कथन

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has undertaken any study/survey regarding the utilisation of UPI and other digital transaction methods for fee payments in schools across the country; (b) if so, the details of the total number of Government schools that accept UPI as a means to pay fees in the country, State/UT-wise and district-wise in Andhra Pradesh; (c) the total amount of fees and additional payments received by the Government schools via UPI in the country during the last five years, State/UT-wise and district-wise in Andhra Pradesh; (d) whether the Government has undertaken any training courses for school teachers and administration staff to properly utilise UPI and assist 01.12.2025 709 parents/school children regarding the same, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and (e) whether the Government has undertaken any promotional activities/campaign to boost the use of UPI in schools for fee payment, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY): (a) to (e): The Government of India is strongly supporting the use of digital modes of financial transactions including UPI in schools to enhance Ease of Living and Ease of Schooling. Education is a subject under the Concurrent List, and the implementation of fee collection systems, including the use of digital payment mechanisms in schools, falls under the jurisdiction of the respective State and UT Governments. While no national study/survey has yet been undertaken on the utilisation of UPI or other digital methods for fee payment in schools, the Ministry of Education, through its D.O. letter dated 10 October 2025, has advised all States/UTs to explore, support and implement digital systems for the collection of admission and examination fees in government, government-aided and private schools, wherever feasible. This advisory underscore the Government’s commitment to encouraging secure, transparent, and convenient digital payment mechanisms for parents and students. 01.12.2025 710 ECO-TOURISM AND WILDLIFE TOURISM IN MAHARASHTRA 133. SUSHRI PRANITI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE: Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has taken note of the growing potential of eco- tourism and wildlife tourism in Maharashtra’s protected forest areas; (b) if so, the details of ongoing or proposed eco-tourism projects supported by the Government in coordination with the State Forest Department; (c) whether the Government has issued any guidelines to ensure that tourism in these areas does not harm ecological balance and wildlife habitats; (d) if so, the details thereof; and (e) the details of the funds sanctioned and utilized for eco-tourism infrastructure in Maharashtra during the last five years, district-wise? THE MINISTER OF CULTURE; AND MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT): (a) to (e): Development and promotion of tourist destinations and products, including eco-tourism and wildlife tourism is undertaken by the respective State Government/Union Territory (UT) Administration. The Ministry of Tourism through its central sector schemes of ‘Swadesh Darshan, ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’ and ‘Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development ’extends financial assistance to the State Governments /UT 01.12.2025 711 Administrations for tourism infrastructure development in the country. The central financial assistance is being extended according to guidelines and based on proposals / detailed project reports received from the States and UT Governments. The details of projects sanctioned in the State of Maharashtra are given in the enclosed Statement. The Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Ministry has been revamped as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations following a tourist & destination centric approach. Environmental Sustainability is a key pillar in the National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism formulated by the Ministry and circulated to the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. In line with the strategy, Travel for LiFE programme was initiated to encourage tourists and tourism businesses to adopt sustainable tourism practices. STATEMENT The details of projects sanctioned in the State of Maharashtra: S. No. Name of Project Sanction Cost (₹ Crore) A Swadesh Darshan 1.0 i. Development of Sindhudurg Coastal Circuit - Sagareshwar, Tarkarli, Vijaydurg (Beach & Creek), Mitbhav (March 2016) 19.06 ii. Development of Waki- Adasa- Dhapewada- Paradsingha- Telankhandi- Girad (May 2018) 45.47 01.12.2025 712 Total Sanction Cost 64.53 B Swadesh Darshan 2.0 i. Shivsrushti Historical Theme Park- Phase 3, Pune (Sep 2025) 76.22 Total Sanction Cost 76.22 C Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) i. Development of Ahmednagar Fort (March 2025) 25.00 Total Sanction Cost 25.00 D PRASHAD i. Development of Trimbakeshwar, Nashik (Jan 2018, rev Feb 2025) 45.41 Total Sanction Cost 45.41 E Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) i. RAM-KAL PATH, Nashik (Nov 2024) 99.14 ii. Ex-INS Guldar Underwater Museum, Artificial Reef, and Submarine Tourism, Sindhudurg (Nov 2024) 46.91 Total Sanction Cost 146.05 CRITERIA FOR JOURNALS OF HIGHER EDUCATION 134. SHRI R. K. CHAUDHARY: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: 01.12.2025 713 (a) the eligibility criteria fixed for selecting the journals for the higher level education adopted by UGC; (b) whether there is any software to tackle with the Artificial Intelligence (AI), if so, the details thereof alongwith the criteria and selection procedure of such software by the UGC; (c) whether the Government has any plan to induce job oriented courses in the syllabus of the students of matriculation and senior secondary classes, if so, the details thereof; (d) the details of the Government plan for improving early childhood care and education (ECCE), especially for socio-economically disadvantaged children in the country; and (e) the details of the basis for launching double board exams policy in schools across the country? THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR): (a): The University Grants Commission (UGC) has developed suggestive parameters for choosing peer-reviewed journals by faculty members, students and the Higher Education Institutions. The same was notified on 16th July, 2025 and is available at https://www.ugc.gov.in/pdfnews/6124898_Public-Notice- CARE-Journals.pdf 01.12.2025 714 (b): The UGC has notified the UGC (Promotion of Academic Integrity and Prevention of Plagiarism in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2018, under which all HEIs are required to check theses and dissertations through plagiarism-detection software approved by the institution, the same is available at https://www.ugc.gov.in/pdfnews/7771545_academic-integrity-Regulation2018.pdf. Further, based on the recommendation of Sub-Committee, National Steering Committee (NSC) of e-ShodhSindhu, the Ministry of Education (MoE), Govt. of India, has initiated a programme "ShodhShuddhi" which provides access to Plagiarism Detection Software (PDS) to all Universities/Institutions in India. Under the ShodhShuddhi scheme of the MoE, the Information and Library Network Centre (INFLIBNET), Gandhinagar, had provided Plagiarism Detection Software (PDS) to 1160 plus Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across India. (c): The Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE&L) provides financial support for implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha since 2018-19. Skill Education is one of the components under Samagra Shiksha scheme. The scheme aims at integrating Skill Education with general academic education in all Secondary/Senior Secondary schools which is in alignment with the objective of NEP 2020; enhancing the Employability and Entrepreneurial abilities of the students, providing exposure to work environment; and generating awareness amongst students about various career options so as to enable them to make a choice in accordance with their aptitude, competence 01.12.2025 715 and aspirations. The scheme covers Government and Government aided schools. Additionally, the scheme has a provision for providing exposure to skill education to students of Classes VI - VIII with an aim to provide opportunities to the students to orient themselves with the skills required for the various occupations in a sector and to equip them to make informed choices while selecting their subjects in higher classes. Under Skill Education component of ‘Samagra Shiksha’, NSQF aligned skill courses are offered to the students from Class IX to XII in the schools covered under the scheme, which has been aligned with the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF). At the Secondary level i.e., Class IX and X, skill courses are offered to the students as an additional subject. At Sr. Secondary level, i.e., Class XI and XII, skill courses are offered as a compulsory (elective) subject. As of now, 138 Job Roles have been approved for introduction as Skill courses to school students for Class IX to XII. 36,465 schools have been approved under the skill education component of Samagra Shiksha, out of which the skill education has so far been implemented in 25,140 schools with the reported enrolment of 35,56,330 students. (d): As per para 1.1 of NEP 2020, universal provisioning of quality early childhood development, care, and education must be achieved as soon as possible, and no later than 2030, to ensure that all students entering Grade 1 are school ready. 01.12.2025 716 Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) is generally defined as the period from birth to 8 years of age. This stage is divided into three sub-stages i.e., 0-3 years, 3-6 years (Preschool stage) and 6 to 8 years (Grade I and II). The ages 3 to 8 years covers 5 years of education continuum named as Foundational Stage under NEP 2020. For the first time, 3 years of preschools (Balvatika) recognized as a continuum of education in the 5+3+3+4 structure where the foundational stage is 3 years of preschool and grade 1 & grade 2. The NEP 2020 indicated an increased focus on the universalization of ECCE. Under Samagra Shiksha, a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Education, focus has been given on the pre-school education. To ensure equitable quality education and universal access for all, the scheme extends support from pre- school to class 12. The Scheme reaches out to girls and children belonging to Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs). Several key Initiatives have also been taken by DoSE&L including the launch of the following: (i) A dedicated mission ‘National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat Mission)’ on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy for ensuring that every child in the country necessarily attains foundational literacy and numeracy by the end of Grade 2. 01.12.2025 717 (ii) National Curricular Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF-FS) providing a structure for the syllabus, Training of Teachers, Learning Teaching Material (LTM), etc. (iii) A 3-months play based ‘School Preparation Module and Guidelines’ for Grade 1 named ‘Vidya Pravesh’ to promote school preparedness in all children coming to Grade-1 from diverse backgrounds (Balvatika, Anganwadi Centers (AWCs), at home, private play schools etc.), to ensure a smooth transition of children to Grade-1. (iv) Jaadui Pitara (JP), a collection of Learning Teaching Material (LTM) for 3 to 8 years age group. (v) E-Jaadui Pitara (e-JP), an app and website with integration of the latest technology with play-based pedagogy and a way to disseminate the learning of JP and transcend it beyond the four walls of the classroom. (vi) “Guidelines for co-location of Anganwadi Centers with schools” for better convergence & seamless admission to Grade 1” jointly with Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Women & Child Development. (e): Para 4.37 of National Education Policy-2020 stipulates that “To further eliminate the ‘high stakes’ aspect of Board Exams, all students will be allowed to take Board Exams on up to two occasions during any given school year, one main 01.12.2025 718 examination and one for improvement, if desired”. CBSE has decided to implement the policy of two Board Examinations in Class X from 2026 examinations in its affiliated schools in India and 26 countries abroad. FAKE UNIVERSITIES 135. SHRI K. E. PRAKASH :

वक्ता Krishna Prasad Tenneti

कब कहा 2025-12-01T00:00:00.000Z

किस वाद-विवाद में The Speaker made references to the passing away of Col. (Retd.) Sona Ram Choudhary (Member of Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth and Sixteenth Lok Sabha), Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra (Member of Sixth, Ninth, Thirteenth and Fourteenth Lok Sabha), Shri Ravi Naik (Member of Twelfth Lok Sabha), Shri Dharmendra (Member of Fourteenth Lok Sabha) and Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal (Member of Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Lok Sabha).