Parliament Question: Monitoring Reforms under SDS

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5939 ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026 MONITORING REFORMS UNDER SDS

5939. SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government proposes to implement a three-tier monitoring mechanism under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme (SDS) and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether such mechanism is likely to include Central oversight, State- level coordination committees and destination-specific implementation teams with digital tracking;

(c) whether the Government has established or proposes to establish a dedicated Project Management Unit for pre-feasibility assessment and project viability checks before fund disbursement; and

(d) whether the Government has adopted or proposes to adopt Public– Private Partnership (PPP) models for development and management of tourism circuits under the SDS and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (d): Guidelines for Swadesh Darshan 2.0, include National Institutional Framework comprising of Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC), Mission Directorate (MD) etc., State Institutional Framework and Destination Management Committees to be set up by State Governments/UTAs. The Ministry has also developed a Program Management Information System (PMIS) for its destination development related schemes as a unified digital platform to facilitate seamless information communication, sharing and reporting system in respect of the projects undertaken as part of its various schemes. Ministry of Tourism and SGs/UTAs including project implementing agencies are integral part of this system.Ministry of Tourism has appointed a National Programme Management Unit (NPMU) at central level and also provides financial support to the State Governments/UT Administrations as consultancy support for preparation of detailed project reports (DPR), bid process management, project implementation, monitoring etc. In addition, a Model Template for DPR has also been released which includes sections on project concept & rational, detailed assessment, layout plans, sustainability assessment and interventions, development obligations, O&M service levels etc.

Ministry of Tourism regularly encourages the SGs/UTAs to undertake robust Operation and Management of assets created under Swadesh Darshan scheme and also to explore the possibility of engaging partners under Public Private Partnership model for sustained O&M. As part of Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) scheme, the Ministry of Tourism has introduced the concept of Tourism Experience Development and Management Agency (TEDMA) for strong operation and management (O&M).

In addition, the Ministry regularly monitors progress of its ongoing projects through review meetings with SGs/UTAs, which are held at various levels from time to time. ******