Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the 12 years of the Narendra Modi-led government have been characterized by a unique confluence of development and heritage, highlighting major cultural and infrastructure initiatives undertaken since 2014.
In a post on X, Shah described the period as a “golden era” where projects such as the Shri Ram Temple, Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, and Ujjain Mahakal Lok were developed alongside welfare schemes including PM Awas Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, Ann Bhandar, and initiatives like Make in India. He said these measures have provided unprecedented momentum to India’s development journey.
The remarks came as the Centre showcased achievements under the theme “Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi,” emphasizing the preservation and promotion of India’s cultural heritage while integrating it with broader development goals.
According to an official statement, the government has digitised over one crore historical records, facilitated the return of 668 ancient artefacts to India, established 11 tribal freedom struggle museums, and granted classical language status to 11 Indian languages. Programmes aimed at restoring iconic sites, conserving temples and monuments, and developing heritage cities and pilgrimage circuits have also been implemented.
The statement noted that India’s monuments, manuscripts, antiquities and historic sites represent a shared legacy that has been preserved through various initiatives launched since 2014. These efforts have sought to combine heritage conservation with economic growth, tourism development, livelihood generation and cultural diplomacy.
Highlighting the government’s approach under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the statement pointed to the return of stolen antiquities, the development of spiritual infrastructure including the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Temple, and measures aimed at increasing global recognition of Indian traditions.
The government said initiatives such as manuscript digitisation, expansion of pilgrimage infrastructure and improvements in tourism connectivity have been undertaken to preserve and promote India’s rich cultural legacy for future generations.
