Hon’ble Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh Inaugurates Indie Haat- A celebration of India’s rich handloom and handicraft heritage

• February 14, 2025

Source: Press Information Bureau

Shri Giriraj Singh, Hon’ble Minister of Textiles, inaugurated Indie Haat at the National Crafts Museum and Hastkala Academy, New Delhi. Speaking at the event, Shri Giriraj Singh, Hon’ble Minister of Textiles, remarked that Indie Haat is not just an exhibition, but a celebration of India’s rich textile and handicraft heritage. Through this platform, we are not only preserving traditional crafts but also providing artisans and weavers with direct access to global markets, HMoT added.

The Indie Haat event, which runs from February 12 to 18, 2025, is designed to showcase India’s traditional artistry to an international audience. The participating handicraft artisans at Indie Haat represent a diverse range of craft traditions from various regions of India. Indie Haat features a vibrant display of 80 different types of handcrafted and handwoven products, crafted by 85 artisans and weavers from across the country.Their crafts include Gulabi Minakari, Tarkasi craft, Mithila painting, black pottery, Chamba Rumal, Punjabi Jutti, Kalamkari painting, Bidri craft, Bastar Dhokra, Gujarat Suf embroidery, Kutch Ajrakh hand block printing, Aranmula metal mirror, and many more.The textiles they showcase include Paithani sarees, Tussar silk sarees, Jamdani sarees, Pashmina shawls, Muga silk sarees, Uppada Jamdani, Maheshwari sarees, and handloom yoga mats, highlighting the rich weaving heritage of India.

National Mission on Cultural Mapping

• February 03, 2025

Source: Press Information Bureau

To preserve and promote India’s rich cultural heritage, the Ministry of Culture has established the National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM).  Implemented by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), the mission aims to document India’s cultural heritage and its potential to revitalize rural economics.

As a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, NMCM launched Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar (MGMD) portal in June 2023 (https://mgmd.gov.in/).  This initiative aims to document the cultural heritage of 6.5 lakh villages of India. Currently, 4.5 lakh villages are live on the portal with their respective cultural portfolios.

The MGMD portal captures a wide range of cultural elements, including oral traditions, beliefs, customs, historical significance, art forms, traditional food, prominent artists, fairs and festivals, traditional dress, ornaments and local landmarks.

Benefits accorded to Classical Language

• February 03, 2025

Source: Press Information Bureau

The support available to the languages notified as classical languages include awards in Classical Languages, centers of excellence for studies in classical languages, and creation of professional chairs in central universities.

The Government of India had earlier notified the following languages as Classical Languages:

Tamil, 2004

Sanskrit, 2005

Telugu, 2008

Kannada, 2008

Malayalam, 2013

Odia, 2014

The Ministry of Education, through the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru, works towards the promotion and development of all Indian languages, including Classical Languages. Various institutions and Centres of Excellence have been established to support research, documentation, and scholarly activities related to these languages.

Empowering tribes towards Viksit Bharat: a historic boost for Tribal Welfare in Union Budget 2025

• February 02, 2025

Source: Press Information Bureau

India, home to over 10.45 crore Scheduled Tribe (ST) individuals comprising 8.6% of the total population boasts a rich and diverse tribal heritage. Spread across remote and often inaccessible regions, these communities have long been a focal point of the government’s development agenda. Under leadership of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Union Budget 2025-26 reaffirms this commitment with a substantial increase in budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, ensuring holistic and sustainable development for tribal communities across the country.

Unprecedented Budgetary Support for Tribal Welfare:

The overall budget allocation for the development of Scheduled Tribes has risen from Rs 10,237.33 crore in 2024-25 to Rs 14,925.81 crore in 2025-26, marking an impressive 45.79% increase.
The Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY) has been expanded and subsumed under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) with an outlay of Rs 80,000 crore over five years.
The budget outlay for the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has seen consistent growth, rising from Rs 7,511.64 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 10,237.33 crore in 2024-25, and now reaching Rs 14,925.81 crore in 2025-26.
A long-term perspective reveals significant progress: from Rs 4,497.96 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 7,411 crore in 2021-22, and now a 231.83% increase since 2014-15, demonstrating the government's sustained focus on tribal welfare.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs Wins Best Tableau Award in Republic Day Parade 2025: Honouring Bhagwan Birsa Munda and the Spirit of ‘Janjatiya’

• January 29, 2025

Source: Press Information Bureau

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs received the Best Tableau award from Central Ministries/Departments at the 76th Republic Day Parade 2025 for their culturally rich tableau themed "Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh," honoring the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. The tableau elegantly illustrated the tribal culture through a grand Sal tree, representing power, sustainability, and the profound bond between tribal societies and nature. The core theme, “Jal, Jungle, Jameen,” highlighted the enduring wisdom of India’s tribal history and their significant contributions to the liberation movement and nation-building.

The dynamic Paika dance from Jharkhand and the rhythmic Nagada beats from Chhattisgarh captivated the audience, representing the cry for Atmanirbhar Bharat and the essence of Shreshtha Bharat. In light of this significant accomplishment, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri Jual Oram, conveyed his appreciation, remarking: "This honor pays homage to the legacy of Bhagwan Birsa Munda and the profound cultural heritage of India’s tribal communities." The Ministry is dedicated to empowering tribal communities through projects like as PM-JANMAN, Dharti Aaba Abhiyan, and Eklavya Schools, guaranteeing their comprehensive development. This acknowledgment reinforces our vision of a developed India where every indigenous voice is acknowledged and honored.

Empowering Tribal Entrepreneurs: Symposium on Building a Startup Ecosystem for Scheduled Tribes

• January 28, 2025

Source: Press Information Bureau

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), Government of India, convened a significant Symposium on the Advancement of the Startup Ecosystem for Scheduled Tribes, uniting prominent Venture Capitalists and Impact Investors to deliberate on strategies for empowering tribal entrepreneurs and promoting inclusive growth. The Government of India is resolute in its dedication to empowering tribal populations. The establishment of a resilient startup ecosystem among Scheduled Tribes is a primary project within the Ministry of Tribal Affairs' 100-day plan.

To initiate this transformative project, MoTA has conducted comprehensive brainstorming meetings with leading institutions such as IIM Calcutta, IIT Delhi, IFCI Venture Capital Funds Limited, and industry groups to guarantee a grassroots-level impact. The establishment of a Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Tribes, with an initial corpus of ₹50 crore, is a crucial advancement in supporting entrepreneurship and nurturing innovation within these communities.

Projects under Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE)

• December 11, 2024

Source: Press Information Bureau

Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) was announced as a new Central Sector scheme, with 100% Central funding in the Union Budget 2022-23 with initial outlay of Rs.1500 crore. The Union Cabinet on 12 October 2022 approved the Scheme with a total outlay of Rs. 6600 crore for the period from FY 2022-23 to FY 2025-2026. 35 projects worth Rs. 4857.11 crore have been sanctioned under the Scheme up to 30.11.2024.

UNEP’s 2024 Champions of the Earth recognizes six bold environmental leaders

• December 10, 2024

Source: United Nations Environment Programme

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has announced the beneficiaries of the 2024 Champions of the Earth, recognized for their exemplary leadership, courageous acts, and sustainable solutions to address land degradation, drought, and desertification. This year's recipients comprise a minister of Indigenous Peoples, an environmental champion, a sustainable agricultural effort, an Indigenous rights proponent, a scientist specializing in afforestation, and an innovative ecologist. The biennial Champions of the Earth award, the United Nations' premier environmental accolade, acknowledges pioneers leading initiatives to safeguard humanity and the world. Since 2005, the award has honored 122 laureates for exceptional and inspirational environmental leadership.

The Champions include:

Ms Sonia Guajajara, Brazil’s Minister of Indigenous Peoples honoured in the Policy Leadership category, has been advocating for Indigenous rights for more than two decades. Ms Guajajara became Brazil’s first Minister of Indigenous Peoples and the country’s first female Indigenous minister in 2023. Under her leadership, 13 territories have been recognized as Indigenous land to ward off deforestation, illegal logging, and drug traffickers. 
 
Ms Amy Bowers Cordalis, an Indigenous rights advocate honoured in the Inspiration and Action category, is using her legal expertise and passion for restoration to secure a better future for the Yurok tribe and the Klamath River in the United States. Ms Cordalis’ work to restore the river ecosystem and encourage the adoption of sustainable fishing practices demonstrate how bold environmental action can bring significant positive change, while upholding Indigenous Peoples’ rights and livelihoods.

Tropical plant Subabul shows potential in managing insulin resistance related to type II diabetes

• December 04, 2024

Source: Press Information Bureau

Researchers have identified the therapeutic potential of the seedpods from the traditional medicinal plant Subabul in managing insulin resistance related to type II diabetes and developed a marker-assisted fraction and four active compounds from it. Subabul or Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit is a fast-growing leguminous tree commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions. The leaves and immature seeds are eaten in the form of soups or salad, both raw and cooked, providing a rich source of protein and fibre, leading to its traditional usage in human and animal food by different ethnic communities. Researchers in the CBL-I at Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), Guwahati, an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology, investigated the therapeutic potential of the seedpods from the traditional medicinal plant Subabul in managing insulin resistance related to type II diabetes.

Promotion of Traditional Sports

• December 02, 2024

Source: Press Information Bureau

‘Sports’ being a State subject, the responsibility of development of sports, including promotion of traditional sports and holding their competitions, rests primarily with the respective State/Union Territory Governments. The Union Government only supplements their efforts by bridging critical gaps. However, the ‘Promotion of rural and indigenous/tribal games’ sub-component of the Khelo India Scheme, is specifically dedicated to the development and promotion of rural and indigenous/tribal games in the country. Indigenous/traditional games of Mallakhamb, Kalaripayattu, Gatka, Thang-Ta, Yogasana and Silambam have been identified for promotion under this component and these games are part of annually organised Khelo India University/ Youth Games.