opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1660 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: Deep Ocean Mission
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Shri Krishna Prasad Tenneti, Shri Mukeshkumar Chandrakaant Dalal, Shri Bibhu Prasad Tarai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1660 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 10 TH  DECEMBER, 2025

## DEEP OCEAN MISSION

## 1660.  SHRI MUKESHKUMAR CHANDRAKAANT DALAL: SHRI KRISHNA PRASAD TENNETI: SHRI BIBHU PRASAD TARAI:

## Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether India has undertaken exploration activities in the 75,000 sq. km area allotted by the International Seabed Authority in the Central Indian Ocean Basin for polymetallic nodule mining and if so, the details thereof and the progress achieved so far;
- (b) the  details  of  minerals  identified  in  the  said  area,  such  as  cobalt,  nickel,  copper  and manganese along with the estimated resource potential thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government proposes to develop indigenous deep-sea mining technology under the Deep Ocean Mission and if so, the details thereof along with the stage of development of the deep-sea mining system and underwater vehicles?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Yes  Sir.  India  has  taken  exploration  activities  in  the  75000  sq.  km  area  allocated  by International Seabed Authority in the Central Indian Ocean Basin. The area has been uniformly sampled for nodules at an interval of 12.5 km to estimate the abundance and grade of nodules. Besides, baseline data generation for marine environmental characteristics, development of mining technology and development of metallurgical process are also undertaken.
- (b) The total nodules present in the allotted area of 75,000 sq.km have been estimated to be 366 million metric tons (MMT) on dry weight basis, which on average contains 0.14% Cobalt, 1.14% Nickel, 1.09% Copper, and 25.2% Manganese.
- (c) Yes Sir . Under Deep Ocean Mission, the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has designed a deep-sea mining system aiming at sustainable harvesting polymetallic nodules from depths of up to 5500 m. The mobility and system-powering trials of NIOT's deep-sea mining machine were conducted at 5270 m depth in 2021 at the Central Indian Ocean. NIOT has also designed  the  underwater  vehicles,  namely,  MATSYA  6000,  which  is  a  Deep-Sea  Human Submersible. First  demonstration  of  the  integrated  system  functionality  of  MATSYA  with three human beings was successfully demonstrated, in the calm waters during February 2025.

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Lok Sabha Question No. 1657 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: Train from Ayodhya Dham to Delhi
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Ashok Kumar Rawat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1657

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025

## TRAIN FROM AYODHYA DHAM TO DELHI

†1657. SHRI ASHOK KUMAR RAWAT:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Union Government has conducted any survey regarding the  operation  of  an  air-conditioned  express  train  from  Ayodhya  Dham Junction,  Uttar  Pradesh,  to  Delhi/New  Delhi  via  Lucknow  via  Balamau Junction to  the  ancient  pilgrimage  sites  of  Naimisharanya,  Misrikh  and Sitapur City Railway Station;
- (b) if so, the timeline by when the air-conditioned express train is likely to be operated from Ayodhya Dham Junction to Delhi/New Delhi connecting the said pilgrimage sites in public interest; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (c) To facilitate the passengers of Delhi-Lucknow-Ayodhya sector, 22425/22426  Ayodhya  Cantt.  -  Anand  Vihar  (T)  Vande  Bharat  Express (fully  AC  chair  car  coaches)  have  been  introduced  w.e.f  04.01.2024, which is in addition to 8 pairs of train services which are also having AC accommodation in their composition. Moreover,  15557/15558 DarbhangaAnand Vihar (T) Amrit Bharat Express also serves the said sector.

Balamau  and  Sitapur  are  presently  served  by  17  pairs  and  26  pairs  of train services respectively while  Naimisharanya is served by 02 pairs of train services, connecting it to Sitapur/Balamau.

Besides,   introduction  of  new  trains  on  any  route/section  depends  on various factors which include:

- Capacity of that section
- Availability of path
- Availability of required rolling stock
- Availability of matching infrastructure for rolling stock
- Maintenance requirement of railway tracks and other assets.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1655 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: Solar Carports at Temples
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Kesineni Sivanath, Shri Daggumalla Prasada Rao, Shri Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1655

ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025

## SOLAR CARPORTS AT TEMPLES

1655. SHRI KESINENI SIVANATH SHRI DAGGUMALLA PRASADA RAO SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to replicate the successful solar carport model implemented at the Sun Temple in Modhera, Gujarat and at major temples such as Tirupati, Vijayawada, Annavaram, Ahobilam and Arasavalli in Andhra Pradesh and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any discussions or feasibility assessments have been initiated with the State Governments or temple trusts in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to extend financial or technical assistance under existing renewable energy schemes for such temple-based solar projects; and
- (d) if so, the estimated potential for reducing grid dependence and promoting clean energy adoption through such temple solar carports in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF  STATE  FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

(a) to (d) Presently the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is not implementing any specific scheme for setting-up of solar carports at temples. Also, there is no proposal to extend financial or technical assistance under existing renewable energy schemes for such temple-based solar projects.

However,  under  the  previous  implemented  Scheme  for  Solarisation  of  sun-temple  town  of Modhera, approved by MNRE in March 2020, a solar carport has been set-up at Modhera village.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1654 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: IBM Inspection in UP and Rajasthan
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri Hanuman Beniwal, Adv. Chandra Shekhar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1654

ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025

## IBM INSPECTION IN UP AND RAJASTHAN

1654. ADV. CHANDRA SHEKHAR: SHRI HANUMAN BENIWAL:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) has conducted inspections of mining leases in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Rajasthan during the last seven years;
- (b) if so, the number of mines inspected and the number of cases in which violations of approved mining plans including over-extraction or illegal mining, were detected during the said period, year-wise;
- (c) whether IBM has adequate technical and field staff to conduct timely inspections of all operational mines in UP and Rajasthan and if so, the details thereof and the staff shortages, if any;
- (d) whether any penal or corrective action has been taken by the Government against the violators found during these inspections; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof including the nature of penalties imposed and the number of leases suspended or cancelled during the last seven years?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) & (b) Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) conducts inspections of mines of major minerals for enforcement of the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2017 [MCDR, 2017], processing of Mining Plan/Review of Mining Plans, Final Mine Closure Plans and validation of Star Rating of Mines.

Details of number of mines inspected and the number of violations of approved mining plan are as follows:

| Sl.   | Year   | Rajasthan              | Rajasthan         | Uttar Pradesh          | Uttar Pradesh     |
|-------|--------|------------------------|-------------------|------------------------|-------------------|
| No.   |        | No. of Mines Inspected | No. of violations | No. of Mines inspected | No. of violations |

|   1. | 2018-19   |   83 |   71 |   0 |   0 |
|------|-----------|------|------|-----|-----|
|    2 | 2019-20   |  121 |   75 |   2 |   2 |
|    3 | 2020-21   |   68 |   61 |   1 |   0 |
|    4 | 2021-22   |   79 |   63 |   3 |   0 |
|    5 | 2022-23   |   95 |   60 |   2 |   0 |
|    6 | 2023-24   |  111 |   65 |   3 |   3 |
|    7 | 2024-25   |  150 |   79 |   3 |   0 |

- (c)  IBM  manages  to  conduct  timely  inspections  of  all  the  operational  mines  in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh with available technical and field staffs.

(d) & (e) IBM has issued violation letters in Uttar Pradesh during the aforesaid period to  the  lessees  for  taking  corrective  actions  whenever  violation  of  the  provisions  of MCDR, 2017 were observed. The lessees have taken the corrective action.

Further,  the  State  Government  of  Rajasthan  has  cancelled  44  mining  leases  for violations in the state during the period. Additionally, a total penalty of Rs. 72,61,000 has been imposed on various lease holders in the state during 2021-22 to 2024-25.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1651 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: Enforcement of Mining Plans
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri Varun Chaudhry

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1651

ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025

## ENFORCEMENT OF MINING PLANS

1651. SHRI VARUN CHAUDHRY:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of primary responsibility to enforce the mining plans; (b) whether any guidelines have been issued to various stakeholding departments to visit the mining sites regularly and to ensure enforcement of mining plans and if so, the details thereof; and (c)  whether  mining  sites  have  been  visited  in  the  State  of  Haryana  for  ensuring
- enforcement of Mining Plans during the last five years and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a): The Central Government has framed the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2017 (MCDR, 2017) which are administered by the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM). These Rules are applicable to all minerals except petroleum and natural gas, coal, lignite and sand for stowing and minor minerals. As per Rule 11(1) of the said Rules, lease holders are mandated to commence or carry out mining operations in any area strictly in accordance with the mining plan approved, modified or reviewed by the IBM.

As per Section 15 of the MMDR Act, the State Governments are empowered to make rules  for  regulating  the  grant  of  quarry  leases,  mining  leases  or  other  mineral concessions in respect of minor minerals and for purposes connected therewith.

(b): IBM has issued guidelines to the inspecting officers and competent authorities for specifying the process and timelines for examination and approval of the Mining Plan. Circulars have also been issued under MCDR, 2017 requiring inspecting officers of various stakeholder departments to regularly visit mining sites. These inspections are meant  to  ensure  strict  enforcement  of  approved  mining  plans,  compliance  with environmental safeguards, and adherence to scientific mining practices.

(c):  As  per  the  information  provided  by  IBM,  there  were  only  four  mines  of  major minerals in Haryana as on 01.01.2025, which were non-working and consequently no inspection was done in these mines.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1645 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: Third Party Apps
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Anup Sanjay Dhotre

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1645

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 10.12.2025

## THIRD PARTY APPS

## 1645.  SHRI ANUP SANJAY DHOTRE:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that certain third-party apps permitted by common apps take and use data provided by the users without direct consent;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (c) whether the Government is aware that e-commerce websites use certain undisclosed, unidentifiable 'cookies' that breach the data privacy of users and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a)  to  (c):  Digital  Personal  Data  Protection  Act,  2023  ('Act')  provides  for  the  processing  of  digital personal data by recognising both the rights of the individual to protect their personal data and the need to process such personal data for lawful purposes.

The Act mandates that personal data be processed by the Data Fiduciaries, including any third-party apps, with free, informed, specific and unambiguous consent. It must be preceded or accompanied with the notice of data collection, its intended purposes and defined storage period.

If  any  Data  Fiduciary,  including  third-party  apps,  process  personal  data  without  valid  consent  and legitimate purposes permitted under the Act, it amounts to a violation of the Act.

In such cases, on receiving the complaints, the Data Protection Board will conduct an inquiry and may impose monetary penalties as provided under the Act.

The Act, and Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 ('Rules') have been notified on 13 November, 2025. The Rules mandate an eighteen-month period to allow Data Fiduciaries to implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to achieve compliance with the provisions of the Act.

During this period, data protection continues to be governed by the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011 under the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act).

Data fiduciaries are required to follow the SPDI framework, including consent requirements, purpose limitation, security safeguards, and grievance redressal mechanisms.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1638 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: Electricity Generation Capacity through Nuclear Energy
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Dr. Prabha Mallikarjun

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1638 ANSWERED ON 10/12/2025

## ELECTRICITY GENERATION CAPACITY THROUGH NUCLEAR ENERGY

## 1638. DR. PRABHA MALLIKARJUN

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether it is a fact that despite decades of investment, nuclear energy contributes only 1.6% to Country's total electricity generation, which is far below its stated potential;
- (b) if so, the reasons for the slow expansion of nuclear capacity given that current capacity is only 7.5 GW and is expected to rise marginally to 8.18 GW by 2024 against the target of 22.48 GW by 2031-32; and
- (c) whether the Government proposes to amend the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 to permit greater private and foreign participation in reactor operations considering that 100% FDI is allowed only in nuclear equipment manufacturing and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Nuclear power generation in the country has kept pace with the overall generation of electricity in the country, and thus has consistently remained at about 3%. The nuclear share in total electricity generation in the country in 2024-25 was about 3.1%.
- (b) The main reason for slow expansion of nuclear power capacity in the early days was the technology development phase that had to be gone through in an international embargo and technology denial regime, coupled with limited availability of resources. Therefore, although India operates the sixth largest nuclear reactor fleet in the world, the present installed capacity of nuclear power is 8.78 GW (excluding RAPS-1, 100 MW). Now indigenous PHWR technology has matured for larger size reactor, i.e 700 MW. With the deployment of indigenous 700 MW reactors and 1000 MW reactors with  international  cooperation,  the  present  capacity  will  increase  to  22.38  GW (excluding RAPS-1, 100 MW) by 2031-32 on progressive completion of projects at various stages of implementation. Further, the Government has also announced the Nuclear Energy Mission of reaching 100 GW by 2047.
- (c) Yes. As per the current policy, foreign direct investment (FDI) in atomic energy is prohibited. Government is proposing to amend Atomic Energy Act, 1962 to allow private sector participation in atomic energy.

* * * * *
Lok Sabha Question No. 1636 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: Jobs to Local People in Mines
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Shri  Chhotelal

## 1636. † Shri Chhotelal:

- Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state: (a) whether the local people are not provided any employment despite the fact that a huge coal mine is located in Robertsganj Lok Sabha constituency of Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh where many large companies are engaged in mining work; (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  number  of  local  people  and  outsiders  provided
- employment so far; and
- (c)  the  reasons  for  not  providing  employment  to  the  local  people  of  the  said  Lok  Sabha Constituency?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) & (b): In Sonbhadra district of Robertsganj Lok Sabha Constituency in Uttar Pradesh, Coal India  Limited  operates  through  Northern  Coalfields  Limited  (NCL).   Northern  Coalfields Limited in  its  various  contracts  ensures  that  local  people  are  adequately  accommodated  in various works being carried out through the contract system. The numbers of employment given to Project Affected Family (PAP's)/Locals by major contractors agencies of NCL as on 01.11.2025 in Sonbhadra district under Robertsganj Lok Sabaha Constituency of Uttar Pradesh is 3628 out of the total 6154 contract workers i.e. 58.95%.

(c): There  is  no  lack  of  employment  particularly  for  the  local  people  of  the  above  said parliamentary constituency as is evident from the above that about 59% of the locals and PAPs have been engaged for employment by the major contract agencies functioning in NCL.

*****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1636 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025

## Jobs to Local People in Mines
Lok Sabha Question No. 1635 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: TRP Guidelines
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Dr. Kirsan Namdeo, Shri Charanjit Singh Channi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1635

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025)

## TRP GUIDELINES.

1635. DR. KIRSAN NAMDEO:

## SHRI CHARANJIT SINGH CHANNI:

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

- (a) The current status of the draft "Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India" (TRP Guidelines) issued by the Government in July 2025;
- (b) the details of stakeholders, experts or organizations consulted  and key recommendations submitted in the first round of consultation;
- (c) whether the Government has fixed a date by which the new framework likely to be operational across all platforms and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the manner in which the Government is likely to ensure transparency and prevent biased or conflicted measurement of television ratings?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## (DR. L. MURUGAN)

- (a) to (d): Television  ratings  in  India  are  governed  by  the  Policy  Guidelines  for Television Rating Agencies in India, 2014.

On 02.07.2025, the Government published a draft amendment to these guidelines for public consultations. Proposed amendments aim to enable fair competition, generate more accurate and representative data, and ensure that the TRP system reflects the diverse and evolving media consumption habits of viewers from across the country.

After examining the inputs, a revised draft amendment has been further published on 06.11.2025 for public consultation.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1631 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: Network Infrastructure and Digital Literacy in Moradabad, UP
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Mrs Ruchi Vira

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1631 ANSWERED ON 10 TH  DECEMBER, 2025

## NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE AND DIGITAL LITERACY IN MORADABAD, UP

## †1631.  MRS RUCHI VIRA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the problems being faced in rural and urban areas of Moradabad district, Uttar Pradesh, related to telecommunication and digital connectivity including limited broadband access, frequent network outages and poor internet speed, which affect education and commercial activities;

(b) if so, the details of the measures taken to improve network infrastructure, enhance digital literacy, and increase internet access in underserved areas of the district; and

(c) if not, the reasons for the ongoing digital divide affecting the socio-economic development of Bharatpur?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (c) As per Performance Monitoring Report published by Telecom Regulatory Authority of  India  (TRAI)  for  Oct-25,  service  providers  are  meeting  all  prescribed  quality  of  service benchmarks in Uttar Pradesh (West) License Service Area which includes Moradabad District and Bharatpur.  Further,  Moradabad  district  of  Uttar  Pradesh  is  served  with  6,741  mobile  Base Transceiver  Stations  (BTS)  covering  all  1,164  villages  with  mobile  services  and  all  589  Gram Panchayats of district are connected through BharatNet Scheme of Digital Bharat Nidhi.

(b) Government has taken following steps to improve network infrastructure, enhance digital literacy and expand internet access across the country, including underserved areas in Moradabad District of Uttar Pradesh:

- i. Quality of Service benchmarks have been revised on 02.08.2024 by TRAI w.e.f. 01.10.2024 for various parameters to ensure better quality of telecom services.
- ii. Assignment of sufficient spectrum for mobile services through auction.
- iii. Spectrum sharing, trading and surrender has been permitted for efficient use of spectrum.
- iv. Simplification of Procedure for SACFA (Standing Advisory Committee on Radio Frequency Allocations) clearance.
- v. Notification  of  Telecommunications  Right  of  Way  (RoW)  Rules  and  launch  of  PM GatiShakti Sanchar portal has resulted in streamlining of RoW permissions and expeditious clearance for installation of telecom infrastructure.
- vi. TSPs deploy new sites  and  upgrade  their  existing  infrastructure  to  address  any  issues  in internet speed and network congestion.

The above steps facilitated TSPs to expand their network and enhance the quality of service.

*****