Press Information Bureau

While identification, development and promotion of tourism destinations and products is primarily undertaken by the concerned State Government (SG)/Union Territory Administration (UTA), Ministry of Tourism through its central sector schemes of ‘Swadesh Darshan (SD), ‘Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)’, ‘Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme’ and ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’ complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure development in the country by extending financial assistance to the SGs/UTAs; on receipt of the project proposals from the concerned State Government/Union Territory Administration in synergy with the scheme guidelines, Government directions, availability of funds, inter-se priority etc. In addition, the Ministry of Tourism has also issued schematic guidelines for development of Homestays in Tribal Areas under Swadesh Darshan scheme. The schemes of the Ministry of Tourism are applicable for the whole country including the state of Assam.

Government of India under its ‘Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) – Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale’ scheme, has also sanctioned projects in the country with the primary objective to comprehensively develop iconic tourist centres in the country, branding and marketing them at global scale.

The Ministry of Tourism holistically promotes eco-tourism and adventure tourism to leverage natural beauty and biodiversity of the country including Assam through its regular promotional activities. Such promotions are undertaken through various promotional tools such as website, events, social media etc.  In addition, the Ministry also issued National Strategy for Eco-tourism and National Strategy Adventure Tourism.

The details of the projects sanctioned under SD, SD2.0, CBDD, PRASHAD and SASCI schemes in the state of Assam is annexed.

This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha ON 2^nd February 2026.

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Sunil Kumar Tiwari

tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com

ANNEXURE

Details of the projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan (SD), SD2.0, CBDD, SASCI and PRASHAD schemes in the state of Assam:

(Amount in ₹Crore)

Scheme/ Sub-scheme	S. No.	Name of the Project/ Experience	Circuit/ Destination	Year of sanction	Amount sanctioned	Amount Released (R)/ utilized (U)/ Released or authorized for utilization (A)
Swadesh Darshan (SD)	1	Development of Manas– Probitora– Nameri– Kaziranga– Dibru– Saikhowa	Wildlife Circuit	2015-16	94.68	94.68 (U)
	2.	Development of Tezpur – Majuli – Sibsagar	Heritage Circuit	2016-17	90.98	90.97 (U)
SD2.0	3.	Kokrajhar Wetland Experience	Kokrajhar	2023-24	26.68	2.67 (A)
	4.	Reimagining Cinnamara Tea Estate	Jorhat	2023- 24	23.88	2.39 (A)
CBDD	5.	Panidhing Bird Sanctuary (under Eco-tourism and Amrit Dharohar category)	Sivasagar	2024-25	9.99	1.00 (A)
SASCI	6.	Assam State Zoo Cum Botanical Garden in Guwahati	Guwahati	2024-25	97.12	126.64 (A)
	7.	Beautification of Rang Ghar in Sivasagar	Sivasagar	2024-25	94.76
PRASHAD	8.	Development  of Kamakhya Temple and Pilgrimage Destination in and around Guwahati	Guwahati	2015-16	29.80	29.80 (U)

 

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