The Centre has formed 16-member committee for conducting a study on the origin and evolution of Indian culture dating back to around 12,000 years ago. The Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Prahalad Patel informed the Parliament in a written letter on its first day of the monsoon session. The minister explained that the committee would conduct a holistic study of the background of the Indian culture and its interface with other cultures of the world. A query was raised if there was a plan to use the report in textbooks for educational research, the minister said 'at present, there is no such proposal.'