**Executive Summary**
This document reports on the steps taken by the Government of India, through the Ministry of Culture, to update the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). It outlines various schemes and initiatives for the preservation, promotion, and documentation of cultural heritage, including financial assistance for Buddhist tourism development and conservation efforts at Buddhist sites. Key details are provided on nominations to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list and the involvement of regional cultural bodies.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH):**
* The Sangeet Natak Akademi is ensuring the timely update of the National Inventory of ICH.
* The inventory covers documentation, preservation, and promotion of ICH elements across the country.
* **Government Initiatives and Schemes:**
* The Ministry of Culture implements schemes such as the Guru-Shishya Parampara to preserve and promote rich cultural and heritage of India.
* Seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) have been established to preserve and promote India's folk arts and culture, protecting regional cultural diversity.
* **UNESCO Nominations:**
* As per UNESCO regulations, one nomination is submitted every two years for the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.
* Deepawali has been nominated for the 2025-26 cycle, and Chhath Mahaparv for the 2026-27 cycle.
* **Cultural Organizations and Involvement:**
* 43 organizations under the Ministry of Culture promote cultural activities across the country. Details of organizations are listed in Annexure I.
* The Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC) organizes cultural programs, including the "Guru Shishya Parampara" scheme, featuring traditional art forms from Odisha.
* **UNESCO Recognition and Indian Elements:**
* India has 15 elements inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, including Kumbh Mela from Uttar Pradesh (2017). Details are in Annexure II.
* Buddhist chanting of Ladakh is also included in the UNESCO representative list of ICH.
* **Buddhist Tourism Development:**
* The Ministry of Tourism provides financial assistance for the development of Buddhist Tourism through central sector schemes.
* The 'Buddhist Circuit' is identified as a thematic circuit for development under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
* The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) undertakes conservation and preservation of various monuments, including protected Buddhist Sites.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Sangeet Natak Akademi
* **Impact:** Responsible for updating the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH).
* **Action Required:** Ensure timely and comprehensive updates to the ICH list, focusing on documentation, preservation, and promotion of marginalized and tribal cultural traditions.
**Stakeholder:** Ministry of Culture
* **Impact:** Oversees the implementation of various schemes and initiatives for cultural preservation and promotion.
* **Action Required:** Continue implementing and supporting schemes like Guru-Shishya Parampara, and the operation of Zonal Cultural Centers (ZCCs). Support nominating cultural elements to UNESCO and allocate financial assistance to State Governments/UT Administrations for Buddhist tourism development.
**Stakeholder:** State Governments/UT Administrations
* **Impact:** Receives financial assistance for the development of Buddhist Tourism.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the financial assistance provided by the Ministry of Tourism to enhance and develop Buddhist tourism circuits and infrastructure, in coordination with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for conservation of Buddhist sites.
**Stakeholder:** Regional Cultural Bodies, Cultural Practitioners, Organizations and Stakeholders
* **Impact:** Supported under various schemes to promote cultural activities.
* **Action Required:** Engage with the Ministry of Culture and utilize available schemes for the promotion of cultural activities.
Key Entities Referenced
National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH): A national registry maintained to document, preserve, and promote intangible cultural heritage elements across India.
Sangeet Natak Akademi: An academy responsible for updating the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH).
Ministry of Culture: The primary government ministry responsible for initiatives related to preserving and promoting Indian culture and heritage.
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH): Refers to the list maintained by UNESCO for elements of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Guru-Shishya Parampara Scheme: A government scheme providing financial support for performing arts and traditional training of artists.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1192
ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025
NATIONAL INVENTORY OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE
1192. SHRI PRAVEEN PATEL:
SMT. KRITI DEVI DEBBARMAN:
SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA:
SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:
SHRI SUKANTA KUMAR PANIGRAHI:
SHRI NABA CHARAN MAJHI:
SHRI RAJKUMAR CHAHAR:
SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state :-
(a) whether the Government has taken steps to ensure timely updating the National Inventory
of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, particularly for the
documentation, preservation and promotion of marginalised, tribal and lesser-known cultural
traditions from the country especially Odisha, including those of the Kandhamal Lok Sabha
Constituency;
(b) the details of the initiatives launched and grants sanctioned along with progress made
under various Government initiatives such as the Guru–Shishya Parampara Scheme, the
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) nomination processes and youth-oriented
programmes of the Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) and their effectiveness in preserving
endangered arts;
(c) the details of the regional cultural bodies, cultural practitioners, organisations and
stakeholders from the country especially Odisha have been involved or supported under
these schemes and the manner in which activities of said programmes/initiatives be digitally
documented and shared nationally and globally;
(d) the list of Indian cultural practices recognised as intangible cultural heritage so far,
especially from Uttar Pradesh; and
(e) the present status of the development of Boudh under the Buddhist Circuit, including
details of conservation works, tourism enhancement initiatives and any proposals under
consideration for national or UNESCO-related recognition of Buddhist heritage sites in the
district/State?ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) Yes Sir, Ministry of Culture through Sangeet Natak Akademi has been taking steps to ensure
timely updation of National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) List that covers
documentation, preservation of ICH element across the country.
(b) Ministry of Culture implements several schemes throughout the country to preserve and
promote rich cultural and heritage of India. Guru–Shishya Parampara scheme provide financial
support for all genres of performing arts activities like dramatic groups, theatre groups, music
ensembles, children theatre etc. and imparting training of artists by their respective Guru on
regular basis in line with Guru–Shishya Parampara. The Ministry of Culture has established
seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) to preserve and promote India's folk arts and culture
across the country. These centers, with headquarters in Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj,
Kolkata, Dimapur, and Thanjavur, work to protect, disseminate, and develop regional cultural
diversity, involve youth, and document vanishing art forms.
As per UNESCO regulation one nomination is submitted in every two year cycle for including
in UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. For 2025-26 cycle, Deepawali has
been nominated for including in ICH list. Chhath Mahaparv has been nominated for the cycle
2026-27.
(c) There are 43 organizations under Ministry of Culture for promotion of cultural activities across
the country. The details are placed at Annexure I. The Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC)
organizes various cultural programmes and initiatives, such as the "Guru Shishya Parampara"
scheme, which includes traditional art forms from Odisha like Gotipua Dance and Paika akhada.
d) India currently has 15 elements inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible
Cultural Heritage of Humanity including Kumbh Mela from Uttar Pradesh in the year 2017.
Chhatth Mahaparv has been nominated for the ICH List for the Year 2026-27. The details of
these elements are placed at Annexure II.
(e) Ministry of Tourism through its central sector schemes extends financial assistance to the
State Governments/UT Administrations for development of Buddhist Tourism. The ‘Buddhist
Circuit’ has been identified as one of the thematic circuits for development under the Swadesh
Darshan Scheme. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the Ministry of Culture
undertakes conservation and preservation of various monuments including protected Buddhist
Sites, under the Annual Conservation program.
Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh
region, Jammu and Kashmir, India are included in UNESCO representative list of ICH.
*****Annexure – I
Annexure-I referred in part (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1192 for reply on
08.12.2025 for National Inventory Of Intangible Cultural Heritage
LIST OF ATTACHED / SUBORDINATE OFFICES & AUTONOMOUS
ORGANIZATIONS UNDER THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE
S. No Organization S. No Organization
1. Archaeological Survey of India 23. Lalit Kala AKademi
2. National Archives of India 24. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute
of Asian Studies
3. National Gallery of Modern Arts 25. National Council of Science Museums
4. National Museum 26. Prime Ministers Museum & Library,
5. National Research Laboratory for 27. National School of Drama
Conservation of Cultural Property
6. Central Reference Library 28. Indian Institute of Heritage
7. National Library, Belvedere 29. Nav Nalanda Mahavihara
8. Anthropological Survey of India 30. Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library
Foundation
9. National Monument Authority 31. Rampur Raza Library
10. Allahabad Museum 32. Sangeet Natak Akademi
11. Asiatic Society 33. Sahitya Akademi
12. Centre for Cultural Resources & 34. Salar Jung Museum
Training,
13. Central Instt. Of Buddhist Studies 35. Victoria Memorial Hall
14. Central University Of Higher Tibetan 36. National Culture Fund
Studies
15. Central Institute of Himalayan 37. North Zone Cultural Centre,
Culture Studies
16. Delhi Public Library 38. South Zone Cultural Centre,
17. Gandhi Smiriti & Darshan Samiti 39. South Central Zone Cultural Centre
18. Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manava 40. North East Zone Cultural Centre
Sangrahalaya
19. Indian Museum 41. West Zone Cultural Centre
20. Indira Gandhi National Centre For 42. Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre
the Arts
21. Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public 43. North Central Zone Cultural Centre
Library
22. Kalashetra FoundationAnnexure – II
Annexure-II referred in part (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1192 for reply on
08.12.2025 for National Inventory Of Intangible Cultural Heritage
Indian ICH heritage inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the ICH of Humanity
S. No. ICH Heritage Year of State/ Union Territory
Inscription
1. Tradition of Vedic chanting 2008 All states
2. Ramlila, the traditional 2008 All states
performance of the Ramayana
3. Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre 2008 Kerela
4. Ramman, religious festival and 2009 Uttarakhand
ritual theatre of the Garhwal
Himalayas, India
5. Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance 2010 Kerela
drama of Kerala
6. Kalbelia folk songs and dances of 2010 Rajasthan
Rajasthan
7. Chhau dance 2010 Eastern India
(West Bengal, Jharkhand,
Odisha)
8. Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: 2012 UT of Ladakh,
recitation of sacred Buddhist texts UT of Jammu & Kashmir
in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh
region, Jammu and Kashmir, India
9. Sankirtana, ritual singing, 2013 Manipur
drumming and dancing of Manipur
10. Traditional brass and copper craft 2014 Punjab
of utensil making among the
Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab,
India
11. Yoga 2016 All States
12. Nawrouz, Novruz, Nowrouz, 2016 All states
Nowrouz, Nawrouz, Nauryz,
Nooruz, Nowruz, Navruz, Nevruz,
Nowruz, Navruz
13. Kumbh Mela 2017 Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh
14. Durga Puja in Kolkata 2021 West Bengal
15. Garba of Gujarat 2023 Gujarat