opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 709 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-04
Subject: Routes under UDAN Scheme
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Bhumare Sandipanrao Asaram, Shri Gyaneshwar Patil, Shri Nilesh Dnyandev Lanke, Dr. Shivaji Bandappa Kalge, Shri Haribhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 709

(To be answered on the 4 th December 2025)

## ROUTES UNDER UDAN SCHEME

709.             SHRI BHUMARE SANDIPANRAO ASARAM SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE DR. SHIVAJI BANDAPPA KALGE SHRI HARIBHAI PATEL

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) the progress made so far under the UDAN scheme in the country, particularly with  regard  to  connecting  remote  and  regional  areas;  (b)  the  number  of  routes allocated along with the number of routes on which operations have commenced under the said scheme in the country, State-wise including Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh;
- (c) the various special measures taken by the Government to ensure uninterrupted flight operations on the said routes; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  introduce  more  routes  under  the  said scheme and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) & (b): Since the commencement of the Regional Connectivity Scheme Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN), a total of 923 valid RCS routes have been awarded, out  of  which  651  routes  have  been  operationalised,  connecting  93  unserved  and underserved  airports,  including  15  heliports  and  2  water  aerodromes  across  the nation. So far, over 1.57 crore domestic passengers have travelled on more than 3.27 lakh RCS flights.

(c) and (d): In order to ensure uninterrupted flight operations on these routes, the government provides viability gap funding (VGF) to airlines, supports the upgrading of regional airports, and encourages operational flexibility. Further, routes that were discontinued  in  the  past  rounds  are  also  rebid,  awarded  and  operationalised  in subsequent rounds. Further, steps such as increased adoption of technologies like Special Visual Flight Rules and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) standards at feasible airports for all-weather operations have also been taken.

To  further  enhance  regional  connectivity,  the  Government  has  announced  the modified  UDAN  Scheme  to  connect  120  new  destinations  across  the  country, catering to 4 crore passengers in the next 10 years.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 707 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-04
Subject: Ban on Food Products
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Dr. M K Vishnu Prasad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 707

ANSWERED ON 04 TH  DECEMBER 2025

## BAN ON FOOD PRODUCTS

## 707. DR. M K VISHNU PRASAD:

Will the Minister of Food Processing Industries be pleased to state:

- (a) the list of food products that are banned in other countries but imported, produced and sold in India
- (b) the  reason  for  banning  such food products;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to monitor and ban the sale of such food products;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  aware that  children  are  prone  to  buy  such  food  products affecting their growth and mental ability and if so, the details thereof and the measures taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (e) the details of highly harmful preservatives and artificial colouring agents that are banned in the country?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)

As per input received from FSSAI under Ministry of Health and family welfare;

- (a) to  (e) Imported  food  in  India  is  monitored  through  a  process  involving  document scrutiny, visual inspection, sampling and testing at Customs Points of Entry, to check whether the  products  meet  the  safety  and  quality  standards  under  Food  Safety  Acts,  Rules  and Regulations  to  ensure  availability  of  safe  and  wholesome  food  for  human  consumption including children. However, the list of food products that are banned in other countries are not available with FSSAI.

The additives permitted for use in various food products are prescribed in the Appendix A of Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011. Additives  are permitted for use on the basis of risk assessments carried out by the Scientific Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings and Processing Aids. No negative list of food additives (except flavouring agents) is available.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 703 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-04
Subject: Theft of Natural Gas from ONGC's Wells
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shri Tanuj Punia

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-703

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04 th  December, 2025

## THEFT OF NATURAL GAS FROM ONGC's WELLS

† 703. Shri Tanuj Punia:

## पेĚोͧलयम और Ĥाक ृ Ǔतक गैस मंğी

Will  the  Minister  of  PETROLEUM  AND  NATURAL  GAS  be  pleased  to  state: (a)  whether  a  case  of  theft  of  large  quantities  of  natural  gas  from  ONGC's  wells  has  been reported in the Krishna-Godavari delta region and if so, the details thereof; and (b) the details of action taken thereon so far in the matter?

## ANSWER पेĚोͧलयम और Ĥाक ृ Ǔतक गैस मंğालय मɅ राÏयमंğी ( Įी सुरेश गोपी )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI)

(a) & (b): Government had constituted a Committee under Justice (Retd.) A.P. Shah to look into the  issue  of  gas-migration  relating  to  ONGC's  KG-DWN-98/2  &  Godavari  PML  blocks  and Reliance Industries Limited (RIL)'s KG-DWN-98/3 block in the Krishna Godavari Basin. The Committee's Report concluded that RIL had produced migrated gas and hence unjustly enriched itself.  The  Government  accordingly  sought  restitution  and  recovery  of  the  proceeds  related  to produced and sold migrated gas.

RIL  invoked  arbitration  against  this  demand,  and  the  Arbitral  Tribunal  decided  against  the Government. The Government's challenge against the said award before a Single Judge of the Delhi  High  Court  was  dismissed.  However,  the  Government's  appeal  was  allowed  by  the Division  Bench  setting  aside  both  the  Single  Judge's  order  and  the  Arbitral  Award.  The Contractors have since filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court, which is pending.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 697 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-04
Subject: Under-utilisation of Funds
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Raja Ram Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 697

## ANSWERED ON 04.12.2025

## UNDER-UTILISATION OF FUNDS

## 697.     SHRI RAJA RAM SINGH:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has noted that the Department of Water Resources utilised only fifty eight per cent of its revised allocation of Rupees 21,640.88 crore for 2024-25 by the end of December 2024, leaving nearly forty per cent unspent and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the reasons for persistent delays in fund disbursal and project execution, especially when funds are approved early in the financial year;

(c)  the  reasons  for  Government's  continuously  justifying  low  utilisation  by  citing  post-monsoon acceleration rather than instituting robust annual monitoring mechanisms;

(d) the status of pending proposals worth Rupees 3,000 crore along with the time by which these are likely to be sanctioned and released; and

(e)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  strengthen  implementation  oversight,  fill  vacant  technical positions and prevent critical water projects from being delayed due to administrative shortcomings and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a)  to  (d) Budget  estimate  for  Department  of  Water  Resources,  River  Development  and  Ganga Rejuvenation for Financial Year 2024-25 was Rs. 21,323.10 crore, which was revised to Rs. 21,640.88 crore  at  Revised  Estimate  stage.  Expenditure  of  the  Department  against  budget  provisions  till December'2024  was  Rs.  12,655.52  crore,  which  is  59.35%  of  Budget  Estimate  and  58.48%  of  the Revised Estimate of the Department. However, expenditure during the full financial year 2024-25 has been Rs. 20,054.97 crore, which is 92.6% of the allocation to the Department at Revised Estimate stage. There have been no delays in fund disbursal nor has the utilisation been low.

(e) To  further  promote  financial  discipline,  Department  of  Expenditure  has  recently  implemented revised procedure and just in time flow of funds under central sector and centrally sponsored schemes through  SNA-SPARSH,  CNA  and  TSA  modules.  Further,  introduction  of  Project  Monitoring  Group portal  has  strengthened  implementation  oversight  by  facilitating  monitoring  and  resolution  of  issues under  the  projects.  In  addition,  Department  has  taken  necessary  action  for  filling  up  of  vacant  posts, including vacant technical posts.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 696 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-04
Subject: FPO Empowerment Scheme
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Shri Manish Jaiswal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 696

ANSWERED ON 04 TH  DECEMBER, 2025

## FPO EMPOWERMENT SCHEME

## †696. SHRI MANISH JAISWAL:

Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:

- (a) the  steps  taken  across  the  country  for  the  Farmer  Producer  Organization  (FPO) Empowerment Scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY);
- (b) whether any provisions have been made by the Government to provide special grants for  processing,  packaging,  cold  storage  and  marketing  to  Farmer  Producer  Organizations (FPOs) operating in Jharkhand particularly in Hazaribagh and Koderma districts;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to develop these FPOs as the Mini Agro Hubs under the said Yojana; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)

(a) to (c) Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) is a central sector demand driven  scheme  and  applications  are  invited  from  all  eligible  applicants  including  Farmers Producing  Organisation  (FPOs)  through  Expression  of  Interest  (EoI)  from  all  over  India including Hazaribagh and Koderma districts in Jharkhand. The funds are not allocated/sanctioned/released state-wise under any of the component schemes of PMKSY. Special benefits in financial assistance provided to FPO category applicants are as under:

- i. Grants-in-aid in form of subsidy @ 50% of eligible project cost as compared to 35% in  general  areas/  categories  and  in  case  of  Food  Safety  and  Quality Assurance Infrastructure  scheme the subsidy/grant-in-aid is @70% as compared to  50% in General areas/ categories;
- ii. Lower Equity Contribution - 10% required as against 20% for others;
- iii. Lower minimum credit/loan requirement - 10% required as against 20% for others;
- iv. Lower Net-worth requirement i.e. equal to grant-in-aid sought, in comparison to 1.5 times for General Category applicant.
5. (d) and (e) No such proposal is under consideration as on date.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 692 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-04
Subject: Eklavya Model Residential Schools in Bihar
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Ajay Kumar Mandal, Shri Rajesh Ranjan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †692

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2025

## EKLAVYA MODEL RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS IN BIHAR

## † 692. SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL: SHRI RAJESH RANJAN :

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  establish  an  Eklavya  Model  Residential  School  in  Bhagalpur district of Bihar under its scheme, if so, the details of its location and current status thereof;
- (b) if not, the details of alternative schemes to provide high-quality residential education to students from ST dominated areas of the district;
- (c) whether Eklavya Model Residential Schools have not been established despite having a large Scheduled Tribe population in many districts of the State of Bihar like Purnia, Banka, Jamui, Munger, Kaimur, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to establish school in Bihar by amending the terms and conditions of Eklavya Model Residential Schools for the State of Bihar and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)

- (a)  and (b) In Union Budget of 2018-19, Government of India announced that to provide quality education to the tribal children in their own environment, EMRSs will be established in every block having more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (as per census 2011). None of the blocks of Bhagalpur district of Bihar meet this twin criteria.
- (c) The details of EMRSs sanctioned in Bihar are as under:
1.       Jhajha, Jamui district
2.       Ramnagar, West Champaran district
3.       Adhaura, Kaimur district

None  of  the  blocks  in  the  districts  of  Purnia,  Banka,  and  Munger  fulfil  the  twin  criteria  required  for sanctioning an EMRS.

- (d) The requirement of EMRSs is reviewed from time to time.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 52 (STARRED), answered on 2025-12-03
Subject: Amendments to the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 and the Atomic Energy Act, 1962
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Dr. Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO -

## 52 ANSWERED ON 03/12/2025

## AMENDMENTS TO THE CIVIL LIABILITY FOR NUCLEAR DAMAGE ACT, 2010 AND THE ATOMIC ENERGY ACT, 1962

## *52.     DR. SHASHI THAROOR

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has proposed amendments to the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 and the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 to limit supplier liability including defining a cap on equipment suppliers' liability ahead of advancing nuclear cooperation with foreign entities such as in agreements with the United States and France and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the timeline by which these amendments are likely to be placed before Parliament and implemented;
- (c) whether any assessment has been made of the manner in which such amendments would affect the accountability for nuclear safety and the rights of victims in case of a nuclear incident and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the measures being considered to ensure that safety norms and regulatory oversight are strengthened even as liability provisions are relaxed; and
- (e) whether any compensation framework or insurance pool is being proposed or expanded to address potential damages under the revised liability structure and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e)  A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

## Government of India Department of Atomic Energy

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (E) IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.52  FOR  REPLY  ON  03.12.2025  REGARDING AMENDMENTS TO THE CIVIL LIABILITY FOR NUCLEAR DAMAGE ACT 2010 AND THE ATOMIC ENERGY ACT, 1962 ASKED  BY DR. SHASHI THAROOR.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(a)to(e)  During Budget 2025 announcement, the Government has announced that active private sector participation will be facilitated by undertaking amendments to Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act 2010 and the Atomic Energy Act 1962.

The draft Atomic Energy Bill 2025 is currently in advanced stage of processing and preparation  with  final  comments  and  suggestions  from  various  Ministries  being progressively incorporated along with concomitant vetting by Ministry of Law and Justice  for  legal  compliances.  Policy  directives  of  the  Government  with  regard  to specific  aspects  of  the  Bill  are  being  suitably  incorporated  before  being  put  up  for approvals.

The exact modalities of the various aspects / concerns raised by The Hon'ble Member are being addressed in the amendments proposed and the position on these will be made clear once the draft gets vetted by the concerned ministries and is approved by the Government.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 690 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-03
Subject: Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS)
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Shri Yaduveer Wadiyar, Shri Bibhu Prasad Tarai, Shri Praveen Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 690 ANSWERED ON 3 RD  DECEMBER, 2025

## GLOBAL MOBILE PERSONAL COMMUNICATION BY SATELLITE (GMPCS)

## 690. SHRI BIBHU PRASAD TARAI: SHRI PRAVEEN PATEL: SHRI YADUVEER WADIYAR:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Company  Starlink  has  filed  an  application  for  a  GMPCS  (Global  Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite) license to operate in India and  if so, the status thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has granted Starlink a license to provide satellite-based internet services in the country to enhance rural connectivity and  if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether such public-private satellite partnerships proposed to  be scaled to promote equitable access to digital services and bridge the digital divide and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) Department  of  Telecommunications  (DoT)  granted  Unified  License  (UL)  with authorizations for Global Mobile  Personal Communication  by  Satellite  (GMPCS)  service, Commercial VSAT CUG service, and Internet Service Provider (ISP) 'A' service to M/s Starlink Satellite  Communications  Private  Limited  on  06.06.2025,  after  it  agreed  to  comply  with  the stipulated terms and conditions of the UL, including security conditions.

Satellite-based communication services can provide connectivity in rural, underserved and unserved  areas  including  remote  and  mountainous  regions,  which  are  otherwise  difficult  to  be covered through terrestrial media such as optical fiber, microwave, etc. Further, as per the License conditions, the licensee will provide satellite-based communication services without any discrimination from any applicant at any place in the service area for the service(s) authorized. This will support in bridging the digital divide, addressing the last mile connectivity issues and promoting equitable access to digital services.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 688 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-03
Subject: Special Trains to Facilitate Voters
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Anand Bhadauria

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 688

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2025

## SPECIAL TRAINS TO FACILITATE VOTERS

688. SHRI ANAND BHADAURIA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the number of special trains run to Bihar from various parts of the country during the month of November, 2025, zone-wise; and
- (b) whether Government is aware that some special trains were run to facilitate voters to reach Bihar from Karnal district of Haryana and if so, the details and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) and (b)  As the railway network straddles across State boundaries, train services including special trains are introduced, as per network requirement, across such boundaries.

Indian Railways(IR) operates Special train services to supplement the accommodation available by regular trains and to facilitate travel  of passengers  during  festivals,  holidays,  religious  congregations  etc. Accordingly, to facilitate the travelling passengers during the festivals like  Durga  Puja,  Dipawali,  Chhath  etc,  IR,  have  operated  more  than 12,300  Special  trains  during  the  period  of  1st  October,  2025  to  30th November, 2025 from different parts of the country including stations located in the State of Haryana.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 687 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-03
Subject: Unfilled Posts Reserved for SC/ST/OBC
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: Shri Raja Ram Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 687

## (ANSWERED ON 03.12.2025)

## UNFILLED POSTS RESERVED FOR SC/ST/OBC

## 687. SHRI RAJA RAM SINGH:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of total number of unfilled posts reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled
- Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) across all Central Government Ministries and Departments, as on date group-wise (A, B, C, and D) and Ministry/Department-wise; (b) the reasons for continued backlog in filling up these posts despite constitutional provisions
- and repeated directions for time-bound recruitment;
- (c) whether the Government has issued any directives or sought accountability from defaulting Departments and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government intends to launch a targeted recruitment drive to clear the backlog and ensure due representation of SC/ST/OBC candidates in public services, 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) to (d): Occurrence and filling up of vacancies is a continuous process. Instructions have been issued  to  all  Ministries/Departments  of  the  Central  Government  to  constitute  an  In-House Committee  for  identification  of  backlog  reserved  vacancies,  to  study  the  root  cause  of  such vacancies,  to  initiate  measures  to  remove  the  factors  causing  such  vacancies  and  fill  them  up through Special Recruitment Drives.

Instructions have also been issued to the Ministries/Departments of the Central Government to designate an officer of the rank of Deputy Secretary and above, as Liaison Officer, to ensure due compliance  of  the  orders  and  instructions  pertaining  to  reservation  and  to  set  up  a  Special Reservation  Cell  under  the  direct  control  of  Liaison  Officer  to  assist  her/him  in  discharge  of his/her duties.

With  a view  to ensure effective implementation of instruction in all the  concerned Ministries/Departments,  the  aforesaid  instructions  have  been  reiterated  from  time  to  time  and capacity building programmes have been organized. As a result, over 4.80 lakh backlog vacancies have been filled up since 2016.

*****