**Summary:**
The Ministry of Culture is actively promoting Indian classical dances among school students, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020's emphasis on art-integrated education. The NEP 2020 advocates for incorporating Indian art forms, including traditional dance, into mainstream learning to foster creativity, cultural understanding, and holistic student development.
Key initiatives include the Sangeet Natak Akademi's "Kala Dharohar Series," designed to raise awareness and appreciation of Indian performing arts, including classical dance. The Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), another body under the Ministry of Culture, conducts workshops, orientation programs, and cultural activities in schools nationwide to further promote Indian arts and culture.
The CCRT also administers the Cultural Talent Search Scholarship Scheme (CTSSS) for students aged 10-14, providing specialized training in cultural fields such as music, dance, drama, painting, sculpture, crafts, and literary activities. The scholarship provides Rs. 3,600 per year to the scholarship holder, in addition to reimbursement of actual tuition fees paid to the Guru/Teacher, up to a ceiling of Rs. 9,000 per year.
The number of scholarships awarded under the CTSSS for Indian Classical Dances in the last five years is as follows:
* 2020-21: 213
* 2021-22: 224
* 2022-23: 154
* 2023-24: 242
* 2024-25: 269
The ministry also implements Extension Services Community Feedback Programs and Summer Camps:
* Indradhanush Summer Camp (2022): Trained 14,326 students with a budget of Rs. 14,71,885.23
* Extension Services Community Feedback Program (2023): Trained 31,520 students with a budget of Rs. 28,60,926.
* Extension Services Community Feedback Program (2024): Trained 45,248 students with a budget of Rs. 51,73,354.
This information was provided by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. For further information, contact Sunil Kumar Tiwari at pibcultureatgmaildotcom. Release ID: 2152142.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The Indian government ministry responsible for promoting art and culture, including classical dances.
National Education Policy NEP 2020: A comprehensive framework by the Government of India to transform the education system.
Sangeet Natak Akademi: Autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture, promoting performing arts, including the Kala Dharohar Series.
Kala Dharohar Series: An initiative by the Sangeet Natak Akademi to promote awareness and appreciation of Indian performing arts among school students.
Centre for Cultural Resources and Training CCRT: An autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture that conducts workshops, orientation programs, and cultural activities in schools.
Cultural Talent Search Scholarship Scheme CTSSS: A scholarship scheme implemented by CCRT to provide specialized training in various cultural fields.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where information regarding the promotion of Indian Classical Dances was provided.
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: Union Minister for Culture and Tourism who provided information regarding the promotion of Indian Classical Dances in a written reply in Lok Sabha.
Ministry of Culture
Promotion of Indian Classical Dances Amongst
School Students
Posted On: 04 AUG 2025 5:03PM by PIB Delhi
The Government of India has taken steps to integrate various forms of Indian traditional dances into the
school education framework, in alignment with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
NEP 2020 advocates art-integrated education as a cross-curricular pedagogical approach, encouraging the
incorporation of Indian art forms such as traditional dance into mainstream classroom learning. It emphasizes
the significance of Indian arts at all levels of education to foster creativity, cultural rootedness, and holistic
development in students.
To this end, the Ministry of Culture, through its autonomous organization Sangeet Natak Akademi, has
launched the Kala Dharohar Series, which is specifically designed to promote awareness and appreciation of
Indian performing arts—including classical dance—among school students.
In furtherance of these goals, other bodies under the Ministry of Culture, such as the Centre for Cultural
Resources and Training (CCRT), also conduct workshops, orientation programmes, and cultural activities in
schools across the country, contributing to the promotion of Indian arts and culture.
The Government of India thorough its autonomous body Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT)
provide scholarship for preservation and promotion of diverse, varied and rich Indian cultural heritage.
CCRT through Cultural Talent Search Scholarship Scheme, CTSSS (10-14 Years) since 1982 provide
specialized training in various cultural fields such as traditional forms of music, dance, drama as well as
painting, sculpture, crafts and literary activities.
CCRT is implementing Cultural Talent Search Scholarship Scheme (CTSSS), in this scheme the value of
scholarship is Rs.3600/- per year for the scholarship holder in addition to reimbursement of actual tuition fee
paid to the Guru/Teacher, up to a ceiling of Rs.9000/- per year.
The number of scholarships awarded across the country under the above-mentioned scheme for the field of
Indian Classical Dances during the last five years is as follows:
Year Cultural Talent SearchScholarship Scheme
2020-21 213
2021-22 224
2022-23 154
2023-24 242
2024-25 269
Extension Services Community Feedback Program:
N o . o f s t u d e n t
Program Years Actual Budget (in Rs.)
Trained/teachers/CCRT officials
(a) Summer Camp: Indradhanush 2022-
14,326 14,71,885/-23
2023-
(b) Extension Services Community 31,520 28,60,926/-
24
Feedback Program
2024-
45,248 51,73,354/-
25
This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a
written reply in Lok Sabha today.
****
Sunil Kumar Tiwari
pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com
(Release ID: 2152142)