Lok Sabha Question No. 198 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-21
Subject: Cultural Exchange Programmes
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Dr. Rajkumar Sangwan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 198

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025

## CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES

## ✝ 198.   Dr. Rajkumar Sangwan:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of countries with which India has signed Cultural Exchange Programmes during the last four years and the current year;
- (b)    the details of the areas covered under these Cultural Exchange Programmes;
- (c) the  details  of  the  Memorandums  of  Understanding (MoUs)  signed  by  the  Government organisations with cultural Organisations of other countries; and
- (d)    the details of the specific areas of cooperation established through these MoUs?

## ANSWER

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

(a) &  (b) Ministry  of  Culture,  Government  of  India  has  signed  Cultural  Exchange  Programmes (CEPs) with 41 countries (as per list attached at Annexure-I) for disseminating Indian art and culture abroad  to  promote  India's  soft  power  and  for  developing  and  promoting  inter-cultural  relations between  India  and  other countries  in  different  areas  of  arts  and  culture  like  music,  dance,  theatre, museums & science museums, libraries, archives, protection and conservation of historic monuments and archaeological sites, literature, research & documentation, festival, anthropology, among others.

- (c) & (d) The details of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed by different Organizations under the aegis of Ministry of Culture as per existing CEPs or otherwise with corresponding Cultural Organizations  of  other  Countries  for  partnership  and  collaboration  in  different  areas  of  arts  and culture along with specific areas of cooperation established through these MoUs are given at Annexure-

******

## DETAILS  OF  CULTURAL  EXCHANGE  PROGRAMMES  SIGNED  WITH  OTHER COUNTRIES DURING THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND THE CURRENT YEAR

| 2021    | 2021                  | 2021             | 2021      | 2021       | 2021              |
|---------|-----------------------|------------------|-----------|------------|-------------------|
| SI. No. | Name of the countries | Name of Document | Period    | Signed on  | Enabling clause   |
| 1       | Russia                | CEP              | 2021-2024 | 02.12.2021 | Valid for 4 Years |
| 2       | Serbia                | CEP              | 2021-2025 | 11.10.2021 | Valid for 5 Years |
| 3       | Uzbekistan            | CEP              | 2021-2025 | 24.09.2021 | Valid for 5 Years |

| 2022   | 2022                  | 2022             | 2022      | 2022       | 2022                                       |
|--------|-----------------------|------------------|-----------|------------|--------------------------------------------|
| SI. No | Name of the countries | Name of Document | Period    | Signed on  | Enabling clause                            |
| 1      | Greece                | CEP              | 2022-2026 | 23.03.2022 | Valid Till 31.12.2026                      |
| 2      | Turkmenistan          | POC              | 2022-2025 | 02.04.2022 | Valid Till 31.12.2025                      |
| 3      | Panama                | CEP              | 2022-2026 | 29.04.2022 | Valid for 4 Years or till a new CEP signed |
| 4      | Denmark               | CEP              | 2022-2026 | 30.04.2022 | Valid for 5 Years                          |
| 5      | Senegal               | CEP              | 2022-2026 | 01.06.2022 | Valid for 5 years or till a new CEP signed |
| 6      | Kyrgyzstan            | CEP              | 2022-2026 | 11.06.2022 |                                            |
| 7      | Kazakhstan            | CEP              | 2022-2025 | 13.06.2022 | Valid Till 31.12.2025                      |
| 8      | Romania               | CEP              | 2022-2027 | 1.07.2022  | Valid for 5 years or till a new CEP signed |
| 9      | Vietnam               | CEP              | 2022-2025 | 15.12.2022 | Valid Till 31.12.2025                      |
| 10     | Thailand              | CEP              | 2022-2027 | 22.12.2022 | Valid till new CEP is signed               |

| 2023    | 2023                  | 2023             | 2023      | 2023       | 2023                                                                   |
|---------|-----------------------|------------------|-----------|------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| SI. No. | Name of the countries | Name of Document | Period    | Signed on  | Enabling clause                                                        |
| 1       | Egypt                 | MOU              | 2023-2028 | 25.01.2023 | Valid for 5 Years or till a new MoU signed                             |
| 2       | South Korea (ROK)     | CEP              | Till 2026 |            | Valid till new Programme is signed                                     |
| 3       | Slovak republic       | POC              | 2023-2026 | 04.03.2023 | Valid till 31.12.2026 and thereafter automatically renewed 3 years.    |
| 4       | Colombia              | CEP              | 2023-2026 | 26.04.2023 | Valid till 31.12.2026, thereafter automatically renewed for successive |

|    |           |      |           |            | periods of 4 years                                                              |
|----|-----------|------|-----------|------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  5 | Mauritius | POC  | 2023-2026 | 06.07.2023 | Valid till 31.12.2026                                                           |
|  6 | Tanzania  | CEP  | 2023-2027 | 09.10.2023 | Valid for five year or till new Programme is signed                             |
|  7 | Italy     | EPCC | 2023-2027 | 02.11.2023 | Valid till 31.12.2027                                                           |
|  8 | Belarus   | POC  | 2023-2025 | 09.11.2023 | Valid for three year or till a fresh Programme is signed                        |
|  9 | Kenya     | CEP  | 2023-2027 | 05.12.2023 | Valid for five years and thereafter automatically extend for period of 5 years  |
| 10 | Croatia   | CEP  | 2023-2025 | 15.12.2023 | Valid till 15.12.2025 or new CEP is signed                                      |
| 11 | Oman      | MoU  | ---       | 15.12.2023 | Valid for five years and thereafter automatically extend for periods of 5 years |

| 2024    | 2024                  | 2024             | 2024      | 2024       | 2024                                                                            |
|---------|-----------------------|------------------|-----------|------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| SI. No. | Name of the countries | Name of Document | Period    | Signed on  | Enabling clause                                                                 |
| 1       | Timor-Leste           | CEP              | 2024-2028 | 10.08.2024 | Valid for five years or till a fresh Programme is signed                        |
| 2       | Ukraine               | PCC              | 2024-2028 | 23.08.2024 | Valid for four years or till a fresh Programme is signed                        |
| 3       | Malaysia              | POC              | ----      | 20.08.2024 | Valid for five years and thereafter automatically extend for periods of 5 years |
| 4       | Jamaica               | MoU              | 2024-2029 | 30.09.2024 | Valid for five years or until a fresh MoU is signed                             |
| 5       | Malawi                | MoU              | 2024-2029 | 18.10.2024 | Valid for five years                                                            |
| 6       | Kuwait                | CEP              | 2025-2029 | 22.12.2024 | Valid for four years or till a fresh Programme is signed                        |
| 7       | Mauritania            | CEP              | 2024-2028 | 16.10.2024 | Valid for five years or till a fresh Programme is signed                        |
| 8       | Spain                 | CEP              | 2024-2028 | 28.10.2024 | Valid for four years or till a fresh Programme is signed                        |
| 9       | Nigeria               | PCCE             | 2024-2029 | 15.11.2024 | Valid for five years                                                            |
| 10      | Guyana                | CEP              | 2024-2027 | 19.11.2024 | Valid for four years or till a fresh Programme is signed                        |

| 2025    | 2025                  | 2025             | 2025      | 2025       | 2025                                 |
|---------|-----------------------|------------------|-----------|------------|--------------------------------------|
| SI. No. | Name of the countries | Name of Document | Period    | Signed on  | Enabling clause                      |
| 1       | Indonesia             | CEP              | 2025-2028 | 24.01.2025 | Valid for four year                  |
| 2.      | Bolivia               | PCE              | 2025-2027 | 20.03.2025 | Valid till a new Programme is signed |

|   3. | Chile           | CEP   | ----      | 01.04.2025   | Valid for five years or till a fresh Programme is signed   |
|------|-----------------|-------|-----------|--------------|------------------------------------------------------------|
|    4 | UK              | CEP   | 2025-2030 | 02.05.2025   | Valid for five year                                        |
|    5 | Angola          | CEP   | 2025-2029 | 03.05.2025   | Valid for four year                                        |
|    6 | Ghana           | CEP   | 2025-2030 | 02.07.2025   | Valid for five years or till a fresh Programme is signed   |
|    7 | Trinidad Tobago | PoC   | 2025-2028 | 04.07.2025   | Valid for three years                                      |

******

## Details of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the organizations of Ministry of Culture, Government of India with other countries in respective areas of cooperation

|   S.NO. | Name of Indian Organization                   | Name of the Country                                                                                                      | Area of Cooperation                                               |
|---------|-----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | 2                                             | 3                                                                                                                        | 4                                                                 |
|       1 | National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) of | United Kingdom (signed a Memorandum Understanding (MoU) with the Science Museum Group, London on 10 th September, 2024.) | Professional exchanges/workshops to promote science communication |
|       2 | Victoria Memorial Hall,Kolkata                | United Kingdom (with Natural History Museum, London, and British Council)                                                | Educational activities                                            |
|       3 | Victoria Memorial Hall,Kolkata                | France (with Consulate General of France and Alliance francaise du Bengale) 2022-23                                      | Music performances                                                |
|       4 | Victoria Memorial Hall,Kolkata                | France (with Consulate General of France and Alliance francaise du Bengale) 2023-24                                      | Music performances                                                |
|       5 | Victoria Memorial Hall,Kolkata                | Japan (with Consulate General of Japan in Kolkata)                                                                       | Drama performance                                                 |
|       6 | Victoria Memorial Hall,Kolkata                | 2023-24 France (with Consulate General of France and Alliance francaise du Bengale)                                      | Music performances                                                |
|       7 | Victoria Memorial Hall,Kolkata                | 2024-25 Thailand (with Consulate General                                                                                 | Dance Drama Performance                                           |

|        |                                    | of Thailand in Kolkata)   |                                                                                                                                                                    |
|--------|------------------------------------|---------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 8.     | National School of Drama (NSD)     | Russia                    | Faculty and student exchange between both the partner schools.                                                                                                     |
| 9.     |                                    | Poland                    | Workshops and master classes by the experts from both institutions on a reciprocal basis.                                                                          |
| 10.    |                                    | France                    | Sharing of academic journals and research materials related to theatre studies. Directing productions by the faculty of both the institutions on reciprocal basis. |
| 11. of | National Gallery Modern Art (NGMA) | South Korea 2017          | Incoming exhibition under MOU signed between NGMA and Korean Cultural Centre, Embassy of Korea in India                                                            |
| 12.    |                                    | China                     | Outgoin exhibition under BRICS Summit                                                                                                                              |
| 13.    |                                    | Italy 2018                | Incoming exhibition under MOU signed between NGMA and Italian Cultural Centre, Embassy of Italy in India.                                                          |
| 14.    |                                    | China 2018                | Outgoing exhibition under MOU signed between NGMA and National Museum of China under BRICS Alliance of Art Museums and Galleries                                   |
| 15.    |                                    | Israel 2018               | Incoming exhibition under MOU signed between NGMA and Petach Tikva Museum.                                                                                         |
| 16.    |                                    | Australia 2018            | Incoming exhibition under MOU signed between NGMA and National Museum of Australia.                                                                                |
| 17.    |                                    | Portugal 2019             | Outgoing exhibition under MOU signed between NGMAand Fundacao Orient.                                                                                              |
| 18.    |                                    | Italy                     | Outgoing exhibition under agreement between NGMA and Venice Biennale Foundation.                                                                                   |
| 19.    |                                    | 2019 South Korea          | Incoming exhibition under MOU signed between NGMA and Daegue Art Museum.                                                                                           |
| 20.    |                                    | France 2020               | Incoming exhibition under MOU signed between NGMA and Embassy of France in India.                                                                                  |
| 21.    |                                    | Brazil                    | Incoming exhibition under MOU signed between NGMA and Embassy of Brazil in India.                                                                                  |
| 22.    |                                    | 2022 Italy 2022           | Outgoing - Loaning of work/s of art under MOU between NGMA and                                                                                                     |

|                                      |                                                               | Venice Biennale                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|--------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 23.                                  | Japan 2022-2023                                               | Outgoing exhibition under MOU signed between NGMA and Fukuoka Asian Art Museum and with Kobe City Museum.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| 24.                                  | South Africa 2023                                             | Outgoing Loaning of work/s of art under MOU between NGMA and Joburg Contemporary Art Foundation.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| 25.                                  | Japan                                                         | Outgoing exhibition under MOU signed between NGMA and Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| 26.                                  | 2023 Portugal                                                 | Incoming exhibition under MOU signed between NGMAand Fundacao Orient.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| 27.                                  | Oman 2023                                                     | Outgoing under MOU signed between NGMA andNMO                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| 28.                                  | Belgium 2024                                                  | Incoming under CEP. MOU signed between NGMA and MOSA                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 29.                                  | Sri Lanka 2024                                                | Outgoing digital exhibition                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| 30.                                  | China 2024                                                    | Outgoing digital exhibition                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| 31.                                  | Hungary 2025                                                  | Incoming under CEP. MOU signed between NGMA and Liszt Institute New Delhi                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| 32.                                  | Belgium                                                       | Outgoing under CEP. MOU signed between NGMAand MOSA                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 33. National Archives of India (NAI) | 2025 Saudi Arabia 2023                                        | 1. Identification and exchange of copies of archival material of mutual interest; 2. Holding of joint exhibitions, seminars, workshops, and international in the areas of our historical relations on various aspects of archival studies records management; 3. Exchange of archival experts in fields of Records conservation of manuscripts and documents, digitization, archival |
| 34.                                  | Oman with National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA) 2025 | conferences and and the management,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 35.                                  | Peru                                                          | storage, trainings, etc.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| 36.                                  | Qatar 2025                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |

|   37. |                                      | UAE 2024                                                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                    |
|-------|--------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    38 |                                      | Czech Republic 2024                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                    |
|    39 | Nava Nalanda Mahvihara (NNM)         | Hsuan Chuang University, Taiwan                                                                                                                                                                     | Support for foreign students in Indian cultural education                          |
|    40 |                                      | Dharma college, Harold Way, Berkeley, U.S.A                                                                                                                                                         | Support for foreign students in Indian cultural education                          |
|    41 |                                      | 2025 Bodhi Vision Petaling Jaya Selangor Malaysia                                                                                                                                                   | Support for foreign students in Indian cultural education                          |
|    42 | Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) | 2025 Italy Signed among Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, CA' Foscari University of Venice, Archaeological Survey of India and Soprintenenza Archaeologia, Belle Arti E Paesaggio, Venice 2020 | Creating a Network and sharing skills for restoration and protection of Monuments. |
|    43 |                                      | Egypt Signed between ASI and Supreme Council of Anitiquities of The Arab Republic of Egypt 2023                                                                                                     | On Protection and Preservation of Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains.  |
|    44 |                                      | USA (Cultural Property Agreement) 2024                                                                                                                                                              | Preventing the illicit trafficking of irreplaceable artifacts                      |

*****