Lok Sabha Question No. 1034 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-29
Subject: National Cultural Fund
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Kota Srinivasa Poojary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1034

ANSWERED ON 29.07.2024

## NATIONAL CULTURE FUND

## 1034.          SHRI KOTA SRINIVASA POOJARY:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state :-

- (a) whether the Government has set up National Culture Fund (NCF) as a Trust under the Charitable Endowment Act, 1890;
- (b) if so, the objectives, features and role of NCF;
- (c) whether  the  progress  of  all  projects  approved  by  the  NCF  under  PPP  mode  are regularly monitored by the Project Implementation Committee and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the  criteria  set  up  by  the  Government  for  the  Donor/Sponsor agencies  which  have been entrusted the responsibility of maintaining the protected monuments/Cultural projects; and
- (e) whether the said Donor/Sponsor agencies are complying with these norms and criteria and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) & (b) Yes, Sir. Government has set up National Culture Fund (NCF) as a Trust on 28 th November, 1996 under the Charitable Endowment Act, 1890 with a view to mobilize extra resources  through  Public  Private  Partnerships  (PPP)  towards  promoting,  protecting  and preserving India's tangible & intangible  cultural heritage

The following are some of the major objectives of NCF :

- i) To  administer  and  apply  the  Fund  for  conservation,  maintenance,  promotion, protection, preservation and up-gradation of monuments protected or otherwise;
2. ii) To impart training  and  facilitate  development  of  a  cadre  of  specialists  and  cultural administrators
3. iii) To  facilitate  in  providing  additional  space  in  existing  museums  &  construct  new museums to accommodate or create new & special galleries.
4. iv) Documentation  of  cultural  expressions  and  forms  that  have  lost  their  relevance  in contemporary scenario and are either fading out or facing extinction.

## Features of NCF:

- i) The NCF is managed and administered through a Governing Council chaired by the Hon'ble  Minister  of  Culture  and  has  a  maximum  strength  of  25  members  to  decide  the policies.
2. ii) A Executive Committee headed by Secretary (Culture) and has a maximum strength of 11 Members, to execute those policies.
3. iii) Donations  to  the  National  Culture  Fund  are  eligible  for  100%  tax  benefit  under Section 80G (ii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
4. iv) NCF's activities are covered under Schedule VII No. (v) of the Companies Act, 2013 as valid receptacle of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contribution under:-
5. '(v) Protection of national heritage, art and culture including restoration of buildings and sites of historical importance and works of art; setting up public libraries; promotion and development of traditional arts and handicrafts.'
- v)  Annual Accounts are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

## Role of NCF:

NCF plays an important role by forging partnerships with Corporates, NGOs etc. in getting the  preservation  &  conservation  related  heritage  projects  implemented  as  per  norms. Moreover, NCF provides the donor/sponsor the flexibility to  indicate  a  project  along  with any specific location/aspect and also an implementing agency for execution of the project.

- (c)  Yes,  sir.  To  ensure  that  the  projects  supported  by  NCF  under  PPP  mode  do  not  get delayed,  meeting  of  Project  Implementation  Committee  (PIC)  under  the  Chairmanship  of Director General, Archaeological Survey of India for  ASI projects &  Officials of NCF/Ministry of Culture for other projects, are regularly convened, to monitor progress and smooth implementation of the projects.
- (d)  &  (e)  NCF  can  receive  donations  from  Corporates,  PSUs,  Trusts  and  Individuals  for maintenance and preservation of Centrally Projected monuments/ cultural projects through NCF. All donors/sponsors have the responsibility to comply with the terms & conditions of the MoU agreed for any particular project.

*****