opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 5509 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Government Press Units in Lakshadweep
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Shri Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5509 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.03.2026)

## GOVERNMENT PRESS UNITS IN LAKSHADWEEP

## 5509.  SHRI MUHAMMED HAMDULLAH SAYEED:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- a. the number and location of Government Press units functioning in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep;
- b. the current operational status of these press units including whether they are functioning at full capacity;
- c. the reasons for any delays, non-functioning or underutilization of Government Press units, if applicable;
- d. the total staff employed and the annual workload handled by these units; and
- e. the steps being taken by the Government to modernize, strengthen and ensure optimal utilization  of  Government  Press  units  in  Lakshadweep  for  timely  production  of Government publications and materials?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (DR. L. MURUGAN)

## (a) to (e)

At present, there is one Government Press unit in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, located in Kavaratti. This press unit is under the control of the Department of Printing & Stationery, UT Administration of Lakshadweep.

The unit is functional, but not operating at full capacity, as a significant portion of official communication  and  publication  work  has  transitioned  to  digital  platforms  and  online dissemination systems.

The relatively lower utilization of the Press is attributable to following reasons:

- Increased adoption of digital governance and paperless systems
- Reduced demand for bulk physical printing
- The presence of legacy machinery requiring periodic maintenance
- Logistical constraints associated with island conditions, including procurement of spare parts and technical support,
- The availability of alternative printing arrangements for specialized or time-sensitive requirements.

The Government Press has a sanctioned strength of 49 technical staff. Its current workload primarily includes printing of essential government documents, forms, examination materials, and  IEC/publicity  materials,  which  has  seen  a  decline  over  time  in  line  with  increasing digitization.

The Lakshadweep Administration has been taking measures from time to time to align the functioning of the Press with evolving requirements. These include:

- Promoting digital dissemination to reduce reliance on physical printing
- Rationalizing in-house printing based on demand
- Phased replacement and selective use of machinery depending on operational needs
- Optimal utilization of facilities for essential and urgent printing work
- Re-alignment of manpower including redeployment where necessary
- Availing external printing services, as required, for bulk or specialized jobs.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5499 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Earthquake Vulnerability and Steps taken to Mitigate the Risk
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Dr. Indra Hang Subba

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5499 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 25 TH  MARCH, 2026

## EARTHQUAKE VULNERABILITY AND STEPS TAKEN TO MITIGATE THE RISK

## 5499. DR. INDRA HANG SUBBA:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  study  to  understand  the  frequent earthquakes affecting the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  allocated  any  budgetary  provisions  exclusively  for such studies;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the details of measures taken by the Government in order to reduce the vulnerability and risk involved in this respect?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) and (b) Yes. The  Government  has  undertaken  several  scientific  studies  to  understand earthquakes occurring in the country. These studies are primarily carried out by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) through its attached office, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), along with other scientific institutions and academic organizations.

The details of such studies include continuous monitoring of seismic activity through a National Seismological Network (NSN) comprising 169 seismological observatories at present, analysis of earthquake source parameters, seismic hazard assessment, and microzonation studies in major cities. The Government has also supported research projects  in  crustal  deformation,  fault  mapping,  paleoseismology,  and  earthquake precursor studies.

- (c) and (d) Yes. The Government has made budgetary provisions for earthquake-related studies. These studies are supported under various central sector schemes of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, including the umbrella schemes such as Seismology and Geosciences component, under PRITHVI scheme of MoES. Funds are allocated for strengthening seismic networks, research projects, microzonation studies, and capacity building.
- (e) As  part  of  the  Government  initiatives  regarding  reduction  of  earthquake  risk  and vulnerability;  NCS  has  taken-up  measures  to  strengthen  the  NSN through  its expansion  and  modernization  for  disseminating  the  earthquake  information  to  the stakeholders and the Public which improves the response to earthquake disaster and hazard assessment.  Also, NCS has taken-up seismic hazard microzonation of targeted cities  lying  in  high  seismic  zones  for  earthquake  risk  assessment  and  mitigation planning.  Capacity building, public awareness  programmes,  and  training  initiatives are  carried  out  by  National  Disaster  Management  Authority  (NDMA),  National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) and State Governments.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5496 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Infrastructure and Development Support for Minority-Concentrated Districts
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Smt. Pratima Mondal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 5496

ANSWERED ON- 25/03/2026

## INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT FOR MINORITYCONCENTRATED DISTRICTS

5496.  SMT. PRATIMA MONDAL:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a) the manner in which the Government ensures that minority-concentrated districts receive proportional infrastructure and development support; and

(b) the outcomes achieved through schemes aimed at minority entrepreneurship particularly among women and youth?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) The Government ensures that minority-concentrated areas receive adequate infrastructure  and  development  support  primarily  through  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Jan  Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs. The scheme focuses on the creation of community infrastructure in identified Minority Concentration Areas  across  the  country.  Its  priority  sectors  include  health,  education,  skill development,  women-centric  projects,  drinking  water  supply,  sanitation,  sports,  renewable energy, tourism, and other community infrastructure.

PMJVK operates as a demand-driven scheme, wherein project proposals are formulated and submitted by the respective State Governments and Union Territory Administrations based on local needs and gaps. These proposals are appraised and approved by the Government of India,  ensuring that infrastructure development is aligned with the specific requirements of minority-concentrated districts and that resources are directed accordingly.

- (b) The  Ministry  also  implements  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Virasat  Ka  Samvardhan  (PM VIKAS) Scheme, a Central Sector Scheme aimed at the socio-economic empowerment of the six notified minority communities. The scheme integrates five erstwhile skilling initiatives and focuses  on  skill  development,  entrepreneurship  promotion,  leadership  training  for  minority women, and educational support for school dropouts.

Under the  Women Leadership and Entrepreneurship  component  of  the PM  VIKAS Scheme, a target has been set to train 3,380 candidates. So far, training has been completed for 90  candidates  under  this  component.  The  scheme  is  designed  to  enhance  employability, promote self-employment, and strengthen entrepreneurial capacities among minority women and youth, thereby contributing to their economic empowerment.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5492 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Biofortified Foodgrains through PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Harish Chandra Meena

## MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5492 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25Tll MARCH, 2026

## BIOFORTIFIED FOODGRAINS THROUGH PDS

## t5492. SHRI HARISH CHANDRA MEENA:

Will  the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND  PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to  state:

- (a): whether Government is taking steps to encourage distribution ofbiofortified foodgrains through the Public Distribution  System (PDS) to address the shortage of mrcronutrlents;
- (b): if  so, the details ofbiofortified crop varieties  being purchased and distributed  by  the Government under food schemes at present; and
- (c): whether there is any plan to comprehensively cover such nutrient-rich staples in districts with high malnutrition  rate like Tonk-Sawai Madhopur and if so, the details thereon

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

- (a) to (c):  No. At  present,  no such proposal is under consideration.

Government of India is emphasizing on enhancing  the food basket by providing  options such as Shree Anna or Millets  through PDS, as millets are known to have very high nutrient contents.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5480 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: 4G Saturation Project
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Dr. Shivaji Bandappa Kalge, Shri Nilesh Dnyandev Lanke

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5480 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 TH  MARCH, 2026

## 4G SATURATION PROJECT

## †5480. DR. SHIVAJI BANDAPPA KALGE: SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the  total number of mobile towers installed till date under the 4G saturation project in the current financial year 2026 in the country especially in Maharashtra;
- (b) the details of districts of Maharashtra where rural and remote villages have been recently connected through the said towers, district-wise;
- (c) the details of progress made in expanding telecom services in aspirational districts under the Digital India initiative; and
- (d) the details of various States including Maharashtra in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

(a) & (b) As on 28.02.2026, 14,301 mobile towers have been installed under 4G Saturation project in the country including 2,297 towers in the State of Maharashtra. In the current financial year 2025-26, 3,623 towers have been installed under 4G Saturation project in the country including 533 towers in the State of Maharashtra. District-wise number of towers on-air and villages covered through these towers is available on Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) website (https://usof.gov.in/en/home) as Annexure-I.

(c) & (d) BharatNet program is mandated to provide broadband connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats  (GPs)  in  the  country  including  the  aspirational  districts  in  a  phased  manner.  The infrastructure created under the project is a national asset, accessible on a non-discriminatory basis to the service providers, and the same can be utilized to provide broadband services, such as fiber to the home connections, leased lines, dark fiber, backhaul to mobile towers, etc. in the rural areas. A total of 2,17,805 GPs have been made service ready under the BharatNet program across the country till 28.02.2026, including 24,575 GPs in the State of Maharashtra. State-wise number of GPs made service  ready  as  on  28.02.2026  is  available  on  DBN  website  (https://usof.gov.in/en/home)  as Annexure-II.

Further, as on 28.02.2026, 6,32,392 of the 6,44,131 villages in the country (as per data of Registrar General of India of November 2019) are covered by 4G mobile services. State-wise number of 4G covered villages as on 28.02.2026 is available on DBN website (https://usof.gov.in/en/home) as Annexure-III.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5479 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Mobile towers in Chandauli
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Shri  Chhotelal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5479 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 TH  MARCH, 2026

## MOBILE TOWERS IN CHANDAULI

## †5479. SHRI  CHHOTELAL:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) whether  there  is  a  lack  of  mobile  towers  in  several  villages  of  Chandauli  Lok  Sabha Constituency  like  Musakhand,  Bhishampur,  Chakia,  Naugarh,  Horila,  Chikni,  Avkha  and  Seyar Pathrauli; and

(b) the time by which mobile towers are likely to be installed in all the said places?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

(a) & (b) All  1,601  villages in Chandauli  Lok  Sabha  Constituency  are  covered  with  mobile connectivity and 1,600 villages are covered with 4G mobile connectivity.

Mobile coverage for inhabited uncovered villages is provided by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) based on their techno-commercial viability. Government, with funding from Digital Bharat Nidhi  (DBN),  has  approved  various  schemes  for  expansion  of  telecom  connectivity  through installation  of  mobile  towers  in  the  uncovered  rural  and  remote  areas  of  the  country.  As  on 28.02.2026, 4G mobile services have been provided at 23 villages, in Chandauli district of Uttar Pradesh under various DBN funded schemes.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5477 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Vacancies in Union Government Ministries/Departments
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: Shri Kalipada Saren Kherwal, Shri Rao Rajendra Singh

## MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5477

(ANSWERED ON 25.03.2026)

## VACANCIES IN UNION GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES/DEPARTMENTS

## 5477.SHRI KALIPADA SAREN KHERWAL: SHRI RAO RAJENDRA SINGH:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has conducted any preliminary study regarding estimated positions sanctioned, in position and vacancies across all Union Government Ministries and Departments and if so, the details thereof, department-wise;
- (b) the details of the total number of vacancies for over two years, three years and five years and the current year, category-wise and year-wise;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  established  any  committee  with  regard  to  assess  vacancies across  all  Union  Government  administered  agencies  and  departments  and  if  so,  the  details thereof and if not, reason therefor; and
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  fill  such  vacancies  and  if  so,  the  details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) and (b): Information on sanctioned posts, persons-in-position and vacancies etc. in various Ministries  /  Departments  of  the  Union  Government  is  available  in  Annual  Reports  of  Pay Research  Unit,  Department  of  Expenditure,  which  are  publicly  accessible  at  the  URL: https://doe.gov.in/annual-report-pay-and-allowances.

Maintenance of detailed information regarding vacancies is the responsibility of the respective Cadre Controlling Authorities / Ministries / Departments.

(c) and (d): The occurrence and filling-up of vacant posts in various Ministries/ Departments is  a  continuous  process.  Instructions  have  been  issued,  from  time  to  time,  to  Ministries  / Departments for filling-up of vacant posts in a time-bound manner.

Vacancies in the Union Government have been filled-up in mission-mode and several lakh  appointment  letters  have  been  distributed  to  recommended  /  selected  candidates  in National Rozgar Mela events being held since October 2022.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5475 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Mapping of Renewable Energy Potential
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Dr. C N Manjunath

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5475

ANSWERED ON 25.03.2026

## MAPPING OF RENEWABLE ENERGY POTENTIAL

## 5475. DR. C N MANJUNATH

Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has undertaken or supported any initiative to assess and map the renewable energy potential on Government and public land parcels situated along expressways and National Highway corridors and if so, the details thereof;

(b)  whether  any  coordination  mechanism  is  in  place  with  the  Ministry  of  Road  Transport  and Highways (MoRTH) or the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for joint utilisation of available Right of Way (RoW) or adjacent land for installation of solar, wind or hybrid renewable energy systems and if so, the details thereof; and

(c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  formulate  a  national  framework  or  policy  guidelines  for integrating renewable energy infrastructure into future highway development projects and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER

## (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

(a) to (c)  A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) on 10th November, 2025  to  take  up  the  development  of  renewable  energy  projects  on  National  Highways  and Expressways.

As per the information received from Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), in first phase, the development of solar power project on the Delhi Portion of Delhi Dehradun Highway (709B) is under consideration. For the project, coordination with local DISCOM i.e. BSES Yamuna Power Limited and SECI is being done to execute the project.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5474 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Atomic Power Plant in Anakapalli District of Andhra Pradesh
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Dr. C M Ramesh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-5474

ANSWERED ON  25/03/2026

## ATOMIC POWER PLANT IN ANAKAPALLI DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH

## 5474.   DR. C M RAMESH

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether it is true that the Government has proposed to acquire 2000 acres of land in Anakapalii district of Andhra Pradesh for setting up of 2800 MW of atomic power plant under NTPC;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the details and the status of implementation of earlier proposed atomic plants in Andhra Pradesh?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a)&(b) NTPC group (excluding THDCIL and NEEPCO), like in other states is in discussion with Government of Andhra Pradesh for potential sites for nuclear power plant.
- (c) In the state of Andhra Pradesh, the Government had accorded 'in principle' approval of the  site  at  Kovvada  in  Srikakulam  district  for  setting  up  6  units  of  1208  MW  in cooperation  with  the  USA.  Land  measuring  2079.66  acres  has  been  acquired  (title transferred  to  NPCIL).  Land  for  Resettlement  &  Rehabilitation  (R&R)  colony  for Project Affected Persons (PAP) has been acquired and its construction activities have been  initiated.  Geotechnical  investigations  and  other  pre-project  activities  are  in progress at the site. In parallel, discussions are in progress at multiple levels with US technology partners to resolve issues and arrive at a viable project proposal.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 5473 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Caregiving activities regardless of Gender
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: Shri Sachithanantham R

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5473

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.03.2026

## CAREGIVING ACTIVITIES REGARDLESS OF GENDER

## 5473.    SHRI SACHITHANANTHAM R.:

Will the Minister of STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government stands by the claim made in the Press Information  Bureau  press  release  dated  25  February  2025  that there is 'greater acknowledgement of caregiving activities regardless  of  gender  in Indian  families'  and  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (b) whether  the  Government  justifies  the  manner  in  which  the participation of only 21 percent of men, averaging just about 16 minutes per day across all men can be interpreted as evidence of gender-neutral caregiving while the Time Use Survey (TUS) 2024 itself  shows  that  79  percent  of  men  do  not  engage  in  unpaid caregiving work at all and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)  OF  THE  MINISTRY  OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME  IMPLEMENTATION; MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE [RAO INDERJIT SINGH]

- (a) and (b):  The  report  of Time  Use  Survey  (TUS)  2024  conducted  by the Ministry  of  Statistics  and  Programme  Implementation  (MoSPI) during  the  period  January-December  2024 was  released  through  the Press Information Bureau Press Release dated 25 February 2025. The primary objective of the Survey is to measure the participation of men and women in paid and unpaid activities.

As per TUS 2024, 21.4% of men and 41% of women in the age group 15 -

59  years  participated  in  unpaid  caregiving  activities  for  household members while  16.2%  of  men  and  32.8%  of  women  in  the  same  age group participated in unpaid caregiving activities for household members as per TUS 2019. Further, as per TUS 2024, the average time spent on unpaid caregiving activities for household members is about 74 minutes per day for men and 140 minutes per day for women while the average time spent on unpaid caregiving activities for  household  members  is  about  73 minutes per day for men and 137 minutes per day for women as per TUS 2019.

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