In a post on X, Shah said that during the last 12 years, major cultural and religious projects such as the Shri Ram Temple, the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and Mahakal Lok in Ujjain were developed, while welfare schemes and infrastructure initiatives accelerated the country's development journey. He said programmes including the Prime Minister Housing Scheme, Ayushman Bharat, the Food Grain Distribution Programme, world-class connectivity projects, infrastructure expansion and the Make in India initiative had provided unprecedented momentum to national growth.
The remarks came as the government highlighted a range of initiatives undertaken over the past 12 years under the theme "Development Alongside Heritage".
According to an official statement, the government's focus has been on the conservation, development and promotion of India's cultural heritage while integrating preservation efforts with broader development objectives.
The statement said key measures included the digitisation of one crore records, the return of 668 ancient artefacts, the establishment of 11 museums dedicated to tribal freedom struggles and the granting of classical language status to 11 Indian languages.
It stated that several programmes aimed at restoring iconic sites, conserving temples and monuments, improving visitor facilities and developing heritage cities and pilgrimage circuits have been implemented over the years.
The statement further noted that India's monuments, antiquities, manuscripts and historic sites represent a shared legacy passed down through generations. Since 2014, the government has launched multiple initiatives to preserve and promote these assets while linking heritage development with economic growth, tourism, livelihoods and cultural diplomacy.
According to the government, the approach adopted under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sought to combine heritage conservation with national development. It highlighted the return of more than 668 stolen antiquities, the development of spiritual infrastructure including the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Temple, and efforts aimed at expanding global recognition of Indian traditions.
The statement added that initiatives such as manuscript digitisation, the expansion of pilgrimage infrastructure and improvements in tourism connectivity have been undertaken to preserve and promote India's cultural legacy for future generations.
The government's emphasis on combining development with heritage preservation has been presented as a long-term strategy aimed at strengthening cultural identity while supporting economic growth, tourism and international cultural engagement.
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