Parliament Question: Support to traditional arts in Maharashtra

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2271 ANSWERED ON 12.03.2026 SUPPORT TO TRADITIONAL ARTS IN MAHARASHTRA 2271 SHRI DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK: Will the MINISTER OF CULTURE be pleased to state (a) the details regarding support provided to performing arts, music, dance and traditional arts in Maharashtra during the last five years; (b) the number of artists who have received fellowships, grants and training opportunities; (c) the steps being taken to preserve endangered art forms and promote cultural education; and (d) the manner in which the Ministry coordinates with the State authorities to organize cultural festivals, workshops and competitions? ANSWER MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) and (b) The details regarding support provided to artists/organizations engaged in performing arts, including music, dance and traditional arts by providing financial assistance and fellowship across the country including the State of Maharashtra during the last five years under various Central Sector Schemes of the Ministry of Culture are given at Annexure-I. (c) and (d) The Ministry of Culture administers Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY) under which financial assistance is provided to eligible cultural organizations and individuals for the preservation, promotion and dissemination of various art forms, including traditional and endangered art forms across the country. The brief details of these schemes are given at Annexure-II. Further, to preserve endangered arts forms and promote cultural education, the Ministry, through its autonomous bodies such as the Sangeet Natak Akademi, Lalit Kala Akademi, Sahitya Akademi and Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs), organizes cultural festivals, workshops, seminars, competitions and outreach programmes such as Sangeet Natak Akademi Festival, State-level Art Camps, Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav, Shilpgram Utsav and Rashtriya Shilp Mela etc in close collaboration with State cultural departments, local institutions and artists to promote regional art forms and provide platforms for artists.Annexure-I Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) and (b) of the Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No.2271 answered on 12.03.2026 Number of beneficiaries and amount disbursed in the state of Maharashtra Sl. Name of the 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 No Scheme No. of Amo No. of Amo No. of Amou No. of Amo No. of Amo . Benefi unt Benefi unt Benefi nt Benefi unt Benefi unt - (Rs. - (Rs. - (Rs. In - (Rs. - (Rs. ciaries In ciaries In ciaries lakh) ciaries In ciaries In lakh) lakh) lakh) lakh) 1. Financial 23 156.0 33 237.3 41 307.6 97 639.72 59 333.05 Assistance for Promotion of Guru Shishya Parampara (Repertory Grant) 2. Financial 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 1 15.00 1 18.75 Assistance to Cultural Organizations with National Presence 3. Cultural Function 0 0 0 0 56 104.1 34 29.64 44 97.31 and Production Grant 4. Financial 0 0 0 0 11 38.25 14 41.00 14 57.45 Assistance for the Development of Buddhist/ Tibetan Culture & Art 5. Scheme For the 82 66 75 121.8 84 118.80 85 84.00 52 78.60 Award of Fellowship to Outstanding Persons in The Field of Culture 6. Scheme for 130 39 132 39.60 40 12.00 127 38.10 81 24.30 Scholarships to Young Artistes in Different Cultural Fields 7. Tagore National 1 3.6 4 30.1 0 0 1 3.6 10 67.11 Fellowship for Cultural Research 8. Financial 0 0 0 0 740 273.49 1239 795.97 1392 541.19 Assistance for Veteran ArtistsAnnexure-II Annexure referred to in reply of part (c) and (d) of the Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No.2271 answered on 12.03.2026 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 ofgrant 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 Organization Under 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 approvedproject 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 assistance 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 respectively for cultural research. The Fellowship is released in four equal six-monthly instalments. 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 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. The Scholarship is released in four equal six-monthly instalments. 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 instalments. 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. 6. Seva Bhoj Yojna Under the Scheme of ‘Seva Bhoj Yojna’ Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and Central Government’s share of Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) paid on purchase of specific raw food items by Charitable/Religious Institutions for distributing free food to public shall be reimbursed as Financial Assistance by the Government of India. Free ‘prasad’ or free food or free ‘langar’ /‘bhandara’ (community kitchen) offered by charitable/religious institutions like Gurudwara, Temples, Dharmik Ashram, Mosques, Dargah, Church, Math, Monasteries etc. are covered under Seva Bhoj Yojana. *****