Parliament Question: G20 cultural heritage and global cultural diplomacy

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1463 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.02.2026 G20 CULTURAL HERITAGE AND GLOBAL CULTURAL DIPLOMACY 1463. # Shri Amar Pal Maurya: Shri Shambhu Sharan Patel: Shri Rajib Bhattacharjee: Shri Kanad Purkayastha: Smt. Ramilaben Becharbhai Bara: Shri Kesridevsinh Jhala: Dr. Anil Sukhdeorao Bonde: Shri Mayankkumar Nayak: Dr. Rajkumar Sangwan: Will the Minister of Culture be pleased to state: (a) the cultural assets, exhibitions, or institutions developed or put to use under India’s post- G20 cultural heritage initiatives; (b) the manner in which international cultural collaborations have been expanded during the said period; (c) the funds allocated for maintenance of G20-related cultural infrastructure; (d) the manner in which the outcomes of cultural diplomacy are being evaluated; and (e) the long-term strategy to establish India as a global cultural hub? ANSWER MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) & (b) The Government of India has undertaken several initiatives to develop and showcase the cultural assets, exhibitions and heritage. The G20 Culture Working Group came out with an Outcome Document titled the ‘Kashi Culture Pathway’ which advocated for advancing “culture as a standalone goal” in the post-2030 development agenda. This was further unanimously endorsed in the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration marked a historic milestone. Various collaborative international cultural projects were undertaken by Ministry of Culture to showcase Indian culture to the participants from G20 countries – Four Global ThematicWebinars; Exhibitions – Re(ad)dress: Return of Treasures in Khajuraho; Sustain: The Craft Idiom, in Bhubaneswar; Woven Narratives, in Hampi; G20 Art Project – Together We Art: G20 Anthology of Poetry – Under the Same Sky and Culture Unites All Campaign; G20 Orchestra-Sur Vasudha. The Exhibitions G20 Digital Museum (Culture Corridor) and Exhibition – Routes and Roots were organized on the sidelines of G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi. By aligning the G20 initiatives, an International Conference on recalling India’s Knowledge Legacy through Manuscript Heritage was held on 11-13 September, 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. (c) During the India’s G20 Presidency 2023, various Cultural activities were organized at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi and other cultural Heritage sites, Monuments etc. in several cities across the country. Bharat Mandapam operates on a self-sustainable model. The upkeep of heritage sites, museums and other cultural institutions utilized during the G20 events is undertaken under existing schemes and regular budgetary provisions of the Ministry of Culture and its organizations. (d) The outcomes of cultural diplomacy initiatives are evaluated on the basis of measurable indicators such as the scale and outreach of cultural engagements, effectiveness of Cultural Exchange Programmes (CEPs), institutional partnerships established, agreements/MoUs concluded, capacity-building initiatives undertaken, resulting in repatriation of many valuable artefacts & antiquities in India and sustained people-to-people exchanges arising from such initiatives. (e) The Government of India is working to enhance and scale up all its cultural outreach activities to positions India as a global cultural hub. Ministry of Culture implements “Global Engagement Scheme” to promote India’s rich cultural heritage internationally and enhance India’s global image which is administered through Indian Missions abroad. ******