- Why in news
- On 13 August 2026, the Tourism Minister told the Rajya Sabha that 40 projects across 23 States were sanctioned under SASCI (Iconic Tourist Centres) in 2024-25 for ₹3295.76 crore, with monitoring and guidelines described.
- What it is
- SASCI is a Centre-funded scheme of long-term, interest-free capital support to States. Its tourism component, Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale, funds States to build world-class tourist destinations. The Ministry of Tourism handles tourism proposals through operational guidelines and a DPR template.
- Projects sanctioned
- 40 projects were sanctioned across 23 States in 2024-25, including two in Karnataka.
- Funding pattern
- The 2024-25 projects carry 100% central funding, with a total sanctioned cost of ₹3295.76 crore.
- DPR appraisal parameters
- Proposals are judged on connectivity, existing tourism ecosystem, carrying capacity, utilities and project impact such as footfall, tourist spend, jobs and private investment.
- Institutional framework
- A Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee and a Mission Directorate with representatives of many ministries ensure convergence.
- Monitoring platform
- The Ministry's Program Management Information System (PMIS) is a unified digital platform for tracking destination development schemes.
Don’t confuse with SASCI vs Swadesh Darshan: SASCI gives capital assistance to States for iconic destinations. Swadesh Darshan is the Ministry's thematic circuit development scheme.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Concentrated investment in iconic destinations can raise tourist footfall, spending and local jobs.
- Convergence of ministries through CSMC and Mission Directorate can improve last-mile connectivity.
Problems
- The annexure shows uneven progress: some projects are stalled or not started while others are complete.
- Carrying capacity and environmental clearances need care in fragile sites such as lakes and eco-sensitive areas.
Way forward
- Use PMIS data for strict, time-bound monitoring and release funds against progress.
- Build sustainable operation and maintenance plans, with stakeholder consultation, into every project.
Put in your answer
SASCI 2024-25 outlay: ₹3295.76 crore sanctioned for 40 projects in 23 States, fully centrally funded.
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UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Scheme with 100% central funding and 40 projects in 23 States; worth a card, but the facts are narrow so no question.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.