Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)

What is the PRASHAD scheme?

PRASHAD, the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive, is a central sector scheme of the Ministry of Tourism launched in 2014-15. PRASHAD develops and upgrades infrastructure at India's major pilgrimage and heritage destinations so that devotees and tourists have safer, cleaner and more comfortable access. The scheme was originally called PRASAD and was renamed PRASHAD in October 2017.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, PRASHAD provides financial assistance to State Governments and Union Territory administrations for tourism infrastructure at identified pilgrimage and heritage sites. The scheme funds the physical works around a site, it is not a grant to temples, trusts or individual pilgrims.

Key objectives

• Harness the potential of pilgrimage tourism for local economic growth and jobs.
• Develop pilgrimage sites in a planned, sustainable and integrated way.
• Promote community-based development and responsible tourism at religious destinations.

Main features

• 100% central funding by the Ministry of Tourism for the components covered under the guidelines.
• Beneficiaries are States and UTs, which propose sites and implement works.
• Coverage spans dozens of pilgrimage cities across states; around 40 or more projects have been sanctioned since launch.
• The scheme encourages collaboration with private stakeholders and NGOs for building and maintaining infrastructure.

Who is eligible for the PRASHAD scheme?

PRASHAD is an infrastructure scheme, so eligibility is about which governments and sites qualify, not about individual applicants.

Eligible to receive PRASHAD assistance:

• State Governments and Union Territory administrations, which submit proposals and Detailed Project Reports to the Ministry of Tourism.
• Identified pilgrimage and heritage sites that the Ministry appraises and sanctions on the strength of a viable DPR and available land.

You cannot apply if:

• You are an individual, pilgrim, priest or private temple trust seeking funds — individuals cannot apply for money under PRASHAD.
• You are a private developer expecting a direct grant. Private parties can participate only through the implementing agency route chosen by the state; they are not eligible for a standalone PRASHAD grant.

This is the point most readers get wrong: PRASHAD builds public infrastructure at a site; it does not hand money to people who visit or run the site.

What documents are required for a PRASHAD proposal?

These are submitted by the State/UT, not by a citizen.

How to apply for PRASHAD (the state proposal route)

There is no citizen application. The route is institutional:

1. The State/UT identifies a pilgrimage or heritage site with tourism potential and prepares a Detailed Project Report covering the works and costs.
2. The state submits the proposal to the Ministry of Tourism through its tourism department.
3. The Ministry appraises and sanctions the project, and releases the first instalment of central funds.
4. The State/UT appoints an implementing agency to execute the works, roads, sanitation, lighting, parking, signage and amenities.
5. The state submits utilisation and progress reports, on the basis of which the Ministry releases further instalments, and takes over operation and maintenance on completion.

If you are a resident who wants a facility at a pilgrimage town, the practical step is to raise it with your State tourism department, which owns the proposal process.

How many PRASHAD projects have been sanctioned?

According to Ministry of Tourism figures, 54 projects had been sanctioned under PRASHAD by early 2026, of which 31 were fully completed, up from 48 sanctioned and 26 completed a year earlier. Sanctioned works span pilgrimage sites in states as varied as Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. The Union Budget for 2025-26 set aside about Rs 240 crore for completing ongoing PRASHAD works. Progress is uneven: a parliamentary panel has flagged persistent delays in some legacy projects launched in 2014-15, which is why the Ministry now releases later instalments strictly against utilisation and physical progress.

How much does PRASHAD provide?

PRASHAD is 100% centrally funded by the Ministry of Tourism for the eligible infrastructure components. There is no fixed per-person or per-project ceiling published as a universal figure; the amount depends on the sanctioned DPR for each site. Funds flow to the State/UT in instalments and are tied to physical progress and proper utilisation of earlier releases. Because the money is spent on public works, approach roads, drinking water, toilets, waste management, parking and tourist facilitation, the benefit is shared by every visitor to the site rather than paid to any individual.

What kinds of works does PRASHAD fund?

According to the scheme guidelines, PRASHAD covers:

• Approach roads, pathways and last-mile connectivity to the site.
• Illumination, drinking water, toilets, waste management and sanitation.
• Parking, security infrastructure and wayfinding signage.
• Tourist facilitation and interpretation centres.
• Heritage conservation and beautification around the pilgrimage site.

Help and more information

• PRASHAD scheme page: tourism.gov.in/prashad-scheme
• Incredible India 24x7 tourist helpline: 1800-11-1363
• State/UT tourism department, which is the correct starting point for proposing or querying a project at a pilgrimage site.