## Policy Summary: Promotion of Benares Gharana of Kathak Dance
This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Culture's efforts to promote the Benares Gharana of Kathak dance, as detailed in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4061, answered on August 18, 2025.
The Ministry of Culture, through the autonomous Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA), actively promotes all art forms, including the Benares Gharana of Kathak. The SNA supports the Gharana by featuring its artists in national and international festivals and bestowing prestigious honors.
**Notable artists of the Kathak Benares Gharana recognized by the Akademi include:**
* **Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship Award:** Sitara Devi (2008)
* **Sangeet Natak Akademi Award:** Sitara Devi (1969), Jitendra Maharaj (2016), Sunayana Hazarilal (2022), Nalini and Kamalini Asthana (2022)
* **Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar:** Vishal Krishna (2015)
**The total budget allocated to the Sangeet Natak Akademi for the promotion of all art forms, including the Benares Gharana of Kathak, is as follows (in Lakhs):**
* 2020-2021: 5222.40
* 2021-2022: 5711.82
* 2022-2023: 6810.50
* 2023-2024: 7105.00
* 2024-2025: 12099.00
* 2025-2026: 5905.00
Currently, the government is not considering establishing an Indian Classical dances university in Eastern Uttar Pradesh with a specialized center for training in the Benares Gharana of Kathak.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: A ministry within the Government of India responsible for the preservation and promotion of art and culture.
Rajeev Rai: Member of Parliament who posed the unstarred question regarding the promotion of Benares Gharana of Kathak dance.
Benares Gharana of Kathak: A prominent school or style within the Kathak classical dance form, originating from Benares (Varanasi), Uttar Pradesh.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: Minister of Culture and Tourism who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA): An autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, responsible for promoting art forms, including the Benares Gharana of Kathak.
Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar: A prestigious honour conferred by the Sangeet Natak Akademi to young artists.
Sitara Devi: A renowned artist of the Kathak Benares Gharana, honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship Award and Award.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India where the Benares Gharana of Kathak originates.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4061
TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025
PROMOTION OF BENARES GHARANA OF KATHAK DANCE
4061. SHRI. RAJEEV RAI
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
a) whether the Government has taken any measures to promote the Benares Gharana of
Kathak classical dance form;
b) if so, the details of the activities undertaken and amount utilised during the last five
years and the current year;
c) whether the Government is considering to establish any Indian Classical dances
university in the Eastern part of Uttar Pradesh with a specialized centre for imparting
training in the Benares Gharana of Kathak; and
d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) & (b)Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture,
has been promoting all art forms, including the Benares Gharana of Kathak, since its
inception through various schemes and programmes. The Akademi has presented
several artists of the Benares Gharana from time to time in national and international
festivals, and has conferred prestigious honours such as the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva
Puraskar and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards.
Artists of the Kathak Benares Gharana who have been honoured by the Akademi
include:
Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship & Award:
o Sitara Devi (2008)
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award:
o Sitara Devi (1969)
o Jitendra Maharaj (2016)
o Sunayana Hazarilal (2022)
o Nalini and Kamalini Asthana (2022) Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar:
o Vishal Krishna (2015)
The total budget released to the Sangeet Natak Akademi for the promotion of all art
forms, including the Benares Gharana of Kathak, during the last five years, along
with the allocation for the current year, is as under:)
Year Total Budget (in Lakhs)
2020-2021 5222.40
2021-2022 5711.82
2022-2023 6810.50
2023-2024 7105.00
2024-2025 12099.00
2025-2026 5905.00
(c )& (d) No Sir. At present, there is no proposal under consideration.
****