CM Mohan Yadav Orders Vikramaditya Academy, Tirth Darshan Expansion
Synopsis
MP Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav reviewed the Culture Department on 15 June 2026, ordering a Vikramaditya Academy, expansion of the Tirth Darshan pilgrimage scheme to Jyotirlingas and Shaktipithas, faster work on Ram and Krishna heritage corridors, and a permanent support plan for state Padma awardees.
Key Takeaways
Vikramaditya Academy : CM Dr.
Mohan Yadav directed the Culture Department to establish an academy named after the legendary king Samrat Vikramaditya , associated with Ujjain .
Tirth Darshan expansion : The Mukhya Mantri Tirth Darshan Yojana is to be expanded to include Jyotirlingas , Shaktipithas , and prominent sacred sites across India, beyond its existing coverage.
Heritage corridors : Officials were told to accelerate construction on both the Shri Ram Van Gaman Path and the Shri Krishna Pathey Pariyojana .
Local artists : Madhya Pradesh -based singers and performers are to be given priority invitations at state cultural events.
Padma awardees : A permanent scheme covering recognition and need-based support for all Padma award recipients from the state is to be formulated.
The directives emerged from a formal Culture Department review meeting chaired by the Chief Minister on 15 June 2026 .
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav on Monday, 15 June 2026, chaired a review of the state's Culture Department and issued a series of directives aimed at restructuring the department, expanding pilgrimage coverage, and accelerating heritage corridor projects. The instructions span the creation of a new academy, expansion of an existing senior-citizen pilgrimage scheme, and faster execution of two major Ramayana and Krishna-linked route projects.
Context
In the review meeting, Dr. Mohan Yadav directed officials to establish an academy in the name of Samrat Vikramaditya, the legendary ancient king historically associated with Ujjain and widely regarded in Madhya Pradesh as a symbol of justice and scholarship. He also instructed that the Mukhya Mantri Tirth Darshan Yojana — the state's subsidised pilgrimage travel programme primarily serving senior citizens — be expanded to include the state's Jyotirlingas (Shiva shrines), Shaktipithas (goddess temples), and other significant religious sites, as well as prominent devsthanans (sacred sites) across the rest of India.
The Chief Minister posted a summary of these directives on X, stating: 'Samrat Vikramaditya ke naam se academy banaen' ('Establish an academy in the name of Samrat Vikramaditya') and calling for inclusion of Jyotirlingas, Shaktipithas, and nationally renowned sacred sites in the pilgrimage scheme.
Policy Backdrop
The Mukhya Mantri Tirth Darshan Yojana was operationalised in the 2010s to enable affordable religious travel for elderly residents of Madhya Pradesh. Expanding it to cover all twelve Jyotirlingas — including Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain, one of the most visited Shaivite shrines in India — and Shaktipithas would significantly widen the scheme's geographic and devotional scope.
The Shri Ram Van Gaman Path project, which maps and upgrades sites linked to Lord Ram's exile route, received state support in the early 2020s. Dr. Yadav's directive to accelerate both this project and the Shri Krishna Pathey Pariyojana signals a push to deliver visible progress on heritage corridors that have been in planning stages. These initiatives are part of a broader BJP-governed state pattern of developing Hindu pilgrimage circuits as heritage tourism anchors.
Stakeholders and Impact
Local artists and singers stand to benefit directly: Dr. Yadav directed that Madhya Pradesh-based performers be given priority invitations at state-organised cultural events. This is framed as a measure to promote indigenous talent within the government's cultural programming calendar.
The Chief Minister also called for a permanent scheme to be designed for all Padma award recipients from the state, covering both recognition and need-based support. Madhya Pradesh has produced numerous Padma awardees across arts, craft, and classical music, and a structured support mechanism would formalise the state's engagement with these nationally honoured individuals.
What's Next
The Culture Department is now tasked with drafting the framework for the Vikramaditya Academy, finalising the expanded list of sites under the Mukhya Mantri Tirth Darshan Yojana, and setting revised construction timelines for the Shri Ram Van Gaman Path and Shri Krishna Pathey Pariyojana. The next state budget cycle will be a key indicator of how much financial backing these directives receive.
If implemented at scale, the expanded pilgrimage scheme and dual heritage corridors could reshape Madhya Pradesh's position as a destination for cultural and religious tourism, with downstream effects on local economies around shrine towns such as Ujjain, Omkareshwar, and Chitrakoot.
Point of View
A wider pilgrimage scheme, and accelerated Ramayana and Krishna corridors — fits a well-established BJP state-government playbook of anchoring cultural policy in Hindu heritage institutions and pilgrimage infrastructure. The move to prioritise local artists and formalise Padma awardee support adds a welfare dimension that broadens the political appeal beyond religious tourism. The real test will be execution: both the Ram Van Gaman Path and the Tirth Darshan scheme have existed for years with uneven progress, and academy proposals often stall at the framework stage. How quickly the Culture Department translates these review-room instructions into budgeted, time-bound projects will determine whether this signals a genuine policy shift or a restatement of existing ambitions.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Vikramaditya Academy announced by CM Mohan Yadav?
CM Dr. Mohan Yadav directed the Madhya Pradesh Culture Department to establish an academy named after Samrat Vikramaditya, the legendary ancient king associated with Ujjain. The academy is intended to promote cultural and scholarly activities, though its detailed structure and timeline are yet to be finalised.
Which new sites will be added to the Mukhya Mantri Tirth Darshan Yojana?
CM Yadav has directed that Jyotirlingas, Shaktipithas, and other important religious sites in Madhya Pradesh, as well as prominent sacred sites across India, be included in the Mukhya Mantri Tirth Darshan Yojana. The exact list of newly added sites has not yet been officially notified.
What is the Shri Ram Van Gaman Path project?
The Shri Ram Van Gaman Path is a Madhya Pradesh state project to identify, develop, and promote sites associated with Lord Ram's exile route. It received state support in the early 2020s, and CM Yadav has now directed officials to speed up its construction work.
What support will Padma awardees from Madhya Pradesh receive?
CM Yadav has called for a permanent scheme to be designed for all Padma award recipients from Madhya Pradesh, covering both formal recognition and need-based assistance. The scheme's specifics are to be worked out by the Culture Department.
What did CM Mohan Yadav say about local artists in Madhya Pradesh?
CM Dr. Mohan Yadav directed that singers and artists from Madhya Pradesh be given priority invitations to perform at state-organised cultural events, aiming to promote indigenous talent through government programming.
