**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Culture is actively engaged in preserving India's intangible cultural heritage through seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs). These centers organize cultural activities, document art forms, and run the Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme. Grant-in-aid has been released to these ZCCs over the past five years to support this preservation effort.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs):**
* Seven ZCCs have been established across India to protect, promote, and preserve folk art and culture.
* The ZCCs are headquartered at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur, and Thanjavur.
* They organize cultural activities and document art forms and oral traditions.
* Documentation and digitization are ongoing processes.
* **Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme:**
* This initiative run by ZCCs facilitates traditional masters training young disciples.
* The scheme aims to ensure the continuity of cultural knowledge.
* **Grant-in-Aid Release:**
* No separate funds are allocated for preservation of these art forms.
* The grant-in-aid released to the ZCCs is as follows (in lakhs):
* 2020-21: ₹4721.88
* 2021-22: ₹6838.08
* 2022-23: ₹6572.07
* 2023-24: ₹11967.59
* 2024-25: ₹11121.66
* **Youth Engagement:**
* ZCCs actively engage youth through programs like the Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme and Shilpgram Festivals.
* They conduct outreach activities to generate awareness and encourage participation.
* **Documentation and Collaboration:**
* ZCCs document vanishing art forms and convert legacy materials into digital formats.
* They collaborate with academic institutions and subject experts to improve documentation quality.
* **Long-Term Measures:**
* ZCCs implement long-term measures, including training, documentation, support for artists, and youth encouragement.
* **Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs):**
* Ministry of Culture organizes RSMs through ZCCs to celebrate tradition, culture, and heritage.
* Since 2015, 14 RSMs and 4 Zonal Level RSMs have been organised.
* 12543 artists have participated and have been provided with honorarium, TA/DA, local transportation, boarding and lodging.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Artists, Researchers, and Community Bearers of Traditions**
* **Impact:** Benefit from continuity of cultural knowledge and potential opportunities through the Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme.
* **Action Required:** Participate in training programs and contribute to documentation efforts.
**Stakeholder: Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for organizing cultural activities, documenting art forms, managing funds, and implementing youth engagement programs.
* **Action Required:** Continue to organize activities, document traditions, and utilise grant-in-aid effectively.
**Stakeholder: Younger Generations**
* **Impact:** Gain exposure to traditional arts and cultural heritage, with opportunities for skill development and cultural pride.
* **Action Required:** Participate in ZCC programs and engage with cultural traditions.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Culture**
* **Impact:** Oversees the ZCCs, organizes the Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs, and manages the overall strategy for preserving intangible cultural heritage.
* **Action Required:** Continue to support ZCCs, organize RSMs, and promote cultural heritage.
**Stakeholder: State Governments and Local Communities**
* **Impact:** Collaboration with ZCCs to prevent irreversible cultural loss and promote cultural programs.
* **Action Required:** Collaborate with ZCCs on cultural programs and support local artists and traditions.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The primary governing body overseeing the initiatives described in the document, responsible for the preservation and promotion of Indian folk art and culture.
Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs): Seven regional centers established by the Government of India to organize cultural activities, document art forms, and implement schemes like Guru Shishya Parampara.
Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme: A scheme run by the ZCCs to facilitate mentorship of young learners by master artists in traditional art forms.
Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs): Festivals organized by the Ministry of Culture through Zonal Cultural Centres to celebrate Indian culture and heritage.
Ministry of Culture
INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE
PRESERVATION
Posted On: 05 FEB 2026 3:19PM by PIB Delhi
To protect, promote and preserve various forms of folk art & culture throughout the country, the
Government of India has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) with headquarters at Patiala,
Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur. These ZCCs organize various cultural
activities and programmes on regular basis in their member States.
These ZCCs also undertake documentation of vanishing art forms, folklores, oral traditions and practices
in the form of audio, video and written materials. Documentation and digitization are ongoing processes.
Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme run by ZCCs is one such initiative where traditional masters train young
disciples to ensure continuity of cultural knowledge which helps artistes, researchers and community
bearers of traditions.
Number of folk art forms/ oral traditions have been identified by the ZCCs viz. Lori & Kayan singing,
Dandi, Angigar, Pradhani, Bhadam & Shaitam dances, Burra Katha, Veeranatyam, Butta Bommalu,
Dappu, Tappeta Gollu, Kolannalu, Garagalu, Vilasini Natyam, Puliveshalu, Pagati Veshalu, Dollu & Pooja
Kunitha, Veergase, Yakshagana, Karadi Majalu, Lambani Kunitha, Nandi Dwaja Kunitha, Karadi Gombe,
Ummathata, Suggi Kunitha, Soman Kunitha, Kaniyarkali, Kolkali, Kummatti Kali, Thumbi Thullal,
Margam Kali, Kathakali, Oppana, Thiruvathirakali, Theyyam, Padayani, Poothan and Thira, Mudiyetu,
Arjuna Nirthiyam, Chakayar Koothu, Ottan Thullal, Pulikali, Karagattam, Oyilattam, Paraiattam
(Thappattam), Puliyattam, Puraviattam, Kavadi Attam, Devarattam, Jumla Melam, Kaniyan Koothu,
Kaaliattam, Thudumbattam, Kolkaliattam, Bommalattam, Tholpavaikoothu, Therukoothu, Chekkabajana,
Bonalu, Pothiraju, Chiruthalabajana, Oggu Katha, Chindu Yakshagana, Kaaliattam, Garadi Dance,
Karagattam, Nicobari Dance, Oraon, Munda & Kharia of Ranchi Community Dance, Lava Dance,
Kolkali, Parichakali, Duffumuttu, Oppana.
No separate funds are allocated for preservation of these art forms. However, the grant-in-aid released to
the ZCCs to protect, promote and preserve various forms of folk art & culture during the last five years is
as under:
(Rs. in lakh)
Sl. No. Year Amount released
1. 2020-21 4721.88
2. 2021-22 6838.08
3. 2022-23 6572.074. 2023-24 11967.59
5. 2024-25 11121.66
(ZCCs are actively engaging youth by organising a wide range of programmes aimed at bringing India’s
artistic and cultural heritage closer to younger generations. These include Guru Shishya Parampara
Scheme which facilitates structured mentorship by master artists in traditional art forms to young learners,
thereby enhancing enrolment and sustained training in indigenous arts.
Further, Shilpgram Festivals organised by ZCCs create live cultural villages showcasing crafts, folk arts
and performances, provide young participants and audiences immersive exposure to traditional practices.
In addition, ZCCs conduct extensive outreach activities in far-flung and rural areas across the country to
generate awareness and encourage participation of youth in diverse art forms of India.
ZCCs also regularly organise youth-centric festivals, workshops and competitions with interactive
components such as hands-on training in folk dance, music, painting and allied disciplines. Through these
sustained interventions, the ZCCs are witnessing increased participation of younger generations in
enrolment, skill development and outreach activities, while simultaneously fostering cultural pride and
nurturing artistic talent among youth.
ZCCs are actively documenting vanishing art forms and oral traditions and are converting legacy materials
into digital formats, particularly where older records are not digitally accessible. Further, collaborations
with academic institutions, cultural organisations and subject experts are being undertaken to improve the
quality, coverage and accuracy of documentation. All such initiatives are ongoing in nature, reflecting that
the identified gaps in documentation, digital archiving and transmission of traditional knowledge are being
progressively addressed through sustained and long-term archival and knowledge-transmission efforts by
the Centres.
ZCCs are implementing long-term measures such as sustained training under Guru Shishya Parampara,
documentation of endangered art forms, support to traditional artists, youth encouragement and regular
cultural programmes in collaboration with State Governments and local communities to prevent
irreversible cultural loss.
In addition, Ministry of Culture, Government of India through its Zonal Cultural Centres (autonomous
organization under Ministry of Culture), organizes Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs) to celebrate the
spirit of tradition, culture, heritage and the rich diversity of our incredible country. The broader objective
of this Mahotsav is to preserve, promote and popularize India's cultural heritage, reconnect the younger
generation with our traditions and showcase to the nation and the world our soft power through unity in
diversity. Since 2015, Ministry has organized 14 RSMs and 4 Zonal Level RSMs through its seven ZCCs.
A total of 12543 artists have participated in these RSMs/ Zonal RSMs. These artists were paid
honorarium, TA/DA, local transportation, boarding & lodging etc. to enable them to earn their livelihood.
This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today
*****
M Annadurai
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