NEW DELHI. While the development and promotion of tourism sites are primarily undertaken by respective State Governments and UT Administrations, the Ministry of Tourism supports these efforts through financial assistance under various schemes for infrastructure development and enhancing tourism experiences across the country. Since its launch in 2014-15, the Swadesh Darshan scheme has sanctioned 76 projects across thematic circuits, including heritage and Tirthankar (Jain) circuits; notably, a project for the development of Vaishali–Arrah–Masad–Patna–Rajgir–Pawapuri–Champapuri in Bihar was sanctioned in 2016-17 for Rs. 33.96 crore and has been reported as physically completed. The scheme has since been revamped as Swadesh Darshan 2.0, with 53 projects sanctioned focusing on destination development, alongside 38 projects under Challenge Based Destination Development. Currently, there are no proposals under consideration for developing a dedicated Jain Circuit under these schemes. The Ministry actively promotes Jain tourism and other destinations through its website, social media, events, and various outreach activities, aiming to showcase India’s rich cultural and religious heritage, as emphasized by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a recent reply in the Rajya Sabha.
Development of Jain Tourism Circuit and Government Initiatives
