Lok Sabha Question No. 174 (STARRED), answered on 2018-07-30
Subject: Promotion of Indian Food Culture
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: NALIN KUMAR KATEEL, DODDAALAHALLI KEMPEGOWDA SURESH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*174

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2018

## PROMOTION OF INDIAN FOOD CULTURE

## *174.SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL:

## SHRI D.K. SURESH:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that our country has a rich and most unique culinary heritage in the world;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  Indian  food  aims  to  balance  various  requirements  of  health  of  a  person according to the season in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  the steps taken/being taken by the Government to promote Indian food culture to keep away the diseases of the modern day world?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) FOR CULTURE AND

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  to  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *174 FOR 30 TH  JULY, 2018

- (a) & (b) Government is  aware  that  India  has  a  rich  culinary  heritage.    Most  of  our traditional food has evolved over centuries.

Indian  cuisine  encompasses  a  wide  variety  of  regional  cuisines  native  to India.    Given  the  range  of  diversity  in  soil  type,  climate,  culture,  ethnic  group  and occupations,  these  cuisines  vary  significantly  from  each  other  and  use  locally  available spices, herbs, vegetables and fruits.  Almost all states have their unique recipes.

- (c) Indian foods are often based on a holistic approach to nutrition, as required by local people with a combination of carbohydrate, protein and fat.  Such food is prepared with  locally  available  ingredients  and  found  to  have  its  own  therapeutic  and  nutritional benefits.

Indian  food  has  a  close  association  with  Ayurveda  and  naturopathy  based eating habits  which  helps a person  to stay healthy.  Some  of  the  examples  are consumption of food according to the season like chhach, lassi, shikanji, kokum sherbat, belsharbat etc. during summer and raab, shorbas, kesar milk, kahwa etc. during winter.

- (d) The Government is committed to promote Indian food culture and to create awareness  about  its  importance  in  keeping  away  the  modern  day  life  style  related diseases. The Ministry of Tourism has recently set up an Indian Culinary Institute, Tirupati and its centre at Noida with Research and Documentation in the field of Indian cuisine is one  of  its  primary  objectives.  Ministry  of  Tourism  is  also  involved  in  this  endeavour  by organizing various food festivals in different parts of world to promote our food culture.

The Ministry  of  Tourism  releases  global  print,  electronic  and  online  media campaigns in important and potential markets overseas and within the country under the 'Incredible  India'  to  promote  various  tourism  destinations  of  the  country  including  the Indian cuisine.