Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Thursday, 18 June 2026, credited the 12-year tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with establishing new benchmarks in cultural heritage preservation alongside economic development, sharing his views on the social media platform X under the hashtag #12YearsOfVikasBhiVirasatBhi.

Context

Sharma wrote in Hindi that under Modi's leadership, 'विकास भी, विरासत भी' ('Development as well as Heritage') has given India's faith, culture and history a new identity. He cited the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the redevelopment of Kedarnath Dham, the grand organisation of the Mahakumbh, and India's growing global recognition through UNESCO World Heritage Sites as landmark achievements of this period. The post carries an attached video and was published in the morning hours, coinciding with the BJP's broader social media campaign marking the milestone.

Policy Backdrop

The PRASAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive) scheme, launched in 2014-15 by the Ministry of Tourism, channelled central funding into the redevelopment of major pilgrimage destinations including Kedarnath and Ayodhya. A parallel initiative, the Swadesh Darshan scheme, created thematic tourist circuits centred on heritage and spiritual sites across states, positioning cultural tourism as a driver of local economies. Ahmedabad received UNESCO Historic City status in 2017, and India's overall UNESCO portfolio has expanded with renewed focus on nominations and conservation since 2014.

The Ram Mandir consecration in January 2024 was the most high-profile single event in this cultural programme, drawing global attention and millions of pilgrims to Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. Kedarnath Dham in Uttarakhand underwent extensive infrastructure upgrades following the devastating 2013 floods, improving accessibility and pilgrim facilities at the ancient Shiva shrine. Together, these projects illustrate the central government's strategy of integrating heritage conservation with large-scale public investment and urban planning.

Stakeholders and Impact

Pilgrims, devotees and the domestic tourism industry are the primary beneficiaries of this heritage-development convergence, with millions of visitors annually at sites such as Kedarnath, Ayodhya and Prayagraj. State governments, including Rajasthan under Sharma's leadership, have replicated the model through their own heritage and tourism programmes, leveraging central schemes for local site upgrades. The cultural diplomacy dimension — projecting Indian civilisational heritage on global platforms — has also attracted international tourists and bolstered India's soft-power standing.

Sharma's post describes the current period as one of 'cultural renaissance, national self-confidence and renewed resolve for a Developed India' (विकसित भारत के संकल्प). This framing aligns Rajasthan's own heritage-rich identity — home to forts, temples and pilgrimage routes — with the national narrative being amplified by the BJP ahead of upcoming electoral and policy cycles.

What's Next

Further rollout of PRASAD and Swadesh Darshan projects in Rajasthan and other states is anticipated, with state budget allocations for heritage sites expected to reflect the continued political priority placed on cultural tourism. Possible fresh UNESCO nominations for Indian sites remain on the agenda, as does infrastructure planning for the next Kumbh cycle. The BJP's social media campaign around the 12-year milestone signals that 'Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi' will remain a central plank of the party's messaging through the near-term political calendar.