The Ministry of Tourism has restructured its flagship Swadesh Darshan Scheme (SDS) into Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) with a renewed focus on sustainable and destination-centric tourism development. Launched in 2014-15, the scheme aimed to develop thematic tourism circuits across India but underwent a comprehensive review to address gaps and enhance its effectiveness.
The Ministry identified nine key areas for improvement, including broadening the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee, strengthening state-level institutional frameworks, strategic destination selection, benchmarking, and addressing both infrastructure (hard) and experiential (soft) aspects of tourism. Additionally, emphasis was placed on sustainable operation and maintenance, promotion and marketing of destinations, and impact assessment.
According to a recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) (Report No. 17 of 2023), various measures have been implemented to streamline the scheme. These include the formulation of State Perspective Plans, standardized templates for Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), an online portal for project proposals, regular monitoring at multiple levels, and the adoption of a treasury single account (TSA) model for fund flow.
Under the revamped scheme, the Ministry has sanctioned 76 projects under Swadesh Darshan, 52 projects under Swadesh Darshan 2.0, and 36 projects under Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), a sub-scheme aimed at enhancing specific destinations. The initiative focuses on developing tourism amenities and enriching visitor experiences through a holistic approach.
While no specific study has been conducted to measure tourist inflow directly attributable to the Swadesh Darshan scheme, data highlights significant growth in domestic and international tourism over the past three years:
- 2022: 1,731.01 million domestic visits and 6.44 million international arrivals
- 2023: 2,510.71 million domestic visits and 9.51 million international arrivals
- 2024: 2,947.63 million domestic visits and 9.95 million international arrivals
These figures underscore the growing appeal of Indian tourism destinations, bolstered by initiatives like Swadesh Darshan.
The Ministry remains committed to fostering sustainable tourism development, ensuring operational efficiency, and promoting India as a globally competitive travel destination.
