Lok Sabha Question No. 180 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-25
Subject: Cultural Exchange Programmes
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, Shri Naba Charan Majhi, Shri Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor, Shri Anup Sanjay Dhotre, Smt. Aparajita Sarangi, Shri Vijay Kumar Dubey, Shri Chandra Prakash Joshi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 180

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.11.2024

## CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES

180. SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:

SHRI JASWANTSINH SUMANBHAI BHABHOR:

SHRI ANUP SANJAY DHOTRE:

SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

SHRI VIJAY KUMAR DUBEY:

SHRI NABA CHARAN MAJHI:

SMT. APARAJITA SARANGI:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  different  cultural  exchange  programmes  signed  between  India  and other countries;
- (b) the impact of Cultural Exchange Programmes in showcasing Indian Culture to the World;
- (c) the impact of organizing the 'Festival of India' as a tool for cultural diplomacy of India;

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (Shri GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) &  (b)  Ministry  of  Culture  signs  Cultural  Exchange  Programmes  (CEPs)  for disseminating Indian art and culture across the globe. The  Cultural  Exchange  Programmes  promote  India's  soft  power  for  developing  and strengthening  India's  inter-cultural  relations  with  other  countries.  The  CEPs  facilitate cultural  exchanges  with  the  other  countries  in  different  areas  like  music  and  dance, theatre, museums & science museums, libraries, archives, protection and conservation of historic  monuments  and  archaeological  sites,  literature,  research  &  documentation, festival, among others. As on date Ministry of Culture has CEPs under negotiation with 144 countries. There are valid signed CEPs with 84 countries listed in Annexure-I. Festival of India (FoI) abroad seek to promote India's rich cultural heritage and enhance India's image in the global arena in a concerted manner. FoIs are organized with the aim of having a lasting impact on the people of the country where FoI is held. Thus,

- (c) The they are tools of inter-cultural understanding and cultural diplomacy that project the soft

power of India. This soft approach is expected to benefit Indian in the fields of tourism, health, education, commerce etc. and provide strategic depth to the growing influence of

India. The main focus of Fol is to connect and enhance the perception of India in the minds of citizens  of  the  countries  where  the  festival  is  being  held.  This  would  ultimately  lead  to more tangible results in terms of trade and commerce, inbound tourism, medical tourism, Ayush, etc. Broadly, Festivals of India abroad are conducted with the objectives to:

- i. Promote Indian Culture abroad.
- ii. Strengthen bonds of foreign countries with    India.
- iii. Promote bilateral cultural contacts.
- iv. Project India's cultural image abroad.
- v. Promote inbound tourism.

Since 2013-14 till date, 62 Festivals of India in 59 countries have been held.

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ANNEXURE-I

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a)&(b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 180 FOR 25.11.2024  REGARDING  'CULTURAL  EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES'

LIST OF COUNTRIES WITH WHOM MINISTRY OF CULTURE, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA HAS SIGNED CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMME

|   S. No. | Name of Country   |   S. No. | Name of Country    | S. No.   | Name of Country   |
|----------|-------------------|----------|--------------------|----------|-------------------|
|        1 | Australia         |       31 | Hungary            | 61.      | Sierra Leone      |
|        2 | Algeria           |       32 | Italy              | 62.      | Seychelles        |
|        3 | Armenia           |       33 | Iceland            | 63.      | Suriname          |
|        4 | Bangladesh        |       34 | Jamaica            | 64.      | Sudan             |
|        5 | Bahrain           |       35 | Kenya              | 65.      | South Africa      |
|        6 | Brunei            |       36 | Kazakhstan         | 66.      | Saudi Arabia      |
|        7 | Belarus           |       37 | Kyrgyzstan         | 67.      | Spain             |
|        8 | Brazil            |       38 | Lithuania          | 68.      | Sri Lanka         |
|        9 | Benin             |       39 | Mexico             | 69.      | South Korea       |
|       10 | Botswana          |       40 | Malaysia           | 70.      | Tajikistan        |
|       11 | Bulgaria          |       41 | Malawi             | 71.      | Timor-Leste       |
|       12 | Bolivia           |       42 | Mauritania         | 72.      | Turkmenistan      |
|       13 | Czech Republic    |       43 | Morocco            | 73.      | Tanzania          |
|       14 | Cuba              |       44 | Maldives           | 74.      | Tunisia           |
|       15 | Chile             |       45 | Mauritius          | 75.      | Thailand          |
|       16 | Cambodia          |       46 | Mali               | 76       | Uganda            |
|       17 | China             |       47 | Netherlands        | 77.      | United Kingdom    |
|       18 | Comoros           |       48 | Norway             | 78.      | Ukraine           |
|       19 | Croatia           |       49 | Nigeria            | 79.      | UAE               |
|       20 | Canada            |       50 | Oman               | 80.      | Uzbekistan        |
|       21 | Colombia          |       51 | Panama             | 81.      | Vietnam           |
|       22 | Denmark           |       52 | Portugal           | 82.      | Venezuela         |
|       23 | Djibouti          |       53 | Peru               | 83.      | Zambia            |
|       24 | Ethiopia          |       54 | Rwanda             | 84.      | Zimbabwe          |
|       25 | Ecuador           |       55 | Romania            |          |                   |
|       26 | Egypt             |       56 | Russian Federation |          |                   |
|       27 | Finland           |       57 | Serbia             |          |                   |
|       28 | France            |       58 | Slovakia           |          |                   |
|       29 | Ghana             |       59 | Slovenia           |          |                   |
|       30 | Guyana            |       60 | Senegal            |          |                   |

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