**Executive Summary**
This document, posted on February 4, 2026, outlines tourism development initiatives in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao, Assam, implemented by the Ministry of Tourism through various central sector schemes such as Swadesh Darshan (SD), Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0), Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) and Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI). It details projects sanctioned and amounts allocated, as provided by the Union Minister for Tourism and Culture.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Ministry of Tourism Schemes:**
* The Ministry of Tourism provides financial assistance to State Governments (SGs) and Union Territory Administrations (UTAs) for tourism infrastructure development.
* Schemes include Swadesh Darshan (SD), Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0), Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD), and Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI).
* Schematic guidelines are issued for the development of Homestays in Tribal Areas under the Swadesh Darshan scheme.
* **Focus on Eco-Tourism and Adventure Tourism:**
* The Ministry promotes eco-tourism and adventure tourism in Assam through regular promotional activities.
* Promotions include websites, events, and social media.
* National Strategies for Eco-tourism and Adventure Tourism have been issued.
* **Sanctioned Projects in Assam:**
* Details of projects sanctioned under SD, SD2.0, CBDD, PRASHAD and SASCI schemes in Assam are provided, including project name, destination, year of sanction, amount sanctioned, and amount released/utilized.
* **Projects Sanctioned:**
* **Swadesh Darshan (SD)**: Development of Wildlife Circuit (2015-16) and Heritage Circuit (2016-17).
* **SD2.0**: Kokrajhar Wetland Experience and Reimagining Cinnamara Tea Estate (2023-24).
* **CBDD**: Panidhing Bird Sanctuary (2024-25).
* **SASCI**: Assam State Zoo Cum Botanical Garden and Beautification of Rang Ghar (2024-25).
* **PRASHAD**: Development of Kamakhya Temple and Pilgrimage Destination (2015-16).
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Governments (SGs) / Union Territory Administrations (UTAs)**
* **Impact**: Can access financial assistance for tourism infrastructure development through Ministry of Tourism schemes.
* **Action Required**: Submit project proposals to the Ministry of Tourism in accordance with scheme guidelines, government directions, and fund availability.
**Stakeholder: Assam Tourism Sector**
* **Impact**: Benefits from the development and promotion of tourism destinations and products in the state through various schemes.
* **Action Required**: Leverage the sanctioned projects for eco-tourism, adventure tourism, and promotion of the state's natural beauty and biodiversity.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Tourism**
* **Impact**: Responsible for implementing central sector schemes, providing financial assistance, and monitoring the progress of sanctioned projects.
* **Action Required**: Ensure effective implementation of schemes, disbursement of funds, and assessment of project outcomes.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of rules, regulations and laws relating to the development and promotion of tourism in India.
Swadesh Darshan (SD): Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Tourism for integrated development of theme based tourist circuits in India.
Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD): Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Tourism for integrated development of pilgrimage destinations in India.
Assam: A state in northeast India, the location of the tourism development initiatives.
Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI): Scheme that sanctions projects for 'Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale'.
Ministry of Tourism
Tourism Development Initiatives in Karbi Anglong
and Dima Hasao, Assam
Posted On: 04 FEB 2026 2:29PM by PIB Delhi
While identification, development and promotion of tourism destinations and products 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 2.0 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, inter-
se priority etc. In addition, the Ministry of Tourism has also issued schematic guidelines for development
of Homestays in Tribal Areas under Swadesh Darshan scheme. The schemes of the Ministry of Tourism
are applicable for the whole country including the state of Assam.
Government of India under its ‘Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) –
Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale’ scheme, has also sanctioned projects in the
country with the primary objective to comprehensively develop iconic tourist centres in the country,
branding and marketing them at global scale.
The Ministry of Tourism holistically promotes eco-tourism and adventure tourism to leverage natural
beauty and biodiversity of the country including Assam through its regular promotional activities. Such
promotions are undertaken through various promotional tools such as website, events, social media etc. In
addition, the Ministry also issued National Strategy for Eco-tourism and National Strategy Adventure
Tourism.
The details of the projects sanctioned under SD, SD2.0, CBDD, PRASHAD and SASCI schemes in the
state of Assam is annexed.
This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in
a written reply in Lok Sabha ON 2nd February 2026.
****
Sunil Kumar Tiwari
tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com
ANNEXURE
Details of the projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan (SD), SD2.0, CBDD, SASCI and
PRASHAD schemes in the state of Assam:
(Amount in ₹Crore)Scheme/ S. Name of the Circuit/ Year of Amount Amount
Sub- No. Project/ Destination sanction sanctioned Released (R)/
scheme Experience utilized (U)/
Released or
authorized
for utilization
(A)
Swadesh 1 Development of Wildlife 2015-16 94.68 94.68 (U)
Darshan Manas– Circuit
(SD) Probitora–
Nameri–
Kaziranga–
Dibru– Saikhowa
2. Development of Heritage 2016-17 90.98 90.97 (U)
Tezpur – Majuli – Circuit
Sibsagar
SD2.0 3. Kokrajhar Kokrajhar 2023-24 26.68 2.67 (A)
Wetland
Experience
4. Reimagining Jorhat 2023- 24 23.88 2.39 (A)
Cinnamara Tea
Estate
CBDD 5. Panidhing Bird Sivasagar 2024-25 9.99 1.00 (A)
Sanctuary (under
Eco-tourism and
Amrit Dharohar
category)
SASCI 6. Assam State Zoo Guwahati 2024-25 97.12
Cum Botanical 126.64 (A)
Garden in
Guwahati
7. Beautification of Sivasagar 2024-25 94.76
Rang Ghar in
SivasagarPRASHAD 8. Development Guwahati 2015-16 29.80 29.80 (U)
of Kamakhya
Temple and
Pilgrimage
Destination in and
around Guwahati
(Release ID: 2223037) Visitor Counter : 114
Read this release in: Urdu