Government Launches National Mission on Cultural Mapping to Preserve Rural Heritage

Under the National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM), the government has initiated a comprehensive project to catalog the cultural heritage of 6.5 lakh villages across India. This initiative aims to highlight the connection between cultural heritage and development while preserving the cultural identity of rural communities.

Objectives

• Awareness Creation: To emphasize the strong link between cultural heritage and development.
• Preservation: To maintain the cultural identity of rural communities.
• National Registers: To establish National Registers of Artists and Art Practices.
• Digital Development: To create a web portal and mobile app serving as the National Cultural Work Place (NCWP).

Implementation

• Coverage: The Census List of 2011, published by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, identifies 45,561 villages in Bihar. Of these, 36,127 villages are included in the cultural mapping project.
• Khagaria District: Out of 303 villages in Khagaria district, 262 have been covered by the project.

Access and Utilization

The project’s database is accessible via the Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar Web Portal. Government ministries and organizations can utilize this database to protect and promote the cultural identities of the identified villages.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

1. What is the primary goal of the National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM)?
   • A) To increase agricultural production
   • B) To catalog the cultural heritage of villages
   • C) To enhance urban infrastructure
   • D) To promote industrial growth
   Answer: B) To catalog the cultural heritage of villages
2. How many villages in Bihar are covered by the cultural mapping project according to the Census List of 2011?
   • A) 36,127
   • B) 45,561
   • C) 26,127
   • D) 30,303
   Answer: A) 36,127
3. Which district in Bihar has 262 out of 303 villages covered by the cultural mapping project?
   • A) Patna
   • B) Khagaria
   • C) Gaya
   • D) Muzaffarpur
   Answer: B) Khagaria
4. What is the purpose of the National Registers of Artists and Art Practices in the NMCM project?
   • A) To list government employees
   • B) To record agricultural practices
   • C) To document artists and art practices
   • D) To create a list of educational institutions
   Answer: C) To document artists and art practices
5. Where can the database of the National Mission on Cultural Mapping be accessed?
   • A) Through local government offices
   • B) At regional cultural centers
   • C) On the Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar Web Portal
   • D) At the National Archives
   Answer: C) On the Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar Web Portal