‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’ programme will be launched to link States and Districts in an annual programme that connects people though exchanges in areas of language, trade, culture, travel and tourism. While presenting the General Budget 2016-17 in Lok Sabha today, the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley said that to strengthen understanding of each other, it is proposed to create a closer engagement between States and Districts in a structured manner.

Interstate cultural exchange programme to create structured state and district partnerships for language, culture, travel and trade. The statement announces the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme as a centrally promoted annual initiative to establish structured linkages between States and Districts through bilateral and multilateral exchanges in language, trade, culture, travel and tourism to strengthen mutual understanding, social integration and promote travel and trade connections.