**Executive Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question Number 109 on 21.07.2025, the Ministry of Culture outlines initiatives to promote and preserve India's cultural diversity. The Ministry supports diverse cultural expressions through various schemes, awards, events, and collaborations, including specific programs for marginalized communities and efforts to address cultural discrimination. This involves financial support, training programs, and the establishment of cultural centers.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Promotion and Preservation Initiatives:**
* The Ministry of Culture and its autonomous bodies undertake initiatives across cultural heritage, arts, languages, festivals, and traditions.
* Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) cater to regional art, culture, and traditions.
* Schemes, awards, grants, events, and festivals promote and preserve diverse cultures.
* Major schemes include Financial Assistance for Art and Culture, Repertory Grant, Scholarship and Fellowship for Promotion of Art, Museum Grants Scheme, and Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage.
* Museums host thematic exhibitions, international collaborations, and digitization efforts.
* Awards include Sahitya Akademi Award, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Lalit Kala Akademi Award, and Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar.
* The Translation Prize is awarded for outstanding literary works in 24 Indian languages.
* Sahitya Akademi provides Bhasha Samman for languages not formally recognized.
* **Inclusion of Diverse Voices:**
* The Government ensures inclusion through representation of experts, scholars, and practitioners from diverse linguistic, regional, and social backgrounds in cultural programs and events.
* **Support for Marginalized Communities:**
* The Ministry of Tribal Affairs provides financial support to 29 Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) in States/Union Territories.
* Support covers infrastructural needs, research documentation, tribal festivals, and yatras.
* **Addressing Discrimination:**
* The Government preserves vanishing art forms through schemes, festivals, and training programs by Akademies and Zonal Cultural Centres.
* Sahitya Akademi established centers at Agartala and Delhi for oral and tribal culture.
* Indian Museum, Kolkata, observes Janajatiya Gaurav Diwas.
* Sangeet Natak Akademi conducts training programs in dying traditional, folk, and tribal performing arts under the Kala Deeksha scheme.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Ministry of Culture:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing and overseeing initiatives to promote and preserve cultural diversity through various schemes, awards, and events.
* *Action Required:* Continue administering existing programs, monitor their effectiveness, and develop new initiatives to address emerging needs in cultural preservation.
* **Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs):**
* *Impact:* Play a vital role in promoting regional art, culture, and traditions within their respective zones.
* *Action Required:* Continue to develop and execute regional-specific programs and events that celebrate and preserve local cultural heritage.
* **Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs):**
* *Impact:* Receive financial support from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to conduct research, document tribal cultures, and organize festivals.
* *Action Required:* Submit Annual Action Plans to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, utilize funds effectively, and implement programs to preserve and promote unique tribal cultural heritage.
* **Artists, Scholars, and Practitioners:**
* *Impact:* Benefit from schemes, awards, and opportunities to participate in cultural programs and events.
* *Action Required:* Engage with the Ministry of Culture and its autonomous bodies, apply for relevant schemes and awards, and contribute to cultural preservation efforts.
* **Marginalized Communities and Indigenous Populations:**
* *Impact:* Receive targeted support to preserve and promote their cultural practices and traditions.
* *Action Required:* Engage with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and TRIs to access available support and participate in cultural preservation initiatives.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The primary government body responsible for the promotion and preservation of cultural diversity in India.
Zonal Cultural Centres: Regional centers under the Ministry of Culture that cater to the art, culture, and traditions of their respective zones.
Sahitya Akademi: An autonomous organization that promotes literature, including awards and recognition for literary works in Indian languages.
Sangeet Natak Akademi: National academy for music, dance and drama in India which also provides training and support to performing art forms.
Lalit Kala Akademi Award: An award conferred by the Lalit Kala Akademi (National Academy of Art) to honour eminent artists and their contribution to the field of art.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The government ministry responsible for the welfare and development of tribal communities.
Tribal Research Institutes: Institutes in States/Union Territories that receive financial support from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for research, documentation, and promotion of tribal culture.
Indian Museum, Kolkata, West Bengal: A museum that observes Janajatiya Gaurav Diwas to honor different identities and foster mutual respect.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NUMBER 109
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
PROMOTION AND PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY
109. SHRI NAVEEN JINDAL:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the initiatives taken to promote and preserve the cultural diversity of the
country including the languages, traditions and customs of different regions and
communities;
(b) the manner in which the Government ensures the inclusion of diverse voices and
perspectives in cultural policies and programme;
(c) whether the Government has any specific programmes or initiatives targeted at marginalised
communities and indigenous populations to support their cultural practices and if so, the
details thereof; and
(d) the details of the measures taken/being taken by the Government to address the issue of
discrimination and prejudice based on cultural identity?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE & TOURISM
(GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) The Government of India, through the Ministry of Culture and its autonomous bodies, has
taken several initiatives across the domains of cultural heritage, arts, languages, festivals,
and traditions of different regions and communities to promote and preserve the cultural
diversity of the country.
The Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCC) of the Ministry of Culture are spread throughout the
country. These ZCCs cater to the regional art, culture, and tradition of their corresponding
zone.
The Ministry of Culture runs schemes, provides awards, grants, organizes events, and
celebrates festivals to promote and preserve different cultures and traditions.Some of the major schemes run by the Ministry are: Scheme of Financial Assistance for
promotion of art and culture, Repertory Grant, Scheme of Scholarship and Fellowship for
Promotion of Art, Museum Grants Scheme, and the Scheme for Safeguarding the Intangible
Cultural Heritage.
The Museums under the Ministry of Culture which also serve as a timeless cultural space,
undertake thematic exhibitions, international collaborations, and representation through
galleries and digitization efforts to ensure preservation of traditions and customs.
The Ministry through its autonomous bodies confers awards such as Sahitya Akademi
Award, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Lalit Kala Akademi Award, Ustad Bismillah Khan
Yuva Puraskar etc. The Translation Prize is presented to outstanding book(s) of literary
merit published in 24 Indian languages by Sahitya Akademi. In order to expand its reach,
Sahitya Akademi also provides Bhasha Samman, in languages other than the ones
recognised by it.
(b) The Government ensures inclusion of diverse voices and perspectives in cultural
programmes, events through representation of experts, scholars, and practitioners from
varied linguistic, regional and social backgrounds.
(c) The Government of India through the Ministry of Tribal Affairs under the Centrally
Sponsored Scheme “Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRI)” extends financial support
to 29 Tribal Research Institutes in States / Union Territories based on Annual Action Plan
submitted by states. Under the Scheme, proposals relating to infrastructural needs, research
& documentation activities, organization of tribal festivals, and yatras for promotion of
unique cultural heritage are preserved and disseminated.
(d) The Government undertakes several measures to preserve the vanishing art forms, while
addressing the issues through its schemes and festivals and training programmes conducted
by Akademies, and Zonal Cultural Centres.
a. Sahitya Akademi has established two centres at Agartala and Delhi for preservation and
promotion of oral and tribal culture and literature
b. Every year, Indian Museum, Kolkata observes Janajatiya Gaurav Diwas to honor
different identities and fostering mutual respect.
c. The Sangeet Natak Akademi has started training programmes in around 100 dying
traditional, folk, and tribal performing art forms across the country under the Scheme
Kala Deeksha.
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