Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Culture operates the Museum Grant Scheme to provide financial assistance for museum development, including digitization of museum collections. This scheme, initiated in 2013-14, supports Central/State Governments, Public Sector Undertakings, Societies, Autonomous bodies, Local Bodies, and Trusts. Proposals must be submitted to the Ministry in a prescribed format to seek financial assistance.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Museum Grant Scheme:**
* Provides financial assistance for:
* Setting up new museums.
* Developing existing museums.
* Digitizing museum collections.
* Capacity building and training of museum professionals.
* Eligible entities: Central/State Governments, Public Sector Undertakings, Societies, Autonomous bodies, Local Bodies, and Trusts.
* Requires proposal submission in a prescribed format.
* **Digitization Project Details (as of 21.07.2025):**
* Projects approved since the scheme's inception in 2013-14 are detailed in Annexure I.
* Annexure I includes: State, District, Name of Organization/Museum, Type of Museum (State-run, Local Body, University, NGO, or Trust-run), Amount Sanctioned, Financial Year allocations, and Project Status (Completed/Ongoing/Proposed).
* Examples of projects include:
* Rajasthan: Various District Museums (Government of Rajasthan), Ongoing.
* Maharashtra: Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Museum Memorial, Pune (Symbiosis Society), Completed.
* Haryana: Centre for Art Archaeology, Gurgaon (NGO), Completed.
* Karnataka: Basava Samithi, Bengaluru (NGO), Ongoing.
* **Tamil Nadu:**
* No proposals have been received from Tamil Nadu for Digitization of museums or cultural collections as of 21.07.2025.
Impact Analysis:
* **Central/State Governments, Public Sector Undertakings, Societies, Autonomous bodies, Local Bodies, and Trusts:**
* Impact: Eligible to receive financial assistance for museum-related projects, including digitization.
* Action Required: Submit proposals in the prescribed format to the Ministry of Culture to apply for funding under the Museum Grant Scheme.
* **Museums in Tamil Nadu:**
* Impact: Have not yet benefited from the scheme for digitization projects.
* Action Required: Prepare and submit proposals to the Ministry of Culture to seek financial assistance for digitization of museum collections.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The Indian government ministry responsible for culture.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Financial Assistance for Digitization of Museum Collections: A scheme by the Ministry of Culture to provide financial assistance for the digitization of museum collections.
SHRI K E PRAKASH: A member of Lok Sabha who raised a question regarding the scheme.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: The Minister of Culture and Tourism who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Museum Grant Scheme: A scheme operated by the Ministry of Culture to provide financial assistance for various museum-related activities, including digitization.
Tamil Nadu: A state in southern India, specifically mentioned in the context of proposals for museum digitization.
Erode Lok Sabha Constituency: A Lok Sabha constituency in Tamil Nadu, mentioned in relation to proposals under the scheme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 83
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21/07/2025
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR DIGITIZATION OF MUSEUM OR CULTURAL
COLLECTIONS
83. SHRI K E PRAKASH:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the projects approved under the Scheme launched for Financial Assistance for
Digitization of Museum Collections across the country since its inception, especially
district-wise in Tamil Nadu, along with type of museum (State-run, Local Body, University,
NGO, or Trust-run);
(b) the details of the funds sanctioned and released along with the project status
(completed/ongoing/proposed);
(c) whether any proposals have been received or approved under this scheme for museums or
cultural collections projects located in Tamil Nadu, particularly in Erode Lok Sabha
Constituency; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) to (d): 1. Ministry of Culture operates a Museum Grant Scheme under which financial
assistance is provided for setting up of new museum/development of existing museum,
digitization of museum collection and capacity building and training of museum
professionals by Central/State Governments and Public Sector Undertakings, Societies,
Autonomous bodies, Local Bodies and Trust at the regional, state and district levels. In order
to seek financial assistance under Museum Grant Scheme, a proposal is required to be
submitted to the Ministry in the prescribed proforma along with all the relevant documents.
2. The details of the projects approved, funds allocated and disbursed to the States (State-
run, Local Body, University, NGO, or Trust-run) for Digitization of Museums under the
Museum Grant Scheme since its inception in 2013-14 are at Annexure-I.
3. No proposal has so far been received from Tamil Nadu for Digitization of museums or
cultural collections.Annexure-I
ANNEXURE REFERRED IN PART (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 83 DUE FOR ANSWER ON
21.07.2025 REGARDING “FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR DIGITIZATION OF MUSEUM OR CULTURAL COLLECTIONS”.
Year-wise details of the fund released under the Museum Grant Scheme-Digitization of Museum Collection since inception.
(Rs. in lakhs)
S. State District Name of Type of Amount FY: FY: FY: FY: FY: FY: FY: FY: FY: FY: FY: Project
No. Organization/ Museum sanctioned 2014- 2015- 2016- 2017- 2018- 2019- 2020- 2021- 2022- 2023- 2024-status
Museum 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
1. Rajasthan (i) Udaipur Government of State 56.00 28.00 - - - - - - - - - - Ongoing
(ii) Jodhpur Rajasthan for 16 Govt.
(iii) Mount Abu District museum
(iv) Ajmer
(v) Jhalawar
(vi) Bikaner
(vii) Kota
(viii) Bharatpur
(ix) Pali
(x) Jaisalmer
(xi) Alwar
(xii) Sikar
(xiii) Ahar
(xiv) Dungarpur
(xv) Chittorgarh
(xvi) Albert Hall,
Jaipur,
2. Maharashtra Pune Symbiosis NGO 9.188 4.594 - 4.594 - - - - - - - Completed
Society’ Dr.
Babasaheb
Ambedkar
Museum &
Memorial, PuneS. State District Name of Type of Amount FY: FY: FY: FY: FY: FY: FY: FY: FY: FY: FY: Project
No. Organization/ Museum sanctioned 2014- 2015- 2016- 2017- 2018- 2019- 2020- 2021- 2022- 2023- 2024-status
Museum 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
3. Haryana Gurugram Centre for Art NGO 25.00 - - 12.50 - 12.50 - - - - - - Completed
& Archaeology,
22, Sector-32,
Institutional
Area, Gurgaon,
Haryana
4. Karnataka Bangalore Basava Samithi, NGO 25.00 - - - - - - - - 12.50 - - Ongoing
Basava
Bhavana, Sri
Basaveshwara
Road,
Bengaluru