Art &amp; Culture Current Affairs — Last 12 months

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Budget 2026-27: 15 archaeological sites to become cultural destinations; Khelo India Mission launched

The Union Budget 2026-27, presented on 1 February 2026, announced that 15 archaeological sites including Lothal, Dholavira and Rakhigarhi will be developed as experiential cultural destinations, and launched a Khelo India Mission for the next decade.

🎭 Festivals & Events 📍 Haryana Important

Vice-President inaugurates 39th Surajkund International Atmanirbhar Crafts Mela; Egypt partner country

On 31 January 2026 Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the 39th Surajkund International Atmanirbhar Crafts Mela in Faridabad, Haryana, with Egypt as partner country and UP and Meghalaya as theme states.

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🎭 Festivals & Events 📍 Delhi

Bharat Parv 2026 concludes at Red Fort; edition marked 150 years of Vande Mataram

Bharat Parv 2026, the Ministry of Tourism's six-day festival at the Red Fort lawns, New Delhi, ran from 26 to 31 January 2026 and marked the 150th anniversary of 'Vande Mataram'.

🎭 Heritage & UNESCO 📍 Odisha

CCRAS and Berhampur University sign MoU to digitise rare Ayurvedic palm-leaf manuscripts

On 31 January 2026 the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) and Berhampur University, Odisha, agreed to digitise and catalogue rare Ayurvedic manuscripts kept at the South Odisha Cultural Study Centre.

🔬 Health & Medicine 📍 Kerala

PM addresses centenary of Arya Vaidya Sala Charitable Hospital in Kerala

PM Modi addressed the centenary celebrations of the Arya Vaidya Sala Charitable Hospital in Kerala by video message on 28 January 2026, recalling founder Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varier and the institution's 125-year journey in Ayurveda.

🎭 Festivals & Events 📍 Delhi Important

25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav opens at National School of Drama, New Delhi

Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated the 25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav, described as the world's largest international theatre festival, at the National School of Drama, New Delhi on 27 January 2026.

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🕯️ Obituaries 📍 Tamil Nadu

Tamil scholar D. Gnanasundaram, known for his work on the Kamba Ramayanam, passes away

PM Narendra Modi condoled the death of Tamil scholar D. Gnanasundaram on 26 January 2026, recalling his exceptional understanding of the Kamba Ramayanam and their interaction at the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Tiruchirappalli, in January 2024.

🚄 Infrastructure & Energy 📍 Tripura Important

Scindia lays foundation of ₹450 crore Matabari Tourism Circuit at Dumbur, Tripura

DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia laid the foundation stone of the ₹450 crore Matabari Tourism Circuit at Narkel Kunja, Dumbur Lake, on 25 January 2026.

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🎭 Festivals & Events 📍 Delhi

Bharat Parv 2026 at Red Fort from 26 to 31 January

The Ministry of Tourism is organising Bharat Parv 2026, a six-day cultural and tourism festival, at the Red Fort lawns in New Delhi from 26 to 31 January.

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Second Global Buddhist Summit opens at Bharat Mandapam

Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat addressed the inaugural session of the Second Global Buddhist Summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 24 January 2026.

🎭 Art & Culture 📍 India

National School Band Competition 2026: Jharkhand schools win both pipe band titles

At the Grand Finale of the National School Band Competition in New Delhi on 24 January 2026, Ranchi schools won the pipe band boys and girls titles.

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President inaugurates Granth Kutir at Rashtrapati Bhavan with books in 11 classical languages

President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated Granth Kutir at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 23 January 2026, a collection of about 2,300 books and around 50 manuscripts in India's 11 classical languages.

🎭 GI Tags 📍 Jammu and Kashmir

GI-tagged Kaladi of Udhampur to be upscaled with food technology

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on 21 January 2026 directed CSIR labs to upscale Kaladi, the GI-tagged traditional dairy product of Udhampur district in Jammu & Kashmir, for wider food uses.

🎭 Heritage & UNESCO 📍 Uttar Pradesh Important

233-year-old Valmiki Ramayana manuscript gifted to Ram Katha Museum, Ayodhya

A rare 233-year-old Sanskrit manuscript of the Valmiki Ramayana, dated 1792 CE, was permanently gifted to the International Ram Katha Museum in Ayodhya, the Culture Ministry said on 20 January 2026.

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📋 Central Schemes 📍 Delhi

PM Vishwakarma Haat 2026 opens at Dilli Haat

MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi inaugurated PM Vishwakarma Haat 2026 at Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi, on 18 January 2026, with more than 117 artisans taking part.

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🎭 Festivals & Events 📍 Assam Important

PM attends Bagurumba Dwhou, a Bodo cultural programme, in Guwahati

PM Narendra Modi attended Bagurumba Dwhou, a traditional Bodo cultural programme, at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati, Assam, on 17 January 2026.

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🎭 GI Tags 📍 Andhra Pradesh Important

Ponduru Khadi of Andhra Pradesh gets GI tag

Ponduru Khadi, a hand-woven cotton fabric from Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in favour of KVIC, the MSME Ministry said on 16 January 2026.

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🎭 Art & Culture 📍 Tamil Nadu

PM pays tribute to Thiruvalluvar on Thiruvalluvar Day, urges people to read the Tirukkural

PM Narendra Modi paid homage to the poet-saint Thiruvalluvar on Thiruvalluvar Day, 16 January 2026, and urged everyone to read the Tirukkural.

🛡️ Defence & Security 📍 Oman Must know

Stitched sail ship INSV Kaundinya reaches Muscat on maiden voyage from Porbandar

The Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Kaundinya, a traditionally built stitched sail ship, reached Muscat, Oman, on 14 January 2026 after completing its maiden voyage from Porbandar.

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🔬 Science & Technology 📍 India

I&B Ministry, Principal Scientific Adviser and Netflix conclude 'Inspiring Innovators' skilling initiative

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser marked the culmination of 'Inspiring Innovators – Naye Bharat Ki Nayi Pehchaan', a skilling initiative with the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, on 13 January 2026.

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🎭 Heritage & UNESCO 📍 Gujarat Must know

PM Modi addresses Somnath Swabhiman Parv marking 1,000 years since the first attack on Somnath

PM Narendra Modi addressed the Somnath Swabhiman Parv at Somnath, Gujarat on 11 January 2026, marking a thousand years since Mahmud of Ghazni first attacked the temple in 1026 AD and 75 years since its reconstruction in 1951.

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🎭 Heritage & UNESCO 📍 Gujarat Important

Bhadrakali Temple inscription at Prabhas Patan records Kumarapala's revival of Somnath

The Culture Ministry on 11 January 2026 highlighted the 1169 CE Bhadrakali Temple inscription at Prabhas Patan, which records the history of the Somnath temple and the role of Solanki ruler Kumarapala in its revival.

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📚 Books & Authors 📍 Delhi Important

New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 opens at Bharat Mandapam with theme 'Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @ 75'

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 at Bharat Mandapam on 10 January 2026; organised by the National Book Trust from 10–18 January, the fair has free entry for the first time.

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🎭 Festivals & Events 📍 Andhra Pradesh Important

Indian Lighthouse Festival 3.0 ends in Visakhapatnam; Andhra Pradesh's first Lighthouse Museum announced

Ports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced Andhra Pradesh's first Lighthouse Museum in Visakhapatnam at the close of the two-day Indian Lighthouse Festival 3.0 on 10 January 2026, and launched port projects worth ₹230 crore.

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🎭 Art & Culture 📍 Delhi

Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurates Third International Conference on Indian Languages

Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the Third International Conference on Indian Languages in New Delhi on 9 January 2026, saying India's languages have united, not divided, the nation.

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ASI enables online ticket booking for over 170 monuments and museums on ONDC

The Archaeological Survey of India announced on 6 January 2026 that tickets for over 170 centrally protected monuments and museums can now be booked through the Open Network for Digital Commerce.

🎭 Art & Culture 📍 India Important

Dharmendra Pradhan releases 55 literary works in classical Indian languages

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan released 55 literary works in classical Indian languages in New Delhi on 6 January 2026, including a Tirukkural series in Indian Sign Language.

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🎭 Art & Culture 📍 Assam

Sarbananda Sonowal attends Mridangiya Gayan-Bayan Sanstha state convention in Dibrugarh

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal attended the second biennial state convention of the Mridangiya Gayan-Bayan Sanstha, Assam, at Rajgarh in Dibrugarh on 4 January 2026, and felicitated Banshi Bakliyal for his contribution to the tradition.