## Summary of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4139 Regarding the Scholarships to Young Artists' (SYA) Scheme in Tamil Nadu
This document summarizes the response provided by the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4139, answered on August 18, 2025, concerning the Scholarships to Young Artists' (SYA) scheme in different cultural fields, specifically focusing on beneficiaries from Tamil Nadu.
**Key Findings:**
* **Beneficiaries:** The number of young artists from Tamil Nadu who received scholarships under the SYA scheme over the past five financial years is as follows:
* 2020-21: 26
* 2021-22: 37
* 2022-23: 18
* 2023-24: 51
* 2024-25: 32
* **Disbursement Monitoring:** The government aims to ensure timely disbursement of scholarships to beneficiaries in all States/Union Territories, including Tamil Nadu, upon receipt of six-monthly progress reports and subject to budgetary allocations.
* **Delayed Payments:** No cases of delayed payments due to non-submission of progress reports from Tamil Nadu scholars were reported.
* **Awareness and Outreach:** Information regarding the application process and eligibility criteria for the SYA scheme is available on the Ministry of Culture's website: https://www.indiaculture.gov.in/awards-scholarships-young-artists-different-cultural-fields. The Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) also disseminates information through advertisements in leading national and regional newspapers, including those in Tamil.
* **Digitization and Simplification:** The application and reporting processes are standardized for all states, including Tamil Nadu, and are conducted in English. However, advertisements are published in local newspapers in respective regional languages, including Tamil. Expert interactions and interviews have been conducted online since the COVID-19 pandemic.
* **Targeted Promotion:** The SYA scheme supports various art forms, including Indian Classical Music, Indian Classical Dance, Theatre, Mime, Visual art, Folk, Traditional and Indigenous Arts, and Light Classical Music. These fields are uniformly supported across the country, including Tamil Nadu. There is no specific, separate category of art forms only for Tamil Nadu.
Key Entities Referenced
Scholarships to Young Artists in Different Cultural Fields (SYA) scheme: A scholarship program aimed at supporting young artists in various cultural fields, administered by the Ministry of Culture.
Ministry of Culture: The government ministry responsible for administering the SYA scheme and promoting culture.
Tamil Nadu: A state in India which is the focus of the questions regarding the SYA scheme's impact and implementation.
SHRI C N ANNADURAI: Member of Lok Sabha, posed a question regarding SYA scheme.
SHRI NAVASKANI K: Member of Lok Sabha, posed a question regarding SYA scheme.
SHRI SELVAM G: Member of Lok Sabha, posed a question regarding SYA scheme.
SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT: Minister of Culture and Tourism, responsible for answering the questions about the SYA scheme.
Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT): An organization that provides publicity and outreach for the SYA scheme through advertisements in newspapers.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4139
ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025
SYA SCHEME IN DIFFERENT CULTURE FIELDS
4139. SHRI C N ANNADURAI:
SHRI NAVASKANI K:
SHIR SELVAM G:
Will the MINISTER OF CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) the number of young artists from Tamil Nadu benefitted under the ‘Scholarships to Young Artists'
(SYA) scheme in Different Cultural Fields during the last five years;
(b) whether the Government has a monitoring mechanism to ensure timely disbursement of
scholarships under the SYA scheme to artists from Tamil Nadu;
(c) the number of scholars from Tamil Nadu whose payments were delayed due to non-submission of
six-monthly progress reports and the reasons therefor;
(d) whether the Government has conducted any awareness or outreach campaigns in Tamil Nadu to
inform young artists about the application process and eligibility criteria under the SYA scheme;
(e) the steps taken to digitize and simplify the application and reporting process for artists from Tamil
Nadu, especially in regional languages; and
(f) whether the Government has identified any traditional or endangered art forms specific to Tamil
Nadu for targeted promotion and support under the said scheme?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) the number of young artists from Tamil Nadu who have benefitted under the ‘Scholarships to Young
Artists in Different Cultural Fields (SYA)’ scheme during last five years is given below:-
Sl. No. Financial Year No. of benefitted scholars in
Tamil Nadu
1. 2020-21 26
2. 2021-22 373. 2022-23 18
4. 2023-24 51
5. 2024-25 32
(b) It has been the constant endeavor of the Government to ensure timely disbursement of scholarships
to the selected beneficiary of all States/UTs including Tamil Nadu on receipt of their six monthly
progress report and depending upon the budgetary allocation made against the scheme.
(c) No such case is available.
(d) Application process and eligibility criteria in detail is provided on the website of the Ministry i.e.
https://www.indiaculture.gov.in/award-scholarships-young-artists-different-cultural-fields. Wide
publicity is given through the advertisements issued by Centre for Cultural Resources and Training
(CCRT) in leading national and regional newspapers across the country from time to time.
(e) The application and reporting processes are the same for each state, including Tamil Nadu, and are
conducted in English. However, advertisements are published in the local newspapers of each state
in their respective regional languages, including Tamil Nadu. The interactions and interviews
conducted by experts are held online since the COVID-19 pandemic.
(f) As per the guidelines of the SYA Scheme, many art forms, including Indian Classical Music, Indian
Classical Dance, Theatre, Mime, Visual art, Folk, Traditional and Indigenous Arts and Light
Classical Music are identified for promotion and support under the scheme. These fields are
uniform for entire country including State of Tamil Nadu.
****