GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PLANNING
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4117
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2026
ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICTS PROGRAMME
4117. DR. RAJEEV BHARADWAJ:
Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of most backward and underdeveloped
districts selected under the Aspirational District Programme across
the country;
(b) whether Chamba district of Himachal...
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4117 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2026 ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICTS PROGRAMME
4117. DR. RAJEEV BHARADWAJ:
Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of most backward and underdeveloped districts selected under the Aspirational District Programme across the country;
(b) whether Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh is included under the said programme; and
(c) if so, the details of the efforts being made to unlock the tourism potential and generate employment opportunities in the said district? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION; MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)
(a) & (b) There are 117 Aspirational Districts selected across 27 States and 1 Union Territory under the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP). Chamba district is included under ADP.
(c) In order to promote tourism in Chamba District, the State Government has taken initiatives including ‘Chalo Chamba’ campaign with the aim of highlighting immense tourism potential of the district, showcase the unexplored destinations, as well as turning this as provider of employment. In addition, the district also organizes fairs during Minjar Festival which is attended by people all over the country and across the world. It has been declared as one of the international fairs of Himachal Pradesh by the State Government which in turn has increased the overall tourism potential of Chamba.
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