**Executive Summary**
This report details the Government of India's initiatives to protect, promote, and preserve folk arts and traditional crafts through Seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs). Key initiatives include the organization of national festivals, the implementation of development schemes by the Ministry of Textiles, and the preservation of fading traditions through documentation and mentorship. This information was officially provided in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on March 19, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) and Artist Support**
* Seven ZCCs have been established with headquarters in Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur, and Thanjavur.
* ZCCs engage folk artists for regular cultural programs, providing them with honorariums, travel allowances (TA/DA), and boarding and lodging to support their livelihoods.
* Major festivals organized include Shilpgram Utsav, Octave, Chandigarh National Crafts Mela, Hornbill Festival, and Sangai Festival.
**National Level Events**
* The Ministry of Culture organizes Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs) where artists and local artisans showcase talents and sell handmade products through dedicated stalls.
**Handicraft Development Schemes**
* The Office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) implements the National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP) and the Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS).
* These schemes provide end-to-end financial assistance for marketing, skill development, cluster development, infrastructure, technology support, and branding in domestic and international markets.
**Preservation and Education**
* ZCCs conduct research and documentation to preserve fading visual and performing arts (music, dance, theatre, literature, and fine arts) in print and audio-visual formats.
* Selection of art forms for documentation is done in consultation with State Cultural Departments.
* The Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme is implemented to ensure cultural continuity by having traditional masters train young disciples.
**Impact Analysis**
**Folk Artists and Artisans**
**Impact**
Artists receive financial support and platforms to showcase their talents, while artisans gain access to domestic and international markets and infrastructure support through government schemes.
**Action Required**
Artists and artisans should engage with ZCC programs and register for benefits under the NHDP and CHCDS to access financial and marketing assistance.
**Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs)**
**Impact**
ZCCs serve as the primary executive bodies for implementing cultural preservation, organizing festivals, and managing documentation projects.
**Action Required**
ZCCs must continue coordinating with State Cultural Departments for documentation and effectively manage the Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme.
**Young Disciples and Researchers**
**Impact**
Interested practitioners gain the opportunity to receive formal training under traditional masters and access documented resources on fading art forms.
**Action Required**
Prospective students and researchers should apply for the Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme to ensure the continuity of traditional knowledge.
Key Entities Referenced
Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs): Seven regional headquarters established by the Government of India to preserve and promote folk arts through cultural activities, documentation, and artisan engagement.
National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP): A scheme implemented by the Ministry of Textiles providing financial assistance and end-to-end support for the promotion and development of the handicraft sector.
Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS): An initiative focused on the overall development and promotion of the handicraft sector through cluster development, technology support, and marketing.
Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme: A program run by Zonal Cultural Centres where traditional masters train young disciples to ensure the continuity of cultural knowledge and traditions.
Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs): National-level festivals organized by the Ministry of Culture to provide a platform for folk artists and artisans to showcase talents and sell handmade products.
Ministry of Culture
PROMOTION OF INDIAN FOLK ARTS AND
TRADITIONAL CRAFTS
Posted On: 19 MAR 2026 1:17PM by PIB Delhi
To protect, promote and preserve various forms of folk art and culture including traditional crafts
throughout the country, the Government of India has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) with
headquarters at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur. These ZCCs
organize various cultural activities and programmes on a regular basis all over India for which they
engage folk artists to showcase their talents. These artists are paid honorarium, TA/DA, local
transportation, boarding & lodging etc. to enable them to earn their livelihood.
To promote traditional arts & crafts of the country, these ZCCs organize a number of cultural
programmes/ festivals like Shilpgram Utsav, Octave, Chandigarh National Crafts Mela, Orange City
Craft Mela, Rashtriya Shilp Mela, Salangai Naadam, Purbanchaliya Lok Mahotsav, Hornbill Festival,
Lokotsav, Sangai Festival etc.
Besides, Ministry of Culture also organizes Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs) at national level
through these ZCCs where a large number of folk artists including local artists from all over India are
engaged to showcase their talents during the events. A number of stalls are also set up during these RSMs,
where artisans from various parts of the country, including local artisans, exhibit and sell their handmade
products, thereby earning their livelihood.
The Office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) under Ministry of Textiles, Government of India
implements two schemes namely National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP) and
Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) for overall development and
promotion of handicraft sector across the country. Under these schemes, need based financial assistance is
provided for end-to-end support to the artisans through marketing events, skill development, cluster
development, formation of Producer Companies, direct benefit to artisans, infrastructural & technology
support, research & development support, digitization, branding and marketing of handicraft products in
domestic & international markets etc. which benefit the traditional crafts and artisans throughout the
country.
The ZCCs play a pivotal role to preserve, document and disseminate the dynamics of our folk-art forms
amongst the new generation of enthusiasts and practitioners. All the ZCCs undertake works related to
Research & Documentation which supports the preservation and promotion of fading visual and
performing arts across disciplines like music, dance, theatre, literature and fine arts. This initiative
documents these traditions in both print and audio-visual formats, with the selection of art forms done in
consultation with State Cultural Departments.
All the ZCCs also run Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme where traditional masters train young disciples
to ensure continuity of cultural knowledge which helps artistes, researchers and community bearers of
traditions.This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in
a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
*****
M Annadurai
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