**Executive Summary**
This document is a response from the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, to Unstarred Question No. 2407 regarding the Cultural Function and Production Grant Scheme (CFPGS). The question was answered on December 15, 2025. The response addresses questions concerning applications, project sanctions, infrastructure prioritization, time-lag for grant sanction, monitoring mechanisms, and outreach programs related to the CFPGS.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **General Scheme Information:**
* Proposals are received throughout the year from eligible NGOs, Trusts, Societies, and Universities across the country for organizing cultural programs and activities.
* The Ministry does not maintain district-wise lists of applications received.
* **Project Sanctions:**
* No projects have been sanctioned or approved under CFPGS in Maharashtra in the last or current year, up to the date of the answer.
* **Infrastructure Prioritization:**
* Financial assistance is provided for Seminars, Conference, Research, Workshops, Festivals, Exhibitions, Symposia, Production of Dance, Drama-Theatre, Music etc. and small research projects.
* No infrastructure-oriented component is reserved or prioritized for tribal-dominated districts under CFPGS.
* **Grant Sanction Time-lag:**
* The time between application submission and grant sanction depends on the completeness of the proposal, number of applications, Expert Committee schedules, and approval by the Competent Authority.
* No uniform average time-lag can be indicated.
* **Funds Monitoring:**
* Fund utilization is monitored based on documents such as Utilization Certificates, audited statements of accounts, video proofs, performance reports, pamphlets, advertisements, and newspaper clippings.
* **Outreach Programs:**
* There are no proposals under consideration to issue specific guidelines or outreach programs for backward constituencies.
**Impact Analysis**
**NGOs, Trusts, Societies, and Universities**
* **Impact:** Provides guidance that no projects have been approved in the current or previous years for the Cultural Function and Production Grant Scheme.
* **Action Required:** Continue to apply for the scheme following established guidelines and submit complete proposals.
**Nandurbar Lok Sabha Constituency:**
* **Impact:** Clarifies that no specific outreach programs are planned to boost participation in CFPGS for backward constituencies.
* **Action Required:** Rely on the general CFPGS guidelines and application process.
Key Entities Referenced
Cultural Function and Production Grant Scheme (CFPGS): A scheme providing grants for cultural programs and activities organized by NGOs, Trusts, Societies, and Universities.
Ministry of Culture: The central government ministry responsible for administering the Cultural Function and Production Grant Scheme.
Maharashtra: A state in India, specifically mentioned in relation to the number of projects sanctioned under the CFPGS.
Nandurbar Lok Sabha Constituency: A Lok Sabha constituency mentioned in the context of boosting participation in CFPGS in backward constituencies.
Expert Committee: The committee that considers and recommends proposals under the Cultural Function and Production Grant Scheme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2407
ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025
CULTURAL FUNCTION AND PRODUCTION GRANT SCHEME
2407. ADV GOWAAL KAGADA PADAVI:
Will the MINISTER OF CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has received applications under the Cultural Function and Production
Grant Scheme (CFPGS) for 2025-26 from NGOs/trusts operating in the Nandurbar Lok Sabha
Constituency;
(b) the details of the number of projects sanctioned under CFPGS in Maharashtra during the last year
and the current year along with the total grant allocated;
(c) whether any infrastructure-oriented component under CFPGS (such as festival/exhibition/cultural
production) is reserved or prioritised for tribal-dominated districts and if so, the weightage
applicable;
(d) the average time-lag between submission of application and sanction of grant under CFPGS for
Maharashtra applicants;
(e) the details of the monitoring and audit mechanism to ensure that CFPGS funds released are utilised
for prescribed cultural activities in lesser-developed constituencies; and
(f) the timeline by which the Government proposes to issue guidelines or outreach programmes
specifically for backward constituencies like Nandurbar to boost participation in CFPGS?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) As per the Scheme guidelines under Cultural Function and Production Grant Scheme (CFPGS), the
proposals are received for organizing cultural programmes and activities from eligible NGOs,
Trusts, Societies, and Universities from across the country, including the State of Maharashtra
throughout the year. Further, no district-wise list of applications received under the scheme is
maintained in the Ministry.
(b) No projects have been sanctioned or approved under the Cultural Function and Production Grant
Scheme (CFPGS) during the last year or the current year, including in the State of Maharashtra, till
date.(c) Under the scheme of Cultural Function and Production Grant (CFPG), financial assistance is
provided to NGOs/ Societies/ Trusts/ Universities for organizing Seminars, Conference, Research,
Workshops, Festivals, Exhibitions, Symposia, Production of Dance, Drama-Theatre, Music etc. and
small research projects on different aspects of Indian Culture. No such Infrastructure- oriented
component under CFPGS is reserved or prioritized for tribal dominated districts.
(d) The proposals under the CFPGS are considered and recommended by the Expert Committee
constituted with the approval of the Hon’ble Culture Minister (HCM). Therefore, the time between
submission of an application and sanction of the grant depend on the completeness of the proposal,
receipt of sufficient number of applications, schedule of the Expert Committee meetings and the
approval of the Minutes of the Expert Committee by the Competent Authority. Hence, no uniform
average time-lag can be indicated.
(e) The utilization of funds is monitored on the basis of documents received such as the funds released
under these schemes are monitored on the basis of submission of Utilization Certificates as per
General Financial Rule (GFR) Rule -2017, audited statement of accounts (duly certified by a
Chartered Accountant) and other evidentiary proofs such as video proofs, performance -cum -
achievement reports, pamphlets and advertisement, newspapers clippings etc.
(f) No such proposal is under consideration.
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