**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Tourism announced developmental projects of tourism in Assam under various central sector schemes. These schemes include Swadesh Darshan (SD), Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0), Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI), and Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD). This information was given in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on February 5th, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Schemes and Objectives:**
* The Ministry of Tourism supports tourism infrastructure development by providing financial assistance to State Governments/UT Administrations.
* Schemes like SD, SD2.0, CBDD, and PRASHAD complement tourism infrastructure development efforts.
* SASCI focuses on developing iconic tourist centers, branding, and marketing them globally.
* **Assam Projects Sanctioned:**
* The Government of India has sanctioned projects in Assam under various schemes.
* Projects sanctioned include:
* Development of Manas-Probitora-Nameri-Kaziranga-Dibru-Saikhowa Wildlife Circuit (SD)
* Development of Tezpur – Majuli Sibsagar Heritage Circuit (SD)
* Kokrajhar Wetland Experience (SD2.0)
* Reimagining Cinnamara Tea Estate (SD2.0)
* Panidhing Bird Sanctuary (under Eco-tourism and Amrit Dharohar category) (CBDD)
* Assam State Zoo Cum Botanical Garden in Guwahati (SASCI)
* Beautification of Rang Ghar in Sivasagar (SASCI)
* Development of Kamakhya Temple and Pilgrimage Destination in and around Guwahati (PRASHAD)
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments/UT Administrations:**
* **Impact:** Receiving financial assistance for tourism infrastructure development projects.
* **Action Required:** Adherence to scheme guidelines and submission of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs).
**Tourism Sector in Assam:**
* **Impact:** Enhancement of tourism destinations and products, development of iconic tourist centers.
* **Action Required:** Implementation of sanctioned projects to develop and market tourist centers effectively.
Key Entities Referenced
Assam: The state where the tourism projects mentioned in the document are sanctioned.
Ministry of Tourism: The central ministry responsible for tourism development schemes mentioned in the document.
Swadesh Darshan (SD): A central sector scheme of the Ministry of Tourism focused on developing theme-based tourism circuits.
Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD): A tourism infrastructure development scheme of the Ministry of Tourism.
Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD): A sub-scheme of SD2.0 under the Ministry of Tourism to encourage destination development.
Ministry of Tourism
Developmental Projects of Tourism in Assam
Posted On: 08 FEB 2026 6:00PM by PIB Delhi
Development of tourism destinations and products is primarily undertaken by the concerned State
Government (SG)/Union Territory Administration (UTA). However, the Ministry of Tourism through its
central sector schemes of ‘Swadesh Darshan (SD)’, ‘Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)’, ‘Challenge Based
Destination Development (CBDD)’ –a sub-scheme of SD2.0, and ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual,
Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’ complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure
development by extending financial assistance to the State Governments/UT Administrations; subject to
adherence to scheme guidelines, submission of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), availability of funds,
inter-se priority etc.
In addition, Government of India under its initiative for ‘Special Assistance to States for Capital
Investment (SASCI)-Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale’ has also sanctioned projects
with the primary objective to comprehensively develop iconic tourist centres in the country, branding and
marketing them at global scale.
While receiving proposals from the State Governments/UT Administrations for financial assistance for
tourism projects under applicable schemes is an ongoing process, the Government of India has already
sanctioned projects under SD, SD2.0, CBDD, SASCI and PRASHAD schemes in the state of Assam, the
details of which is annexed.
This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in
a written reply in Rajya Sabha on 5th February 2026.
****
Sunil Kumar Tiwari
tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com
ANNEXURE
Details of the projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan (SD), SD2.0, CBDD, SASCI and
PRASHAD schemes in the state of Assam:
(Amount in ₹Crore)
Scheme/ S. Name of the Project/ Experience Circuit/ Year of Amount
No. Destination sanction sanctioned
Sub-schemeSwadesh 1 Development of Manas– Probitora– Wildlife 2015-16 94.68
Darshan Nameri– Kaziranga– Dibru– Circuit
(SD) Saikhowa
2. Development of Tezpur – Majuli – Heritage 2016-17 90.98
Sibsagar Circuit
SD2.0 3. Kokrajhar Wetland Experience Kokrajhar 2023-24 26.68
4. Reimagining Cinnamara Tea Estate Jorhat 2023- 24 23.88
CBDD 5. Panidhing Bird Sanctuary (under Sivasagar 2024-25 9.99
Eco-tourism and Amrit Dharohar
category)
SASCI 6. Assam State Zoo Cum Botanical Guwahati 2024-25 97.12
Garden in Guwahati
7. Beautification of Rang Ghar in Sivasagar 2024-25 94.76
Sivasagar
PRASHAD 8. Development of Kamakhya Temple Guwahati 2015-16 29.80
and Pilgrimage Destination in and
around Guwahati
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