Executive Summary:
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2514 regarding infrastructure development, funding, research projects, and global collaboration at the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies (MAKAIAS). It details completed infrastructure renovations, operational status, financial allocations and expenditures from 2020-2025, research projects undertaken, and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed with various institutions. The Salt Lake campus has been fully operational since January 16, 2010.
Key Points / Main Content:
Infrastructure Development:
* Repair and renovation of flooring, the top roof sheet of the courtyard, and the storeroom of the library have been completed.
* The replacement of the outside existing settled-down paver tiles pathway with paver blocks has been finished.
Operational Status:
* The Salt Lake Campus is fully operational since January 16, 2010.
Financial Details (2020-2025):
* Total funding allocated to MAKAIAS: Rs. 30,13,50,000.00.
* Expenditure details are provided in Annexure I, with breakdowns for Academic Activities, Research, and Infrastructure.
* Total Academic allocation: Rs. 381.60 Lakhs; Total expenditure: Rs. 227.64 Lakhs.
* Total Research allocation: Rs. 2,264.90 Lakhs; Total expenditure: Rs. 2,108.99 Lakhs.
* Total Infrastructure allocation: Rs. 367.00 Lakhs; Total expenditure: Rs. 317.42 Lakhs.
Research Projects:
* Annexure II provides details of research projects undertaken in the last five years, focusing on modern and contemporary Asia, India's relations with neighboring countries, and the North East program.
* Fellowship in the F.Y.2020-2021: 15 research projects.
* Fellowship in the F.Y.2022-2023: 18 research projects (1 A. Azad Fellow and 17 MAKAIAS Fellows).
* Major projects in the Session 2025 include:
* Ramayana Diplomacy: Enhancing the Soft Power of India
* Gautam Buddha: An Unifying Force in Asia
* Ideas of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee: A Religio-Cultural Perspective in the Contemporary Context
* Brihattar Bharat Greater India: Connecting the Asian Countries through cultural and shared heritage.
Global Collaboration:
* Annexure III details MoUs signed with Indian and international institutions.
* MoUs have been signed with:
* Indian Institute of Heritage IIH, Noida
* Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya Central University, Bilaspur
* Registrar, Cotton University, Guwahati, Assam
* Centre for South East Asian Studies, Gauhati University and Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam
* Business Administration Department, Politeknik, Negeri, Indonesia.
* IkatanCendekiawan Hindu Indonesia, Bali, Indonesia.
* Dwijendra University Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
* Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha, Indonesia
* Annexure IV includes details of projects, seminars, workshops, webinars, and lecture sessions, including research projects.
* MAKAIAS International Conferences include:
* Southeast Asia 25th-26th March 2023 BIMSTEC, Kolkata
* 2nd ISCS BIMSTEC Conference at Hotel Taj Bengal, Kolkata on March 31, 2023
* International conference in Bali, Indonesia on September 14th-15th, 2024 entitled "Echoes across the Waves: Revisiting the Intersections of India and Indonesia's shared Cultural Heritage"
Impact Analysis:
MAKAIAS:
* Impact: Outlines the current infrastructural status, financial allocations, research focus, and collaborative efforts of the institute.
* Action Required: Continue to execute research projects, maintain infrastructure, and foster collaborations as per the outlined plans and MoUs.
Ministry of Culture:
* Impact: Provides an overview of MAKAIAS's activities and financial management under its purview.
* Action Required: Monitor MAKAIAS's progress and provide continued support and funding as necessary.
Research Fellows/Scholars:
* Impact: Provides information on available research projects and funding opportunities.
* Action Required: Engage with MAKAIAS to participate in research projects and collaborations.
Partner Institutions (Indian and International):
* Impact: Details the collaborative agreements and joint initiatives with MAKAIAS.
* Action Required: Engage in collaborative activities as defined in the signed MoUs, including joint research, seminars, and conferences.
Key Entities Referenced
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies (MAKAIAS): An institute focused on Asian studies, the primary subject of the policy document.
SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT: The Minister of Culture and Tourism answering the question in the Lok Sabha.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question was raised.
Salt Lake Campus: A campus of MAKAIAS located in Salt Lake, Kolkata, operational since January 16, 2010.
North East Programme: A program of MAKAIAS focused on research related to the North East region of India.
Central Asia: A geographical region that is a focus of research for MAKAIAS, and a subject of global collaboration.
BIMSTEC: Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.
Kolkata, West Bengal: City in West Bengal, India, where MAKAIAS is located and where several related events took place.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2514
ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AT MAKAIAS
2514. SHRI SAUMITRA KHAN:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:-
(a) the current status of infrastructure development at Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian
Studies (MAKAIAS);
(b) whether the Salt Lake campus is fully operational, if so, the details thereof and the timeline for
completing any pending construction;
(c) the details of total funding allocated to the institute during the last five years, along with
expenditure on research, infrastructure and academic activities;
(d) the details of number of research projects undertaken during the last five years, particularly on
modern and contemporary Asia, India’s relations with neighbouring countries and the North-
East Programme; and
(e) the details of steps taken/being taken to enhance the global collaboration of MAKAIAS with
foreign institutions to expand research in Central Asia, South Asia and West Asia?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) The details of current status of infrastructure at MAKAIAS are as under:
Repair & renovation of flooring, top roof sheet of courtyard and store room of library etc. has
been completed. Replacement of outside existing settled down paver tiles pathway by paver
block has also finished.
(b) The Salt Lake Campus is fully operational since 16th January, 2010 without any interruption.
(c) The details of total funding allocated to MAKAIAS since 2020-21 till 2024-25 in last five years
is. Rs.30,13,50,000.00 (Rupees Thirty crores thirteen lakhs and fifty thousand only). The
detailed break up is enclosed in Annexure `I’.
(d) The details of number of research projects undertaken during the last five years is attached at
Annexure ‘II’.
(e) The details of the Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) signed both in India and abroad are
stated in Annexure `III’.
The names of different projects Seminars/Workshops/Webinars/Lecture Sessions including
research projects are enclosed herewith in the Annexure `IV’.
*****Annexure- I
Annexure referred in part (c) of Lok Sabha unstarred Question No.2514 for Reply
on 04.08.2025 regarding Infrastructure Development at MAKAIAS
STATEMENT SHOWING EXPENDITURE INCURRED BY THE INSTITUTE AGAINST
ALLOCATION OF FUND IN LAST FIVE YEARS
(Rupees in Lakh)
Fund Alloted as per MOU Expenditure incurred
Sl. Financial
No. Year
Academic Academic
Research Infrastructure Research Infrastructure
Activities Activities
2020-
1 109.60 360.40 125.00 45.86 330.52 6.93
2021
2021-
2 26.50 413.50 25.00 13.79 423.85 24.29
2022
2022-
3 56.50 413.50 7.00 83.91 420.00 46.00
2023
2023-
4 107.00 486.50 60.00 70.87 427.77 92.62
2024
2024-
5 82.00 591.00 150.00 13.21 506.85 147.58
2025
TOTAL 381.60 2,264.90 367.00 227.64 2,108.99 317.42Annexure- II
Annexure referred in part (d) of Lok Sabha unstarred Question No.2514 for Reply on
04.08.2025 regarding Infrastructure Development at MAKAIAS
The total number of research projects under taken during the last five years particularly in
modern and Contemporary Asia, India’s Relations with neighbouring countries and the
North- East programme are stated below:
Fellowship in the F.Y.(2020-2021)- A total of 15 research projects in a two year session.
Fellowship in the F.Y. (2022-2023) - A total of 18 research projects in a two year session:
A. Azad Fellow: Total (1)
B. MAKAIAS Fellows: Total (17)
Major projects undertaken in the (Session 2025- at present)
1. Ramayana Diplomacy: Enhancing the Soft Power of India
2. Gautam Buddha: An Unifying Force in Asia
3. Ideas of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee: A Religio-Cultural Perspective in the
Contemporary
Context
4. “Brihattar Bharat’ (Greater India): Connecting the Asian Countries through cultural and
shared heritage.Annexure- III
Annexure referred in part (e) of Lok Sabha unstarred Question No.2514 for Reply
on 04.08.2025 regarding Infrastructure Development at MAKAIAS
MoUs signed with various Universities
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between MAKAIAS,
Kolkata and Indian Institute of Heritage (IIH), Noida.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between MAKAIAS,
Kolkata and Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (Central University), Bilaspur,
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between MAKAIAS,
Kolkata and Registrar, Cotton University, Guwahati, Assam.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between MAKAIAS,
Kolkata and Centre for South East Asian Studies, Gauhati University and Gauhati
University, Guwahati, Assam
MoUs signed with following Bali (Indonesia) Universities:
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between MAKAIAS,
Kolkata and Business Administration Department, Politeknik, Negeri, Indonesia.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between MAKAIAS,
Kolkata and IkatanCendekiawan Hindu Indonesia, Bali, Indonesia.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between MAKAIAS,
Kolkata and Dwijendra University Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between MAKAIAS,
Kolkata and Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha, Indonesia
Major projects at present
Ramayana Diplomacy: Enhancing the Soft Power of India
Gautam Buddha: An Unifying Force in Asia
Ideas of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee: A Religio-Cultural Perspective in the
Contemporary Context
“Brihattar Bharat’ (Greater India): Connecting the Asian Countries through cultural
and shared heritageAnnexure- IV
Annexure referred in part (e) of Lok Sabha unstarred Question No.2514 for Reply on
04.08.2025 regarding Infrastructure Development at MAKAIAS
MAKAIAS International Conferences on Southeast Asia
25th& 26thMarch, 2023 - BIMSTEC, Kolkata
I MAKAIAS. Kolkata. in collaboration with Ministry of External Affairs. Govt. Of India,
TheNational Library. Kolkata, Bharat Chamber of Commerce. ISCS and other Think
Tanks. organised 2" ISCS BIMSTEC Conference at Hotel Taj Bengal. Kolkata.
31st March, 2023
MAKAIAS. Kolkata, in collaboration with Institute of Social and Cultural Studies (ISCS).
Kolkata, organised a Seminar on "BIMSTEC Security Cooperation" at ICCR Kolkata.
II 14th& 15thSeptember, 2024 - Bali, Indonesia
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies. Kolkata in collaboration with
Consulate General of India in Bali and The Institute of Social and Cultural Studies (ISC$)
is organizing an international conference entitled "Echoes across the Waves: Revisiting
the Intersections of India and Indonesia's shared Cultural Heritage" as a part of
commemoration of 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and
Indonesia at Sanur, Bali in Indonesia.
III Publication of MAKAIAS on Central Asia
i. A Book entitled, TRACING THE TRAIL OF INDO-TAJIK CULTURAL LINK
THROUGH PAST AND PRESENT: CASE STUDIES OF VARIOUS ART FORMS,
authored by Dr. Nandini Bhattacharya, (Published by KW Publisher, New Delhi).
ii. A Book entitled, ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF KOLKATA: STRUGGLE
FOR EXISTENCE, authored by Dr. Arunava Patra, (Published by Shipra Publications,
New Delhi).