Lok Sabha Question No. 1648 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-10
Subject: Global Engagement Scheme
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, Ms Kangna Ranaut, Shri Godam Nagesh, Shri Naba Charan Majhi, Shri Alok Sharma, Smt. Smita Uday Wagh, Shri Praveen Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1648

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.03.2025

## GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT SCHEME

## 1648.  Shri Godam Nagesh:

Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab:

Shri Praveen Patel:

Ms Kangna Ranaut:

Shri Naba Charan Majhi:

Smt. Smita Uday Wagh:

Shri Alok Sharma:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a)      the  manner  in  which  the Government plans to showcase diverse aspects of Indian culture, such as dance, music, art, and architecture, through Global Engagement Scheme, particularly in Maharashtra ;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  any  collaborations  with  international  cultural  organizations  or institutions as part of the Global Engagement  Scheme;
- (c)  if so, the details thereof  including any specific partnerships involving artists or institutions from Maharashtra;
- (d)      the  manner  in  which  Global  Engagement  Scheme  is  likely  to  support  Indian  artists, performers, and cultural ambassadors on global platforms; and
- (e) whether the  Government  has  any special initiative under this scheme  to promote Maharashtra's cultural heritage internationally and if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

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

(a)    The  Global  Engagement  Scheme  of  the  Ministry  of  Culture  aims  to  promote  India's  rich cultural heritage including Maharashtra, internationally and enhance India's global image.

The  key  Scheme objectives  include  strengthening  cultural  ties  with  foreign  nations,  promoting bilateral cultural contacts, projecting India's cultural identity on the world stage and encouraging inbound tourism.

The  Global  Engagement  Scheme  is  administered  through  Indian  Missions  Abroad  and  has following 03 components:

## I) Festival of India:

The artists, practicing Indian art forms, are given opportunity to perform abroad under the banner of  'Festival  of  India'.  The  artists  from  diverse  cultural  fields  such  as  Folk  Art  including  Folk Music,  Folk  Dance,  Folk  Theatre  &  Puppetry,  Classical  and  Traditional  Dance,  Experimental/ Contemporary Dance, Classical/ Semi Classical Music, Theatre etc. perform in the 'Festivals of India' abroad.

II) Grant in aid to Indo Foreign Friendship Cultural Societies : Grant in aid is released to Indo  Foreign  Friendship  Cultural  societiesactively  functioning  in  foreign  countries  through  our Indian Missions with the object of fostering closer friendship and cultural contacts between India and foreign country concerned

## III) Contribution Grant to International Organisations :

Funds are released to International Organisations of which India is a member.

(b)  &  (c) India  is  member  state  of  United  Nations  Educational,  Scientific  and  Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and is a part of several important cultural conventions of UNESCO such as 1972 Convention on World Heritage, 2003 Convention for Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage,  2005  Convention  on  the  Protection  and  Promotion  of  the  Diversity  of  Cultural Expressions,  UNESCO  Creative  Cities  Network  (UCCN),  Memory  of  the  World  (MOW) Programme.  India is also a member of Inter Governmental Organizations like International Centre for  the  Study  of  the  Preservation  and Restoration of  Cultural  Property  (ICCROM),  World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) among others.

There is no provision for specific partnerships with institutions of any State.

(d) & (e) Under the 'Festival of India' component of Global Engagement Scheme, all expenditure on deputation of an artist for performing in 'Festival of India' is incurred by the Government.

Ministry  of  Culture  has  empanelled  artists/groups  from  all  over  India  including  State  of Maharashtra under various art forms and artists are selected from the empanelled list for deputing to perform in the Festivals of India abroad.

Currently, out of 627 artists/groups empanelled  with the Ministry, 37 artists/groups are empanelled  from  Maharashtra.  Of  these  7  artists/troupes  have  been  deputed  to  perform  in  the following Festivals of India abroad:

-  Oman, Netherlands, Ghana (2016-17),
-  Venezuela   and Vietnam - Freedom 70 events (2017-18)
-  Qatar (2018-19)
-  South Africa (2019-20).

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