Brihattar Bharat Scheme 2026–2031: India’s Global Cultural Links

Subject: GS 01: Art and Culture

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted Nalanda’s role in strengthening knowledge exchange between India and Asia during the International Conference on Bharat’s Cultural Connections Across the Globe.

UPSC Coaching Classes

About Bharat’s Cultural Connections Across the Globe Conference

• The International Conference on Bharat’s Cultural Connections Across the Globe is being held under the title Brihattar Bharat.
  • “ Brihattar Bharat ” translates literally to “Greater India” or the “Expanded Bharat”.
• Venue: Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi
• Organiser: The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), under the Ministry of Culture, is organising the conference through the Brihattar Bharat Scheme.
• Participation: The conference brings together scholars, delegates and ambassadors from approximately 50 countries to explore India’s historical cultural connections with the world.
• Objectives
  • Cultural Exchange: It examines how religious traditions, philosophy, languages, arts, trade and maritime networks facilitated cultural exchange between India and other civilisations.
  • Knowledge Dissemination: It highlights how monks, scholars, traders and travellers carried Indian ideas across Asia and other regions through land and maritime routes.
  • Preservation of Heritage: The discussions highlight initiatives such as Gyan Bharatam for manuscript preservation and efforts to repatriate Indian antiquities from abroad.
• Significance
  • Centenary Commemoration: The conference marks 100 years of the Greater India Society (Brihattar Bharat Parishad), established in Calcutta on 14 October 1926, with Rabindranath Tagore as its spiritual guide.
  • Nalanda’s Legacy: Nalanda exemplifies India’s historical role as a centre of international learning and intellectual exchange.
    • The Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) in Bihar, India, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016.
  • Cultural Diplomacy: The conference strengthens India’s soft power by showcasing its shared cultural heritage and historical connections with Asian and other global civilisations.

About Brihattar Bharat Scheme (2026–2031)

• The Brihattar Bharat Scheme is an academic and cultural initiative of the Government of India that documents and promotes India’s historical and civilisational connections with other parts of the world.
• Launch: The scheme was inaugurated on 14 October 2026,
• Implementation Period: The scheme covers the period 2026–2031, providing a long-term framework for research, documentation and international cultural cooperation.
• Ministry: The Ministry of Culture is the nodal ministry responsible for the scheme.
• Implementing Institution: The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) administers the initiative.
• Umbrella Framework: The scheme operates under the broader Global Engagement Scheme (GES), which supports India’s international cultural engagement.
• Implementation Mechanism
  • Research and Documentation: The scheme supports interdisciplinary research into Indian philosophies, languages, religions, art and historical exchanges through land and maritime routes.
  • Digital Preservation: It envisages a dedicated Brihattar Bharat Portal to document and digitally preserve manuscripts, rare books, inscriptions and historical resources.
  • Academic Collaboration: Fellowships, academic chairs, joint research programmes and bilingual publications facilitate cooperation between Indian and foreign institutions.
  • Cultural Diplomacy: The initiative promotes international partnerships, including collaboration on shared heritage and potential joint UNESCO nominations.
• Geographic Coverage
  • Regional Reach: The scheme covers India’s historical connections across Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, West Asia and Eurasia.
  • Diaspora Connections: It also explores cultural links with Girmitiya communities and the Indian diaspora in countries such as Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, South Africa and Trinidad and Tobago.

Click to Know UPSC Offline Courses

News Source: AIR

Check Out UPSC CSE Books

Visit PW Store