Parliament Question: Challenge based Destination Development component under SDS 2.0

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1183 ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025 CHALLENGE BASED DESTINATION DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT UNDER SDS 2.0

1183. SHRI ESWARASAMY K:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the proposals received and sanctioned under the Challenge-based Destination Development component of Swadesh Darshan 2.0, year and State/UT-wise;

(b) the criteria adopted for the selection of destinations and the process for evaluating the submitted proposals;

(c) the total financial allocation and amount released for projects sanctioned under this component since its inception; and

(d) whether any steps have been taken to ensure convergence with other central schemes and promote destination sustainability and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (d): Development and promotion of tourist destinations and tourism products is primarily undertaken by the respective State Government / Union Territory (UT) Administration. 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, ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’ and ‘Assistance to Central Agencies (ACA) for Tourism Infrastructure Development’ complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure development by extending financial assistance to the State Governments/UT Administrations/Central Agencies; 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)’ has also provided financial assistance to the States for development of tourism projects.

Under the Challenge-Based Destination Development (CBDD) a sub- scheme of Swadesh Darshan 2.0, proposals are submitted by the concerned SGs/UTAs in response to notifications issued by the Ministry. Selection of destinations under the CBDD component is carried out as per the criteria notified in the scheme guidelines. These criteria include parameters relating to destination readiness, tourism potential, institutional arrangements, community engagement, environmental considerations and overall coherence of the proposal. Evaluation of proposals is undertaken through the structured assessment process defined in the guidelines.

Under the scheme, Ministry encourages the SG/UT to adopt convergence across connectivity, civic infrastructure, local mobility, skill development, products and experience being developed with relevant initiatives of Central Ministries/Departments or the concerned SG/UT at the destinations.

The details of the projects sanctioned under the CBDD scheme in the country along with sanction and authorized amount since its inception is annexed. ********ANNEXURE STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1183 ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025 REGARDING CHALLENGE BASED DESTINATION DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT UNDER SDS 2.0 RAISED BY SHRI ESWARASAMY K Details of Project sanctioned under Challenge Based Destination

Development scheme: (Amount in ₹Crore) S. State/UT Year of Name of the Category Sanctioned Amount No. Sanction Project Amount Authorized 1 Andhra 2024-25 Ahobilam-A Spiritual 25.00 2.50 Pradesh spiritual Tourism Odyssey 2 Andhra 2024-25 Enriching Culture 25.00 2.50 Pradesh Buddhist & Heritage and Heritage Cultural Experiences at Nagarjuna Sagar 3 Arunachal 2024-25 Bichom Dam Ecotouri 9.90 0.99 Pradesh Adventure & sm and Eco-Tourism Amrit Project Dharohar Sites 4 Arunachal 2024-25 Kibhito Vibrant 4.96 0.50 Pradesh Frontier Village Tourism - Program Gateway to me Serenity 5 Assam 2024-25 Panidhing Ecotouri 9.99 1.00 Bird sm and Sanctuary, Amrit Sivasagar Dharohar Sites 6 Bihar 2024-25 Development Culture 24.29 2.43 of Tourist & Facilities at Heritage SonepurMela Ground, Saran 7 Chhattisgarh 2024-25 Development Ecotouri 9.97 1.00 of sm and MayaliBagic Amrit ha as Eco Dharohar Tourism Sites Destination 8 Goa 2024-25 Beautificatio Ecotouri 9.81 0.98 n and sm and Development Amrit of Harvalem Dharohar Waterfall at Sites Mayem Village 9 Gujarat 2024-25 Transformati Culture 17.29 1.73 on of & sharmishtha Heritage

Lake: Light & culture at Vadnagar 10 Gujarat 2024-25 The Sacred Spiritual 24.66 2.47 Ocean Tourism Retreat at Harsiddhi Shore, Porbandar 11 Gujarat 2024-25 THOL: Ecotouri 9.96 1.00 Transformati sm and ve Tourism' Amrit Harmonious Dharohar Sustainabilit Sites y, Optimized Skilling' Leading Technology 12 Himachal 2024-25 Tourism Culture 24.82 2.48 Pradesh Infrastructur & e Heritage Development at Kaza13 Himachal 2024-25 Tourism Vibrant 4.96 0.50 Pradesh Infrastructur Village e Program Development me at Rakchham, Chhitkul 14 Jharkhand 2024-25 Tourism Spiritual 18.87 1.89 Infrastructur Tourism e Development at Ramrekha Dham, Simdega 15 Kerala 2024-25 Thalassery: Spiritual 25.00 2.50 The Spiritual Tourism Nexus 16 Kerala 2024-25 Varkala- Culture 25.00 2.50 Dakshin & Kashi Heritage 17 Ladakh 2024-25 Advancing Ecotouri 9.82 0.98 Mushkoh as sm and a Amrit Sustainable Dharohar

Tourism Hub: Sites Integrating wildlife Sightings and community progress 18 Madhya 2024-25 Medieval Spiritual 25.00 2.50 Pradesh Splendor 2.0, Tourism Orchha 19 Maharashtra 2024-25 Development Culture 25.00 2.50 of & Ahmednagar Heritage Fort 20 Manipur 2024-25 Development Culture 24.69 2.47 of Ancient & capital of Heritage Manipur,LangthabalK onug 21 Meghalaya 2024-25 Mawphlang Culture 24.87 2.49 cultural & & Heritage Heritage centre 22 Meghalaya 2024-25 Nartiang Spiritual 24.87 2.49 Spiritual & Tourism Cultural Centre 23 Nagaland 2024-25 Soulful Spiritual 24.94 2.49

Trails: The Tourism Impur Heritage Experience, Impur Village 24 Nagaland 2024-25 Development Ecotouri 10.00 1.00 of wings over sm and

Doyang: An Amrit Eco-Tourism Dharohar Haven' Sites Doyang Reservoir 25 Puducherry 2024-25 Development Culture 22.19 2.22 of White & Town Heritage 26 Punjab 2024-25 Cultural and Culture 25.00 2.50 Heritage & Strech at Heritage Hussainiwal a Border, Ferozepur 27 Punjab 2024-25 Heritage Spiritual 24.90 2.49 street -A Tourism Symbol of peace and Harmony at Sri Anandpur Sahib, Rupnagar 28 Sikkim 2024-25 Echoes of Vibrant 5.00 0.50

Valor: The VillageGnathang Program Valley me Experience," Gnathang Village 29 Sikkim 2024-25 Kabi Spiritual 24.96 2.50

Chronicles: A Tourism journey through Unity and Heritage, Kabi, Mangan 30 Tamil Nadu 2024-25 lconic Spiritual 20.01 2.00 Transformati Tourism on of Rameswara m 31 Telangana 2024-25 Digital Culture 24.85 2.48 Experience & Centre at Heritage Bhuddhavan am in Nalgonda 32 Telangana 2024-25 Development Ecotouri 9.98 1.00 of Eco- sm and Tourism Amrit Project at Dharohar Nizam Sagar, Sites Kamareddy 33 Uttar 2024-25 Development Culture 24.98 2.50 Pradesh of Cultural & Landscape at Heritage Mahoba 34 Uttarakhand 2024-25 Development Vibrant 4.99 0.50 of Jadung Village Festive Program Ground', me Jadung 35 Uttarakhand 2024-25 Development Spiritual 17.60 1.76 of Tourism Kainchidhamcampus, Kainchidham 36 Uttarakhand 2024-25 Mana Haat Vibrant 4.99 0.50 project Village Program me Total 648.11 64.81 ******