‘’Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’’

There is no country like India, quite as diverse, multi-lingual and

multi-cultural, yet bound together by the ancient bounds of shared
traditions, culture and values. Such bonds need to be strengthened
through enhanced and continuous mutual interaction between
people of varied regions and ways of life so that it encourages
reciprocity and secures an enriched value system of unity amongst
people of different States in a culturally special country like INDIA.
Background

Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat was announced by Hon'ble Prime

Minister on 31st October, 2015 on the occasion of the 140th birth
anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Subsequently, the
Finance Minister announced the initiative in his Budget Speech
for 2016-17. 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.
The Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat programme, aims to actively
enhance interaction between people of diverse cultures living in
different States and UTs in India, with the objective of promoting
greater mutual understanding amongst them. As per the
programme, each year, every State/UT would be paired with
another State/UT in India for reciprocal interaction between the
people. It is envisaged through this exchange, that the knowledge
of the language, culture, traditions and practices of different states
will lead to an enhanced understanding and bonding between one
another, thereby strengthening the unity and integrity of India.
The States and UTs are to embark on a mission to enhance their
cultural, academic and economic ties by entering into a wide range
of mutual engagements with the paired States/UTs covering the
spheres of music, drama, cuisine, language, history, tourism and
other forms of exchange between the people. An indicative list of
activities has been drawn up and circulated to the State
Governments / UT Administrations and to the key Central
Ministries. The States/ UTs may choose, evolve and develop their
interaction pattern based on the suggested list as per operational
suitability in the course of their interactions.
All States and UTs will be covered under the programme. There
will be pairing of States/UTs at national level and these pairings
will be in effect for one year, or till the next round of pairings.
The State/UT level pairings would be utilized for state level
activities. District level pairings would be independent of the State
level pairings. The activity will be very useful to link various States
and Districts in annual programmes that will connect people
through exchanges in areas of culture, tourism, language,
education trade etc. and citizens will be able to experience the
cultural diversity of a much larger number of States/UTs while
realising that India is one.

OBJECTIVES
• To celebrate the unity in diversity of our nation and to

maintain and strengthen the fabric of traditionally

existing emotional bonds between the people of our
country;
• To promote the spirit of national integration through a

deep and structured engagement between all states and

union territories through a year-long planned
engagement between states;
 • To showcase the rich heritage and culture, customs and
traditions of either state for enabling people to
understand and appreciate the diversity that is India,
thus fostering a sense of common identity;
• To establish long term engagements; and
• To create an environment this promotes learning
between states by sharing best practices and
experiences.
Key Themes

• To celebrate the idea of India as a nation wherein

different cultural units across varied geographies
coalesce and interact with each other, this glorious
manifestation of diverse cuisine, music, dance, theatre,
movies & films, handicrafts, sports, literature, festivals,
painting, sculpture etc. will enable people to imbibe the
innate chord of binding and brotherhood;
• To make our people aware about the seamless integral
hull of the Modern Indian State spread across a vast
landmass on whose firm foundations, the geopolitical
strength of the country is ensured to benefit one and all;
• To impress upon people at large about the increasing
inter-connectedness between the constituents of
various cultures and traditions, which is so vital for the
spirit of nation building;
• To induce a sense of responsibility & ownership for the
nation as a whole through these close cross-cultural
 interactions as it intends to build up the
interdependence matrix unequivocally.
• To create 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 Connect.

o food, music, dance, theatre, movies, sports, handicrafts,

festivals, paintings, sculptures, etc., will enable people to
imbibe the innate chord of binding and brotherhood and
celebrate the idea of India as a nation where different
cultural units across various geographies merge and
interact with one another.
o To educate the population about the seamless, integrated
Modern Indian State, which is stretched across a huge
landmass and whose solid foundations ensure that
everyone benefits from the nation's geopolitical power.
o To emphasise to the general public how important it is for
the spirit of nation-building that different cultures and
traditions are becoming more interconnected.
o To reduce the sense of being a "stranger in a strange land"
that people from different states, cultures, and traditions
who live in different states of India often experience.
o Through these intense cross-cultural connections, a sense
of ownership and responsibility for the country is to be
instilled, as it aims to build up the interdependence matrix.
o To celebrate the diversity and unity of the Nation at the
same time.
 o To generate a vibrance of understanding & appreciation
amongst the people and forge mutual bonding to secure
an enriched value system of unity in the nation.

Features

o The Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme strives to

actively improve the connection between people of
various cultures living in various Indian states and union
territories to encourage greater mutual understanding.
o Every year, each State/UT in India will be partnered with
another State/UT in India for reciprocal engagement
between the people, according to the programme.
o It is hoped that through this exchange, knowledge of
other states’ languages, cultures, traditions, and practises
will lead to increased understanding and bonding, hence
enhancing India’s unity and integrity.
o A preliminary list of activities has been compiled and
distributed to state governments/UT administrations and
key federal ministries.
o States/UTs may choose, evolve, and develop their
interaction patterns based on the provided list, based on
operational suitability during interactions.

o h the exchange of best practises and experiences.

Implementation

o India's states and union territories will be partnered for a

set period under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
 programme. Paired states and UTs signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) to outline the activities they
would undertake jointly.
o The States and UTs will embark on a mission to strengthen
their cultural, academic, and economic linkages by
engaging in various mutual interactions with the partnered
States/UTs, including music, drama, food, language,
history, tourism, and other types of people-to-people
exchange.
o Based on operational suitability during interactions,
states/UTs may choose, evolve, and develop their
interaction patterns from the specified list.
o The activity will be extremely beneficial in connecting
various States and Districts in annual programmes that will
bring people together through exchanges in areas such as
culture, tourism, language, education, trade, and so on.

Citizens can sample the cultural diversity of a considerably

larger number of States/UTs while remaining aw
Activities ;

o Organize culinary festivals where people can learn new

skills.
o Organise reciprocal educational excursions for
university/school pupils.
o Organize tours for the linked states’ tour companies.
o Prepare and share a book containing information about
the paired states’ customs, culture, flora and fauna,
traditions, and other topics for distribution in colleges and
schools between the paired states.
o Organize essay competitions among students in the
partnered states’ respective languages.
o Arrange for a drama of the paired states to be performed
in educational institutes.
o Farmers from the linked states exchange information on
agricultural methods and predictions.
o Programs for cultural exchange between partnered states
and UTs.
o At least five award-winning poems, books, and popular
folk songs from one state have been translated into the
language of the other state.
o Proverbs in the languages of the partnered states/UTs are
identified, disseminated, and translated.
o Poets and writers can participate in an exchange
programme.