Executive Summary
This report outlines the Ministry of Culture's initiatives to promote and preserve Mumbai’s cultural heritage through festivals, financial schemes, and institutional expansion. Key developments include the establishment of the National School of Drama (NSD) Mumbai Centre in November 2025 and the allocation of significant grants for cultural infrastructure through 2026. The document serves as a formal summary of government support provided to artists, museums, and theatre organizations.
Key Points / Main Content
Festivals and Cultural Platforms
The government organizes major events including RSM, WAVES, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Rajyabhishek Mahotsav, and National Vasant Natyotsav.
Mumbai-based theatre productions are showcased at national-level events to celebrate cultural diversity.
The West Zone Cultural Centre (WZCC) and South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC) provide platforms for folk forms such as Lavani, Gondhal, Koli dances, and Marathi Sangeet Natak.
Institutional and Educational Growth
The NSD Mumbai Centre was established in November 2025 to expand theatre education and link the local industry with film and entertainment.
NSD promotes regional and folk theatre through its academic curriculum, workshops, and the Bharat Rang Mahotsav.
The Sahitya Akademi focuses on the development of Marathi and Konkani languages through literary awards.
Financial Assistance and Infrastructure
Museum Grant Scheme: The Framji Dadabhoy Alpaiwalla Museum received ₹64.48 lakh in 2023-24 and ₹100.00 lakh in 2024-25.
Building Grants (Studio Theatres Scheme): The Company Theatre, Mumbai, was allocated ₹10.00 lakh in 2024-25 and ₹14.065 lakh for 2025-26.
Research Grants: The Nalanda Dance Research Centre received a final instalment of ₹15.00 lakh in 2024-25.
Individual Support: The SCZCC provides direct financial assistance to artists and recommends them for honors such as the Padma Awards.
Impact Analysis
Mumbai-based Artists and PerformersImpact
Artists gain access to national platforms, financial aid, and prestigious recognition through award recommendations.
Action Required
Eligible theatre artists should apply for scholarships and fellowships under NSD schemes as per prescribed guidelines.
Cultural and Museum OrganizationsImpact
Entities like the Parsi Punchayet Bombay and various dance research centers receive substantial funding to maintain infrastructure and preserve heritage.
Action Required
Organizations must ensure the effective utilization of released instalments for building projects and museum maintenance.
Students and Theatre AspirantsImpact
The establishment of the NSD Mumbai Centre provides localized access to professional theatre education and career opportunities in the entertainment industry.
Action Required
Prospective students should engage with the NSD academic curriculum, workshops, and outreach activities.
Regional Language AdvocatesImpact
Marathi and Konkani speakers benefit from sustained language development initiatives and literary recognition.
Action Required
Literary professionals can participate in Sahitya Akademi programs and compete for recognized awards.
Key Entities Referenced
National School of Drama (NSD): An autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture that established a Mumbai Centre to expand theatre education, provide scholarships, and organize festivals like Bharat Rang Mahotsav.
Museum Grant Scheme: A financial assistance program used to provide funding to heritage institutions like the Framji Dadabhoy Alpaiwalla Museum for preserving cultural properties.
Financial Assistance for Building Grants including Studio Theatres Scheme: A Ministry scheme implemented to strengthen cultural infrastructure by providing grants to organizations for developing studio theatres and other facilities.
South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC): A regional cultural body that provides financial assistance to artists, recommends them for Padma Awards, and promotes traditional art forms like Koli dances.
Mumbai: The central location for the cultural initiatives, festivals, and infrastructure development projects described in the policy document.
Ministry of Culture
Government Promotes Mumbai’s Rich Cultural
Heritage through Festivals, Theatre and Support
Schemes
प्रव तथ: 03 AUG 2026 5:58PM by PIB Mumbai
Mumbai: 3 August 2026
The Government is taking several steps to promote and preserve Mumbai’s diverse
cultural traditions, including theatre, music, cinema and traditional art forms.
Through its autonomous organizations and cultural institutions, the Government
organizes various cultural programmes and festivals to provide platforms for artists
and showcase the city’s vibrant cultural heritage.
Programmes such as RSM, WAVES, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Rajyabhishek
Mahotsav and National Vasant Natyotsav are organized to celebrate India’s cultural
diversity. Theatre productions from Mumbai are also showcased at national-level
cultural events.
The National School of Drama (NSD) established its Mumbai Centre in November
2025 to expand theatre education, encourage local talent and strengthen the
connection between theatre and Mumbai’s film and entertainment industry.
The West Zone Cultural Centre (WZCC) works in collaboration with State
Governments and other institutions for organizing cultural programmes and does
not provide direct grants. The South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC) has
provided financial assistance to artists from Mumbai under its various schemes and
has also recommended artists for Padma Awards and other honours. Eligible theatre
artists can avail scholarships and fellowships under NSD schemes as per prescribed
guidelines.
Under the Museum Grant Scheme, financial assistance was provided to the Funds &
Properties of the Parsi Punchayet Bombay, Framji Dadabhoy Alpaiwalla Museum,
Mumbai during the last three years:Financial Museum/Organisation Amount
Year Released
2023-24 Funds & Properties of ₹64.48
the Parsi Punchayet lakh
Bombay, Framji
Dadabhoy Alpaiwalla
Museum, Mumbai
2024-25 Funds & Properties of ₹100.00
the Parsi Punchayet lakh
Bombay, Framji
Dadabhoy Alpaiwalla
Museum, Mumbai
The Government also promotes Marathi, Konkani, Koli and other traditional art
forms through various cultural initiatives. SCZCC presents Koli dances and Marathi
Sangeet Natak, while WZCC provides platforms for traditional art forms such as
Lavani, Gondhal, Powada, Bharud, Vagya Murli and folk theatre of Maharashtra.
The Sahitya Akademi promotes Marathi and Konkani languages through literary
awards and language development initiatives. NSD promotes India’s regional, folk
and traditional theatre forms through its academic curriculum, repertory
productions, Bharat Rang Mahotsav, workshops and outreach activities.
To strengthen cultural infrastructure, the Ministry implements the Financial
Assistance for Building Grants including Studio Theatres Scheme. Financial
assistance released to organizations in Mumbai during the last three years includes:
Organisation Financial Assistance ReleasedThe Company Theatre, Mumbai ₹10.00 lakh (1st instalment) in
2024-25 and ₹14.065 lakh (2nd &
final instalment) in 2025-26
Nalanda Dance Research Centre, ₹15.00 lakh (2nd & final
Mumbai instalment) in 2024-25 (1st
instalment of ₹10.00 lakh released
in 2017-18)
The establishment of the NSD Mumbai Centre has further strengthened theatre
infrastructure and education in the region. The Ministry and its organizations
continue to promote Mumbai’s cultural heritage through documentation, outreach
activities and cultural programmes across the country.
This was answered by the Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra
Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
PIB Mumbai | Robin Singh/ Priti Malandkar
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इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Marathi