To promote research on Buddhist Studies and Buddhist Culture in India, the Ministry of Culture currently operates four Autonomous Buddhist educational Institutions namely
(i) Nava NalandaMahavihara, Nalanda, Bihar
(ii) Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS), Sarnath, Varanasi
(iii) Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS), Leh, Ladakh and
(iv) CentralInstitute of Himalayan Culture Studies (CIHCS), Dahung, Arunachal Pradesh.
The mandate of these educational Institutions is to provide education in Buddhist philosophies, Culture & Art and to promote research in different aspects of Buddhism, preserve ancient Buddhist manuscripts, digitize ancient Buddhist text preserved in the languages of Pali, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese and other Asian languages through the system of a modern university.
In addition to the aforesaid four Autonomous Buddhist educational Institutes, Ministry of Culture also provides annual grants-in-aid for the upkeep and maintenance to the following six Grantee Bodies for promoting Buddhist Culture and Art:
Further, the following two Financial Grant Schemes are also being implemented by the Ministry for propagation and scientific development of Buddhist Culture and tradition as also for preservation of cultural heritage of Himalayas.
Ministry of Culture has signed Cultural Exchange Programmes (CEPs) with a number of countries which include countries having Buddhist population viz. China, Japan, Combodia, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Thailand etc. Besides, with a view to build international cultural relations with other Buddhist nations, the Buddhist institutes under the Ministry have various alumni exchange programmes, faculty exchange programmes, collaborative research projects and Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with various international Institutes located in USA, Australia, Russia, Korea, Mongolia etc. Further, international level seminars, symposia and conferences are organised regularly by these Institutes with participation of scholars from various countries. Besides, the Ministry of Tourism undertakes various promotional activities on an ongoing basis in the international markets including those with a Buddhist population. These promotions are undertaken with the objective of showcasing the various tourist destinations and products of the country including the Buddhist sites. Further, the Ministry of Tourism organizes an International Buddhist Conclave biennially. Participants in the conclave include eminent Buddhist scholars, opinion makers, tour operators and media personalities from overseas. Various projects for Buddhist sites are being undertaken by Ministry of Tourism under the scheme of Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD and Assistance to Central Agencies, provides Central Financial Assistance to State Governments/Union Territories/ Central Agencies etc. for development of infrastructure and facilities at thematic tourist circuits in the country.
The following activities were under taken to promote Indias Buddhist Tradition Internationally:
This information was given by the Minister of State (I/c) of Culture and Tourism, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
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NB/AKJ