Swadesh Darshan 2.0
Also called: Swadesh Darshan · Topic: India's International Trade and Tourism · NCERT: Class 10, Ch 7 "Lifelines of National Economy"
Meaning
Swadesh Darshan is a scheme of the Ministry of Tourism. It began in 2014-15 to build theme-based tourist circuits. A circuit is a chain of linked places that share one theme, such as Buddhism or heritage. In 2022-23 the scheme was revamped as Swadesh Darshan 2.0. The new version aims for sustainable tourism, meaning tourism that does not harm a place over time. It is also destination-centric: it plans around one place and its needs, not a long chain of sites. This matters because tourism earns foreign exchange and supports local jobs and crafts, but too many visitors can damage fragile hill towns and coasts.
Example
The Buddhist circuit was a theme of the original scheme. It links Bodh Gaya and Rajgir (Bihar) with Sarnath and Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh), and Kushinagar got an international airport in 2021. Under Swadesh Darshan 2.0, the focus moves from the whole route to developing each destination in a sustainable way.
Don't confuse with
- PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive) also started in 2014-15. It builds roads, amenities and lighting at particular pilgrimage and heritage sites, such as Kamakhya in Assam. It is not about planning theme circuits or whole destinations.