The Ministry of Culture implements the "Global Engagement Scheme" to promote India's cultural heritage internationally, strengthen cultural ties with foreign nations, promote bilateral cultural contacts, project India's cultural identity, and encourage inbound tourism. The scheme has three components: Festival of India (FoI), Grant-in-aid to Indo-Foreign Friendship Cultural Societies, and Contributions to Inter-governmental Organizations. Components I and II are administered through Indian Missions abroad.
Currently, 627 Artists/Groups are empanelled with the Ministry for participation in Festivals of India abroad, with 119 specializing in Folk Arts. As of July 2025, 62 FoIs have been held in various countries, showcasing Indian folk arts and culture in nations such as Senegal, Ghana, Laos, Fiji, Japan, Kenya, UK, and France, among others. A total of 2348 artists have participated in these festivals. The existing Global Engagement Scheme is valid for the 15th Finance Commission Cycle. This information was provided by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
Key Entities Referenced
Global Engagement Scheme: The primary policy initiative being discussed, aimed at promoting India's cultural heritage internationally.
Ministry of Culture: The government ministry responsible for implementing the Global Engagement Scheme.
Festival of India (FoI): A key component of the Global Engagement Scheme, involving showcasing Indian arts and culture abroad.
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, who provided information about the scheme.
Rajya Sabha: The legislative body where the information about the scheme was provided in a written reply.
Ministry of Culture
GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT SCHEME
Posted On: 12 MAR 2026 3:34PM by PIB Delhi
Ministry of Culture implements “Global Engagement Scheme” to promote India’s rich cultural heritage
internationally and enhance India’s global image. The primary objectives of the Scheme include
strengthening cultural ties with foreign nations, promoting bilateral cultural contacts, projecting India’s
cultural identity on the world stage and encouraging inbound tourism. The Global Engagement Scheme
has the following three components:
I. Festival of India (FoI)
II. Grant in aid to Indo Foreign Friendship Cultural Societies
III. Contributions to Inter-governmental organizations
Components (I) & (II) of the scheme are administered through Indian Missions abroad to achieve its
objectives.
Under the Scheme, Ministry of Culture has empanelled Artists/Groups under various art forms to
participate in Festival of India abroad. Artists are selected from the empanelled list for performing in the
Festivals of India abroad. Currently, 627 Artists/Groups are empanelled with the Ministry. Out of these,
119 Artists/Groups are empanelled in Folk Arts.
Till now, 62 FoIs have been held in different countries. The countries where Indian folk arts and culture
have been showcased are Senegal, Ghana, Laos, Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga, Vanuatu, Nauru, Tuvalu and Cook
Island, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Turkmenistan, Hungary, Denmark, Japan, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Liberia,
Guinea, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Tunisia, Qatar, Croatia, Kuwait and France.
Total 2348 artists have participated in the FoIs till July, 2025.
Existing Global Engagement Scheme is valid for 15th Finance Commission Cycle.
This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in
a written reply in Rajya Sabha today
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M Annadurai
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