Lok Sabha Question No. 3667 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-11
Subject: Financial Assistance for Development of Culture in Bihar
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Ashok Kumar Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3667 ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025

## FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURE IN BIHAR

## † 3667.    SHRI ASHOK KUMAR YADAV:

Will the MINISTER OF CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  provided  financial  assistance  to  the  State  of  Bihar  under  various schemes and projects for the development of culture and tourism sector during the last years;
- (b) if so the amount allotted to the various districts of Bihar from the year 2019-20 to 2023-24, district and scheme-wise;
- (c) whether the said amount has been fully utilized on the concerned projects and if not, the districts in which the works is incomplete or expenditure has been less; and
- (d) the  present  status  of  development  of  major  cultural  sites,  heritage  sites,  Buddhist  circuit, Ramayana circuit and other pilgrimage sites  or  tourist  centers  sponsored  by  the  Government  in Bihar?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)&(b)  It has been continuous endeavor of  Ministry of Culture to achieve its mandate i.e preservation and  conservation  of  cultural  heritage  and  promotion  of  tangible  and  intangible  art  and  culture through its attached, subordinate and autonomous organizations. Its activities and programmes are accomplished under several broad cultural heads viz. Preservation and conservation of Archaeological sites, Museums and its artefacts, Public Libraries, Promotion and dissemination of Performing Arts, Buddhist and Tibetan studies, International Cultural Relation and construction of cultural  complexes  etc.  across  the  country  including  the  State  of  Bihar.    However,  as  all  the Schemes administered by Ministry of Culture are Central  Sector Scheme, no funds are allocated state-wise /district wise. The details of funds released to beneficiaries under various schemes in the state of Bihar from the year 2019-20 to 2023-24, is given at Annexure-I.

Further, Ministry of Tourism through its central sector schemes such as 'Swadesh Darshan(SD)', Swadesh  Darshan  2.0  (SD2.0),  'Challenge  Based  Destination  Development  (CBDD)'  -  a  subscheme of Swadesh Darshan and 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive  (PRASHAD)'  and  'Assistance  to  Central  Agencies  (ACA)  for  Tourism  Infrastructure Development'  is  complementing  the  efforts  of  tourism  infrastructure  development  by  extending financial assistance to the State Governments/UT Administrations/Central Agencies. In addition,

Government  of  India  under  its  initiative  for  'Special  Assistance  to  States  for  Capital  Investment (SASCI)' has provided financial assistance to the States for development of tourism projects across the  country  including  the  State  of  Bihar.  However,  development  and  promotion  of  tourist destinations  and  tourism  products  is  primarily  undertaken  by  the  respective  State  Government/ Union Territory (UT) Administration//Central Agencies.

- (c)  As  stated  above,  no  state-wise/  district-wise  allocation  of  funds  is  done  under  Central  Sector Schemes  (CSS)  administered  by  Ministry  of  Culture.  However,  the  funds  released  under  these schemes  are  monitored  on  the  basis  of  submission  of  Utilization  Certificates  as  per  General Financial  Rule  (GFR)  Rule  -2017,  audited  statement  of  accounts  duly  certified  by  a  Chartered Accountant,  Bill vouchers  and  other evidentiary proofs such as photos/videos, completion certificates, etc. This apart, there is also provisions of on-site physical inspections by the officials of the Ministry to monitor the progress and proper utilization of funds.
- (d)  Details of the projects sanctioned, amount released /authorised for utilisation and utilised under SD, SD2.0, CBDD, PRASHAD, ACA and SASCI schemes in Bihar including cultural & heritage sites, Buddhist circuit, Spiritual circuit and other pilgrimage sites etc. is given at Annexure-II .

Further,  71  centrally  protected  monuments  and  sites  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Archaeological Survey of India, Patna Circle, are maintained in a commendable state of preservation, befitting their heritage significance. The  efforts to further enhance their conservation, maintenance, and beautification is done in accordance with the approved Annual Conservation Programme (ACP) and the allocation of funds.

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Annexure - I Annexure referred to in reply of part (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.3667 answered on 11.08.2025

| Sl. No.   | Name of                                                                           | Financial Year         | Financial Year   | Financial Year         | Financial Year   | Financial Year         | Financial Year   | Financial Year         | Financial Year   | Financial Year         | Financial Year   |
|-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|------------------|------------------------|------------------|------------------------|------------------|------------------------|------------------|------------------------|------------------|
|           | Scheme                                                                            | 2019-2020              | 2019-2020        | 2020-2021              | 2020-2021        | 2021-2022              | 2021-2022        | 2022-2023              | 2022-2023        | 2023-2024              | 2023-2024        |
|           |                                                                                   | No. of Benef iciarie s | Amoun t (Rs.)    | No. of Benef iciarie s | Amoun t (Rs.)    | No. of Benef iciarie s | Amoun t (Rs.)    | No. of Benef iciarie s | Amoun t (Rs.)    | No. of Benef iciarie s | Amount (Rs.)     |
| 1.        | Financial Assistance for Promotion of Guru Shishya Parampara (Repertory Grant)    | 23                     | 151.74           | 33                     | 181.60           | 30                     | 190.80           | 64                     | 363.82           | 158                    | 697.37           |
| 2.        | Cultural Function and Production Grant                                            | 43                     | 52.18            | 51                     | 42.94            | 67                     | 95.26            | 123                    | 203.20           | 126                    | 161.00           |
| 3.        | Financial Assistance for the Development of Buddhist/ Tibetan Culture             | 1                      | 4.50             | 1                      | 3.00             | 2                      | 7.50             | 2                      | 8.50             | 2                      | 8.50             |
| 4.        | & Art Financial Assistance for Building Grants including Studio Theatres          | -                      | -                | -                      | -                | -                      | -                | 1                      | 0.60             | 1                      | 6.00             |
| 5.        | Scheme For The Award Of Fellowship To Outstanding Persons in The Field Of Culture | 39                     | 31.20            | 29                     | 27.60            | 23                     | 32.40            | 31                     | 48.00            | 47                     | 44.40            |
| 6.        | Scheme for Scholarships to Young Artistes in Different Cultural Fields            | 36                     | 10.80            | 45                     | 13.50            | 43                     | 12.90            | 16                     | 4.80             | 63                     | 18.90            |
| 7.        | Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists                                          | -                      | -                | -                      | -                | -                      | -                | -                      | -                | 14                     | 15.47            |

## Annexure-II

## Annexure referred to in reply of part (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.3667 answered on 11.08.2025

Details  of  Projects  sanctioned  in  the  state  of  Bihar  under  SD,  SD2.0,  CBDD,  PRASHAD,  ACA  and SASCI schemes in  Bihar including cultural & heritage sites, Buddhist circuit, Spiritual circuit and other pilgrimage sites:-

## Swadesh Darshan(SD)

|   S. No. | Circuit / Sanction Year    | Name of the Project                                                                                                                   |   Amount Sanctioned (₹ in Crore) |   Amount Released /Authorised (₹ in Crore) |   Amount Utilised (₹ in Crore) |
|----------|----------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|        1 | Tirthankar Circuit 2016-17 | Development of Vaishali- Arrah- Masad- Patna- Rajgir- Pawapuri- Champapuri                                                            |                            33.96 |                                      30.04 |                          29.36 |
|        2 | Spiritual Circuit 2016-17  | Development of Kanwaria Route: Sultanganj - Dharmshala- Deoghar                                                                       |                            44.76 |                                      42.52 |                          42.17 |
|        3 | Buddhist Circuit 2016-17   | Development of Buddhist circuit- Construction of Convention Centre at Bodhgaya                                                        |                            95.18 |                                      95.18 |                          95.18 |
|        4 | Rural Circuit 2017-18      | Development of Bhitiharwa- Chandrahia- Turkaulia                                                                                      |                            44.27 |                                      40.31 |                          40.31 |
|        5 | Spiritual Circuit 2017-18  | Development of Mandar Hill & Ang Pradesh                                                                                              |                            44.55 |                                      42.32 |                          42.32 |
|        6 | Wayside Amenities 2018-19  | Development of Wayside Amenities in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar at Varanasi-Gaya; Kushinagar-Gaya- Kushinagar in collaboration with MoRTH |                            17.5  |                                      16.63 |                          15.83 |

## Swadesh Darshan (SD)2.0

|   S No. | Year of Sanction   | Destination   | Name of the Experience                                                |   Sanctioned Cost (in ₹ Crore) |   Amount Authorised (in ₹ Crore) |
|---------|--------------------|---------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|----------------------------------|
|       1 | 2024-25            | Bodh Gaya     | Development of the Buddhist Meditation & Experience Centre, Bodh Gaya |                         165.44 |                            16.54 |

## Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD)

|   S. No. | Year of Sanction   | Name of the Project                                             |   Sanctioned Cost (₹ Crore) |   Amount Authorized for utilisation (₹ Crore) |
|----------|--------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
|        1 | 2024-25            | Development of Tourist Facilities at Sonepur Mela Ground, Saran |                       24.29 |                                          2.43 |

## Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)

|   S. No. | Project Name                                                     | Sanction Year   |   Sanction Amount (in ₹ Crores) |   Amount Released (in ₹ Crores) |   Amount Utilized (in ₹ Crores) |
|----------|------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
|        1 | Development at Patna Sahib                                       | 2015-16         |                           29.62 |                           29.62 |                           29.62 |
|        2 | Development of basic facilities at Vishnupad temple, Gaya, Bihar | 2014-15         |                            3.63 |                            3.63 |                            3.63 |
|        3 | Development of Ambika Bhawani Temple, Saran                      | 2024-25         |                           13.29 |                            0    |                            0    |

## Assistance to Central Agencies (ACA)

|   S. No. | Name of Project                                                                                                            | Agency   | Sanction Date   |   Amount sanctioned (in ₹ Crore) |   Amount Released (in ₹ Crore) |
|----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------|-----------------|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|        1 | 3D Mapping with Aqua Screen Projection and Sound Show at Buxar, Bihar and Dynamic Lighting& Motif at Ram Rekha Ghat, Bihar | BECIL    | 10-06-2024      |                           599.96 |                          59.99 |

## Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)

|   S. No. | Destination   | Name of the Experience                  |   Sanctioned Cost (in ₹ Crore) | Fund release Status (in ₹ Crore)   |
|----------|---------------|-----------------------------------------|--------------------------------|------------------------------------|
|        1 | Karamchat     | Karamchat Eco-Tourism and Adventure Hub |                          49.51 | 97.10                              |
|        2 | Saharsa       | Development of Matsyagandha Lake        |                          97.61 |                                    |