**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Culture's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1281, answered on July 28, 2025, regarding the status and expansion of Tribal Cultural Centres in India.
Currently, the Government of India operates through seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) located in Patiala (Punjab), Nagpur (Maharashtra), Udaipur (Rajasthan), Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), Kolkata (West Bengal), Dimapur (Nagaland), and Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu). These ZCCs are responsible for the protection, promotion, and preservation of folk art and culture, including tribal culture, through regular cultural activities and programs engaging folk and tribal artists nationwide. All ZCCs are fully functional and equipped with infrastructure such as auditoriums, exhibition galleries, libraries, and Shilpgram/Kalagram facilities.
The ZCCs actively work to preserve tribal languages, stories, crafts, and performing arts by:
* Recording and documenting endangered tribal languages and dialects.
* Publishing books, reports, and stories about tribal folklore and oral history.
* Conducting training and demonstration workshops on tribal crafts, folk theatre, music, and dance.
* Organizing annual Tribal Festivals, Craft Melas, and Art Camps.
* Facilitating tribal artists' performances in various parts of India.
* Supporting tribal researchers, writers, and young artists through fellowships, grants, and performance opportunities.
As of the date of the response, the Government of India has no plans to expand the Tribal Cultural Centres to underserved regions or areas with significant tribal populations.
The Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, provided the answer to the Lok Sabha.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The Indian government ministry responsible for the preservation and promotion of art and culture.
Shri Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka: Member of Lok Sabha who raised the unstarred question about Tribal Cultural Centres.
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: Minister of Culture and Tourism who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs): Seven cultural centers established by the Government of India to protect, promote, and preserve folk art and culture, including tribal culture.
Patiala, Punjab: Location of one of the Zonal Cultural Centres headquarters.
Nagpur, Maharashtra: Location of one of the Zonal Cultural Centres headquarters.
Udaipur, Rajasthan: Location of one of the Zonal Cultural Centres headquarters.
Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: Location of one of the Zonal Cultural Centres headquarters.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1281
ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
STATUS AND EXPANSION OF TRIBAL CULTURAL CENTRES IN INDIA
1281. SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the number of functional Tribal Cultural Centres currently operational in
the country, State/UT-wise;
(b) the status of existing infrastructure and staff in these centres, and whether these centres
are fully functional with full strength of staff, if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether these centres are actively engaged in the documentation, preservation, and
promotion of tribal languages, literature, performing arts and intangible cultural
heritage and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has any plans to expand Tribal Cultural Centres to
underserved regions or areas with significant tribal populations; and
(e) if so, the details thereof, along with proposed locations, timelines, and initiatives to
support tribal language and cultural revitalisation?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) & (b) The Government of India has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs)
with headquarters at Patiala (Punjab), Nagpur (Maharashtra), Udaipur (Rajasthan), Prayagraj
(Uttar Pradesh), Kolkata (West Bengal), Dimapur (Nagaland) and Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu) to
protect, promote & preserve various forms of folk art & culture including tribal culture.
These ZCCs organize various cultural activities and programmes on regular basis in the
country for which they engage folk/ tribal artists from all over India who showcase their
talent during these programmes.
All theZCCs are fully functional with dedicated infrastructure viz. auditorium,
exhibition galleries, libraries and Shilpgram/ Kalagram facilities to host artists and craft
displays.
(c) All the ZCCsare actively undertaking the following activities to keep tribal languages,
stories, crafts andperforming arts alive:-
Recording & documenting of endangered tribal languages & dialects with the
help of locals and language experts;
Printing books, reports and stories about tribal folklore and oral history,
Conducting training and demonstration workshops on tribal crafts, folk theatre,
music and dance.
Organising annual Tribal Festivals, Craft Melas and Art Camps.
To share the unique tribal culture, artists are engaged to perform in other parts of
India.
Supporting tribal researchers, writers & young artists by providing them
fellowships, grants and performance opportunities.
(d) & (e) No such proposal is under the consideration of Government of India.
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