Parliament Question: Promotion of tourism in Rajasthan

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.148# ANSWERED ON 29.01.2026 PROMOTION OF TOURISM IN RAJASTHAN 148# SHRI MADAN RATHORE: Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state: (a) whether Government is aware that Rajasthan is a major tourism State in the country; (b) if so, the amount of Central assistance provided for the development of tourism infrastructure in the State; (c) whether any new projects have been approved under the Swadesh Darshan and PRASAD schemes; (d) whether Government is planning to promote desert and border tourism in districts such as Jaisalmer and Bikaner; and (e) whether special training would be provided to local youth for tourism-based employment? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) to (e): The Ministry of Tourism recognizes Rajasthan as an important tourist State in the country. While development and promotion of tourism destinations and products and providing trainings for tourism based employment is primarily undertaken by the concerned State Government (SG)/Union Territory Administration (UTA), Ministry of Tourism through its central sector schemes of ‘Swadesh Darshan (SD), Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)’, ‘Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD)’, a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan scheme and ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’ complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure development in the country by extending financial assistance to the SGs/UTAs on receipt of the project proposals from the concerned State Government/Union Territory Administration in synergy with the scheme guidelines, Government directions, availability of funds etc. In addition, the Ministry under its Assistance to Central Agencies (ACA) scheme also provides funds to central agencies for development of tourism infrastructure. Government of India under its ‘Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) – Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale’ has also sanctioned projects with the primary objective to comprehensively develop iconic tourist centres in the country, branding and marketing them at global scale. The Ministry also promotes various tourism destinations and products of the country including those in desert and border areas through its ongoing promotional initiatives. The details of the projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan, SD2.0, PRASHAD, ACA and SASCI schemes in the State of Rajasthan including its desert and border region is annexed. Ministry of Tourism has put in place the Scheme of “Capacity Building for Service Providers” (CBSP) to provide education, training and certification to the tourism service providers at every level. The main objectives of this initiative are to train and up-grade manpower at every strata of service in order to (i) capitalize on the vast tourism potential of the country to the fullest, and (ii) provideprofessional expertise to the local populace as well as create fresh opportunities for employment generation in the tourism sector. Training are conducted from time to time through central/state / impanelled training partners all across the country including the state of Rajasthan. ********ANNEXURE STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.148# ANSWERED ON 29.01.2026 REGARDING PROMOTION OF TOURISM IN RAJASTHAN RAISED BY SHRI MADAN RATHORE Details of the projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan (SD), SD2.0, PRASHAD, SASCI and ACA schemes in the state of Rajasthan: (Amount in ₹Crore) Scheme/ S. Name of the Project/ Experience Circuit/ Year of Amount Sub- No. Destination sanction sanctioned scheme Swadesh 1 Development of Sambhar Lake Town Desert 2015-16 50.01 Darshan and Other Destinations Circuit (SD) 2. Development of Govind Dev ji temple Krishna 2016-17 75.80 (Jaipur), Khatu Shyam Ji (Sikar) and Circuit Nathdwara (Rajsamand) 3. Development of Spiritual Circuit– Spiritual 2016-17 87.05 'Development of Churu (Salasar Circuit Balaji)-Jaipur (Shri Samodke Balaji, Ghatke Balaji, Bandheke Balaji)- Viratnagar (Bijak, Jainnasiya, Ambika Temple)- Bharatpur (Kaman Region)- Dholpur (Muchkund) - Mehndipur Balaji- Chittorgarh (Sanwaliyaji) 4. Development of Heritage Circuit Heritage 2017-18 70.61 Development of Rajsamand Circuit (Kumbhalgarh Fort) - Jaipur (Facade Illumination in Jaipur and Nahargarh Fort) -Jhalawar (Gagron Fort) - Chittorgarh (Chittorgarh Fort) – Jaisalmer (Jaisalmer Fort) - Hanumangarh (Gogamedi) - Udaipur (Pratap Gaurav Kendra) - Dholpur (Bagh-I-Nilofor and Purani Chawani) - Nagaur (Meera Bai Smarak, Merta) - Tonk (Sunehri Kothi) SD2.0 5. Development works at Shri Khatu Sikar 2024-25 87.87 Shyam Ji Temple (Sikar) 6. Spiritual Experience, Keshavraipatan Bundi 2023-24 21.65 7. Development Works at Shri Karni Bikaner 2025-26 22.58 mata mandir, Bikaner dist. 8. Development of MalaseriDungri, Malaseri 2025-26 48.73 Bhilwara District Dungari (District Bhilwara) PRASHAD 9. Integrated Development of Pushkar/ 2015-16 32.64 Pushkar/Ajmer AjmerSASCI 10. Development at Amber-Nahargarh Jaipur 2024-25 49.31 and Surrounding Area in Jaipur 11. Development at Jal Mahal in Jaipur Jaipur 2024-25 96.61 ACA 12. Installation of Musical Fountain & Bundi 2023-24 9.25 Water Screen Multimedia based projection show at Nawal Sagar Lake, Bundi 13. Development of Border Tourism at Jaisalmer 2022-23 17.67 Shri Tanot Complex, Jaisalmer Sector 14. Ajmer Railway Station Ajmer 2014-15 5.52 15. Jaipur Railway Station Jaipur 2014-15 4.88 16. Chittorgarh Railway Station Chittorgarh 2019-20 4.99 *****