Lok Sabha Question No. 2515 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-04
Subject: Promotion and Development of Folk Culture
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Dr. Indra Hang Subba

## GOVERNENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CUTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2515

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025

## PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF FOLK CULTURE

## 2515.   Dr. Indra Hang Subba:

Will the Minister of Culture be pleased to state :

(a) whether the Government has any schemes for promoting folk culture and arts of India across  the country including Sikkim, through global engagement schemes;

- (b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the details of the steps taken/being taken by the Government to promote folk arts   and culture of India during the last three years; and

(d) the details of the budgetary allocation during the last five years and current year, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): Ministry  of  Culture  implements  a  scheme  titled  'Global  Engagement  Scheme' (GES)  to  promote  India's  rich  cultural  heritage  internationally  and  enhance  India's  global image.  The  objective  of  the  Scheme  is  providing  artists  practicing  Indian  art  forms,  an opportunity to perform abroad under the banner of 'Festival of India(FoI)'. Under the Scheme, 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. Under the 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  under  various  art  forms  and  Artists  are selected from the empanelled list, for performing in the Festivals of India (FoIs)

abroad. Currently, 627 Artists/Groups are empanelled with the Ministry. Presently, no artist/group is empanelled from Sikkim.

Also, Grant-in-aid is released to Indo-Foreign Friendship Cultural Societies actively functioning in  foreign  countries  through  our  Indian  Missions  for  promoting  Indian  Culture  abroad  and fostering close friendship and cultural contacts with other countries.

To  protect,  promote  and  preserve  various  forms  of  folk  art  &  culture  within  the  country including Sikkim, the Government of India has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) with headquarters at Patiaia, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur. Sikkim is the  member  State  of  North  East  Zone  Cultural  Centre  (NEZCC),  Dimapur and  Eastern  Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), Kolkata.

These  ZCCs  organize  various  cultural  activities  and  programmes  on  regular  basis  in  their member States for which annual grant-in-aid is provided to them.

Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) as per its mandate promotes and projects various facets of India's diverse culture, including Sikkim, worldwide.

(c): During  the  last  three  years  Festival  of  India  were  held  in  Kuwait  in  2022-2023  and  in France in 2023-2024 under GES Scheme. Total 35 artists/members participated in 3 events in FoI held in Kuwait and total 62 artists/members participated in 9 events in FoI held in France.

Similarly under ZCC, Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsays (RSMs) at national level were organized through these ZCCs where a large number of artists from all over India including  Sikkim  are engaged to showcase their talents. Besides, Ministry of Culture also participated in Madhapur Ghed Fair in which 120 tribal artists in 2022, 239 tribal artists in 2023, 45 tribal artists in 2024 & 800 tribal artists in 2025 from North East Region including Sikkim have participated.

In  the  last  three  years,  ICCR  has  sent  78  cultural  groups  to  various  countries  around  the  world.    The details are at Annexure 'I'.

(d): No State/UT-wise funds are released under GES scheme.

Under ZCC, No State/UT-wise funds are allocated. However, the grant-in-aid released to ZCCs during the last five years and the current year is as follows:

|   SI. No. | Year                 |   Amount released (Rs. in lakhs) |
|-----------|----------------------|----------------------------------|
|         1 | 2020-21              |                          4721.88 |
|         2 | 2021-22              |                          6838.08 |
|         3 | 2022-23              |                          6572.07 |
|         4 | 2023-24              |                         11967.6  |
|         5 | 2024-25              |                         11121.7  |
|         6 | 2025-26 (as on date) |                          5262.35 |

*****

## ANNEXURE-I

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (C)  OF  LOK  SAHBA  UNSTARRED QUESITON No. 2515 FOR 04.08.2025 REGARDING 'PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF FOLK CULTURE'

2022 -23:

|   S.No | Country                                                                        | Name of group                                                                                                                                                                     | Date                              | Occasion/Purpose                                                                                                                                                                              |
|--------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|      1 | USA (Houston)                                                                  | 12-Member 'Vande Bharatam' Rajasthani Folk Dance group 'Anita Pradhan Dance Group' led by Ms. Anita Pradhan, Rajasthan along with Shri Santosh Kumar from Administration Section. | 20 June-01 July,2022              | On the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) celebrations.                                                                                                                               |
|      2 | Turkey                                                                         | 13-Member Folk Group 'Saptak Folk Dance Group' led by Shri Chetankumar Chandrakant Jethava, Gujarat alongwith 01 Liaison Officer Shri Aslam Khan, Protocol/DVP Section            | 01-08 July, 2022                  | To participate in the 34 th International Golden Karagoz Folk Dance Competition in Bursa, Turkey.                                                                                             |
|      3 | Belarus Germany (Munich)                                                       | 11-Member 'Vande Bharatam' group 'Bhairi Bhavani Performing Arts' led by Ms. Bhavana Chaudhary, Maharashtra and 01 Liaison Officer Shri Naresh Gulati from ISD-ISection.          | 15-20 July, 2022 21-25 July, 2022 | For performance at Slavianski Bazar coinciding with 75 th Anniversary of India's Independence and 30 th Anniversary of diplomatic ties with Belarus. To participate in India Summer Days 2022 |
|      4 | Brazil                                                                         | 12-Member Gujarati Folk group 'Aavishkar' led by Shri Dinesh Gokaldas Parekh, Gujarat                                                                                             | 12-21 August, 2022                | On the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) celebrations.                                                                                                                               |
|      5 | Mauritius (14-18 August) Madagascar (18-21 August) South Africa (21-24 August) | 12-Member 'Jawaharlal Nehru Manipuri Dance Academy' (JNMD) group led by Ms. Chandandevi Gurumayum, Manipur                                                                        | 14-31 August, 2022                | On the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) celebrations coinciding with Independence Day.                                                                                              |

|    | Botswana (25- 29 August) Swaziland (29- 31 August)                |                                                                                                                                                                                |                                |                                                                                                                                                            |
|----|-------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  6 | Lebanon                                                           | 10-Member Vande Bharatam 'Chandigarh University Girls Team - Giddha' group led by Mandeep Kaur, Punjab                                                                         | 14-18 August, 2022             | On the occasion of celebration of India Week in Lebanon                                                                                                    |
|  7 | New Zealand                                                       | 12-Member Vande Bharatam 'Chandigarh University Bhangra Group' led by Shri Amit Sarwan, Punjab                                                                                 | 19-22 August, 2022             | On the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) celebrations.                                                                                            |
|  8 | Australia                                                         | i.08-Member VB Gujarati Folk troupe 'Margam' led by Ms. Priyal Dipesh Zaveri, Gujarat                                                                                          | 06-17 October, 2022            | AKAMcelebrations.                                                                                                                                          |
|  9 | USA (Atlanta)                                                     | 08-Member Rajasthani group led by Ms. Kanchanbai Teratali, Rajasthan                                                                                                           | 14-20 October, 2022            | On the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) celebrations coinciding with the annual event 'The Story of Ram' of Mandala Souht Asian Performing Arts. |
| 10 | Mexico                                                            | 12-Member 'Siddhi Baana' group led by Shri Sidi Farooqbhai Umarbhai, Gujarat                                                                                                   | 19-28 October, 2022            | To perform at Santa Lucia Festival and Julio Torri Festival.                                                                                               |
| 11 | Malaysia                                                          | 08-Member Kerala Folk 'Nava Jeevan Kalari Sanghom' led by Babu Sivadas, Kerala                                                                                                 | 28 October-07 November, 2022   | To perform at Living Arts Cultural Festival.                                                                                                               |
| 12 | Reunion Island (02-07 Nov.) South Africa (08-13 Nov.)             | 08-Member Rajasthani Folk group led by Shri Dilip Khan, Rajasthan                                                                                                              | 02-13 November, 2022           | On the occasion of Namaste La Reunion-Deepavali 2022                                                                                                       |
| 13 | Ethiopia (26-29 Nov.) Sudan (29 Nov.-02 Dec.) Israel (03-08 Dec.) | 08-Member Maharashtrian Folk group 'Bhairi Bhavani' led by Shri Pradeep Kadamb, Maharashtra along with Shri Liaison Officer, Shri Anil Kumar from Administration Section, ICCR | 25 November- 08 December, 2022 | To give cultural performances.                                                                                                                             |

|   14. | Malaysia                                                                                       | 08-Member Punjab Folk Dance Group 'Punjabi Cultural Society-Ms. Ravinder Kaur' led by Ms. Sangeeta Kaushik, Delhi   | 03-07 December, 2022           | For participation in Gurudwara Event at Sabah & Sarawak, Kuala Lumpur & Ipoh.   |
|-------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    15 | Zimbabwe                                                                                       | 07-Member Kalariyapattu Group 'Maruthi Marma Chikilsa & Kalari Sangom' led by Shri T Ajith Kumar, Kerala            | 12-17 December, 2022           | On the occasion of Namaste Zimbabwe Festival during India@75 celebrations.      |
|    16 | Iraq (24 Jan.-02 Feb.)                                                                         | 08-Member VB Maharashtra Folk Group 'Amey Patil Dance Group' led by Ms. Kiran Sawant, Maharashtra                   | 24-January - 02 February, 2023 | On the occasion of Republic Day Celebrations 2023.                              |
|    17 | Saudi Arabia                                                                                   | 08-Member VB 'Om Vinayak Crew' Group led by Shri Yogesh Kushwaha, Uttar Pradesh                                     | 24-29 January, 2023            | Republic Day Celebration, 2023.                                                 |
|    18 | Estonia (24-30 Jan.) Lithuania (30 Jan.-02 Feb.                                                | 08-Member Rajasthani Folk Group 'Panihari Lok Sangeet' led by Manga Khan, Rajasthan                                 | 24 January-02 February, 2023   | Republic Day Celebration, 2023                                                  |
|    19 | Poland (25-30 Jan.)                                                                            | 08-Rajasthani Group led by Ms. Shamla Kalbelia Sapera, Rajasthan                                                    | 24-30 January, 2023            | Republic Day Celebration, 2023                                                  |
|    20 | Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo and Gabon (25 Jan.- 01Feb.) Sudan (02-04 Feb.) | 08-Member Gujarati Folk Dance Group led by Mr. Kushal Dixit, Gujarat.                                               | 25 January-04 February, 2023   | Republic Day Celebration, 2023                                                  |
|    21 | Fiji                                                                                           | i. 08-Member Punjab Folk Group 'Bagga Lok Nach Academy' led by Shri Jarnail                                         | 12-19 February, 2023           | On the occasion of 12 th World Hindi Conference.                                |

|    |             | Singh Bagga, Punjab ii. 08-Member Uttar Pradesh Folk 'Geetanjali International Folk Tang' led by Ms. Geetanjali Sharma, Uttar Pradesh   |                              |                                                                                                                      |
|----|-------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 22 | Timor Leste | 08-Member Goa Folk Group 'Mando Mogi Margao' led by Pervis Gomes, Goa                                                                   | 15-19 February, 2023         | To give cultural performances                                                                                        |
| 23 | Netherlands | 07-Member Bhojpuri Group led by Ms. Usha Gupta, Uttar Pradesh                                                                           | 25 February - 01 March, 2023 | 150 years of Immigration of Indians to Suriname                                                                      |
| 24 | UK (London) | 12-Travel Grants to Sri Idagunji Mahaganapati Yakshagana Mandali - Keremane Shivanand Hegde Group, (Karnataka)                          | 04-05 March, 2023            | Performance & Lecture- Demonstration on the occasion of Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, London's Golden Jubilee Celebrations. |
| 25 | Chile       | 08-Member Punjab Folk group led by Ms. Shelly Sharma., Punjab                                                                           | 31 March-06 April, 2023      | To participate in WOMAD International Festival 2023 coinciding with Special AKAM Week Celebrations.                  |

## 2023-24:

|   Sl. No | Country                 | Artist / Group                                                                       | Dates                           | Occasion / Purpose                                                                                             |
|----------|-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Hungary                 | 6 -member Shadow Puppetry group led by Mr. Ramachandran PKK Kutty, Kerala            | 19-23 April, 2023               | 02nd Karakulit International Shadow Theatre festival in Hungary                                                |
|        2 | Malaysia                | 08 member Shri Patel Raas Mandali group led by Mahendra Karsanbhai Andani (Gujarat)  | 1-6 June 2023                   | To give cultural performances on the occasion of PIO event                                                     |
|        3 | Kenya                   | 08 members Sidi Dhamaal Sidi Goma - Saiyad Akbarmiya Gulamali Kadari troupe. Gujarat | 10-18 June 2023                 | To celebrate the Iconic AKAM Week                                                                              |
|        4 | Turkmenistan Azerbaijan | 08 members 'Gandharba Kala Kendra' led by Ms Dreamly Gogoi Assam                     | 11-17 June 2023 17-22 June 2023 | To perform at the International Dance & Folklore Festival "Avaza- 2023' Turkmenistan For Cultural performances |
|        5 | Jamaica                 | 08 member Tapasaya A Centre for Performing Arts led by Shri M.S. Singh Manipur       | 20-30 June 2023                 | Performance                                                                                                    |
|        6 | Croatia Italy           | 08 member 'Rajasthani Panihari Lok Sangeet' led by Roshan Khan Rajasthan             | 19-23 July 2023 23-28 July 2023 | Zagreb International Folklore Festival Cultural performances                                                   |
|        7 | Thailand                | 08 member contemporary dance troupe 'Baruipara Nrityalok' led by Sutapa Awon Pradhan | 29 July to 4th August 2023      | To perform in the Candle Festival                                                                              |
|        8 | Hanoi, Vietnam          | 06 members Tetseo Sisters from Nagaland                                              | 10-16 August 2023               | Independence Day celebrations                                                                                  |
|        9 | Bangladesh              | 08 member Rajasthani group Jaisalmer Beat led by Rais Khan, Rajasthan                | 29 August - 7 September 2023    | To perform in Artist Murtaja Bashir Cultural Festival in Chattagram                                            |
|       10 | Italy                   | 08-member Senhri Folk and Culture Troupe from Mizoram State Government.              | 8-13 September, 2023            | To perform North East India at Milan, Italy                                                                    |
|       11 | Russia                  | 15 member group SurajLal Party Rajasthani group, Rajasthan                           | 25 September- 07 October 2023   | To perform in FoI in Russia                                                                                    |
|       12 | Bangladesh              | 4-member Sikandar Khan Langa group                                                   | 26 Sep-15 October, 2023         | To perform in Bangladesh                                                                                       |
|       13 | Mexico                  | 08 member Purulia Chhau Dance Academy-Paresh Prasad Parit, Jharkhand                 | 29 th Sept - 12 October 2023    | For performance at Santa Lucia event                                                                           |
|       14 | Indonesia               | 08-member Nithya Chaithanya Kalari led by Murugan Pillai                             | 12-17 October, 2023             | To perform in Intangible Cultural Heritage Festival                                                            |

|    |                          |                                                                                                    |                              | at Payakumbuh City in West Sumatra Province                                                         |
|----|--------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 15 | Malaysia                 | 08 member Shashadhar Acharya led Seraikella Chhau group, Jharkand                                  | 18-26 October 2023           | To perform at the Living Arts Cultural Festival                                                     |
| 16 | Germany                  | 08 member Rajasthani group led by Edu Khan Langa                                                   | 8-19 November 2023           | DIG Chain Tour                                                                                      |
| 17 | Peru                     | 08-member Kalarippayattu Group Travancore School of Kalarippayattu led by Radhakrishnan G.         | 16-21 November, 2023         | To perform on the occasion of 60 th Anniversary of Celebration of India - Peru Diplomatic Relation. |
| 18 | Botswana                 | 8-member Gujarati Folk Dance group - Niyati Sanskrutik Parivar led by Harendu Satendraparasad Dave | 04-09 December, 2023         | To perform on the occasion of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in Kasane                          |
| 19 | USA                      | 8 member bhojpuri group led by Rakesh Chandra Srivastava                                           | 23-30 December, 2023         | Cultural Performances                                                                               |
| 20 | Vietnam                  | 8-member Punjabi Folk group led by Hardeep Singh                                                   | 15-26 January, 2024          | Republic Day Celebrations                                                                           |
| 21 | New Zealand              | 08 member Rajasthani group led by Mehboob Khan Langa                                               | 25 January -01 February 2024 | Cultural Performance                                                                                |
| 22 | Jagreb, Croatia          | 8 member Punjabi Folk Group "Asian Punjabi Folk Dance Club" led by Ashwani Kumar                   | 9-15 February, 2024          | International Rijeka Carnival 2024                                                                  |
| 23 | Egypt                    | 8 members Chhau Dance group led by Sambhu Nath Karmakar                                            | 15-23 February, 2024         | Cultural performance                                                                                |
| 24 | Dhaka                    | 20 member group Directorate of Art & Culture, Govt. of Meghalaya Traditional Dance and Music Group | February, 2024               | Cultural performances during setting up of U Tirot Singh Memorial at IGCC                           |
| 25 | Turkey                   | 8 member Bihu Group led by Neela Kontha Dutta                                                      | March, 2024                  | Cultural performance                                                                                |
| 26 | Guyana, T&T and Suriname | 08-Members Bhojpuri group led by Shri Bhola Pandey                                                 | 24 March, 2024               | Cultural performances on occasion of Fagua (Holi)                                                   |
| 27 | Indonesia & Vietnam      | Braj ki Holi - Pratibha Kala Kendra led by Pratibha Tiwari (Sharma)                                | 20-31 March, 2024            | Cultural performances on occasion of Holi                                                           |

2024-25:

|   Sl. No. | Country              | Artist/ Group                                                                     | Dates                           | Occasion/ Purpose                                                      |
|-----------|----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Norway               | 08 Member Hindi Cinema Dance & Music group 'Sugar And Spice' led by Monica Narula | 3-6 May, 2024                   | To perfrom in 3rd Oslo Colour Festival                                 |
|         2 | Fiji                 | 05-Members Bhojpuri group led by Vandana Shukla                                   | 12-19 May,2024                  | To perform in Girmit Day celebration                                   |
|         3 | Russia               | 08 Member folk music group Dohar led by Rajib Das                                 | 14-16 June, 2024                | To perform at Dobrovision, International Folk Song Festival            |
|         4 | Zambia Tanzania      | 08- members Gujarati Folk Group 'Nrityavali' led by Bharatsinh Karsanbhai Bariya  | 14-20 June 2024 20-23 June 2024 | 60th year of Independence of the Republic of Zambia                    |
|         5 | Slovakia             | 08 Member Rajasthani Folk group 'Marwar Folk Group' led by Bhawani Singh Panwar   | 14th June - 2nd July            | 64th Myjava International folklore festival                            |
|         6 | Azerbaijan           | 07-member Punjabi Folk Dance Group led by "Rattan Lal Shugal &Party               | 4-7 July, 2024                  | To perform in Silk Road International Music Festival                   |
|         7 | Jordan               | 08 Member Assamese folk dance group Hemanga Bikash Das                            | 29 July- 02 August, 2024        | To perform at 38th edition of the Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts |
|         8 | Indonesia            | 08 Member Manipuri Group led by Basanta Singh                                     | 07-28 August 2024               | To perform at Samosir Music International 2024                         |
|         9 | Sri Lanka            | 08 Member Folk group Ranjit Gogoi                                                 | 13-17 AUGUST, 2024              | Independence Day/ Bharat Week                                          |
|        10 | Canberra (Australia) | 08 Member Punjab Cultural Soceity Regd. folk music group led by Ravinder Singh    | 12-19th August, 2024            | To participate in mini India festival                                  |
|        11 | Japan                | 08 members of the Purulia Chhau Group led by Shri Bhagaban Das Kumar              | 17-30 September, 2024           | Indian Festival 'Namaste India'                                        |
|        12 | Kazakhstan           | 08 Member Jugni Cultural and Youth led by Davinder Singh                          | 07-14 September, 2024           | To perform in Festival of Arts of the SCO Member States                |
|        13 | Kazakhstan           | 08 Member Folk Arts Academy led by Shri Raghav Raj Bhatt                          | 07-14 September, 2024           | To perform in Festival of Arts of the SCO Member States                |

|   14. | Thailand                        | 08 members Rajasthani Folk group Jivandas Teratali Group led by Jivandas    | 13-17 September, 2024          | Diwali Celebration: India (Mini India Diwali Festival): is an annual event hosted by all the Indian Associations under the patronage of the Embassy of India. This event has the maximum foot fall of 5000 Thais and Indians. This is a great example of people to people contact and Indo-Thai Cooperation and Friendship.                                                                                                |
|-------|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    15 | South Africa                    | 8 Member Gujarati Folk Group led by Chetan Pravinchandra Dave               | 5th October, 2024              | Ramayana troupe                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|    16 | Georgia                         | 08-member Gujarati Folk Group led by Shri Harendu Dave                      | 15-19 October, 2024            | The famous Shota Rustaveli theatre in Georgia had shown their interest in showcasing Ramayana. The request was made during the visit of MOS (ML) to Georgia in October 2022. Mission forwarded the same to ICCR for consideration, however, ICCR's response is still awaited. Since the theme for 2024-25 will be Connecting the world through Ramayana, Mission recommends sending a theatre group from India to Georgia. |
|    17 | Japan , Vietnam and Thailand    | 8-member Rajasthani Folk Group 'Ajmaru Kala Mandal' led by Ms. Karuna Verma | 11-October, to 30 October 2024 | India Mela Tokyo                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|    18 | Australia                       | 8-Member Rajasthani Folk group led by Rashid Khan Langa                     | 25-29 October, 2024            | Mission intends to host theatre group who would perform play on Ramayana theme during Dueeshra/Diwali festival month                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|    19 | Indonesia                       | 08 Member Chhau Dance group Shri Gambhir Chandra Mahto                      | 14-17 November 2024            | International Mask Festival (IMF)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|    20 | HCoI-Victoria- Mahe- Seychelles | 09-member Punjabi Folk Group "Punjabi Lok Rang Cultural Club-Group" led     | 24-27 Jan,2025 .               | The Mission proposes to invite a 8-member cultural dance troupe for the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |

|    |                          | by Shri Sandeep Kr. Kheeva                                                                         |                     | Republic Day celebrations in 2025.                  |
|----|--------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
| 21 | South Africa             | 12-member Punjabi Folk Group "Indian Traditional Performing Art & Craft Centre" led by Naresh Bala | 24-27 January, 2025 | India's Republic Day celebration in 2025            |
| 22 | Dominican Republic       | 08-member Punjabi Folk group "Preeti & Party" led by Ms. Preeti                                    | 24-31 January, 2025 | India's Republic Day celebration in 2025            |
| 23 | Qatar                    | 05 members of Manipuri Folk Group led by Ms Khumanthem Narmada Devi                                | 25-29 January, 2025 | India's Republic Day celebration in 2025            |
| 24 | Nepal                    | 12 Member Cultural & Folk Dance group led by Ilamdin                                               | 25-30 January, 2025 | India's Republic Day celebration in 2025            |
| 25 | Nepal                    | 10 Member Mayurbhanj Chhau Group 'Yagna' led by Kuleshwar Thakur                                   | 20-28 March,2025    | ITEC Day celebration in Nepal from 20-28 March 2025 |
| 26 | Port of Spain Georgetown | 10 Member Rajasthani Dance group led by Ms. Rajkumari                                              | 15-21 March,2025    | Cultural Performance                                |