UPSC Articles
Sep 20: Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat – https://youtu.be/mh0z1UsM1vI
GOVERNANCE/SOCIETY
- GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’
The ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Ekta Diwas i.e., 31st October 2015, on the occasion of 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, drawing inspiration from the life of India’s freedom fighter.
- Through this innovative measure, the knowledge of the culture, traditions and practices of different states & UTs will lead to an enhanced understanding and bonding between the states, thereby strengthening the unity and integrity of India.
- Implemented under the overall guidance of Ministry of Education.
It aims to enhance interaction & promote mutual understanding between people of different states/UTs through the concept of state/UT pairing.
- Under it rich culture, heritage, customs and traditions of paired states will be showcased in each other’s states
- This cultural exchange amongst states enables people to learn about the culture of different states and regions, promoting the spirit of national integration.
- The idea is to create a learning ecosystem between the various stakeholders of the partnering states so that they benefit from the best practices of one another by establishing a state-to-state connection.
Initiatives taken up under the Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat
- Award-winning books and poetry, popular folk songs have been translated from one language to the language of the partner state
- Culinary events have been organised to learn culinary practices of partner states
- Homestay for visitors coming from partner states
- Rajya Darshan for Tourists
- Accepting the traditional attire of other states and Union Territories
- Exchange of information like traditional agricultural practices with partner states
Conclusion:
Article 1 of the Constitution of India describes India as a Union of States. This means that the Union is indestructible. This unique Union is a diverse combination of religions, cultures, tribes, languages, cuisines and therefore its people. The immense sacrifices rendered by our forefathers to protect and preserve the diversity of our country is beyond imagination. Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat aims to do justice to one such towering figure who went about the huge task of integrating the 565 odd princely states to the Union of India seamlessly.
Value Addition
National Mission on Cultural Mapping of India
Ministry of Culture launched it in the year of commemoration of the birth centenary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay. The Cultural Mapping of India portal will serve as a repository/consolidated database of information about cultural assets and resources i.e. a cultural inventory at one place for essential planning, sustainable economic development and for preserving the scattered and near extinct art forms.
Aim:
- Converting the vast and widespread cultural canvas of India into an objective cultural map
- Designing a mechanism to fulfil the aspirations of the whole artist community of the nation
- Preserving the rich cultural heritage of this country in the form of a cultural repository of artists and art forms
- The Mission also seeks to open a direct channel of communication of artists with the Government and peer to peer communication among artists for talent honing and handholding of each other.
