Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi: Revitalising India’s Cultural Legacy
(Source: PIB | Ministry of Culture)
Topic: GS-1: Indian Culture | Heritage | Art & Architecture , GS-2: Governance | Cultural Diplomacy | UNESCO
Context
- India has adopted the philosophy of “Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi”—balancing development with heritage conservation.
- Focus areas:
- Monument restoration
- Pilgrimage tourism
- Cultural diplomacy
- Digitisation of heritage assets
- Recovery of stolen antiquities
Monument & Heritage Conservation
ASI Conservation
- ASI protects 3,686 monuments across India.
- Around ₹374 crore allocated for conservation and maintenance.
- Uses modern technologies:
- LiDAR mapping
- GIS surveys
- Drone documentation
- AI-based heritage recording
National Mission on Monuments & Antiquities (NMMA)
- Documented:
- 1.84 lakh monuments
- 17.20 lakh antiquities
- Provides a digital inventory for conservation planning.
Tourism & Pilgrimage Development
PRASHAD Scheme
- Launched: January 2015
- Focus: Pilgrimage and heritage tourism infrastructure
- 54 projects across 28 States/UTs
- Total sanction: ₹1,726.74 crore
- 32 projects completed
Swadesh Darshan
- Swadesh Darshan 1.0:
- 76 projects
- ₹5,290 crore investment
- Swadesh Darshan 2.0:
- Destination-centric model
- 53 projects sanctioned
HRIDAY Mission
- Implemented in 12 heritage cities.
- Integrated:
- Urban infrastructure
- Heritage conservation
- Tourism development
Adopt a Heritage 2.0
- Revamped in 2023.
- PPP and CSR-based model.
- Participation from:
- Companies
- PSUs
- NGOs
- Trusts
Achievements
- 30 MoUs signed.
- 13.59 million visitors at adopted monuments (FY 2024-25).
Repatriation of Antiquities
Major Achievement
- 653 antiquities returned since 2014.
- 613 returned during the last five years.
Important Recoveries
- Piprahwa Buddha Relics (2025)
- Annapurna Idol from Canada (2021)
- Rama–Sita–Lakshmana Bronzes from UK (2020)
Significance
- Strengthens cultural nationalism.
- Enhances India’s soft power.
- Protects civilisational heritage.
Cultural Diplomacy
Buddhist Heritage Outreach
- Exhibitions and relic showcases in:
- Vietnam
- Bhutan
- Sri Lanka
- Russia (Kalmykia)
UNESCO Engagement
- India now has:
- 44 World Heritage Sites
- 15 Intangible Cultural Heritage elements
- Hosted:
- 46th UNESCO World Heritage Committee Session (2024)
Digitisation of Heritage
Gyan Bharatam Mission (2025)
- National Digital Repository for manuscripts.
- Preserves rare knowledge resources.
Vedic Heritage Portal
- Launched under IGNCA.
- Digitises Vedic literature and traditions.
National Film Heritage Mission
- 1,469 film titles digitised.
- Focus on preservation of cinematic heritage.
Strengths
- Heritage linked with tourism and livelihoods.
- Strong growth in cultural diplomacy.
- Successful recovery of stolen antiquities.
- Large-scale digitisation of heritage assets.
- Improved global visibility through UNESCO recognition.
Challenges
- Slow expansion of Adopt a Heritage programme.
- Limited independent evaluation of heritage schemes.
- Inadequate clarity on post-repatriation preservation standards.
- Heritage management remains highly centralised.
- Technology adoption uneven across ASI circles.
UPSC Value Addition
Important Acts
- Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958
- Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972
UNESCO Facts
- India ratified UNESCO World Heritage Convention in 1977.
- First World Heritage Sites (1983):
- Taj Mahal
- Agra Fort
- Ajanta Caves
- Ellora Caves
Constitutional Link
- 74th Constitutional Amendment supports heritage-sensitive urban governance through Urban Local Bodies.
Way Forward
- Expand Adopt a Heritage through stronger CSR incentives.
- Conduct independent audits of heritage schemes.
- Strengthen custodial standards for repatriated artefacts.
- Scale AI, LiDAR and GIS-based documentation nationwide.
- Integrate heritage conservation with sustainable tourism and local livelihoods.
Conclusion
- India’s heritage policy has increasingly moved beyond preservation towards a model that combines conservation, tourism, cultural diplomacy and digital innovation. Sustaining this momentum will require stronger institutional capacity, technology adoption and community participation.