lab Scheme (Idea Development, Evaluation & Application).

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5856 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Fiscal Deficit
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Shri Adhikari Soumendu

## Government of India Ministry of Finance Department of Economic Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5856 MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2026/ Chaitra 09, 1948 (SAKA)

## FISCAL DEFICIT

## 5856. Shri Adhikari Soumendu:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has achieved the target of narrowing down the fiscal deficit over the years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof indicating the fiscal deficit of the Government in terms of amount and as percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during each of the last five years and is proposed for next three years financial years; and
- (c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Union Government to decrease the fiscal consolidation path to bring the deficit below 4.5 per cent of GDP and reach a Debt-to-GDP ratio of 50±1 per cent by 2035 from present 56.1 percent thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY)

(a) & (b): Government's fiscal deficit has narrowed from 9.2% of GDP in 2020-21 to 4.8 % of GDP in 2024-25. The details of the fiscal deficit (FD), in terms of amount and as a percentage of GDP during the last five years is given in the table below:

| Financial Year   | Fiscal Deficit (in ₹ crore)   |   FD as %of GDP |
|------------------|-------------------------------|-----------------|
| 2020-21          | 18,18,291                     |             9.2 |
| 2021-22          | 15,84,521                     |             6.7 |
| 2022-23          | 17,37,755                     |             6.5 |
| 2023-24          | 16,54,643                     |             5.5 |
| 2024-25          | 15,74,431                     |             4.8 |

The fiscal deficit in RE 2025-26 and BE 2026-27 has been kept at ₹15,58,492 crore (4.4 per cent of GDP) and ₹16,95,768 crore (4.3 per cent of GDP) respectively.

- (c) The steps taken by Government to adhere to the fiscal deficit and debt consolidation paths that were announced  in  the  previous  budgets,  while  keeping  in  mind  the  potential  growth  trends  and  emergent development  needs,  include  a  focus  on  Effective  Capital  Expenditure  to  spur  economic  growth.  For example, in BE 2026-27 the borrowings of the Government (₹16.96 lakh crore) will be utilised for meeting the Effective Capital Expenditure of ₹17.15 lakh crore.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5851 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Cultural Mapping of Villages
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Tanuj Punia

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No 5851

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026

## CULTURAL MAPPING OF VILLAGES

## 5851. SHRI TANUJ PUNIA:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Government has started cultural mapping of villages in the country;
- (b) if so, the aims and objective of such mapping;
- (c) the details of villages selected from Uttar Pradesh for cultural mapping;
- (d) whether Government has created database of the said mapping and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the  details  of  subsequent  steps  proposed  to  be  taken  to  protect  and  promote identified cultures, traditions, artforms, etc., of identified villages?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Yes, Sir. The Ministry of Culture is implementing cultural mapping of villages across the country under the National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM).
- (b) The aims and objectives of NMCM are as follows:
- i. To envision and address the necessity of preserving the threads of rich Indian Art and Cultural Heritage.
- ii. To  create  a  national  database  through  Cultural  Mapping  with  the  aid  of extensive ground surveys and documentation.
- iii. To  design  a  mechanism  to  fulfill  the aspirations of the whole  artist community of the country.
- iv. To preserve, safeguard, revitalize and disseminate the rich cultural heritage of this country for future generations.
- v. To create a strong "cultural vibrancy" throughout the nation with the help of

digital platforms and outreach activities.

- (c) In  Uttar  Pradesh,  110878  villages  have  been  targeted  for  mapping  under MGMD.
- (d) Yes, Sir. The Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD) Portal has been developed as a digital platform to integrate and present cultural data of villages gathered from across India in a structured format. The portal is accessible in the public domain at https://mgmd.gov.in/.

Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD) Programme under NMCM records a wide range of tangible and intangible cultural elements, including heritage sites, art forms, prominent artists, oral traditions, beliefs and customs, historical significance,  local  landmarks,  fairs  and  festivals,  traditional  dress,  ornaments and  traditional  food  at  the  village  level  across  India.  The  MGMD  Portal contains 6.23 lakh unique village profiles as of now.

- (e) MGMD  has  been  envisioned  as  a  digital  cultural  repository  which  records cultural data through village profiles and audio-visual documentation of unique rural cultures thereby preserving rural heritage for future generations.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5845 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Adoption of Indian Accounting Standards w.e.f. 01.04.2026
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: Shri V K Sreekandan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 5845

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, 30 MARCH, 2026/CHAITRA 09, 1948 (SAKA)

## Adoption of Indian Accounting Standards w.e.f. 01.04.2026

## 5845. SHRI V K SREEKANDAN:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has asked all insurers to adopt Indian Accounting Standards with effect from 1.04.2026;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

- (c)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  move  is  aimed  at  promoting  more  consistency,  transparency  and comparability in financial reporting across the insurance sector, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether it is also true that the framework has been developed after comprehensive engagement with insurers; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b): The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has informed that it is in  process  of  adopting  Indian  Accounting  Standards  (Ind  AS)  after  due  consultation  with  all  the concerned stakeholders. An exposure draft of the IRDAI (Actuarial, Finance and Investment Functions of Insurers) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 for the adoption of Ind AS had been placed in public domain for stakeholder comments. The date of applicability will be as per notification of the amended regulations, which is to be issued.

(c) to (e): IRDAI informed that the proposed alignment of financial reporting of insurers with applicable Ind  AS  is  intended  to  strengthen  the  overall  financial  reporting  framework  of  the  insurance  sector. Further, the Ind AS framework prescribes uniform principles for recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial information. Adoption of Ind AS is expected to maintain compliance with statutory requirements, preserving transparency and policyholder protection, and ensuring operational feasibility and consistency in financial reporting across insurers, while aligning with globally accepted accounting practices further enhancing the overall quality, transparency, consistency and comparability of financial reporting across the insurance sector. Authority asked insurers to conduct gap assessment exercise in a prescribed format. Further, after analysing the gaps, insurers were asked to submit Ind AS proforma financial statements for FY 2023-24 and FY 2024-25, in prescribed formats along with related information, which facilitated assessment of potential impact and enabled insurers to review key policy choices and implementation aspects. A meeting was held by GI council with its members on 18.03.2026 seeking comments on implementation of Ind AS. Framework is being evolved through a structured and consultative process involving engagement with insurers and other stakeholders.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5843 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Enriching the Fort and Gorge Experience in Gandikota under SASCI
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Y S Avinash Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5843 ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026

## ENRICHING THE FORT AND GORGE EXPERIENCE

## IN GANDIKOTA UNDER SASCI

## 5843. SHRI Y S AVINASH REDDY:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has sanctioned an amount of Rs. 77.91 crore for  Enriching  the  Fort  and  Gorge  Experience  in  Gandikota  under  the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the progress of its implementation;
- (c)  whether the Government has any proposal to include the development of Vontimitta Kodandarama Swamy Temple, Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Swamy Temple and Veerabhadra Swamy Temple under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual,  Heritage  Augmentation  Drive  (PRASHAD) scheme; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (d): Government  of  India  sanctioned  an  amount  of  Rs.77.91  Crore during financial year 202425 for undertaking the project 'Enriching the Fort and Gorge Experience in Gandikota' under the ' Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)' scheme. An amount of Rs.51.42 Crore had been released  to  the  State  Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh.  The  projects sanctioned  under  SASCI  scheme  are  implemented  by  concerned  State Government. As per the information reported by the State Government, on the Program Management Information System, the project has achieved a physical progress of over 49 percent.

While development of various tourism destinations is primarily done by the  concerned  State  Governments  (SGs)/UT  Administrations  (UTAs),  the Ministry  of  Tourism  under  its  various  schemes  related  to  destination development  including  Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual,  Heritage Augmentation  Drive  (PRASHAD)  extends  financial  assistance  to  them  to complement  these  efforts.  Under  PRASHAD  scheme  receiving  proposals from  State  Governments/UT  Administrations  for  financial  assistance  for tourism  projects  is  a  continuous  process.  The  proposals  received  are examined  with  reference to the prescribed guidelines and financial assistance  is  extended  for  such  projects  subject  to  fulfilment  of  the stipulated conditions, continuation of scheme and availability of funds.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 5841 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Study of Rare and Unpublished Manuscripts
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Naveen Jindal

## 5841. Shri Naveen Jindal:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has any scheme to involve and acknowledge experts to study rare and unpublished manuscripts of ancient India;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof;
- (c)    whether  it  is  a  fact  that  95  per  cent  of  manuscripts  related  to  ancient  India  knowledge  remain unexplored by mainstream scholars; and
- (d)  if so, the remedial steps taken by the Government therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  &  (b)  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  Mission,  inter-alia,  envisages engagement  of  domain  expert  to  identify  and  categorize  manuscripts  collection  for  transcription, translation and publication with critical editions.

(c) & (d) Manuscripts related to ancient India knowledge remain unexplored due to various reasons such as their dispersed presence in private collections and traditional institutions, lack of systematic cataloguing,  limited  accessibility,  linguistic  and  script-related  complexities,  shortage  of  trained experts in manuscript studies etc. The remedial steps taken by the Government under GBM includes onboarding of institutions across the country to carry out above mentioned activities, engaging States / Union Territories (UTs) to act as Nodal Coordinating Authority for Gyan Bharatam implementation within the State / UT  concerned,  launch  of National  Manuscript Survey for identification, documenting  and creating a comprehensive  national database of manuscripts available with institutions, private individuals, scholars, mutts, temples, libraries and other repositories, onboarding of technical partners 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 etc.

******

## MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5841 ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026

## Study of Rare and Unpublished Manuscripts
Lok Sabha Question No. 5838 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Industrial Relations Code
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri Maddila Gurumoorthy

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5838 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026

## INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS CODE

5838. SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY:

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

- (a) whether the  Government has examined the implications of  the new  thresholds  and  procedures  for  recognition  of  negotiating unions or negotiating councils under the Industrial Relations Code and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether uniform guidelines, digital verification systems and timebound procedures have been notified by the Government to ensure fair,  transparent  and  non-discriminatory  recognition  of  trade unions across industrial establishments; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof, including safeguards proposed to prevent employer interference, exclusion of minority unions and weakening of collective bargaining rights under the new regime?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): The  government  has  enacted  the  Industrial  Relations Code, 2020, which provides for recognition of negotiating union or negotiating  council  in  industrial  establishment  having  registered Trade Union for negotiating with employer.

The code prescribes a minimum membership of 51% or more workers of the muster roll for a trade union to be recognised as the negotiating union in an industrial establishment with more than one registered trade union. Where no union meets this threshold, a negotiating  council  shall  be  constituted  with  representation  from registered unions having the support of not less than twenty percent of the total workers on the muster roll.

The Central Government has pre-published the Industrial of verification  officer  by  the  government  and  election  through  secret ballot after consultations with trade unions and employer to ensure

Relations (Central) Rules which provide for appointment fair and transparent elections.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 5828 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Enhancement of Wages of the Labourers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Smt. Manju Sharma

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5828 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026

ENHANCEMENT OF WAGES OF THE LABOURERS †5828. SMT. MANJU SHARMA:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken any decision to increase the wages of agricultural labourers as well as other labourers across the country, particularly in Rajasthan in view of the rising inflation;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether there is any mechanism in place to ensure the payment of minimum wages fixed by the Government; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): The  Code  on  Wages,  2019  empowers  both  Central  and State  Governments as appropriate governments to fix, review and revise  the  minimum  rates  of  wages  for  the  establishments  falling under their respective jurisdiction. However, such data of State-wise minimum rate of wages is not maintained centrally.

Further,  in  order  to  take  care  of  the  rising  prices,  the Central Government revises the Variable Dearness Allowance (V.D.A) on basic rates of minimum wages every six months, effective from 1st April and 1st October of every year on the basis of Consumer Price Index for Industrial workers. Latest V.D.A. order as applicable from 01.10.2025 is available at https://clc.gov.in/clc/sites/default/files/mygov\_17592265211.pdf

(c) &(d): To  ensure  implementation  of  the  provision  of  Code  on Wages, 2019, inspection of the establishments falling in the Central sphere is conducted as per the existing Inspection Scheme, in a webbased,  randomized  and  also  complaint-based  manner  as  assigned through the Shram Suvidha Portal. In case of underpayment of wages to the employee, there is a provision to file a claim application before the authority, by the employee himself, or any official of a registered trade union or any inspector or any person acting with the permission of the authority.

*****