Parliament Question: Preservation and Promotion of Indigenous and Tribal Culture

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *204 ANSWERED ON 03.08.2026 PRESERVATION AND PROMOTION OF INDIGENOUS AND TRIBAL CULTURE *204. SHRI GANESH SINGH: Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state: (a) the details of the major initiatives, schemes and programmes undertaken by the Government for the preservation, promotion and documentation of indigenous and tribal cultures, languages, art forms, traditions and knowledge systems across the country from 2014 to 2025; (b) the details of the achievements and impact of these initiatives, including the number of beneficiaries, cultural institutions supported, festivals organised and heritage practices documented during the said period; (c) the details of the projects, schemes and programmes currently being implemented in Madhya Pradesh for the preservation and promotion of indigenous and tribal culture, district-wise; and (d) whether the Government has sanctioned any projects or financial assistance for the promotion of indigenous cultural heritage in the Vindhya region of Madhya Pradesh, including Satna Lok Sabha Constituency and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (d) IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *204 FOR REPLY ON 03.08.2026 REGARDING PRESERVATION AND PROMOTION OF INDIGENOUS AND TRIBAL CULTURE ASKED BY SHRI GANESH SINGH (a)& (b) For preservation, promotion and documentation of indigenous and folk/ tribal cultures, art forms, traditionsand knowledge systems etc. of 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 all over India for which annual grant-in-aid is provided to them. The number of cultural programmes/ festivals/ activities organized, artists benefitted, expenditure on these artists and art forms documented by these ZCCs from 2014- 2025 are as under: Sl. Year No. of cultural No. of Expenditure on No. of art No. programmes/ artists these artists form festivals/ activities benefited (Rs. in lakh) documented organized i. 2014-15 1203 57018 3431.80 19 ii. 2015-16 1083 67064 3211.45 14 iii. 2016-17 1041 54896 4087.95 14 iv. 2017-18 1080 55492 5160.34 13 v. 2018-19 1373 58473 3857.50 15 vi. 2019-20 1075 60149 2925.73 09 vii. 2020-21 1178 35075 1998.32 19 viii. 2021-22 1362 60297 3079.72 19 ix. 2022-23 1483 78253 5571.11 14 x. 2023-24 1106 76443 5615.85 25 xi. 2024-25 1111 65396 5223.96 11 xii. 2025-26 1135 89025 5506.20 31 Total 14230 757581 49669.93 203 Besides, the following cultural programmes/ festivals/ activitiesorganizes/ organized by Ministry of Culture through these ZCCs are as under: Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs): 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 04 Zonal Level RSMs through its seven ZCCs. An amount of Rs. 13587.86 lakh was released to various ZCCs for organization of these RSMs/ Zonal RSMs at various venues of the country and a total of 12543 artists have participated in these RSMs/ Zonal RSMs. Kashi Tamil Sangamam: Kashi Tamil Sangamam event was organized during 2022, 2023 & 2025 (3rd& 4th editions) at Varanasi. The Nodal Authority for organizing Kashi Tamil Sangamam event wasMinistry of Education. The cultural inputs for the event were jointly facilitated by the ZCCs on behalf of the Ministry of Culture. 1115 artists in 2022, 674 artists in 2023& 1059 artists in 3rd edition & 850 artists in 4th edition during 2025 have participated in the event. MadhavpurGhed Fair: MadhavpurGhed Fair 2022 to 2026 was organized in Gujarat. The fair was an epitome of the deep cultural and historical relationship that western State of Gujarat shares with the North-Eastern States. The cultural inputs for the event were facilitated by NEZCC. 120 artists in 2022, 239 artists in 2023, 45 artists in 2024, 800 artists in 2025 & 269 artists in 2026 from North East Region have participated. MadhavpurGhed, a small but culturally significant village is the place where according to folklore, Lord Krishna married Rukmini, the daughter of King Bhishmaka. Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam: Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam was organised from 17th to 30th April, 2023 in Gujarat jointly by the Ministry of Culture and Government of Gujarat with the main purpose of facilitating exchange of history, art and culture between the States of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. This event was organized at 3 locations i.e. Somnath, Dwarka and Kevadia. The cultural inputs for the event were facilitated by the ZCCs through participation of 250 artists. Vividhhta Ka Amrit Mahotsav: 'Vividhhta Ka Amrit Mahotsav' was organized by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture in 2024 & 2025 at Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi. The cultural inputs for the event were facilitated by Ministry of Culture in 2024 through NEZCC (424 artists) & in 2025 through SZCC, Thanjavur (177 artists) BHARATIYA KALA MAHOTSAV: Bharatiya Kala Mahotsav was organized at Rashtrapati Nilayam, Hyderabad in 2024 & 2025 on the directives of Rashtrapati Bhawan and Ministry of Culture in which Cultural Performances were showcased. Hon’ble President of India inaugurated the event. 250 artists in 2024 &370 artists in 2025 participated in the event. KALAGRAM: On the request of Government of Uttar Pradesh, Ministry of Culture had set up a cultural village viz. Kalagram in Sector-7 of Maha Kumbh district through North Central Zone Cultural Centre (NCZCC) located at Prayagraj, an autonomous organization of the Ministry. The main features of Kalagram were:  Main Entrance: 635 ft wide, 54 ft high, depicting 12 Jyotirlingas and the story of Lord Shiva consuming Halahal, a confluence of art and spirituality.  A stage 104 feet-wide & 72 feet-depth on the theme of Char-Dham.  Artists and Performances: 14,632 artists performed on various stages including Kalagram.  Anubhut Mandapam: 360° immersive experience narrating Ganga descent from heaven to earth.  Aviral Shashwat Kumbh: Digital display by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), National Archives of India (NAI) and Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).  Food Zone: Satvik cuisine from all Zonal Cultural Centres apart from the local cuisine of Prayagraj. Sanskriti Angans: Display and sale of traditional Indian handicrafts and handlooms in the courtyards by 98 artisans of the seven Zonal Cultural Centres. Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival: Ministry of Culture organised the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival at GangaikondaCholapuram in Tamil Nadu from 23rd to 29th July, 2025 to celebrate the birth anniversary of Rajendra Chola I and commemorate the 1000th year of his maritime expedition to Southeast Asia. The Hon’ble Prime Minister graced the function on 27th July, 2025 in the presence of 30 Adheenams and released a commemorative coin on Rajendra Chola I, a Devaram booklet published by Sahitya Akademi and a musical album on the Bhagavad Gita composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The festival featured performances by folk artists and the rendering of Devaram Thirumurai by Othuvars, a vanishing tradition that continues to survive in select Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu. CULTURAL PERFORMANCES AT WORLD EXPO-2025: The Ministry of Culture, Government of India showcased India’s rich cultural heritage at World Expo 2025 in Osaka with 25 artists delegation. The contingent presented diverse folk and classical performances including Lavni, Dandiya, Pung Cholom, Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi and Sattriya, along with instrumental recitals by young maestros. Daily shows from 29 September to 4 October, 2025 attracted large audiences and earned high appreciation from Expo authorities. A highlight of India’s participation was Gandhi Jayanti Celebration held on 2 October, 2025 at the Festival Station Auditorium within the Expo Grounds. India’s participation received widespread acclaim for its artistic excellence and contribution to cultural diplomacy. CULTURAL PRESENTATION DURING REPUBLIC DAY CELEBRATIONS: Vande Bharatam Dance Competition Event was organized by the Ministry of Culture on behalf of Ministry of Defence, under the aegis of Republic Day Celebrations during 2022, 2023 and 2024. 485 dancers were selected to perform at the Republic Day Parade 2022 and 479 dancers during 2023 on the theme of ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’ & ‘Naari Shakti’ respectively. During 2024 RD Parade, around 1500 female artists/dancers in the age group of 18-35 years presented the cultural extravaganza on the theme ‘Sankalp se Siddhi’. For the first time, 112 Female Heralders who had led the parade playing traditional drums & musical instruments were also part of the finale show. A special prize has been awarded to Ministry of Culture for “Vande Bharatam” Dance Group by Ministry of Defence each year. A cultural presentation was also organized during the Republic Day Celebrations, 2026 at Kartavya Path, New Delhi through NZCC, Patiala to showcase of India’s rich and diverse cultural heritage. A total of approximately 1,400 folk artists from all seven Zonal Cultural Centres (200 artists from each ZCC), along with 1,100 classical artists and 100 heralders from the Sangeet Natak Akademi and 100 props holders from the National School of Drama, participated in the event. The cultural presentation was curated around the theme “(cid:232)वतं(cid:287)ताकाम(cid:287)ं – व(cid:219)देमातरम; सम(cid:622)ृ (cid:876)धकामं(cid:287) – आ(cid:215)म(cid:467)नभर(cid:91) भारत”, reflecting the spirit of national unity, freedom and self-reliance. Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA), an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture, organizes festivals at all over the country, gives grants-in-aid for research, documentation and publishing in the performing arts; organizes and subsidizes seminars and conferences of subject specialists; documents and records the performing arts for its audio- visual archive. The Akademi organizes “Festival, Workshop & Exhibition” to presentclassical, traditional, tribal and other forms of Indian performing arts in order to preserve art traditions in live practice and develop technique and creative process through performance and workshop, by holding and supporting music festivals, Seminars & Workshops & Exhibitions etc. Since 2013, SNA has been holding a series of festivals titled ‘Desaj’ in different regions of the country to promote and encourage artists in the field of folk and tribal music, dance and theatre of the country. Besides Desaj festival the following festivals has been organizing by the Akademi for preservation of tribal culture:  Lok Jan Pratha Utsav-celebrating the tribal performing arts of India.  Lok Sangam- festival of senior folk and tribal artists of India.  Lok Pratibha- a festival of young folk and tribal artists focused on narrative and traditional arts form of India. SNA have a scheme “Training and Preservation of Traditional, Folk & Tribal Performing Arts” in which various selected forms of music, dance, theatre including crafts associated with the performing arts and allied arts from all over the country is given support with special attention to training in non-formal and personalized atmosphere in the tradition of Guru-shishya Parampara. The scheme supports performances, workshops and exhibitions of musical instruments and crafts associated with traditional performing art forms. SNA also runs a scheme viz. “Survey, Research, Documentation, Dissemination & Publication”. The objective of this scheme is to preserve recordings of different arts forms for the purpose of research and dissemination. Under the said scheme, the Akademi provides grant to individuals and cultural institutions for research work and documentation of folk and tribal art forms of the country. SNA presented more than 2500 folk and tribal artists from all over India in Jayati Jai Mamah Bharatam dance choreography held on the occasion of Republic Day Parade 2025 at Kartavya Path, New Delhi.Fifty (50) artists of Gond Tribes were also engaged from Gadchiroli-Chimurto participate in the Republic Day Parade 2026. The Akademi presented more than 250 folk and tribal artists from all over India in IGC 20.COM held on the occasion of Twentieth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, UNESCO in December 2025 at Lal Quila, New Delhi. The Akademi presented 250 folk and tribal artists from all over India on the occasion of Closing ceremony of Birsa Munda Birth Anniversary held in November, 2025 at Didiyapada, Gujarat. SNA is the nodal agency for all the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) related matters and maintains the National Inventory of ICH which involves the audio-visual documentation and digitization of the ICH elements. In addition, the reports and AV material received as part of the Scheme for “Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage and Diverse Cultural Traditions of India” (operational between 2013-2016 only) is digitally available with SNA. On the occasion of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrating 75 years of India’s Independence, Sangeet Natak Akademi& Sahitya Akademi in collaboration with Department of Culture, Government of Madhya Pradesh organized a grand festival of folk and tribal performing arts named ‘Utkarsh’ at Bhopal from 3rd to 5th August, 2023. The festival was inaugurated by the Hon’ble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu. Total 48 groups and approx. 1000 folk and tribal artists from different States and UTs of India participated in the festival.Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, has undertaken the following major initiatives for the preservation, promotion, documentation and dissemination of India's indigenous and tribal cultural heritage during the period from 2014 to 2025 through its Indian Knowledge System:  Documentation, research and archiving of tribal and indigenous traditions, oral histories, folklore, performing arts, rituals, festivals, crafts and traditional knowledge systems across different States and Union Territories.  Ethnographic field documentation through audio-visual recording, photography and digital archiving under various academic divisions of IGNCA.  Organisation of national and regional exhibitions, seminars, workshops, lecture series, festivals and cultural interactions highlighting the art, culture and knowledge traditions of tribal communities.  Publication of research monographs, exhibition catalogues, documentaries and other scholarly works on tribal culture and indigenous knowledge systems.  Digitization and preservation of manuscripts, photographs, rare archival records and audio-visual material relating to tribal and folk traditions.  Collaboration with State Governments, universities, research institutions, museums, cultural organisations and tribal communities for documentation and dissemination of tribal cultural heritage.  Implementation of projects relating to intangible cultural heritage, including documentation of traditional performing arts, crafts, oral traditions and community knowledge. To promote and preserve the tribal languages of India, Sahitya Akademi (an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture) has constituted a separate board viz. Centre for Oral and Tribal Literature (COTLIT). The Board consist of various Tribal language experts, who suggest various steps and measures to be undertaken from time to time for the protection and promotion of tribal languages - both by publishing literature and by organizing programmes such as Tribal Writers’ Meet etc. Sahitya Akademi has also a Language Development Board (LDB) which comprises of language experts from both the recognized and unrecognized languages of the country. Through this Board, the Akademi bestows Bhasha Samman for significant contribution to the languages not formally recognized by it as also for contribution to classical and medieval literature. For the years 2014 to 2025, the Akademi has given Bhasha Samman for 16 unrecognized languages including, Kumauni, Adi, Bhili, Halbi, Kurukh, Ladakhi, Sourashtra, Magahi, Tulu, Koshali-Sambalpuri, Paite, Hariyanvi, Bhojpuri, Tiwa, Mizo, and Bundeli, and another 20 Bhasha Samman in the field of Classical and Medieval Literature. Apart from this, Sahitya Akademi also organizes various Language Conventions as suggested by the Language Development Board in order to preserve and discover the richness of language and literature of various unrecognized languages. Besides, more than 300 tribal writers from Tiwa, Koshli-Sambalpuri, Rabha, Bhoti, Kurmali, Sadri, Saora, Naga, Nyishi, Baigani, Korku and Kharia languages, have been benefited by the Language Conventions organized by the Sahitya Akademi. In addition, 24 writers received Bhasha Samman in 16 unrecognized languages which included Kumauni, Adi, Bhili, Halbi, Kurukh, Ladakhi, Sourashtra, Magahi, Tulu, Koshali-Sambalpuri, Paite, Hariyanvi, Bhojpuri, Tiwa, Mizo and Bundeli. Further, 20 Bhasha Samman were given to 20 writers in the field of Classical and Medieval Literature. During the past two years, first-year students of the National School of Drama (NSD), an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture, undertook educational visits to the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS), Bhopal, as part of their academic curriculum to develop an understanding of anthropology and India's diverse cultural heritage. The visits focused on the study of tribal cultures, traditional dance forms,folk music and indigenous knowledge systems, with special emphasis on the tribal heritage and cultural traditions of Madhya Pradesh. Adi Rang Mahotsav is a flagship initiative of the National School of Drama dedicated to preserving, promoting and showcasing India's tribal performing arts and indigenous cultural traditions. Instituted in 2013–14, it is the country's first national festival exclusively focused on tribal theatre and allied cultural practices. Since its inception, more than 25 editions of Adi Rang Mahotsav and its associated festivals have been organized across the country, engaging well over 10,000 tribal artists, performers and artisans. The festival has been hosted at several locations, including Mumbai, Dwaronda (West Bengal), Raipur, Daman, Port Blair, Surat, Nashik, Chaibasa (Jharkhand), Hyderabad, Tinsukia (Assam), Kendujhar (Odisha), Goa, Santiniketan (West Bengal), Khairagarh (Chhattisgarh) and New Delhi, thereby reaching diverse tribal communities and audiences nationwide. The festival features tribal theatre, music, dance, crafts, indigenous knowledge systems, seminars and workshops, providing a national platform for tribal artists and artisans while promoting the preservation of India's rich tribal cultural heritage and enhancing their livelihood opportunities. Lalit Kala Akademi (an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture) has organized the following exhibitions/ camps/ festivals in which tribal artists were participated:  National Wood Carving Camp held at Shimla  National Art Festival held at Gangtok  National Tribal & North East Art Conclave held at New Delhi  National Art Festival (North East) held at UT of Jammu & Kashmir  National Tirbal Art Camp held at Dehradun  Tribal Art Exhibition held at Maxico  Art Demonstration held at Mexico  Tribal Art Exhibition held at Mumbai  Tribal Artists Workshop held at Bhubaneswar  Tribal, Folk and Traditional Painting Camp held at Ranchi  Regional Tribal, Folk and Traditional Camp held at Ranchi  Tribal, Folk and Traditional Camp held at Hazaribag  Tribal, Folk and Traditional Painting Camp held at Patna  Tribal Art Conclave held at Bhubaneswar  Regional Tribal Painting Camp held at Bhubaneswar Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI), under Ministry of Culture, plays a significant role in the preservation, promotion and documentation of India's indigenous and tribal cultures as part of its broader anthropological mandate. AnSI has contributed extensively to safeguarding cultural heritage through research, field investigations, documentation and museum-based initiatives. The major contributions of AnSI's are the systematic documentation of folk arts and craft traditions. AnSI has recorded and preserved cultural expressions such as Warli paintings, Gond wall art and tribal musical instruments, while various research projects have focused on mapping both tangible and cultural heritage, thereby strengthening the preservation of community traditions. AnSI has also promoted indigenous cultural practices through visual anthropology by producing ethnographic films that document endangered performing arts and oral traditions. One such initiative is the documentation of the Beniputul glove-puppet tradition of West Bengal, which has contributed to the preservation of traditional knowledge and enhanced public awareness of India's diverse cultural heritage. In the field of traditional knowledge systems, AnSI undertakes research on indigenous ecological knowledge system, sustainable resource management and community-basedpractices. AnSI’s Regional Centres, including the Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, have prioritised the study of traditional knowledge systems, while collaborative research projects have further documented tribal knowledge and customary practices. Further, AnSI’s museums support cultural heritage by showcasing tribal life and cultural expressions, including elements. Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS), Bhopal, an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, was established with the objective of preserving, documenting, researching, interpreting and disseminating the diverse cultural heritage of the people of India, with particular emphasis on tribal and indigenous communities. The Museum adopts an integrated approach to showcasing the country's cultural diversity through Open- Air Exhibitions, Indoor Galleries, ethnographic collections, field documentation, research, publications, educational outreach and community engagement. IGRMS serves as a national repository of ethnographic heritage and provides a platform for the preservation of both tangible and intangible cultural traditions by fostering collaboration among museums, academic institutions, cultural organizations and indigenous communities. To preserve, promote and disseminate the rich cultural heritage of tribal and indigenous communities, IGRMS undertakes a wide range of activities, which include:  National Tribal Dance Festival: Started in 2015 as a collaborative venture with SCSTRTI Bhubaneswar.  Tribal Fusion Music: Program launched in 2016 to celebrate indigenous musical blending.  Oriha Festival: Celebrated the festival of the Wancho tribe of Arunachal Pradesh on the IGRMS campus.  Tribal Literature Festival (TLF): Introduced at a national level to preserve the language and literature of Tribal India.  Artist Camps (2017): Successfully organized 13 workshops including tribal healers in Mysuru, wood carving in Assam, and textile weaving in Manipur.  Reh Festival Documentation: Documented the traditional Reh festival of the Idu Mishmi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh in 2017.  Weekly Market Documentation: Carried out extensive field documentation of tribal weekly markets in Assam.  Indigenous People's Day: Commemorated the International Day of the Indigenous People annually through exhibitions, lectures, and symposia starting in 2018.  Gunjar Festival: Hosted an indigenous music and cultural festival featuring the 'Bana' string instrument of the Pradhan Gond tribe along with Kalbelia and Chakri dances.  Chitralipi Programme: Launched a tribal painting initiative featuring nine communities to celebrate the work of the famous late Gond artist Sri Jangarh Singh Shyam.  Digital COVID Response (2020): Launched online videos showcasing museum collections and preserved tribal house types during the pandemic period.  Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav (2021): Hosted tribal artists' workshops featuring painting, wood carving, bamboo, cane craft, pottery, and textile traditions.  Deshaj Exhibition: Organized an exhibition focused on indigenous technology to support tribal artists and promote native knowledge systems.  Janjati Gaurav Diwas (2022): Launched and observed the day to commemorate the birth anniversary of the legendary freedom fighter Birsa Munda.  Tribal Freedom Fighters: Curated and organized a dedicated exhibition highlighting the contributions of tribal freedom fighters. Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India implements a scheme namely “Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRI)” under which financial assistance is provided toState/UT Tribal Research Institutes for undertaking activities such as Research & Documentation (including studies on tribal art, craft, cuisine, medicine, folklore, languages and customary practices), Training/Seminars/Workshops/Conferences, Action Research, Exchange of Visits, Tribal Festivals, Documentaries/Audio-Video documentation, setting up and strengthening of Tribal Museums & Libraries and construction/renovation of TRI buildings. Under the scheme, Ministry of Tribal Affairs has supported the following:  A total of 3,505 activities/projects have been sanctioned/undertaken across all States/UTs, with a cumulative outlay of approximately Rs. 1,072.31 Crore.  415 Tribal Festivals have been organised across the country.  1,188 Research & Documentation studies have been undertaken, covering tribal art, craft, cuisine, medicine, folklore, customary practices and languages.  868 Training/Seminar/Workshop/Conference events have been conducted for capacity-building and awareness.  193 Tribal Museum construction/renovation projects and 121 TRI Building construction/renovation projects have been sanctioned, strengthening cultural institutions at the State level. Ministry of Tribal Affairs also implements a “Tribal Research, Information, Education, Communication and Events (TRI-ECE) Scheme” under which reputed Universities, National Institutes and Organisations are recognized as Centres of Excellence (a key component of the Scheme) for undertaking specialised, in-depth research studies, documentation, evaluation of tribal welfare schemes and capacity-building assignments on themes such as livelihoods, health & nutrition, tribal healing practices, education, digital inclusion, tribal customary laws and documentation of tribal art, culture, oral traditions and languages. The scheme also supports advertisement/publicity, IEC activities and grants-in-aid for such research and documentation assignments. 75+ institutions/ organizations have been engaged as empanelled Centres of Excellence, with other 100+ project, covering all major themes. (c)& (d) Ministry of Culture administers various Central Sector Schemes in which financial assistance is released directly to the beneficiaries (Cultural Organizations/ NGOs/ Artists) of various States across the country including the State of Madhya Pradesh, the details of which are under: i. 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 across all art forms. The details of number of beneficiaries and grant released/ funds disbursed in respect of the State Madhya Pradesh under the scheme from 2014 to 2025 are as under: Sl. No. Year No. of Organizations Amount (Rs. in lakh) i. 2014-15 20 123.76 ii. 2015-16 31 240.00 iii. 2016-17 27 156.48 iv. 2017-18 25 204.00 v. 2018-19 21 149.04 vi. 2019-20 33 231.33 vii. 2020-21 42 294.12 viii. 2021-22 34 236.58 ix. 2022-23 73 525.48 x. 2023-24 106 687.19xi. 2024-25 69 654.78 xii 2025-26 175 1315.85 Total 656 4818.61 For the year 2024-25 & 2025-26, some arrears of earlier years were disbursed through DBT mode. ii. Financial Assistance to Cultural organizations with National Presence: The objective of the scheme component is to promote and support cultural organizations 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 Rs. 1.00 crore or more during 3 of the last 5 years on cultural activities.The details of number of beneficiaries and grant released/ funds disbursed in respect of the State Madhya Pradesh under the scheme from 2014 to 2025 are as under: Sl. No. Year No. of Organizations Amount (Rs. in lakh) i. 2014-15 0 0.00 ii. 2015-16 0 0.00 iii. 2016-17 0 0.00 iv. 2017-18 1 41.25 v. 2018-19 0 0.00 vi. 2019-20 0 0.00 vii. 2020-21 0 0.00 viii. 2021-22 0 0.00 ix. 2022-23 1 0.59 x. 2023-24 0 0.00 xi. 2024-25 0 0.00 xii 2025-26 0 0.00 Total 2 41.84 iii. 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 details of number of beneficiaries and grant released/ funds disbursed in respect of the State Madhya Pradesh under the scheme from 2014 to 2025 are as under: Sl. No. Year No. of Organizations Amount (Rs. in lakh) i. 2014-15 29 75.50 ii. 2015-16 32 62.75 iii. 2016-17 71 86.06 iv. 2017-18 75 86.20 v. 2018-19 167 221.93 vi. 2019-20 51 47.59 vii. 2020-21 77 79.78 viii. 2021-22 94 200.42 ix. 2022-23 141 264.90 x. 2023-24 161 155.17 xi. 2024-25 100 202.89 xii 2025-26 196 414.86 Total 1194 1898.05iv. 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. The details of number of beneficiaries and grant released/ funds disbursed in respect of the State Madhya Pradesh under the scheme from 2014 to 2025 are as under: Sl. No. Year No. of Organizations Amount (Rs. in lakh) i. 2018-19 45 2.64 ii. 2019-20 16 5.41 iii. 2020-21 06 2.44 iv. 2021-22 12 5.04 v. 2022-23 06 3.86 vi. 2023-24 07 6.95 vii. 2024-25 13 14.94 viii. 2025-26 15 25.68 Total 120 66.96 The disbursal of financial assistance to the selected artists upto the year 2017-18 was handled by LIC who did not maintain State-wise data. v. Award of Senior/ Junior Fellowships to Outstanding Persons in the Fields of Culture: The objective of the scheme is to provide the basic financial support either for very advanced training or individual creative effort for revival of some of our traditional forms of arts. The scheme is meant for awarding fellowships to outstanding persons in various creative fields of culture. The scheme would also cover artistes in rural/tribal areas. The fellowships are awarded for undertaking research oriented projects. The applicant should provide evidence of his/her capabilities in undertaking the project. The fellowship is granted for 2 years and the grant is disbursed on six monthly basis through DBT Mode.The details of number of fellows and grant released/ funds disbursed in respect of the State Madhya Pradesh under the scheme from 2014 to 2025 are as under: Sl. No. Year No. of fellows Amount (Rs. in lakh) i. 2014-15 17 10.20 ii. 2015-16 44 52.80 iii. 2016-17 24 20.40 iv. 2017-18 23 22.20 v. 2018-19 70 79.20 vi. 2019-20 70 56.40 vii. 2020-21 67 64.20 viii. 2021-22 67 104.40 ix. 2022-23 62 93.00 x. 2023-24 82 76.20 xi. 2024-25 59 70.20 xii 2025-26 136 183.60 Total 721 832.80 vi. Award of Scholarship to Young Artists in Different Cultural Fields: The objective of the scheme is to give assistance to young artistes of outstanding promise 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. Maximum upto 400 scholars are selected in each batch year. The scholarship is granted for 2 years and the scholarship is disbursed on six monthly basis through DBT mode.The details ofnumber of Scholars and grant released/ funds disbursed in respect of the State Madhya Pradesh under the scheme from 2014 to 2025 are as under: Sl. No. Year No. of Scholars Amount (Rs. in lakh) i. 2014-15 134 70.80 ii. 2015-16 156 62.40 iii. 2016-17 67 20.10 iv. 2017-18 28 8.40 v. 2018-19 90 27.00 vi. 2019-20 105 31.50 vii. 2020-21 120 36.00 viii. 2021-22 128 38.40 ix. 2022-23 27 8.10 x. 2023-24 131 39.30 xi. 2024-25 104 31.80 xii 2025-26 178 53.70 Total 1268 427.50 Further, the following cultural activities/ programmes organized by South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC), Nagpur (an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture) in Madhya Pradesh are as under:  Marathi Sangeet Natak Mahotsav at Jabalpur District.  Pakhawaj Workshop,Khajur Craft Art Workshop & Bamboo Craft Workshop at Chhatarpur District.  Kathak Dance Workshop and Portrait Painting Workshop at Burhanpur District  Ghazal &Thumari Workshop and Landscape Painting Workshop at Khandwa District. Recently, North Central Zone Cultural Centre (NCZCC), Prayagraj (an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture) has sponsored cultural troupes viz. GaadliNirtya& Gudum Bajafrom Madhya Pradesh to participate in the Mahua Utsav organized from 27 to 29 June, 2026 by the Janjatiya Lok Kala Evam Boli Vikas Academy, Bhopal. National School of Drama (NSD) in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS), Bhopal has organized a Children's Theatre Workshop in 2025 aimed at fostering creativity, theatrical skills and cultural awareness among children through theatre-based learning and interactive activities. IGNCA has undertaken documentation of tribal art, oral traditions, folk performances, traditional knowledge systems and cultural practices of various tribal communities in the State of Madhya Pradesh. Under the Support to TRI Scheme of Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the Tribal Research Institute, Madhya Pradesh has undertaken 188 activities/projects with a cumulative outlay of approximately Rs. 63.81 crore, spanning Research & Documentation, Training/Seminars/Workshops, Tribal Festivals, Exchange of Visits, Museum and TRI Building works, Documentaries and Library strengthening. Some of the notable projects specifically relating to promotion of tribal culture, craft and heritage in Madhya Pradesh are:  Special organisation of Bhagoria Festival, popular in the tribal-dominated districts of Nimar and Malwa.  Aadirang/Adimahotsav tribal festival programmes organised in Betul, Khandwa, Jabalpur and Indore.  Culinary Heritage Workshop on traditional foods of the Kol, Korku and Sahariya tribes. Workshop-cum-Film Festival of Culture and Cinema relating to Janjati communities in Madhya Pradesh in association with IGRMS, Bhopal.  Research proposal on "Sustaining Creativity: Empowering the Janjati Artisans of Madhya Pradesh through Cultural Preservation and Entrepreneurship in Handicraft", with IIM Indore.  Study and documentation of folktales and folklore of the Gond, Korku and Bhil tribes.  Workshops/Seminars on traditional tribal wood, bamboo and mud craft, and on tribal festivals such as Adirang/Adiraag.  Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav dance festivals, craft melas, photo galleries and food melas organised in Balaghat district and Indore Division. Besides, Centres of Excellence (CoE) located in Madhya Pradesh including the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance and Policy Analysis, Bhopal, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU), Amarkantak and School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Bhopalhave undertaken CoE research assignments on tribal health, ethno-medicine, tribal culture and sustainable tribal settlement planning under the TRI-ECE Scheme of Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Ministry of Tribal Affairs through Tirbal Research Institute, Madhya Pradesh has sanctioned following project specifically covering Vindhya Region including Satna District under Support to TRI Scheme: Financial Name of Project Activity Amount year sanctioned 2024-25 Video Documentation: A short film Documentaries/ Rs. 15.00 lakh based on the life, lifestyle, culture Audio/ Videos and natural environment of the Kol Tribe (Satna and Rewa) Besides, A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the National School of Drama (NSD) and the Government of Madhya Pradesh to revive a Repertory at the Bharat Bhawan Rang Mandal, Bhopal. The initiative aims to promote theatre activities, preserve and showcase indigenous and tribal performing arts, as well to strengthen cultural exchange and capacity building in the region. *****