**Summary:**
The Ministry of Culture actively promotes classical dance through various schemes and initiatives. It provides grants to autonomous bodies like the Kalakshetra Foundation and Sangeet Natak Akademi to support training, performances, preservation, and propagation of performing arts. The Sangeet Natak Akademi also extends financial assistance to classical dance institutions under the "Financial Assistance to Cultural Institutions" scheme. Further financial aid is available through the Cultural Function and Production Grant (CFPG), the scheme for financial assistance to cultural organisations with National Presence, and the umbrella scheme Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY), which incorporates eight components covering various aspects of performing arts promotion, including classical dance. The "Financial Assistance for Promotion of GuruShishya Parampara Repertory Grant" supports one Guru and up to 18 Shishyas in theatre, music, and dance. Over the past three years, Rs. 248.02 crore has been released to 4,136 organizations under these schemes.
The Ministry also implements the "Scheme of Scholarship to Young Artistes in Different Cultural Fields," providing Rs. 5,000 per month for two years to promising young artists (18-25 years) for advanced training in various fields, including Indian Classical Music and Dance. From 2022-23 to 2025-26 (as of August 18, 2025), the scheme disbursed funds as follows: 2022-23: Rs. 396 lakhs to 118.80 beneficiaries; 2023-24: Rs. 1507 lakhs to 452.40 beneficiaries; 2024-25: Rs. 1077 lakhs to 325.50 beneficiaries; and 2025-26: Rs. 699 lakhs to 213.00 beneficiaries.
The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) plays a crucial role in safeguarding and promoting India's intangible cultural heritage, documenting and publishing research on dance traditions through its Kala Kosa and Janapada Sampada divisions. IGNCA also organizes festivals, workshops, and lecture series and digitizes rare manuscripts and archival recordings. Other cultural bodies such as the Sangeet Natak Akademi, Kalakshetra Foundation, and Zonal Cultural Centres also organize training programs, festivals, workshops, and seminars to promote classical dance and cultural education.
The Ministry of Culture's Global Engagement Scheme aims to showcase Indian art and culture internationally through Festivals of India (FoIs). The Ministry has empanelled 627 artists/groups across various art forms for participation in the Festival of India, but no Festival of India is scheduled during FY 2025-26.
This information was provided by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. For further details, contact Sunil Kumar Tiwari at pibcultureatgmaildotcom.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The Indian governmental ministry responsible for the promotion and preservation of arts and culture.
Kalakshetra Foundation: An autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture that supports performing arts.
Sangeet Natak Akademi: An autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture that supports training, performances, preservation and propagation of performing arts.
Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY): An umbrella scheme with 8 components covering various aspects of promotion of performing arts including classical dance across the country.
Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA): An organization that safeguards, promotes, and disseminates India's intangible cultural heritage.
Global Engagement Scheme: A scheme implemented by the Ministry of Culture to showcase India's rich cultural heritage to the world.
Festivals of India (FoIs): A key component of the Global Engagement Scheme which provides Indian artists practicing diverse art forms an opportunity to perform on international platforms.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: Union Minister for Culture and Tourism.
Ministry of Culture
Promotion of Classical Dance
Posted On: 21 AUG 2025 4:14PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Culture provides grants to its autonomous bodies such as Kalakshetra Foundation and
Sangeet Natak Akademi for supporting training, performances, preservation and propagation of performing
arts, namely music, dance and drama. In addition, the Sangeet Natak Akademi extends financial assistance to
classical dance institutions under the scheme “Financial Assistance to Cultural Institutions”.
Moreover, financial assistance is provided under Cultural Function and Production Grant (CFPG), the scheme
for financial assistance to cultural organisations with National Presence and the umbrella scheme Kala
Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY), which has 8 components covering various aspects of promotion of performing
arts including classical dance across the country.
Under the Financial Assistance for Promotion of Guru-Shishya Parampara (Repertory Grant), financial
support is provided to one Guru and up to 18 Shishyas in the field of theatre, music and dance. During the last
three years, an amount of Rs. 248.02 crore has been released to 4,136 organizations under this scheme.
Ministry of Culture implements the Scheme of Scholarship to Young Artistes in Different Cultural Fields,
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.
Details of Scholarship to Young Artistes in Different Cultural Fields (SYA) during 2022-23 to 2025-26 (till
date)
A m o u n t
N o . o f
S. No. Financial Year Released (Rs.
Beneficiaries
In lakhs)
1. 2022-23 396 118.80
2. 2023-24 1507 452.40
3. 2024-25 1077 325.50
2025-26(as on
4. 699 213.00
18.08.2025)
Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) plays a pivotal role in safeguarding, promoting, and
disseminating India’s intangible cultural heritage. Its Kala Kosa and Janapada Sampada divisions actively
document and publish research on dance traditions. The Centre organizes festivals, workshops, and lecture
series with eminent gurus, apart from digitizing rare manuscripts, notations, and archival recordings of
classical dance.
Other cultural bodies such as the Sangeet Natak Akademi, Kalakshetra Foundation, Zonal Cultural Centres,
also organize training programmes, festivals, workshops, and seminars to promote classical dance and cultural
education.
Ministry of Culture implements the “Global Engagement Scheme” to showcase India’s rich cultural heritage
to the world. The Scheme aims to promote Indian art and culture internationally and to enhance India’s image
in the global arena in a coordinated manner.A key component of the Scheme is the organisation of Festivals of India (FoIs) abroad, which provide Indian
artists practicing diverse art forms—including folk music, folk dance, folk theatre and puppetry, classical and
traditional dance, experimental/contemporary dance, classical/semi-classical music, and theatre—an
opportunity to perform on international platforms.
The Ministry has empanelled 627 artists/groups across various art forms for participation in the Festival of
India. However, no Festival of India is scheduled during FY 2025-26.
This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a
written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
****
Sunil Kumar Tiwari
pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com
(Release ID: 2159094)