The city of Varanasi has been nominated as the first-ever SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital during the period 2022-2023 at the 22nd Meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on September 16, 2022. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had participated in the Summit.

The nomination of Varanasi as the first ever SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital will promote tourism, cultural and humanitarian exchanges between India and the SCO member Countries. It also underlines India’s ancient civilizational links with Member States of SCO, especially the Central Asian Republics.

Under the framework of this major cultural outreach program, a number of events will be hosted in Varanasi during 2022-23, for which guests will be invited to participate from SCO Member States. These events are expected to attract Indologists, scholars, authors, musicians and artists, photo journalists, travel bloggers and other invited guests.

The regulations for nomination of the SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital were adopted at the Dushanbe SCO Summit in 2021 with an objective of promoting cooperation between the SCO Member States in the field of culture and tourism.

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Prime Minister condoles the passing of Father Amir of State of Qatar HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
July 12, 2026

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has expressed deep grief over the passing of the Father Amir of the State of Qatar, HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

The Prime Minister described him as a visionary leader who led Qatar to great levels of development and prosperity. Shri Modi also remembered him as a true friend whom he had the honour of meeting during his visit to Qatar in February 2024.

The Prime Minister conveyed his sincere condolences to the Amir of Qatar, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the entire royal family and the people of Qatar.

The Prime Minister wrote on X;

“We deeply mourn the passing of Father Amir of State of Qatar, HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. A visionary leader who led Qatar to great levels of development and prosperity, we remember him also as a true friend whom I had the honour of meeting during my last visit to Qatar in February 2024. I convey my sincere condolences to the Amir of Qatar, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the entire royal family and people of Qatar. May the departed soul rest in eternal peace.

@TamimBinHamad”