**Summary:**
This document addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1775 regarding the establishment of new and modern sugar mills with central assistance. The response, provided by the Minister of State for the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, clarifies that the Central Government does not directly establish sugar mills. Since August 31, 1998, the sugar industry has been removed from the list of industries requiring compulsory licensing, allowing any entrepreneur to establish a sugar mill in accordance with clauses 6A to 6E of the Sugarcane Control Order, 1966, as amended. As of the 2024-25 sugar season, 534 sugar mills are operational nationwide, with 10 located in Bihar. In the last three years, 17 sugar mills have been established across the country, with the following state-wise distribution: Karnataka (6), Maharashtra (5), Madhya Pradesh (4), Uttar Pradesh (1), and Telangana (1). The government does not propose to set up any sugar mills during the current financial year.
Key Entities Referenced
LOK SABHA: House of the Parliament of India where the question was raised.
SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL: Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question.
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION: The Indian government ministry to which the question is addressed.
SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA: Minister of State for the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution who provided the answer.
Sugarcane Control, Order 1966: Order which lays down the provisions to set up a sugar mill.
Bihar: State in India with 10 operational sugar mills in the sugar season 2024-25.
Karnataka: State in India where 6 sugar mills were established in the last three years.
Maharashtra: State in India where 5 sugar mills were established in the last three years.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1775
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30TH JULY, 2025
MODERN SUGAR MILLS
1775. SHRI JANARD AN SINGH SIGRIWAL:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government proposes to set up new and modern sugar mills with central
assIstance;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the number of sugar mills established by the Government during the last three years,
State-wise including Bihar; and
(d) the number of sugar mills proposed to be set up by the Government in the country
during the current financial year, State-wise including Bihar?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)
(a) to (d): The Central Government does not set up sugar mill in any part of the country.
Further, sugar industry was deleted from list of industries that required compulsory licensing,
vide press note dated 31.08.1998. After that, any entrepreneur is free to set up sugar mill in any
part of the country as per provisions laid down in clause 6A to 6E of Sugarcane (Control),
Order 1966 as amended from time to time.
Further, in sugar season 2024-25, total 534 sugar mills are operational across the
country, out of which 10 sugar mills are in Bihar State. During the last three years, total 17
sugar Mills have been established in the country. The State wise details are as follows:-2-
State No. of Sugar Mills
established in the
last three years
Karnataka 6
Maharashtra 5
Madhya Pradesh 4
Uttar Pradesh
Telangana
Total 17
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