The Ministry of Culture, through the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), inaugurated a three-day international conference titled 'Bharat's Cultural Connections across the Globe' at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi from 14 to 16 October 2026. Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated the conference, while Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's message was read by Shri Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary of the Ministry of Culture.
The conference marks the centenary of the Greater India Society, established in Calcutta on 14 October 1926, and is organized under the Brihattar Bharat Scheme (2026–2031). The initiative aims to strengthen global cultural connections through evidence-based research and international collaboration involving scholars from approximately 51 countries. The project focuses on identifying, documenting, preserving, and making accessible the shared cultural heritage of Indian civilization with selected countries through joint research, seminars, and workshops.
Key components include a structured five-year agenda for international academic exchange and exploration of multinational nominations of shared intangible cultural heritage to UNESCO's Representative List. The conference deliberations cover ten thematic areas examining shared traditions in philosophy, religion, languages, arts, textiles, cuisine, performing arts, trade, and diaspora communities across regions.
An exhibition titled 'Asia's Shared Cultural Heritage' was organized during the conference, showcasing the shared heritage and historical cultural connections between India and other Asian countries. The initiative emphasizes cultural exchange as a means to foster understanding and sustain dialogue, rooted in the principle of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family).