Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

November 2, 2026 11:02 AM

Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha arrive at Tawang Monastery for public veneration

The sacred relics of Lord Buddha, brought from the National Museum in New Delhi, were ceremonially received at the historic Tawang Monastery in Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday, marking the beginning of a special exposition showcasing India's rich Buddhist heritage. Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu received the holy Piprahwa Relics in the presence of Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Buddhist monks, religious leaders and devotees at Gaden Namgyal Lhatse,...

October 30, 2026 12:54 AM

14th International Tourism Mart Inaugurated in Tawang; Shekhawat Highlights North East’s Tourism Potential

The 14th International Tourism Mart (ITM) was inaugurated in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, on Thursday, with Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat highlighting the region’s tourism potential and calling for transforming it into business opportunities and sustainable livelihood for local communities. The three-day event, being held from 29 to 31 October, has brought together 43 international buyers from 22 countries, the highest-ever international buyer participation at I...

October 6, 2026 12:54 AM

Development must not destroy heritage that gives identities to citizens, communities: Shekhawat

Development must not destroy the very heritage that gives identities to citizens and communities, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Monday, as he pitched for giving cultural capital its “rightful place” in the architecture of economic policy. In his keynote address at Kautilya Economic Conclave — a gathering of financial policymakers and experts — in Delhi, he further said, “We must create a model in which development protects heritage, and heritage enriches deve...

September 28, 2026 12:36 PM

Tourism growth must benefit local communities: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Sunday said the next phase of India's tourism growth must move beyond popular destinations and create greater opportunities for local communities, entrepreneurs, women and youth. Addressing the World Tourism Day 2026 celebrations at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Shekhawat said changing traveller preferences were creating new opportunities for India to promote more authentic and community-oriented tourism. “Tourism is no longe...

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...

August 6, 2026 10:57 PM

Har Ghar Tiranga 2026 Campaign to be held from August 9 to 17; dedicated to 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’

Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Thursday launched the nationwide Har Ghar Tiranga 2026 campaign, which will be observed across the country from August 9 to 17 to encourage citizens to hoist the National Flag and participate in activities celebrating patriotism, national unity and India's cultural heritage. The campaign, launched in New Delhi, marks the fifth year of the Har Ghar Tiranga initiative, which began in 2022 as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav cel...

June 25, 2026 3:30 PM

PM Modi shares article on Emergency, says Constitutional values must be strengthened through historical awareness

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday shared an article authored by Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on the Emergency, highlighting its impact on the freedoms and aspirations of the people and underscoring the importance of preserving democratic values through historical awareness. In a post on X, PM Modi said, "As the nation commemorates Samvidhan Hatya Diwas, Union Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat reflects on the Emergency and how it affected the freedoms a...

June 22, 2026 9:12 PM

Government committed to making India globally competitive tourism destination: Shekhawat

Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Monday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reforms aimed at making India a globally competitive tourism destination, while chairing a high-level consultation with industry stakeholders on ease of doing business in the tourism and hospitality sector. The interactive session, organised by the Ministry of Tourism in New Delhi, brought together representatives from leading industry bodies, including FAITH, ASSOCHAM, PHDCCI, WTTC...

May 14, 2026 12:43 AM

India repatriates historic temple bronzes from US, Gajendra Shekhawat calls it milestone in fight against illicit trafficking

Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Wednesday said that India has successfully repatriated Chola-period and other significant bronze artefacts from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in the United States. The identified antiquities include: -Saint Sundarar with Paravai sculpture (16th century, Vijayanagara period): photographed in 1956 at the Shiva Temple in Veerasolapuram village, Tamil Nadu. -Somaskanda (Shiva and Uma) (12th century, Chola p...