Lok Sabha Question No. 5806 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Initiatives for Strengthening Cultural and Civilizational ties with Countries
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Rajesh Verma, Smt. Shambhavi, Dr. Lata Wankhede, Shri Arun Bharti

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5806 ANSWERED ON 30/03/2026

## INITIATIVES FOR STRENGTHENING CULTURAL AND CIVILIZATIONAL TIES WITH COUNTRIES

5806.  SHRI ARUN BHARTI: SMT. SHAMBHAVI: SHRI RAJESH VERMA: DR. LATA WANKHEDE

Will the Minister of Culture be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has taken steps to strengthen cultural and civilizational ties through institutional  and  diplomatic initiatives with other countries and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; (b) the details of measures undertaken to promote preservation, digitization and dissemination of shared  manuscripts,  texts  and  heritage  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor; (c)  whether  collaborative  research,  academic  exchanges  and  cultural  programmes  are  being promoted between the two countries and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; (d)  the  role  of  initiatives  such  as  heritage  documentation  and  international  cooperation  in promoting shared heritage; and cultural

(e) the expected impact of these initiatives on cultural  diplomacy and global engagement?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  Ministry of Culture promotes Indian Arts and Culture globally for strengthening cultural ties with foreign countries through signing of Cultural Agreements, Cultural Exchange Programme, Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Cooperation etc., Organization and participation in multilateral Cultural fora like G20, BRICS, SCO, SAARC etc. This Ministry also administered

Global Engagement Scheme under which Festivals of India abroad are organized and Grants in aid is given to Indo-Foreign Friendship Cultural Societies abroad through Indian Missions.

Further,  Indian  Council  for  Cultural  Relations  (ICCR),  an  organization  under  Ministry  of external  Affairs  (MEA)  also  promotes  Indian  Culture  worldwide  through  its  Cultural  Centres abroad.

(b)  The  Ministry  of  Culture,  Government  of  India  has  launched  'Gyan  Bharatam'  a  national movement  to  rediscover,  conserve,  digitize,  and  share  manuscripts  in  the  National  Digital Repository as living sources of knowledge for generations to come. The vision of this initiative is  to  safeguard  and  revitalize  India's  Manuscript  Heritage  through  systematic  survey  and documentation, scientific conservation, digitization, and publication, along with the creation of a national digital repository (NDR), ensuring its accessibility for research, education, and public engagement.

(c) ICCR undertake collaborative programmes with other countries. It deploys Chairs of Indian studies at the foreign universities in consultation with the Missions/ Posts abroad.  These Chairs of  Indian  Studies  promotes  the  study  of  Indian  Civilization  among  foreign  youth  and  foster  a deeper appreciation of India's cultural heritage while also forging global academic, intellectual and cultural links. During the last 3 years, ICCR has sponsored 210 cultural troupes in different art  forms  to  various  countries.    ICCR  grants  more  than  4000  scholarships  under  21  different schemes to foreign students from 192 countries every year for Under-Graduate, Post-Graduate and Ph.D. level studies in India, including in Yoga and Ayurveda.

(d) The UNESCO Memory of the World Programme aims to preserve and promote documentary heritage  of global  significance,  including  manuscripts,  archives, rare  books,  audio-visual materials and other records of historical value. It also encourages international cooperation and shared efforts in safeguarding such heritage, as reflected in recent India's inscriptions such as the Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra.

(e)  The  initiatives  undertaken  by  Ministry  of  Culture  and  ICCR  helps  to  promote  mutual understanding strengthen bilateral ties with other countries and deepen global cultural engagement.

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