Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi

1. At a Glance

• "Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi" ("Development as well as Heritage") is a guiding slogan articulated by PM Narendra Modi linking modernisation with preservation of India's cultural patrimony. [1][2]
• Frames India's heritage-tourism, antiquity, and intangible-culture policy under the Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Tourism. [1][3]
• UPSC relevance: cross-cuts GS-I (Indian Culture), GS-II (Government Schemes) and GS-III (Tourism economy). [3]

2. Why in the News

• PIB Backgrounder dated 18 June 2026 highlighted 12 years of expansion of the heritage sector under this vision. [1]
• India inaugurated and hosted the 46th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in New Delhi (21–31 July 2024); PM announced a USD 1 million grant to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. [2]
• Garba of Gujarat inscribed as India's 15th element on the UNESCO ICH Representative List (Dec 2023, Kasane, Botswana). [4][5]

3. Background & Evolution

• HRIDAY (Heritage City Development & Augmentation Yojana) launched January 2015 — central sector scheme covering 12 heritage cities. [1]
• PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) — Ministry of Tourism flagship for spiritual sites. [1]
• National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) — documentation drive under Ministry of Culture. [6]
• Vedic Heritage Portal and Gyan Bharatam — digitisation initiatives for manuscripts and Vedic corpus. [6]
• India's UNESCO World Heritage Sites grew from 31 (2014) to 44 (2024). [6]

4. Core Static Facts

• Slogan author: PM Narendra Modi. [2]
• Nodal ministries: Ministry of Culture; Ministry of Tourism; ASI (attached office). [3][6]
• ASI ambit: 3,686 centrally protected monuments, including conservation of 27 World Heritage properties. [4]
• PRASHAD scheme: 45 projects sanctioned worth ₹1,584.42 crore (as of May 2023). [1]
• HRIDAY: Central sector scheme, January 2015, 12 cities (e.g., Ajmer, Amritsar, Varanasi, Gaya, Puri, Amaravati, Kanchipuram, Velankanni, Badami, Dwarka, Mathura, Warangal). [1]
• WHS total (India): 44 sites (up from 31 in 2014). [6]
• ICH elements (India): 15–16 on UNESCO Representative List; Garba (2023) was the 15th. [4][5]
• UNESCO grant pledged by India: USD 1 million to World Heritage Centre (2024). [2]

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic / Tourism

• PRASHAD–HRIDAY upgrade pilgrimage infrastructure; pilgrimage tourism is the largest segment of domestic tourism. [1]
• Heritage-led tourism feeds employment in hospitality, handicrafts, guides. [3]

Social / Cultural

• Recognition of Yoga, Kumbh Mela, Durga Puja (Kolkata), Garba validates living traditions and community identity. [4][5]
• Inclusivity: Garba crosses socio-economic and religious lines. [4]

Geopolitical / Soft Power

• Hosting 46th WHC, 2024 projects India as a civilisational power and ICH norm-setter. [2]
• Antiquity repatriation diplomacy with USA, Australia, UK strengthens cultural ties. [6]

Administrative

• Multi-ministry coordination (Culture, Tourism, MoHUA for HRIDAY, MEA for repatriation). [1]
• Digitisation via NMMA / Vedic Heritage Portal addresses documentation gaps. [6]

Historical

• Continuum from Ancient Monuments Preservation Act 1904 → AMASR Act 1958 → modern digitisation. [6]

6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)

• July 2024: India hosted 46th UNESCO WHC in New Delhi; Moidams of Charaideo (Assam) inscribed as 43rd WHS. [2]
• 2024: Maratha Military Landscapes nominated; India crosses 44 WHS. [6]
• Dec 2023: Garba of Gujarat inscribed on UNESCO ICH list. [4][5]
• 2024–25: Expansion of Vedic Heritage Portal and Gyan Bharatam Mission for manuscripts. [6]
• June 2026: PIB backgrounder consolidating 12-year scorecard. [1]

7. Prelims Hooks

• "Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi" — slogan by PM Modi. [2]
• HRIDAY launched in January 2015; covers 12 cities; central sector scheme of MoHUA. [1]
• PRASHAD is under the Ministry of Tourism (not Culture). [1]
• India's WHS count rose from 31 to 44 over 2014–2024. [6]
• Garba of Gujarat inscribed by UNESCO in 2023 (Kasane, Botswana, 18th ICH Committee). [4][5]
• Garba was India's 15th ICH element. [5]
• NMMA = National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities, Ministry of Culture. [6]
• Vedic Heritage Portal digitises Vedic texts and recitations. [6]
• 46th WHC held in New Delhi, July 2024; India pledged USD 1 million to WH Centre. [2]
• Moidams (Ahom burial mounds), Charaideo, Assam inscribed as WHS in 2024. [2]
• ASI protects 3,686 monuments, conserves 27 WHS. [4]
• AMASR Act, 1958 is the statutory base for monument protection. [6]

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-I — Indian Culture: "Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times."
• GS-II — Welfare schemes (PRASHAD/HRIDAY); India's role in UNESCO.
• GS-III — Tourism economy & employment.

Likely stems:

1. "Discuss how the vision of Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi balances modernisation with cultural preservation. Illustrate with schemes."
2. "Examine the role of UNESCO recognition (tangible and intangible) in strengthening India's soft power."
3. "Heritage-led tourism can be a force-multiplier for inclusive growth. Critically evaluate using PRASHAD and HRIDAY."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• AMASR Act, 1958 & 2010 Amendment — statutory backbone of monument protection.
• Swadesh Darshan 2.0 — sister scheme for thematic tourism circuits.
• UNESCO ICH 2003 Convention — framework under which Garba etc. are listed.
• Antiquity repatriation diplomacy — bilateral idol-return MoUs.
• Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat — cultural integration programme.
• Project Mausam & SAGAR — maritime-cultural soft power.
• G20 Culture Working Group, Kashi outcome (2023) — multilateral cultural diplomacy.
• National Education Policy 2020 — Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) — heritage-knowledge linkage.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• PRASHAD ≠ PRASAD ≠ HRIDAY: PRASHAD is Ministry of Tourism; HRIDAY is MoHUA. [1]
• HRIDAY operates in 12 cities (not 13 / not all state capitals). [1]
• Garba is the 15th ICH from India, inscribed in 2023 (not 2024). [4][5]
• WHS count is 44 post-2024 (with Moidams), not 42 or 43. [2][6]
• NMMA is under Ministry of Culture, not ASI directly. [6]
• Kumbh Mela on UNESCO ICH list since 2017, not 2023. [5]