Culture Ministry

September 18, 2026 12:45 PM

Culture Ministry organises ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ programme at Purana Qila to mark PM Modi’s birthday

The Ministry of Culture organised the ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ programme at Purana Qila in New Delhi on September 17 to mark the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated the programme by lighting the ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’. The event was organised under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan and began with the chant of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”. Addressing the gathering, Shekhawat described the lamp as a symbol of people’s blessin...

August 12, 2026 10:32 AM

President Murmu to confer Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Awards on August 13

President Droupadi Murmu will confer the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships (Akademi Ratna) and Awards (Akademi Puraskar) for 2024 and 2025 on 115 artists at a special investiture ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on August 13. The awards recognise outstanding and sustained contributions to India's performing arts, covering music, dance, theatre, folk and tribal arts, puppetry, traditional theatre and other allied forms. Seven eminent artists have been selected for the Sangeet Natak Akadem...

August 10, 2026 9:59 PM

Government steps up efforts to promote Indian classical dance among school students

The government is promoting Indian classical dance among school students through training programmes, scholarships and cultural initiatives in line with the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Monday. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Shekhawat said the government is encouraging the inclusion of Indian classical and folk dance traditions in school education as part of NEP 2020's emphasis on art-integrated, experiential an...

August 10, 2026 9:46 PM

India uses cultural diplomacy to strengthen global ties with 98 countries

India is strengthening its cultural diplomacy and international engagement through a comprehensive framework aimed at showcasing the country’s civilisational heritage, cultural diversity and contemporary creative traditions across the world, Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Monday. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Shekhawat said the Ministry of Culture promotes India's cultural relations with other countries through the Global Engagement Scheme (GES), an...

June 22, 2026 5:56 PM

Rakhigarhi human remains sent for advanced scientific study to uncover secrets of Indus-Saraswati Civilization

In a significant step towards deepening understanding of India’s ancient past, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has formally transferred human skeletal remains excavated from the Indus-Saraswati civilization site of Rakhigarhi in Haryana to the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) for advanced scientific research. The transfer follows a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions and is expected to strengthen multidisciplinary studies on one of the...

February 2, 2026 7:03 PM

Holy Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha to be exhibited in Sri Lanka from Feb 4

India will showcase the sacred Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha in Sri Lanka from February 4 to 10 as part of a major spiritual and cultural outreach initiative, reinforcing centuries-old civilisational ties between the two countries. The public exposition will be held at the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo, with the relics returning to India on February 11. The exposition follows the vision articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025 and reflects India�...

January 18, 2026 11:31 AM

Second Global Buddhist Summit to be held in Delhi on January 24-25

New Delhi will host the 2nd Global Buddhist Summit (GBS) on January 24-25, as the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Culture, brings together global Buddhist leaders, scholars and policymakers to deliberate on contemporary global challenges through the lens of Buddha Dhamma. The Summit, to be held at Bharat Mandapam, will be organised under the theme “Collective Wisdom, United Voice, and Mutual Coexistence”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi i...

November 7, 2025 12:06 PM

‘Vande Mataram’ a timeless symbol of unity: President Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday commemorated the 150th anniversary of India’s national song, Vande Mataram, describing it as a timeless symbol of national unity and patriotism. In a post on X, the President said, “In the nineteenth century, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay composed the immortal song Vande Mataram against the backdrop of the Sannyasi Rebellion against British rule. Since the time of the 1905 Swadeshi Movement, it has served as a source of inspiration for one and all. This son...

November 7, 2025 9:39 AM

150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’: PM Modi to inaugurate year-long commemoration today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate today the year-long nationwide commemoration of 150 years of the National Song ‘Vande Mataram’ at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. The Prime Minister will also release a commemorative stamp and coin, marking the formal launch of celebrations that will continue till November 7, 2026. The event will begin with the mass singing of the full version of “Vande Mataram” at 9:50 a.m. across public spaces in coordination with the main p...

November 6, 2025 10:16 AM

PM Modi to inaugurate year-long commemoration of 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’ on November 7

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the year-long commemoration marking 150 years of India’s national song, ‘Vande Mataram’, at a grand ceremony organized by the Culture Ministry on November 7, at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi. The event will mark the formal launch of nationwide celebrations that will run from November 7, 2025 to November 7, 2026, honouring the timeless composition that inspired India’s freedom movement and continues to symbolize national pride an...