Lok Sabha Question No. 2454 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-04
Subject: Financial Assistance to Cultural Organisations
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, Shri Biplab Kumar Deb

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2454

## ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025

## FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS

2454. Shri Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri: Shri Biplab Kumar Deb:

## Will the Minister of CULTURE be please to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  the  total  number  of  cultural  organizations  received  assistance  under  the Financial Assistance for Promotion of Art and Culture Scheme across the country, Statewise including Tripura; and
- (b) whether the Government has received any proposal from Member of Parliament or any organization for providing financial assistance under the said scheme?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a)  and  (b) :  Ministry  of  Culture  implements  a  Central  Sector  Scheme  by  the  name  of 'Financial Assistance  for  Promotion  of Art  and  Culture'  to  provide  financial  assistance  to cultural  organizations  working  in  the  field  of  Promotion  of  Art  and  Culture  across  the country. The scheme has eight sub-components, the brief of which is given at Annexure-I . The State-wise, year-wise details of number of organizations supported and amount disbursed under these schemes during the last three years is as given in Annexure-II .

Under  the  Promotion  of  Art  and  Culture  Scheme,  Not-for-Profit  Organizations,  Societies, Trusts, Universities, State Governments/Union  Territories/District  Authorities, etc., are eligible  to  apply  for financial  assistance. The  Ministry regularly receives applications  from these and same  are scrutinized on regular basis. Individuals (including  Member  of Parliament) are not eligible to apply under the scheme.

*****

## Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.2454 answered on 04.08.2025

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR PROMOTION OF ART AND CULTURE: This scheme has following sub-components:

## i. Financial Assistance to Cultural organizations with National Presence

The  objective  of  this  scheme  component  is  to  promote  and  support  cultural  organisations with national presence involved in promotion of art and culture throughout  the country. This grant is given to such organisations that have a properly constituted managing body, registered in India; having a pan-India character with national presence in its operation; adequate working strength; and have spent 1 crore or more during 3 of the last 5 years on cultural activities. The quantum of grant under this scheme is Rs.1.00 crore which can be increased to Rs.5.00 crore in exceptional cases.

## ii. Cultural Function & Production Grant (CFPG)

The objective of this scheme component is to provide financial support to NGOs/ Societies/ Trusts/ Universities etc. for Seminars, Conference, Research, Workshops, Festivals, Exhibitions, Symposia, Production of Dance, Drama-Theatre, Music etc.  The quantum of grant under this scheme  is  Rs.5  Lakh  for  an  organization  which  can  be  increased  to  Rs.  20.00  lakhs  in exceptional cases.

## iii. Financial Assistance for the Preservation & Development of Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas

The objective of this scheme component is to promote and preserve the cultural heritage of the Himalayas through research, training and dissemination through audio visual programmes. The financial support is provided to the organizations in the States falling under the Himalayan Region i.e. Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. The quantum of grant is Rs.10.00 lakh per year for an organization which can be increased to Rs. 30.00 lakh in exceptional cases.

## iv. Financial  Assistance  for  the  Preservation  &  Development  of  Buddhist/Tibetan Organization

Under this scheme component financial assistance is provided to the voluntary Buddhist/Tibetan organizations including Monasteries engaged in the propagation and scientific development  of  Buddhist/Tibetan  Cultural  and  tradition  and  research  in  related  fields.  The quantum of funding under scheme component is Rs. 30.00 lakhs per year for an organization which can be increased to 1.00 crore in exceptional cases.

## v. Financial Assistance for Building Grants including Studio Theatres

The  objective  of  this  scheme  component  is  to  provide  financial  support  to  NGO,  Trust, Societies, Govt. Sponsored bodies, University, College etc. for creation of Cultural infrastructure  (i.e.  studio  theatre,  auditorium,  rehearsal  hall,  classroom  etc.)  and  provision  of facilities  like  electrical,  air  conditioning,  acoustics,  light  and  sound  systems  etc.   Under  this scheme component, the maximum amount of grant is up to Rs.50 Lakh in metro cities and up to Rs.25 Lakh in non- metro cities.

## vi. Financial Assistance for Allied Cultural Activities

The objective of this scheme component is to provide financial assistance to all eligible organizations for creation of assets for enhancing the audio-visual spectacle for allied cultural activities  to  give  firsthand  experience  of  live  performances  on  regular  basis  and  during festivals  in  open/closed  areas/spaces.  Maximum  assistance  under  the  scheme  component, including applicable duties & taxes and also Operation & Maintenance (O&M) costing for five years, will be as under:- (i) Audio: Rs.1.00 crore; (ii) Audio+Video: Rs. 1.50 crore.

## vii. Intangible Cultural Heritage:

This  scheme  was  launched  by  the  Ministry  of  Culture  in  2013  for  safeguarding  the intangible cultural heritage and diverse cultural traditions of the country with the objective of reinvigorating  and  revitalizing  various  institutions,  groups,  NGOs,  etc.  so  that  they  may engage in activities/projects for strengthening, protecting, preserving and promoting the rich intangible cultural heritage of India.

## viii. Domestic Festivals and Fairs

The  objective  of  this  scheme  is  to  provide  assistance  for  holding  the  'Rashtriya  Sanskriti Mahotsavs'  organized  by  Ministry  of  Culture.  Rashtriya  Sanskriti  Mahotsavs  (RSMs)  are conducted through Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) where a large number of artists from all over the  country  are  engaged  to  showcase  their  talents.  From  November,  2015  onwards,  fourteen (14) RSMs and four (04) Zonal Level RSMs have been organized by Ministry of Culture up till now in the country.

*****

## Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.2454 answered on 04.08.2025

## (i)  Scheme  of  Financial Assistance  to  Cultural  Organizations  with  National  Presence including RK Mission

(Rs.in lakhs)

| Sl. No.   | State/UT         | Financial Year   | Financial Year   | Financial Year   | Financial Year   | Financial Year   | Financial Year   |
|-----------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
|           |                  | 2022-2023        | 2022-2023        | 2023-24          | 2023-24          | 2024-25          | 2024-25          |
|           |                  | Nos. of Orgs.    | Amount           | Nos. of Orgs.    | Amount           | Nos. of Orgs.    | Amount           |
| 1.        | Andhra Pradesh   | 1                | 22.5             | 1                | 7.50             | -                | -                |
| 2.        | Assam            | -                | -                | 1                | 22.50            | 2                | 22.50            |
| 3.        | Chandigarh       | -                | -                | 1                | 15.00            | 1                | 22.50            |
| 4.        | Delhi            | 7                | 241.25           | 11               | 276.25           | 9                | 118.75           |
| 5.        | Haryana          | -                | -                | -                | -                | 1                | 26.25            |
| 6.        | Jharkhand        | -                | -                | -                | -                | 1                | 15.00            |
| 7.        | Karnataka        | 1                | 22.5             | -                | -                | 1                | 4.73             |
| 8.        | Kerala           | -                | -                | 1                | 18.75            | 2                | 32.50            |
| 9.        | Maharashtra      | -                | -                | 1                | 15.00            | 1                | 18.75            |
| 10.       | Manipur          | -                | -                | -                | -                | 1                | 11.25            |
| 11.       | Madhya Pradesh   | 1                | 0.59             | -                | -                | -                | -                |
| 12.       | Odisha           | -                | -                | 1                | 8.75             | 1                | 22.50            |
| 13.       | Puducherry       | 1                | 3.75             | -                | -                | -                | -                |
| 14.       | Rajasthan        | 1                | 37.5             | 1                | 26.25            | 2                | 27.50            |
| 15.       | Tamil Nadu       | -                | -                | -                | -                | 1                | 15.00            |
| 16.       | Uttar Pradesh    | 2                | 93.75            | 1                | 22.50            | 1                | 7.50             |
| 17.       | West Bengal (NP) | -                | -                | 2                | 37.50            | 3                | 31.25            |
| 18.       | RK Mission       | 1                | 738.56           | 1                | 766.50           | 1                | 807.00           |
| Total     | Total            | 15               | 1160.4           | 22               | 1216.50          | 28               | 1182.98          |

## (ii) Cultural Function & Production Grant (CFPG)

| Sl No.               | Name of State              | 2022-23      | 2022-23   | DELHI+CNA 2023- 2024   | DELHI+CNA 2023- 2024   | 2024-25      | 2024-25   |
|----------------------|----------------------------|--------------|-----------|------------------------|------------------------|--------------|-----------|
| Sl No.               | Name of State              | Nos. of Orgs | Amount    | Nos. of Orgs           | Amount                 | Nos. of Orgs | Amount    |
| 1                    | Andaman &Nickobar          | 0            | 0         | 0                      | 0                      | 0            | 0         |
| 2                    | Andra Pradesh              | 65           | 62.85     | 83                     | 80.7                   | 35           | 66.29     |
| 3                    | Arunachal Pradesh          | 0            | 0         | 0                      | 0                      | 0            | 0         |
| 4                    | Assam                      | 48           | 96.21     | 68                     | 114.11                 | 24           | 34.34     |
| 5                    | BIHAR                      | 123          | 203.2     | 126                    | 161                    | 50           | 99.34     |
| 6                    | CHANDIGARH                 | 1            | 0.5       | 3                      | 21.69                  | 1            | 10        |
| 7                    | CHHATTISGARH               | 3            | 5.5       | 4                      | 7.5                    | 3            | 6.42      |
| 8                    | DELHI                      | 167          | 408.06    | 204                    | 370.03                 | 90           | 238.6     |
| 9                    | GOA                        | 1            | 0.625     | 1                      | 1.5                    | 1            | 0.62      |
| 10                   | GUJARAT                    | 17           | 23.4      | 16                     | 12.34                  | 3            | 3.59      |
| 11                   | HARYANA                    | 28           | 62.59     | 36                     | 74.72                  | 25           | 83.98     |
| 12                   | HIMACHAL PRADESH           | 8            | 11        | 15                     | 25.75                  | 10           | 11.8      |
| 13                   | JAMMUAND KASHMIR           | 52           | 50.33     | 49                     | 33.76                  | 22           | 29.37     |
| 14                   | Union Territory of Ladhakh | 0            | 0         | 0                      | 0                      | 0            | 0         |
| 15                   | JHARKHAND                  | 11           | 14.26     | 7                      | 8                      | 5            | 8.75      |
| 16                   | KARNATAKA                  | 218          | 349.42    | 221                    | 208.22                 | 160          | 397.53    |
| 17                   | KERALA                     | 30           | 48.38     | 30                     | 40.27                  | 15           | 51.13     |
| 18                   | MADHYAPRADESH              | 141          | 264.9     | 161                    | 155.17                 | 64           | 148.42    |
| 19                   | MAHARASHTRA                | 56           | 104.12    | 34                     | 29.64                  | 16           | 42.13     |
| 20                   | MANIPUR                    | 162          | 196.17    | 237                    | 249.25                 | 83           | 99        |
| 21                   | Meghalaya                  | 0            | 0         | 0                      | 0                      | 0            | 0         |
| 22                   | Mizoram                    | 0            | 0         | 0                      | 0                      | 0            | 0         |
| 23                   | Nagaland                   | 5            | 4.62      | 4                      | 1.35                   | 1            | 0.25      |
| 24                   | ODISHA                     | 180          | 296.88    | 168                    | 269.71                 | 151          | 437.26    |
| 25                   | Pondicherry                | 0            | 0         | 0                      | 0                      | 0            | 0         |
| 26                   | PUNJAB                     | 12           | 23.27     | 11                     | 22.65                  | 7            | 17.5      |
| 27                   | RAJASTHAN                  | 48           | 81.16     | 57                     | 46.28                  | 24           | 44.55     |
| 28                   | Sikkim                     | 0            | 0         | 1                      | 3.75                   | 0            | 0         |
| 29                   | TAMILNADU                  | 15           | 18.87     | 11                     | 10.73                  | 10           | 26        |
| 30                   | TELANGANA                  | 16           | 16.87     | 16                     | 9.61                   | 20           | 45.13     |
| 31                   | TRIPURA                    | 16           | 16.15     | 23                     | 24.94                  | 6            | 4.5       |
| 33                   | UTTARAKHAND                | 24           | 28.11     | 31                     | 21.91                  | 12           | 19        |
| 32                   | UTTAR PRADESH              | 278          | 343.33    | 268                    | 244.07                 | 167          | 330.31    |
| 34 WEST BENGAL Total | 34 WEST BENGAL Total       | 2135         | 3275.21   | 2242                   | 2455.51                | 1218         | 2616.11   |

(Rs. In lakhs)

(iii)  Scheme of Financial Assistance for the Preservation and Development of Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas.

(Rs.in lakhs)

| Sl. No.   |                         | 2022-23      | 2022-23   | 2023-24      | 2023-24   | 2024-25      | 2024-25   |
|-----------|-------------------------|--------------|-----------|--------------|-----------|--------------|-----------|
| Sl. No.   | State                   | No. of cases | Amount    | No. of cases | Amount    | No. of cases | Amount    |
| 1         | Arunachal Pradesh       | 41           | 117.95    | 32           | 77.00     | 7            | 20.01     |
| 2         | Sikkim                  | 4            | 10.00     | 3            | 11.00     | 0            | 0         |
| 3         | Himachal Pradesh        | 42           | 98.52     | 40           | 97.50     | 2            | 5.99      |
| 4         | UT of Jammu and Kashmir | 69           | 117.02    | 24           | 37.52     | 0            | 0         |
| 5         | UT of Ladakh            | 11           | 34.00     | 2            | 5.50      | 0            | 0         |
| 6         | Uttarakhand             | 58           | 91.24     | 48           | 64.0      | 2            | 3.50      |
| 7         | Delhi                   | 0            | 0         | 0            | 0         | 1            | 1.75      |
| 8         | Uttar Pradesh           | 0            | 0         | 0            | 0         | 0            | 0         |
|           | Total                   | 225          | 468.73    | 149          | 292.52    | 12           | 31.25     |

## (iv)  Scheme of Financial Assistance for the Development of Buddhist/Tibetan Culture and Art

(Rs.in lakhs)

| Sl. No.   | State/UT          | 2022-23      | 2022-23   | 2023-24      | 2023-24   | 2024-25      | 2024-25   |
|-----------|-------------------|--------------|-----------|--------------|-----------|--------------|-----------|
| Sl. No.   | State/UT          | Nos. of Org. | Amount    | Nos. of Org. | Amount    | Nos. of Org. | Amount    |
| 1         | Arunachal Pradesh | 57           | 518.19    | 50           | 392.31    | 60           | 416.33    |
| 2         | Andhra Pradesh    | 2            | 8         | 10           | 9.18      | 2            | 7.00      |
| 3         | Assam             | 9            | 30        | 15           | 72.00     | 6            | 24.36     |
| 4         | Bihar             | 2            | 8.5       | 2            | 8.50      | 2            | 10.48     |
| 5         | Chandigarh (UT)   | 7            | 49.5      | 4            | 40.00     | 13           | 102.16    |
| 6         | NCT of Delhi      | 6            | 44.47     | 2            | 9.45      | 7            | 44.27     |
| 7         | Himachal Pradesh  | 78           | 550.97    | 31           | 167.63    | 36           | 240.99    |
| 8         | UT of J& K        | 6            | 23.5      | 4            | 20.00     | 4            | 28.50     |
| 9         | UT of Ladakh      | 45           | 319.62    | 44           | 246.42    | 6            | 26.94     |
| 10        | Karnataka         | 33           | 272.8     | 11           | 62.78     | 20           | 149.98    |
| 11        | Kerala            | 1            | 13.5      | 0            | 0         | 0            | 0         |
| 12        | Mizoram           | 0            | 0         | 0            | 0         | 0            | 0         |
| 13        | Madhya Pradesh    | 5            | 29        | 4            | 30.00     | 1            | 5.00      |
| 14        | Maharashtra       | 11           | 38.25     | 14           | 41.00     | 4            | 13.24     |
| 15        | Manipur           | 2            | 5.5       | 3            | 9.50      | 1            | 3.00      |
| 16        | Odissa            | 1            | 5         | 2            | 12.00     | 2            | 11.00     |
| 17        | Punjab            | 2            | 8.5       | 2            | 10.00     | 0            | 0         |
| 18        | Sikkim            | 0            | 0         | 12           | 89.93     | 2            | 24.70     |
| 19        | Tripura           | 7            | 37.5      | 7            | 41.5      | 17           | 97.20     |
| 20        | Tamil Nadu        | 0            | 0         | 2            | 10.00     | 0            | 0         |
| 21        | Telangana         | 2            | 22.5      | 3            | 30.00     | 0            | 0         |
| 22        | Uttarakhand       | 26           | 252.42    | 5            | 35.50     | 25           | 253.72    |
| 23        | Uttar Pradesh     | 27           | 195.28    | 11           | 44.15     | 15           | 105.62    |
| 24        | West Bengal       | 72           | 168.00    | 92           | 175.51    | 19           | 36.00     |
| Total     | Total             | 401          | 2601.00   | 330          | 1557.36   | 242          | 1600.49   |

## (v) Scheme for Financial Assistance for Building Grant including Studio Theatres (Rs.in lakhs)

| Sl. No.   | State/UT          | 2022-23      | 2022-23   | 2023-24      | 2023-24   | 2024-25      | 2024-25   |
|-----------|-------------------|--------------|-----------|--------------|-----------|--------------|-----------|
| Sl. No.   | State/UT          | Nos. of Org. | Amount    | Nos. of Org. | Amount    | Nos. of Org. | Amount    |
| 1.        | Assam             | 1            | 5.4       | 0            | 0         | 0            | 0         |
| 2.        | Bihar             | 1            | 0.6       | 1            | 6         | 0            | 0         |
| 3.        | Chhattisgarh      | 1            | 7.5       | 0            | 0         | 0            | 0         |
| 4.        | Delhi             | 0            | 0         | 2            | 11.2      | 3            | 23.25     |
| 5.        | Himachal Pradesh  | 1            | 12.79     | 1            | 6         | 2            | 20        |
| 6.        | Jammu and Kashmir | 0            | 0         | 0            | 0         | 2            | 10        |
| 7.        | Karnataka         | 3            | 26.4      | 1            | 25        | 0            | 0         |
| 8.        | Kerala            | 1            | 1.4       | 0            | 0         | 0            | 0         |
| 9.        | Madhya Pradesh    | 1            | 3         | 0            | 0         | 4            | 16.86     |
| 10.       | Maharashtra       | 0            | 0         | 2            | 8         | 2            | 25        |
| 11.       | Manipur           | 4            | 15.98     | 6            | 35.23     | 2            | 3.88      |
| 12.       | Meghalaya         | 0            | 0         | 0            | 0         | 1            | 4.5       |
| 13.       | Odisha            | 0            | 0         | 0            | 0         | 2            | 21.5      |
| 14.       | Punjab            | 0            | 0         | 1            | 2         | 1            | 0.9       |
| 15.       | Rajasthan         | 1            | 7.5       | 0            | 0         | 0            | 0         |
| 16.       | Telangana         | 1            | 4.29      | 0            | 0         | 0            | 0         |
| 17.       | West Bengal       | 5            | 34.61     | 1            | 15        | 4            | 24.2      |
| TOTAL     | TOTAL             | 20           | 119.47    | 15           | 108.43    | 23           | 150.09    |

## (vi) Allied Cultural Activities Scheme

(Rs. in lakhs)

| Sl.   | State/UT      | 2024-25                   | 2024-25   |
|-------|---------------|---------------------------|-----------|
| No    |               | Nos. of Orgs/ State Govt. | Amount    |
| 1     | Uttar Pradesh | 2                         | 120       |
| Total | Total         | 2                         | 120       |