**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1217, answered on December 8, 2025, regarding the sustainability and performance of the Swadesh Darshan Scheme 2.0 (SDS 2.0). It outlines the government's efforts to develop and promote sustainable tourism, emphasizing the Challenge-Based Destination Development (CBDD) initiative. The document also includes annexures detailing projects sanctioned under both SDS 2.0 and CBDD, including specific locations, years of sanction, project names, categories, and sanctioned amounts.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Swadesh Darshan Scheme 2.0 (SDS 2.0)**
* Revamped scheme by the Ministry of Tourism for sustainable and responsible tourism destinations.
* Focuses on broad-basing the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee, strategic selection of destinations, hard and soft interventions, project implementation, monitoring, and maintenance on a sustainable basis.
* Emphasizes the enhancement of tourism's contribution to local economies, job creation, and the promotion of local culture and natural resources.
* **Challenge-Based Destination Development (CBDD)**
* Launched under SDS 2.0 to promote holistic destination development and enhance tourist experiences.
* Identifies destinations under thematic categories: spiritual tourism, culture & heritage, vibrant village programme, and Ecotourism & Amrit Dharohar sites.
* Emphasizes the strengthening of Destination Management Organizations.
* **Project Sanctions**
* Lists projects sanctioned under SDS 2.0 and CBDD in various states/UTs with details including:
* State/UT
* Year of Sanction
* Destination
* Name of the Experience/Project
* Category
* Sanctioned Amount (in Crores)
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments (SGs)/Union Territory Administrations (UTAs)**
* **Impact**
* SGs/UTAs are primarily responsible for the development and promotion of tourist destinations and the updating of Destination Master Plans (DMPs). They will receive financial assistance from the Ministry of Tourism.
* **Action Required**
* SGs/UTAs must submit project proposals under the relevant schemes, aligning with scheme guidelines and considering government instructions and fund availability.
**Local Communities**
* **Impact**
* SDS 2.0 aims to enhance the contribution of tourism to local economies, create jobs, and promote local culture and natural resources, positively impacting local communities.
* **Action Required**
* Engage with tourism-related activities and opportunities to leverage the benefits offered by the SDS 2.0 scheme.
**Ministry of Tourism**
* **Impact**
* Ministry of Tourism is responsible for complementing state and union territory efforts by providing financial assistance to the SGs/UTAs.
* **Action Required**
* Ministry of Tourism needs to continue monitoring the implementation of SDS 2.0 projects, and administer the CBDD initiative effectively, ensuring alignment with the scheme's objectives.
Key Entities Referenced
Swadesh Darshan (SD): A scheme to develop tourism infrastructure and experiences in the country.
Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0): A revamped version of the Swadesh Darshan scheme focused on sustainable and responsible tourism destinations.
Challenge-Based Destination Development (CBDD): An initiative under SD 2.0 for the holistic development of destinations and to enhance tourist experiences.
Ministry of Tourism: The central government ministry responsible for the development and promotion of tourism in India.
Odisha: A state in India where several projects under Swadesh Darshan are being implemented.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TOURISM
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1217
ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025
SUSTAINABILITY AND PERFORMANCE OF SDS 2.0
1217. SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:
SHRI KRISHNA PRASAD TENNETI:
SHRI DILIP SAIKIA:
SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH:
SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:
SHRI SUKANTA KUMAR PANIGRAHI:
SMT. KAMLESH JANGDE:
SHRI GOPAL JEE THAKUR:
SHRI NABA CHARAN MAJHI:
SHRI VIJAY KUMAR DUBEY:
Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:
(a) the manner in which the Government is ensuring environmental and
socio-cultural sustainability in Swadesh Darshan (SD) 2.0 projects in
view of gaps found in Swadesh Darshan (SD) 1.0 audits along with the
manner in which these safeguards are being applied in destinations in
Odisha;
(b) whether any mechanisms have been established to keep Destination
Master Plans (DMPs) updated with carrying-capacity data, climate
risks and sudden tourist surges, particularly for high-pressure sites in
Odisha;
(c) the reasons for introducing the Challenge-Based Destination
Development (CBDD) approach under SD 2.0 along with the details of
the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used to assess the
performance of the 42 selected destinations, including those located
in Odisha;
(d) the manner in which SD 2.0 aligns with the "Vocal for Local'' mission
to ensure that tourism infrastructure, procurement and service
contracts promote local employment, MSMEs, artisans and
community-led tourism particularly in Odisha; and
(e) whether any site has been selected under the said scheme in
Darbhanga Lok Sabha Constituency in Bihar and if so, the details
thereof?ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) to (e): Development and promotion of tourist destinations and tourism
products along-with formulating & updating of Destination Master Plans
(DMPs) is primarily undertaken by the respective State Government (SG)/
Union Territory Administration (UTA). However, the Ministry of Tourism
complements these efforts by providing financial assistance to the
SGs/UTAs through its various schemes including Swadesh Darshan scheme
(SDS), to develop tourism infrastructure and experiences in the country; on
receipt of the project proposals from the concerned SGs/UTAs under the
relevant schemes in synergy with the scheme guidelines, Government
instructions, availability of funds etc.
The Ministry of Tourism revamped its Swadesh Darshan scheme as
Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) with the idea to develop sustainable and
responsible tourism destinations. The areas identified for improvement
under SD2.0 include broad basing of Central Sanctioning and Monitoring
Committee, strategic selection of destinations, focus on both hard & soft
interventions, strengthening of project implementation & monitoring,
operation & maintenance on sustainable basis etc. As per the scheme
guidelines, the State prepares a State Perspective plan analysing tourism
potential of various destinations based on multiple factors including major
tourism attractions, offerings and themes, connectivity, current tourism
eco-system, future tourism potential at destination etc. SD2.0 scheme also
envisages enhancement of contribution of tourism to the local economies,
creation of jobs for local communities, enhance local cultural and natural
resources etc.
Subsequent to Budget Announcement 2023-24, Ministry of Tourism
launched Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) initiative,
under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme with the intention of holistic
development of destinations and to enhance tourist experiences.
Destinations were identified under 4 thematic categories viz. spiritual
tourism, culture & heritage, vibrant village programme and Ecotourism &
Amrit Dharohar sites. The initiative also emphasises on strengthening of
Destination Management Organizations.
The details of the projects sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism under
SD2.0 and CBDD in the country including the State of Odisha and Bihar is
annexed.
********ANNEXURE
STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO .1217 ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025 REGARDING
SUSTAINABILITY AND PERFORMANCE OF SDS 2.0 RAISED BY SHRI
BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB, SHRI KRISHNA PRASAD TENNETI, SHRI DILIP
SAIKIA, SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH, SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL, SHRI
SUKANTA KUMAR PANIGRAHI, SMT. KAMLESH JANGDE, SHRI GOPAL JEE
THAKUR, SHRI NABA CHARAN MAJHI AND SHRI VIJAY KUMAR DUBEY
Details of Project sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme
S. State/UT Year of Destination Name of the Sanctioned
No. Sanction Experience Amount
(₹ Crore)
1. Andhra 2024-25 Bapatala Development of 97.52
Pradesh Suryalanka
Beach
Experience
2. Andhra 2023-24 Araku- Borra Cave 29.88
Pradesh Lambasingi Experience at
Araku
3. Arunachal 2023-24 Nacho Unlock Nacho 14.02
Pradesh Expedition
4. Arunachal 2023-24 Mechuka Mechuka 18.48
Pradesh Cultural Haat
5. Arunachal 2023-24 Mechuka Mechuka 12.75
Pradesh Adventure
Park
6. Assam 2023-24 Kokrajhar Kokrajhar 26.67
Wetland
Experience
7. Assam 2023-24 Jorhat Reimagining 23.88
Cinnamara
Tea Estate
8. Bihar 2024-25 Bodh Gaya Development 165.44
of the
Buddhist
Meditation
&Experience
Centre, Bodh
Gaya9. Chhattisgarh 2024-25 Kawardha Bhoramdeo 145.99
Corridor
Development,
Kabirdham
District
10. D adra Nagar 2024-25 Daman Daman 147.13
& Haveli and Convention
Daman & Diu Centre
11. G oa 2023-24 Porvorim Porvorim 24.07
Creek
Experience
12. G oa 2023-24 Colva Colva Beach 19.89
Experience
13. H aryana 2024-25 Panchkula Development 26.68
of Adventure
Tourism Hub
at Tikkar Taal
and Adventure
Park
14. H aryana 2024-25 Panchkula Rejuvenation 65.82
of Yadavindra
Garden
15. H imachal 2024-25 Maa Development 56.26
Pradesh Chintpurni of Maa
Temple Chintpurni
(District - Devi Temple,
Una) Una
16. K arnataka 2023-24 Hampi Setting up of 25.64
‘Traveller
nooks’
17. K arnataka 2023-24 Mysuru Tonga ride 2.72
Heritage
experience
zone
18. K arnataka 2023-24 Mysuru Ecological 18.48
Experience
Zone
19. K erala 2023-24 Kumarakom Kumarakom 13.81
Bird Sanctuary
Experience
20. K erala 2024-25 Alappuzha Alappuzha: A 93.18
Global Water
Wonderland21. K erala 2024-25 Malampuzha Enhancement 75.87
of Tourist
Experience at
Malampuzha
Garden and
Leisure Park
22. L adakh 2023-24 Leh Julley Leh 23.17
Biodiversity
Park
23. L adakh 2023-24 Kargil Exploring LOC 11.91
and
Hundarman
village
Experience
24. L akshadweep 2024-25 Bangaram Enhancement 81.18
of Tourist
Experience at
Bangaram
25. M adhya 2023-24 Gwalior Phoolbagh 16.74
Pradesh Experience
Zone
26. M adhya 2023-24 Chitrakoot Spiritual 27.21
Pradesh experience at
Chitrakoot
27. M adhya 2024-25 Pitambara Development 44.24
Pradesh Peeth, Datia of Pitambara
Peeth Datia
28. M aharashtra 2023-24 Pune Shivsrushti 76.22
Historical
Theme Park-
Phase 3
29. M eghalaya 2023-24 Sohra Waterfall 27.60
Trails
Experience
30. M eghalaya 2023-24 Sohra Meghalayan 32.45
Age Cave
Experience
31. M izoram 2024-25 Champhai Eco Resort 38.85
Experience at
Keilungliah,
Zote,
Ngur&Mualbuhvum,
Champhai
32. M izoram 2024-25 Champhai Heritage and 33.87
Cultural
Centre,
Champhai
33. M izoram 2025-26 Thingsulthliah Construction 99.71
of Conference
Centre
34. N agaland 2023-24 Chumoukedim Eco-Tourism 7.87
a Exp at
Chumoukedim
a viewpoint
35. N agaland 2023-24 Chumuoukedi Tribal Cultural 21.56
ma Experience at
Midway
Retreat
36. N agaland 2024-25 Chumuoukedi Adventure 32.54
ma Tourism
Experience at
Jacob Village,
Chumoukedie
ma
37. P uducherry 2023-24 Karaikal Karaikal 20.29
beach and
waterfront
experience
38. P unjab 2023-24 Kapurthala Eco Tourism 20.06
experience at
Kanjli wetland
39. P unjab 2023-24 Amritsar Border 25.91
Tourism
Experience at
Attari
40. R ajasthan 2023-24 Bundi Spiritual 21.65
Experience,
Keshavraipata
n
41. R ajasthan 2024-25 Sikar Development 87.87
works at Shri
Khatu Shyam
Ji Temple
(Sikar)42. R ajasthan 2024-25 Karni Mata Development 22.58
temple, Works at Shri
Bikaner dist. Karni mata
mandir,
Bikaner
43. R ajasthan 2024-25 MalaseriDung Development 48.73
ari (District - of
Bhilwara) MalaseriDungr
i, Bhilwara
District
44. S ikkim 2023-24 Gyalshing Eco-Wellness 15.41
Experience at
Yuksom
Cluster
45. S ikkim 2023-24 Gangtok Gangtok 22.60
Cultural
Village
46. T amil Nadu 2023-24 Mamallapura Immersive 30.02
m experience at
Shore Temple
47. T elangana 2023-24 Bhongir Bhongir Fort 56.82
Experiential
Zone
48. T elangana 2023-24 Ananathagiri Eco tourism 38.01
zone at
Ananathgiri
forest
49. T ripura 2024-25 Agartala Tripura 48.95
Heritage
Village &
Sangeet
Experience at
Agartala
(Phase-1 &2)
50. U ttar 2023-24 Prayagraj Azad Park and 14.52
Pradesh Dekho
Prayagraj Trail
Exp
51. U ttar 2023-24 Naimisaranya Vedic- 17.80
Pradesh wellness
Experience
52. U ttarakhand 2023-24 Pithoragarh Rural Tourism 17.86
ClusterExperience at
Gunji
53. U ttarakhand 2023-24 Champawat Tea Garden 19.89
Experience
TOTAL AMOUNT 2208.27
Details of Project sanctioned under Challenge-Based Destination
Development
S. State/UT Year of Name of the Category Sanctione
No. Sanction Project d Amount
(₹ Crore)
Andhra Ahobilam-A Spiritual
1 2024-25 25.00
Pradesh spiritual Odyssey Tourism
Enriching Buddhist Culture &
Heritage and Heritage
Andhra
2 2024-25 Cultural 25.00
Pradesh
Experiences at
Nagarjuna Sagar
Ecotouris
Bichom Dam m and
Arunachal
3 2024-25 Adventure & Eco- Amrit 9.90
Pradesh
Tourism Project Dharohar
Sites
Kibhito Frontier Vibrant
Arunachal
4 2024-25 Tourism - Gateway Village 4.96
Pradesh
to Serenity Programme
Ecotouris
Panidhing Bird m and
5 Assam 2024-25 Sanctuary, Amrit 9.99
Sivasagar Dharohar
Sites
Development of Culture &
Tourist Facilities at Heritage
6 Bihar 2024-25 24.29
Sonepur Mela
Ground, Saran
Ecotouris
Development of
m and
MayaliBagicha as
7 Chhattisgarh 2024-25 Amrit 9.97
Eco Tourism
Dharohar
Destination
Sites
Beautification and Ecotouris
8 Goa 2024-25 9.81
Development of m andHarvalem Waterfall Amrit
at Mayem Village Dharohar
Sites
Transformation of Culture &
sharmishtha Lake: Heritage
9 Gujarat 2024-25 17.29
Light & culture at
Vadnagar
The Sacred Ocean Spiritual
Retreat at Tourism
10 Gujarat 2024-25 24.66
Harsiddhi Shore,
Porbandar
THOL: Ecotouris
Transformative m and
Tourism' Amrit
Harmonious Dharohar
11 Gujarat 2024-25 9.96
Sustainability, Sites
Optimized Skilling'
Leading
Technology
Tourism Culture &
Himachal Infrastructure Heritage
12 2024-25 24.82
Pradesh Development at
Kaza
Tourism Vibrant
Infrastructure Village
Himachal
13 2024-25 Development at Programme 4.96
Pradesh
Rakchham,
Chhitkul
Tourism Spiritual
Infrastructure Tourism
14 Jharkhand 2024-25 Development at 18.87
Ramrekha Dham,
Simdega
Thalassery: The Spiritual
15 Kerala 2024-25 25.00
Spiritual Nexus Tourism
Varkala- Dakshin Culture &
16 Kerala 2024-25 25.00
Kashi Heritage
Advancing Ecotourism
Mushkoh as a and Amrit
Sustainable Dharohar
17 Ladakh 2024-25 9.82
Tourism Hub: Sites
Integrating wildlife
Sightings andcommunity
progress
Madhya Medieval Splendor Spiritual
18 2024-25 25.00
Pradesh 2.0, Orchha Tourism
Development of Culture &
19 Maharashtra 2024-25 25.00
Ahmednagar Fort Heritage
Development of Culture &
Ancient capital of Heritage
20 Manipur 2024-25 24.69
Manipur,
LangthabalKonug
Mawphlang cultural Culture &
21 Meghalaya 2024-25 24.87
& Heritage centre Heritage
Nartiang Spiritual Spiritual
22 Meghalaya 2024-25 24.87
& Cultural Centre Tourism
Soulful Trails: The Spiritual
Impur Heritage Tourism
23 Nagaland 2024-25 24.94
Experience, Impur
Village
Development of Ecotouris
wings over Doyang: m and
24 Nagaland 2024-25 An Eco-Tourism Amrit 10.00
Haven' Doyang Dharohar
Reservoir Sites
Development of Culture &
25 Puducherry 2024-25 22.19
White Town Heritage
Cultural and Culture &
Heritage Strech at Heritage
26 Punjab 2024-25 25.00
Hussainiwala
Border, Ferozepur
Heritage street -A Spiritual
Symbol of peace Tourism
27 Punjab 2024-25 and Harmony at Sri 24.90
Anandpur Sahib,
Rupnagar
Echoes of Valor: Vibrant
The Gnathang Village
28 Sikkim 2024-25 5.00
Valley Experience," Programme
Gnathang Village
Kabi Chronicles: A Spiritual
journey through Tourism
29 Sikkim 2024-25 24.96
Unity and Heritage,
Kabi, Manganlconic Spiritual
30 Tamil Nadu 2024-25 Transformation of Tourism 20.01
Rameswaram
Digital Experience Culture &
Centre at Heritage
31 Telangana 2024-25 24.85
Bhuddhavanam in
Nalgonda
Development of Ecotourism
Eco-Tourism and Amrit
32 Telangana 2024-25 9.98
Project at Nizam Dharohar
Sagar, Kamareddy Sites
Development of Culture &
Uttar
33 2024-25 Cultural Landscape Heritage 24.98
Pradesh
at Mahoba
Development of Vibrant
34 Uttarakhand 2024-25 Jadung Festive Village 4.99
Ground', Jadung Programme
Development of Spiritual
Kainchidham Tourism
35 Uttarakhand 2024-25 17.60
campus,
Kainchidham
Vibrant
36 Uttarakhand 2024-25 Mana Haat project Village 4.99
Programme
Total 648.11
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