Lok Sabha Question No. 157 (STARRED), answered on 2020-03-02
Subject: Inter-Cultural Initiatives
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Upendra Singh Rawat, Kaushal Kishore

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.157 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.03.2020

## INTER-CULTURAL INITIATIVES

## *157  SHRI UPENDRA SINGH RAWAT SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details of the Inter-Cultural initiatives taken by the Government with different countries of the world during the last three years;
- (b) whether  any  tangible  impact  or  positive  outcome  has  been  achieved  by  these interactions including help in promotion of Indian culture; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE & TOURISM

(SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH  PATEL)

- (a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.157 for 02.03.2020 regarding Inter-Cultural Initiatives.

Ministry  of  Culture    signs  bilateral  Cultural  Agreements  (CAs)  /Cultural  Exchange Programme(CEPs)/Memorandum  of  Understanding(MoUs)  with  different  countries having  inter  alia  provisions    for    cooperation  in  the  field  of  music,  dance,  theatre, archives, archaeology, libraries, museums, literature, exhibition, capacity building  etc. The provisions of aforesaid agreements are implemented through different organizations/institutions.  The  list  of  CEPs  signed  during  the  last  three  years  is enclosed at Annexure-I. To  enhance  India's  cultural  outreach  abroad,  Ministry  of  Culture  also  implements  a scheme  for  Promotion  of  International  Cultural  Relations.    This  scheme  has  two components (i) Festival  of  India(FOI)  (ii)    Grant  in  Aid    to  Indo  Foreign  Friendship Societies.    The  activities  undertaken  under  the  scheme  include  music,  dance,  theatre, food festivals, literary festivals, folk arts, yoga, exhibitions, lecture demonstration and workshops  etc.  The  details    of  FOIs  and  Grant  in  aid  to  Indo  Foreign  Friendship Cultural Societies  are enclosed at Annexure II. Indian  Council  for  Cultural  Relations(ICCR),  an  autonomous  organization  under Ministry of External Affairs also foster and strengthen cultural relations between India and  other  countries  through  its  inter  cultural  initiatives.  Details  of  major  activities undertaken by ICCR are enclosed at Annexure III. Missions,  Posts  and diasporas on these cultural events organized abroad.  These events enhance awareness about  Indian  culture  and  India's  soft  power  diplomacy.    All  these    inter  cultural initiatives have been able to popularize and create interest about  Indian art & culture

Positive feedbacks/reports have  been  received  from Indian and  foster closer friendship between India and other countries.

*****

Annexure  referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.*157 for 02.03.2020 regarding Inter-Cultural Initiatives.

## CEPs Signed during the last three years (2016-19)

|   Sl.No | Name of the countries   | Signed on   |
|---------|-------------------------|-------------|
|       1 | Iran                    | 23.05.2016  |
|       2 | JapanMOC                | 11.11.2016  |
|       3 | Mali                    | 29.09.2016  |
|       4 | Morocco                 | 31.05.2016  |
|       5 | Russia 22 nd protocol   | 13.09.2016  |
|       6 | South Africa            | 08.07.2016  |
|       7 | Thailand                | 17.06 2016  |
|       8 | Armenia                 | 25.04.2017  |
|       9 | Cyprus                  | 28.04.2017  |
|      10 | Russia                  | 01.06.2017  |
|      11 | Turkey                  | 01.05.2017  |
|      12 | Netherland (MOU)        | 27.06.2017  |
|      13 | Portugal                | 24.06.2017  |
|      14 | Belarus                 | 12.09.2017  |
|      15 | Italy                   | 30.10.2017  |
|      16 | Myanmar                 | 06.09.2017  |
|      17 | Cambodia                | 27.01.2018  |
|      18 | Jordan                  | 28.02.2018  |
|      19 | Mauritius (POC)         | 12.03.2018  |
|      20 | Bulgaria                | 15.03.2018  |
|      21 | Guyana                  | 30.01.2018  |
|      22 | Serbia (Agreement) (CA) | 03.05.2018  |
|      23 | Seychelles              | 24.06.2018  |
|      24 | Greece                  | 18.06.2018  |
|      25 | Korea                   | 10.07.2018  |
|      26 | Ghana                   | 18.07.2018  |
|      27 | Rwanda                  | 23.07.2018  |
|      28 | Uganda                  | 24.07.2018  |
|      29 | Azerbaijan              | 12.10.2018  |
|      30 | Croatia                 | 22.10.2018  |
|      31 | Tajikistan              | 08.10.2018  |
|      32 | Zimbabwe (MOU)          | 03.11.2018  |
|      33 | Maldives (MOU)          | 17.12.2018  |
|      34 | Algeria                 | 31.01.2019  |
|      35 | Bolivia                 | 29.03.2019  |

Annexure  referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.*157 for 02.03.2020 regarding Inter-Cultural Initiatives.

## Festival of India held during last three years (2016-2019)

| Year      |   No. of Countries | Name of countries                                                                                                                                            |
|-----------|--------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2016-2017 |                 17 | Myanmar,Hungary,Spain,Morocco,Italy,Australia, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kenya,Tanzania,Oman,Senegal,Ghana, Cambodia,Netherlands,Ukraine                |
| 2017-2018 |                 12 | United Kingdom, Ivory Coast (Cote d'ivoire), Liberia and Guinea, Thailand, Brazil, Uzbekistan, Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga, Vanuatu, Nauru, Tuvalu and Cook Island |
| 2018-2019 |                  7 | Tunisia, Russia, Switzerland &Liechtenstein, Croatia, Qatar, Nepal, Colombia &Ecuador                                                                        |

## List of countries where 70 th anniversary of

## India's independence was celebrated under Festival of India

| Sl.No   | Country Name                               | Duration                            | Sl.No   | Country Name                  | Duration                              |
|---------|--------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|---------|-------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
| 1.      | Hungary                                    | 23-25 June 2017                     | 28.     | Sri Lanka                     | 16-21 Nov. 2017                       |
| 2.      | Tunisia                                    | 26 July to 1 Aug 2017               | 29.     | Tanzania                      | 26-31 Oct. 2017                       |
| 3.      | Afghanistan                                | 6-10 Sep 2017                       | 30.     | Turkey                        | 21-25 Aug 2017 11-15 Sept. 2017       |
| 4.      | Belarus                                    | 26-28 Aug 2017                      | 31.     | Turkmenistan                  | 23-27 Aug 2017 14-17 Nov 2017         |
| 5-6.    | Belgium & Luxemburg                        | 11-17 Aug 2017                      | 32-34.  | Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi    | 17-21 Aug 2017 7-11 Nov. 2017         |
| 7.      | Brunei Darussalam                          | 13-17 Aug 2017 9-25,Nov. 2017       | 35.     | Vietnam                       | 14-20 Aug 2017                        |
| 8.      | Chile                                      | 17-21 Aug 2017 19-23 Oct. 2017      | 36.     | Algeria                       | 16-21 Sep. 2017 17-22 Dec. 2017       |
| 9-10.   | Cuba and Dominican Republic                | 8-16 Aug 2017                       | 37.     | Angola                        | 01-03 Oct. 2017 04-12 Jan 2018        |
| 11.     | Czech Republic                             | 14-16 Aug 2017 Sep 26 - Oct 1, 2017 | 38.     | Bahrain                       | 23-25 Nov. 2017 22-26 Nov. 2017       |
| 12.     | Denmark                                    | 17-20 Aug 2017 18-21 Oct. 2017      | 39.     | France                        | 24-28 Oct. 2017 23-19 January 2018    |
| 13- 16. | Ghana, Togo, Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone | 9-17 Aug 2017 24-29 Jan 2017        | 40.     | Portugal                      | Oct. 28 - Nov. 3, 2017                |
| 17.     | Iran                                       | 14-16 Aug 2017                      | 41-42.  | Argentina & Uruguay           | Nov. 2-11, 2017                       |
| 18.     | Japan                                      | 24-30 Aug 2017                      | 43.     | Croatia                       | 17-21 Sep. 2017 7-10 Nov. 2017        |
| 19.     | Laos                                       | 19-21 Aug 2017 25-29 Oct. 2017      | 44-45.  | Switzerland and Liechtenstein | 6-9 Oct. 2017                         |
| 20- 21. | Mexico and Belize                          | 13-22 Aug 2017 24 Jan-3 Feb 2018    | 46-47.  | Armenia and Georgia           | 11-15 Oct. 2017 29 Oct to 2 Nov. 2017 |
| 22.     | Myanmar                                    | 12-16 Aug 2017                      | 48.     | Israel                        | 5-10 Nov. 2017                        |
| 23.     | New Zealand                                | 18-20 Aug 2017                      | 49-50.  | Colombia & Ecuador            | 13-20 Aug 2017 10-17 Dec. 2017        |
| 24.     | Norway                                     | 14-16 Aug 2017                      | 51.     | Venezuela                     | 9-12 Nov 2017 24-28 Jan 2018          |
| 25.     | Oman                                       | 14-16 Aug 2017 8-15 Nov. 2017       | 52.     | Kenya                         | 23-27 Nov. 2017                       |
| 26.     | Seychelles                                 | 21-23 Aug 2017 23-26 October 2017   | 53.     | Sudan                         | 22-25 Nov. 2017                       |
| 27.     | Spain                                      | 14-19 Aug 2017 17-21 Oct. 2017      | 54.     | USA                           | 19-21 November, 2017                  |
|         |                                            |                                     | 55.     | Trinidad and Tobago           | 10-13 November, 2017                  |

## STATEMENT OF GRANT SANCTIONED TO CULTURAL SOCITIES THROUGH INDIAN MISSIONS DURING LAST THREE YEARS

| YEAR      |   NO. OF MISSION |   NO. OF SOCIETIES |
|-----------|------------------|--------------------|
| 2016-2017 |               51 |                350 |
| 2017-2018 |               54 |                379 |
| 2018-2019 |               57 |                404 |

Annexure  referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.*157 for 02.03.2020 regarding Inter-Cultural Initiatives.

## DETAILS OF MAJOR  ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY ICCR DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS 2016-2019

|   S.No. | Activities                                                                                                 |   2016-17 |   2017-18 |   2018-19 |
|---------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|       1 | Number of MoUs' supporting chairs of Indian 74 studies in various foreign universities                     |        74 |        79 |        66 |
|       2 | Number of eminent academicians/ distinguished visitors hosted by ICCR                                      |        14 |        17 |        14 |
|       3 | Number of bronze bust statues of national heroes gifted                                                    |        11 |         7 |        13 |
|       4 | Number of countries to which financial assistance provided for celebration of International Day of Yoga    |       120 |       128 |       172 |
|       5 | Number of foreign groups hosted for cultural programmes in various states of India                         |        53 |        66 |        54 |
|       6 | Number of groups sponsored to participate in various prestigious International Festivals and Events abroad |       166 |       175 |       118 |
|       7 | Number of Exhibitions organised abroad                                                                     |        20 |         7 |         8 |
|       8 | Number of Exhibitions hosted in India                                                                      |         2 |        11 |         4 |
|       9 | Number of foreign students studying in various universities in India                                       |      6569 |      6224 |      5793 |