**Executive Summary:**
The Ministry of Culture has undertaken several initiatives to promote and preserve Indian culture and heritage. These initiatives include cultural exchange programs with foreign countries, conservation and digitalization of archaeological monuments, cultural exchange activities among states, encouragement of traditional arts and skills in rural areas, and the establishment of digital archives and museums to honor unsung heroes of the freedom struggle, particularly within the "Amrit Kaal" framework. Activities and programs have been carried out from 2021 to March 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **International Cultural Exchange:**
* Signed Cultural Exchange Programs (CEPs) with 41 countries since 2021.
* Focus: Disseminating Indian art and culture, promoting intercultural relations in areas like music, dance, theatre, museums, libraries, archives, monument conservation, literature, and anthropology.
* Organized "Festival of India" in Kuwait (March 2023) and France (July 2023).
* **Archaeological Conservation and Digitalization:**
* The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conducts periodic inspections of protected monuments.
* Conservation is done based on need and resource availability, following the national conservation policy.
* Improving monument documentation through digital records and condition mapping.
* **Inter-State Cultural Exchange (Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat Programme):**
* Organized Yuva Sangam (cultural-cum-educational exchange tours for youth among paired states).
* Conducted Kashi Tamil Sangam (KTS), a cultural exchange program between Kashi and Tamil Nadu.
* **Encouragement of Traditional Arts and Skills:**
* Zonal Cultural Centers (ZCCs) organized the Vilupt Lok Evam Janjatiya Kala Utthan Mahotsav from October 2024 to March 2025.
* Divisional-level festival across seven cultural zones in collaboration with the Ministry of Textiles, State Governments, and academic institutions.
* Featured 15-21 day workshops for immersive training in traditional art forms.
* **Digital Archives and Museums for Freedom Struggle Heroes:**
* Established digital archives, including the History Corner on the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav website (now transitioned to Amrit Kaal https:amritkaal.nic.in).
* Features stories of unsung heroes, freedom movements, milestones, and sacrifices.
* Eight subsections: Digital District Repository, Unsung Heroes, Public Contribution Portal, Swatantra Swar, Podcast on Freedom Movement, Rajyageet, Freedom Corner, Exhibitions.
* ASI established a museum dedicated to anonymous heroes of the freedom struggle, "AazadikeDiwane," in the Red Fort, Delhi.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Foreign Countries:**
* *Impact:* Increased awareness and appreciation of Indian art and culture. Opportunities for cultural exchange and collaboration.
* *Action Required:* Participate in CEPs, host "Festival of India" events.
* **Archaeological Survey of India (ASI):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for the conservation, maintenance, and digitalization of archaeological monuments.
* *Action Required:* Conduct periodic inspections, implement conservation plans, improve digital documentation.
* **State Governments:**
* *Impact:* Involvement in inter-state cultural exchange programs and support for traditional arts and skills.
* *Action Required:* Participate in Yuva Sangam, Kashi Tamil Sangam, and collaborate with ZCCs on the Vilupt Lok Evam Janjatiya Kala Utthan Mahotsav.
* **Zonal Cultural Centers (ZCCs):**
* *Impact:* Organize and conduct programs to promote traditional arts and skills in rural areas.
* *Action Required:* Continue organizing the Vilupt Lok Evam Janjatiya Kala Utthan Mahotsav and related workshops.
* **Citizens/Public:**
* *Impact:* Access to digital archives and museums honoring freedom struggle heroes. Opportunity to contribute stories and information.
* *Action Required:* Explore the Amrit Kaal website, contribute to the Public Contribution Portal, visit the "AazadikeDiwane" museum.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The Indian government ministry responsible for the preservation and promotion of art and culture.
Amrit Kaal: A period mentioned in the context of launching new schemes to encourage Indian Cultural Heritage at global level.
Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat Programme: A programme aimed at enhancing interaction and promoting mutual understanding between people of different States and Union Territories through cultural exchange activities.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: The Minister of Culture and Tourism.
Cultural Exchange Programmes: Agreements signed with 41 countries for disseminating Indian art and culture abroad and promoting intercultural relations.
Archaeological Survey of India: An Indian government agency responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural monuments.
Kashi Tamil Sangam: A cultural exchange programme between Kashi and Tamil Nadu.
Red Fort, Delhi: Location of 'Aazadi Ke Diwane' museum dedicated to unsung heroes of freedom struggle.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOKSABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTIONNO.143
ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
ENCOURAGEMENT OF INDIAN CULTURE HERITAGE
†143. SHRI ANIL FIROJIYA:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has launched any new schemes to encourage Indian
Cultural Heritage at global level during 'Amrit kaal' and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the details of the measures taken/being taken by the Government for conservation
and digitalization of archaeological monuments across the country;
(c) whether the Government has launched any new schemes for cultured exchange
activities among different States under 'Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat Programme'
and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has started any new initiative to encourage traditional
arts and skills in rural areas and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government has established any digital archive or museums to
honour anonymous heroes of freedom struggle and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) Since 2021, Ministry of Culture, Government of India has signed Cultural Exchange
Programmes (CEPs) with 41 countries for disseminating Indian art and culture
abroad to promote India’s soft power and for developing and promoting inter-
cultural relations between India and other countries in different areas of arts and
culture like music, dance, theatre, museums & science museums, libraries,
archives, protection and conservation of historic monuments and archaeological
sites, literature, research & documentation, festival, anthropology, among others.
Further, Festival of India are also organized in other countries latest been at Kuwait
in March, 2023 and France in July, 2023.
(b) Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has undertaken several measures to maintain
and conserve the protected monuments and areas. Periodic inspections of the
protected monuments and areas are conducted to assess the conservation status
and requirements. Conservation of the monuments are done as per the need and
also considering the availability of resources, following the national conservation
policy. Additionally, ASI is improving monument documentation through digital
records and condition mapping.
(c) Two programs namely Yuva Sangam and Kashi Tamil Sangam (KTS) have been
organized under EBSB.
Under Yuva Sangam, cultural-cum-educational exchange tours of youth among
paired states take place, whereas under KTS, cultural exchange programme
between two ancient seats of learning viz, Kashi and Tamil Nadu take place.(d) The Zonal Cultural Centers (ZCCs) organized the Vilupt Lok Evam JanjatiyaKala
Utthan Mahotsav from October 2024 to March 2025 which was held at the
divisional level across all seven cultural zones. This festival was a collaborative
effort involving the Ministry of Textiles, State Governments and academic
institutions. It featured intensive 15–21 day workshops every week offering
immersive training and exposure to traditional art forms thereby creating a vibrant
platform for reviving and keeping alive the diverse art forms of the country.
(e) The Government has established dedicated digital archives to honour the heroes of
the freedom struggle. Notably, the History Corner on the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
website — now transitioned to Amrit Kaal (https://amritkaal.nic.in/), mainly anchors
the ‘Freedom Struggle’ theme under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. This section brings
alive stories of unsung heroes, freedom movements, milestones, and sacrifices
that shaped our journey to independence. It is organised into eight sub-sections:
1. Digital District Repository — District-wise narratives of India's freedom struggle
under four categories: People & Personalities, Events & Happenings, Hidden
Treasures (Built & Natural Heritage), and Living Traditions & Art Forms.
2. Unsung Heroes — Tributes to forgotten freedom fighters who are often
forgotten.
3. Public Contribution Portal — Citizens can share stories here.
4. Swatantra Swar — Banned revolutionary literature including 509 digitised files of
revolutionary poetry in 11 languages and features recitations by prominent
personalities.
5. Podcast on Freedom Movement.
6. Rajyageet — Melodic identities of States/Union Territories.
7. Freedom Corner — Stories of India’s struggle
8. Exhibitions — Commemorating events like Partition Horrors Remembrance Day,
and the Unity Festival.
Together, these initiatives preserve, digitise, and share stories once scattered or
hidden, making them freely accessible to the public, researchers, and scholars.
Further, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has established a museum that is
solely dedicated to honor anonymous and unsung heroes of freedom struggle i.e.
'Aazadi-ke-Diwane' in the Red Fort, Delhi.
*****