Culture to Pride, Progress in Every Step

Culture to Pride, Progress in Every Step

 

 

Core Vision

Over the last 11 years, India has pursued a culture-led development model that combines heritage conservation, spiritual revival, infrastructure expansion, inclusivity, and global cultural outreach, while integrating modern technology, tourism, and economic growth.

 

1. Heritage Revival & Temple Infrastructure

• Major temple corridors and pilgrimage sites have been redeveloped to enhance access, safety, and spiritual ambience.
• Key projects include Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, Mahakaal Lok (Ujjain), Ram Mandir (Ayodhya), Kedarnath redevelopment, Kamakhya Temple, and Somnath–Parvati Mandir complex.
• These projects combine heritage conservation with urban renewal, crowd management, and pilgrim facilities.

 

2. Pilgrimage Connectivity & Religious Circuits

• Char Dham Highway Project: 825 km network; 616 km completed (as of July 2024).
• Hemkund Sahib Ropeway: 12.4 km, ₹2,730.13 crore, approved by CCEA.
• Buddhist Circuit developed across multiple states with focused investments:
  • Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat.
• Kartarpur Sahib Corridor inaugurated on 9 November 2019 enabling Sikh pilgrimage access.

 

3. Inclusive Heritage Development Schemes

• PRASHAD Scheme: Nearly ₹1,900 crore invested for multi-faith pilgrimage rejuvenation.
• Swadesh Darshan: ₹5,292.91 crore for 76 projects; Swadesh Darshan 2.0 approved 34 projects (2023–25).
• HRIDAY Scheme: Development of 12 heritage cities.
• Focus on inclusivity across temples, mosques, churches, shrines, and sacred landscapes.

 

4. Tourism & Economic Impact

• Foreign Tourist Arrivals (2024): 9.66 million.
• Foreign Exchange Earnings: ₹2,77,842 crore.
• Cultural infrastructure upgrades have directly supported tourism growth and local livelihoods.

 

5. Repatriation of Cultural Artefacts

• Pre-2013: Only 13 antiquities returned.
• Since 2014: 642 antiquities traced.
• USA alone returned 578 artefacts since 2016, the highest by any country.
• Major returns occurred during PM visits in 2016, 2021, and 2023.

 

6. Recognition of Nation Builders

• Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (12 March 2021 – 15 August 2022): Nationwide commemoration of 75 years of Independence.
• Creation of museums, statues, memorials, and cultural spaces celebrating diverse contributors.

 

7. National Memorials & Cultural Landmarks

• Pradhan Mantri Sangrahalaya (2022).
• National War Memorial (2019).
• National Police Memorial (2018).
• Jallianwala Bagh Memorial (2019).
• Tribal Freedom Fighter Museums: 11 museums.
• Bharat Mandapam (2023): World’s tallest Ashtadhatu Nataraja statue.
• New Parliament House (2023): Sengol installation, Constitution Hall, sustainable design.

 

8. Cultural Integration & Spiritual Unity

• Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat launched on 31 October 2016.
• Kashi Tamil Sangamam (1.0, 2.0, 3.0) strengthened civilisational ties.
• Large-scale observances of Sikh Guru Prakash Parvs.
• Global Buddhist Summit highlighted relevance of the Eightfold Path.
• Mahakumbh 2025: Over 66 crore participants.

 

9. Legal & Governance Reform

• Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025:
  • Centralised digitisation.
  • Online portal.
  • Enhanced transparency and accountability.

 

10. Media, Innovation & Soft Power

• WAVES 2025 (Mumbai):
  • Delegates from 100+ countries.
  • ₹1,300 crore business deals.
  • ₹8,000 crore MoUs (Maharashtra).
  • WAVEX startup platform; global tech partnerships (Adobe, Google, NVIDIA).

 

11. Yoga & Ayurveda as Global Connectors

International Day of Yoga

• Proposed at UNGA: 27 Sept 2014.
• First observed: 21 June 2015.
• 2023 participation: ~23.4 crore globally.
• 2025 Theme: “Yoga for One Earth, One Health”.

Ayurveda Globalisation

• WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre at Jamnagar.
• Traditional medicine included in ICD-11.
• 24 country-level & 48 institute-level MoUs.
• Ayush Information Cells in 35 countries.
• Ayush Visa and Heal in India initiatives.
• Ayurveda Day 2024 celebrated in 150 countries.

 

12. UNESCO Heritage Expansion

• India now has 43 World Heritage Sites and 62 tentative sites.
• Latest addition (2024): Moidams of Ahom Dynasty (Assam).
• Heritage preservation linked with education, tourism, and identity-building.

 

Conclusion

India’s cultural policy over the last decade integrates heritage revival, infrastructure, inclusivity, tourism economics, global soft power, and civilisational confidence. Culture has been positioned not as a static legacy but as a dynamic driver of national unity, global engagement, and sustainable development.

 

MCQ:

 

 

Q1. With reference to India’s culture-led development approach over the last 11 years, consider the following components:

1. Heritage conservation
2. Spiritual revival
3. Infrastructure expansion
4. Global cultural outreach

Which of the above are included in the core vision?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1, 2 and 3 only

(c) 1, 2, 3 and 4

(d) 2 and 4 only

 

Q2. Which of the following projects are examples of redevelopment of major temple corridors?

1. Kashi Vishwanath Corridor
2. Mahakaal Lok, Ujjain
3. Ram Mandir, Ayodhya
4. Somnath–Parvati Mandir complex

Select the correct answer:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1, 2 and 3 only

(c) 1, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

 

Q3. The Char Dham Highway Project aims to improve connectivity to which of the following pilgrimage sites?

1. Yamunotri
2. Gangotri
3. Kedarnath
4. Badrinath

Select the correct answer:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

 

Q4. The Hemkund Sahib Ropeway project is best described by which of the following features?

(a) 8.6 km length and PPP model

(b) 12.4 km length approved by CCEA

(c) 15 km length under Swadesh Darshan

(d) 10 km length funded under PRASHAD

 

Q5. The Buddhist Circuit development programme has received focused investments in which of the following states?

1. Bihar
2. Madhya Pradesh
3. Kerala
4. Andhra Pradesh

Select the correct answer:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1, 2 and 4 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 3 and 4 only

 

Q6. The Kartarpur Sahib Corridor is significant because it:

(a) Connects India to Nepal for Buddhist pilgrims

(b) Enables Sikh pilgrims to access Gurdwara Darbar Sahib

(c) Is part of the Char Dham Highway Project

(d) Was developed under the HRIDAY scheme

 

Q7. With reference to PRASHAD and Swadesh Darshan schemes, consider the following statements:

1. PRASHAD focuses on rejuvenation of pilgrimage destinations.
2. Swadesh Darshan supports thematic tourism circuits.
3. HRIDAY focuses exclusively on rural pilgrimage sites.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

 

Q8. Which of the following correctly represents tourism outcomes in 2024?

(a) 6.5 million foreign tourists and ₹1.9 lakh crore earnings

(b) 9.66 million foreign tourists and ₹2,77,842 crore earnings

(c) 12 million foreign tourists and ₹3.5 lakh crore earnings

(d) 7.8 million foreign tourists and ₹2 lakh crore earnings

 

Q9. Consider the following statements regarding repatriation of antiquities:

1. Before 2013, fewer than 20 antiquities were returned.
2. Since 2014, more than 600 antiquities have been traced.
3. The USA has returned the highest number of artefacts to India.

Which of the above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1, 2 and 3

(d) 1 and 3 only

 

Q10. Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav was organised to commemorate:

(a) 70 years of the Republic

(b) 75 years of Independence

(c) 100 years of freedom movement

(d) 75 years of the Constitution

 

Q11. Which of the following monuments were inaugurated after 2018?

1. National War Memorial
2. Pradhan Mantri Sangrahalaya
3. National Police Memorial
4. Bharat Mandapam

Select the correct answer:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 4 only

(c) 1, 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

 

Q12. Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme primarily aims to:

(a) Promote interstate industrial corridors

(b) Enhance cultural exchange and national integration

(c) Develop heritage cities under HRIDAY

(d) Promote foreign tourism exclusively

 

Q13. Which of the following events recorded participation of over 66 crore people?

(a) International Day of Yoga 2023

(b) Global Buddhist Summit

(c) Mahakumbh 2025

(d) Kashi Tamil Sangamam 3.0

 

Q14. With reference to WAVES 2025, consider the following:

1. It is a global summit on media and entertainment.
2. It witnessed MoUs worth ₹8,000 crore by Maharashtra.
3. It led to the establishment of WHO Global Ayurveda Centre.

Which of the above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

 

Q15. Which of the following correctly matches the theme of International Day of Yoga 2025?

(a) Yoga for Humanity

(b) Yoga for Global Peace

(c) Yoga for One Earth, One Health

(d) Yoga for Sustainable Living