(a) the details of the Inter-Cultural initiatives taken by the Government with different countries of the world during the last three years;
(b) whether any tangible impact or positive outcome has been achieved by these interactions including help in promotion of Indian culture; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor ?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE & TOURISM
(SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)
(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.157 for 02.03.2020 regarding Inter-Cultural Initiatives.
Ministry of Culture signs bilateral Cultural Agreements (CAs) /Cultural Exchange Programme(CEPs)/Memorandum of Understanding(MoUs) with different countries having inter alia provisions for cooperation in the field of music, dance, theatre, archives, archaeology, libraries, museums, literature, exhibition, capacity building etc. The provisions of aforesaid agreements are implemented through different organizations/institutions. The list of CEPs signed during the last three years is enclosed at Annexure-I.
To enhance India’s cultural outreach abroad, Ministry of Culture also implements a scheme for Promotion of International Cultural Relations. This scheme has two components (i) Festival of India(FOI) (ii) Grant in Aid to Indo Foreign Friendship Societies. The activities undertaken under the scheme include music, dance, theatre, food festivals, literary festivals, folk arts, yoga, exhibitions, lecture demonstration and workshops etc. The details of FOIs and Grant in aid to Indo Foreign Friendship Cultural Societies are enclosed at Annexure II.
Indian Council for Cultural Relations(ICCR), an autonomous organization under Ministry of External Affairs also foster and strengthen cultural relations between India and other countries through its inter cultural initiatives. Details of major activities undertaken by ICCR are enclosed at Annexure III.
Positive feedbacks/reports have been received from Indian Missions, Posts and diasporas on these cultural events organized abroad. These events enhance awareness about Indian culture and India’s soft power diplomacy. All these inter cultural initiatives have been able to popularize and create interest about Indian art & culture and foster closer friendship between India and other countries.
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Annexure – I
Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.*157 for 02.03.2020 regarding Inter-Cultural Initiatives.
CEPs Signed during the last three years (2016-19)
Sl.No Name of the countries Signed on
1. Iran 23.05.2016
2. Japan MOC 11.11.2016
3. Mali 29.09.2016
4. Morocco 31.05.2016
5. Russia 22nd protocol 13.09.2016
6. South Africa 08.07.2016
7. Thailand 17.06 2016
8. Armenia 25.04.2017
9. Cyprus 28.04.2017
10. Russia 01.06.2017
11. Turkey 01.05.2017
12. Netherland (MOU) 27.06.2017
13. Portugal 24.06.2017
14. Belarus 12.09.2017
15. Italy 30.10.2017
16. Myanmar 06.09.2017
17. Cambodia 27.01.2018
18. Jordan 28.02.2018
19. Mauritius (POC) 12.03.2018
20. Bulgaria 15.03.2018
21. Guyana 30.01.2018
22. Serbia (Agreement) (CA) 03.05.2018
23. Seychelles 24.06.2018
24. Greece 18.06.2018
25. Korea 10.07.2018
26. Ghana 18.07.2018
27. Rwanda 23.07.2018
28. Uganda 24.07.2018
29. Azerbaijan 12.10.2018
30. Croatia 22.10.2018
31. Tajikistan 08.10.2018
32. Zimbabwe (MOU) 03.11.2018
33. Maldives (MOU) 17.12.2018
34. Algeria 31.01.2019
35. Bolivia 29.03.2019
Annexure – II
Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.*157 for 02.03.2020 regarding Inter-Cultural Initiatives.
Festival of India held during last three years (2016-2019)
Year No. of Countries Name of countries
2016-2017 17 Myanmar,Hungary,Spain,Morocco,Italy,Australia, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kenya,Tanzania,Oman,Senegal,Ghana, Cambodia,Netherlands,Ukraine
2017-2018 12 United Kingdom, Ivory Coast (Cote d’ivoire), Liberia and Guinea, Thailand, Brazil, Uzbekistan, Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga, Vanuatu, Nauru, Tuvalu and Cook Island
2018-2019 7 Tunisia, Russia, Switzerland & Liechtenstein, Croatia, Qatar, Nepal, Colombia & Ecuador
List of countries where 70th anniversary of India’s independence was celebrated under Festival of India
Sl.No Country Name Duration
1. Hungary 23-25 June 2017
2. Tunisia 26 July to 1 Aug 2017
3. Afghanistan 6-10 Sep 2017
4. Belarus 26-28 Aug 2017
5-6. Belgium & Luxemburg 11-17 Aug 2017
7. Brunei Darussalam 13-17 Aug 2017 9-25,Nov. 2017
8. Chile 17-21 Aug 2017 19-23 Oct. 2017
9-10. Cuba and Dominican Republic 8-16 Aug 2017
11. Czech Republic 14-16 Aug 2017 Sep 26 – Oct 1, 2017
12. Denmark 17-20 Aug 2017 18-21 Oct. 2017
13-16. Ghana, Togo, Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone 9-17 Aug 2017 24-29 Jan 2017
17. Iran 14-16 Aug 2017
18. Japan 24-30 Aug 2017
19. Laos 19-21 Aug 2017 25-29 Oct. 2017
20-21. Mexico and Belize 13-22 Aug 2017 24 Jan-3 Feb 2018
22. Myanmar 12-16 Aug 2017
23. New Zealand 18-20 Aug 2017
24. Norway 14-16 Aug 2017
25. Oman 14-16 Aug 2017 8-15 Nov. 2017
26. Seychelles 21-23 Aug 2017 23-26 October 2017
27. Spain 14-19 Aug 2017 17-21 Oct. 2017
28. Sri Lanka 16-21 Nov. 2017
29. Tanzania 26-31 Oct. 2017
30. Turkey 21-25 Aug 2017 11-15 Sept. 2017
31. Turkmenistan 23-27 Aug 2017 14-17 Nov 2017
32-34. Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi 17-21 Aug 2017 7-11 Nov. 2017
35. Vietnam 14-20 Aug 2017
36. Algeria 16-21 Sep. 2017 17-22 Dec. 2017
37. Angola 01-03 Oct. 2017 04-12 Jan 2018
38. Bahrain 23-25 Nov. 2017 22-26 Nov. 2017
39. France 24-28 Oct. 2017 23-19 January 2018
40. Portugal Oct. 28 – Nov. 3, 2017
41-42. Argentina & Uruguay Nov. 2-11, 2017
43. Croatia 17-21 Sep. 2017 7-10 Nov. 2017
44-45. Switzerland and Liechtenstein 6-9 Oct. 2017
46-47. Armenia and Georgia 11-15 Oct. 2017 29 Oct to 2 Nov. 2017
48. Israel 5-10 Nov. 2017
49-50. Colombia & Ecuador 13-20 Aug 2017 10-17 Dec. 2017
51. Venezuela 9-12 Nov 2017 24-28 Jan 2018
52. Kenya 23-27 Nov. 2017
53. Sudan 22-25 Nov. 2017
54. USA 19-21 November, 2017
55. Trinidad and Tobago 10-13 November, 2017
STATEMENT OF GRANT SANCTIONED TO CULTURAL SOCITIES THROUGH INDIAN MISSIONS DURING LAST THREE YEARS
YEAR NO. OF MISSION NO. OF SOCIETIES
2016-2017 51 350
2017-2018 54 379
Annexure- III
Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.*157 for 02.03.2020 regarding Inter-Cultural Initiatives.
DETAILS OF MAJOR ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY ICCR DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS 2016-2019
S.No. Activities 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
1. Number of MoUs'' supporting chairs of Indian 74 studies in various foreign universities 74 79 66
2. Number of eminent academicians/ distinguished visitors hosted by ICCR 14 17 14
3. Number of bronze bust statues of national heroes gifted 11 7 13
4. Number of countries to which ?nancial assistance provided for celebration of International Day of Yoga 120 128 172
5. Number of foreign groups hosted for cultural programmes in various states of India 53 66 54
6. Number of groups sponsored to participate in various prestigious International Festivals and Events abroad 166 175 118
7. Number of Exhibitions organised abroad 20 7 8
8. Number of Exhibitions hosted in India 2 11 4
9. Number of foreign students studying in various universities in India 6569 6224 5793