Parliament Question: Financial Assistance to Traditional Artists, Folk Artists and Cultural Institutions

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. †3873 ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO TRADITIONAL ARTISTS, FOLK ARTISTS AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS †3873. Smt. Geniben Nagaji Thakor: Will the MINISTER OF CULTURE be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is providing financial assistance to traditional artist, folk artists and cultural institutions; (b) if so, the details of the assistance provided during the last three years; (c) whether there is any special scheme to encourage young artists; and (d) the steps taken by the Government to enhance the effectiveness of these schemes? ANSWER MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) and (b) The Ministry of Culture administers Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY), a Central Sector scheme consisting various scheme components, for providing financial assistance to organizations / artists engaged in various forms of performing arts including traditional & folk arts across the country. The brief of these schemes is given at Annexure. The details of quantum of financial assistance provided under KSVY scheme during the last three financial years is given as under: - Financial Year Amount disbursed (Rs. In Cr.) 2022-23 213.76 2023-24 218.36 2024-25 201.67 (c) Ministry of Culture administers scheme of Scholarships to Young Artistes in Different Cultural Fields. Under this scheme financial assistance is given to young artistes of outstanding promise in the age group of 18-25 years for advanced training within India in the field of Indian Classical Music, Indian Classical Dance, Theatre, Mime, Visual art, Folk, Traditional and Indigenous Arts and Light Classical Music etc. @ Rs. 5,000/- p.m. for 2 years. (d) In order to enhance the effectiveness & outreach, the scheme guidelines and application forms are made available on the Ministry’s official website. In addition, wide publicity is given through advertisements in newspapers, the Ministry’s official website, and its social media platforms, as well as those of the concerned nodal agencies. Further, the Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) and the Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) also undertake various cultural activities and programmes on regular basis in the country for which they engage folk/tribal and traditional artists from all over India who showcase their talent.Annexure Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) & (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. †3873 answered on 16.03.2025 1. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR PROMOTION OF GURU-SHISHYA PARAMPARA (REPERTORY GRANT) The objective of this scheme component is to provide financial support for all genres of performing arts activities like dramatic groups, theatre groups, music ensembles, children theatre etc. and imparting training of artists by their respective Guru on regular basis in line with Guru–Shishya Parampara. As per the scheme, support is provided to 1 Guru and maximum 18 Shishyas in the field of theatre, music & dance. The Amount of Assistance for Guru is Rs.15000/- per month and for Shishya, the same is Rs.2000-10000/-per month depending upon the age of artist. 2. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR PROMOTION OF ART AND CULTURE: This scheme has following sub-components : i. Financial Assistance to Cultural organizations with National Presence The objective of this scheme component is to promote and support cultural organisations with national presence involved in promotion of art and culture throughout the country. This grant is given to such organisations that have a properly constituted managing body, registered in India; having a pan-India character with national presence in its operation; adequate working strength; and have spent 1 crore or more during 3 of the last 5 years on cultural activities. The quantum of grant under this scheme is Rs.1.00 crore which can be increased to Rs.5.00 crore in exceptional cases. ii. Cultural Function & Production Grant (CFPG) The objective of this scheme component is to provide financial support to NGOs/Societies/ Trusts/ Universities etc. for Seminars, Conference, Research, Workshops, Festivals, Exhibitions, Symposia, Production of Dance, Drama-Theatre, Music etc. The quantum of grant under this scheme is Rs.5 Lakh for an organization which can be increased to Rs. 20.00 lakhs in exceptional cases. iii. Financial Assistance for the Preservation & Development of Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas The objective of this scheme component is to promote and preserve the cultural heritage of the Himalayas through research, training and dissemination through audio visual programmes. The financial support is provided to the organizations in the States falling under the Himalayan Region i.e. Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. The quantum of grant is Rs.10.00 lakh per year for an organization which can be increased to Rs. 30.00 lakh in exceptional cases. iv. Financial Assistance for the Preservation & Development of Buddhist/Tibetan OrganizationUnder this scheme component financial assistance is provided to the voluntary Buddhist/Tibetan organizations including Monasteries engaged in the propagation and scientific development of Buddhist/Tibetan Cultural and tradition and research in related fields. The quantum of funding under scheme component is Rs. 30.00 lakhs per year for an organization which can be increased to 1.00 crore in exceptional cases. v. Financial Assistance for Building Grants including Studio Theatres The objective of this scheme component is to provide financial support to NGO, Trust, Societies, Govt. Sponsored bodies, University, College etc. for creation of Cultural infrastructure (i.e. studio theatre, auditorium, rehearsal hall, classroom etc.) and provision of facilities like electrical, air conditioning, acoustics, light and sound systems etc. Under this scheme component, the maximum amount of grant is up to Rs.50 Lakh in metro cities and up to Rs.25 Lakh in non- metro cities. vi. Domestic Festivals and Fairs The objective of this scheme is to provide assistance for holding the ‘Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs’ organized by Ministry of Culture. Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs) are conducted through Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) where a large number of artists from all over the country are engaged to showcase their talents. From November, 2015 onwards, fourteen (14) RSMs have been organized by Ministry of Culture in the country. 3. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF TAGORE CULTURAL COMPLEXES (TCC) The aim of the scheme component is to provide financial support to NGO, Trust, Societies, Govt. Sponsored bodies, State / UT Govt. University, Central/State Govt. agencies/bodies, Municipal Corporations, reputed not-for-profit organizations etc. for creation of new Large Cultural Spaces such as Auditorium with facilities and infrastructure for stage performances (dance, drama and music), exhibitions, seminars, literary activities, green rooms, etc. The Scheme component also provides support for restoration, renovation, extension, alteration, up-gradation, modernization of existing cultural facilities (Rabindra Bhawans, Rangshalas) etc. Under this scheme component, the financial assistance for any project will normally be up to a maximum of Rs. 15.00 crore. Central financial assistance would be 90% of the total approved project cost and remaining 10% of the total approved project cost will be borne by the recipient State Govt./NGO or concerned organization for NER Projects and except NER, there is 60:40 ratio for central assistant and state share (matching share). 4. SCHEME OF SCHOLARSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP FOR PROMOTION OF ART AND CULTURE: The scheme consists of following three components: i. Scheme for the Award of Fellowship to Outstanding Persons in the field of Culture Upto 400 fellowships (200 Junior and 200 Senior) are awarded in a batch year to outstanding persons in the age group of 25 to 40 years (Jr.) and above 40 years (Sr.) in different cultural fields @ of Rs. 10,000/- p.m. and 20,000/-p.m. for the period of 2 years for cultural research. The Fellowship is released in four equal six monthly installments. ii. Scheme for Scholarships to Young Artistes in Different Cultural Fields Upto 400 Scholarships are awarded in a batch year. Under this scheme financial assistance is given to young artistes of outstanding promise in the age group of 18-25 years for advanced trainingwithin India in the field of Indian Classical Music, Indian Classical Dance, Theatre, Mime, Visual art, Folk, Traditional and Indigenous Arts and Light Classical Music etc. @ Rs. 5,000/- p.m. for 2 years. The Scholarship is released in four equal six monthly installments. iii. Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research The purpose of the Scheme Component is to invigorate and revitalize the various institutions under the Ministry of Culture (MoC) and other identified cultural institutions in the country, by encouraging scholars/ academicians to affiliate themselves with these institutions to work on projects of mutual interest. Upto 15 Fellowships (Rs.80,000/- p.m. + Contingency Allowance) and 25 Scholarships (Rs.50,000/- p.m. + Contingency Allowance) for a maximum period of 2 Years. The Fellowship is released in four equal six monthly installments. 5. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR VETERAN ARTISTS The objective of this Scheme is to provide financial assistance maximum upto Rs.6.000/- p.m. to the old artistes and scholars aged 60 years above having annual income not exceeding Rs.72,000/- who have contributed significantly in their specialized fields of arts, letters etc. In the event of death of the beneficiary, the financial assistance is transferred to his/her spouse. *****