Lok Sabha Question No. 2407 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-15
Subject: Cultural Function and Production Grant Scheme
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Adv Gowaal Kagada Padavi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2407 ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025

## CULTURAL FUNCTION AND PRODUCTION GRANT SCHEME

## 2407.     ADV GOWAAL KAGADA PADAVI:

Will the MINISTER OF CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  received  applications  under  the  Cultural  Function  and  Production Grant  Scheme  (CFPGS)  for  2025-26  from  NGOs/trusts  operating  in  the  Nandurbar  Lok  Sabha Constituency;
- (b) the details of the number of projects sanctioned under CFPGS in Maharashtra during the last year and the current year along with the total grant allocated;
- (c) whether any infrastructure-oriented component under CFPGS (such as festival/exhibition/cultural production)  is  reserved  or  prioritised  for  tribal-dominated  districts  and  if  so,  the  weightage applicable;
- (d) the average time-lag between submission of application and sanction of grant under CFPGS for Maharashtra applicants;
- (e) the details of the monitoring and audit mechanism to ensure that CFPGS funds released are utilised for prescribed cultural activities in lesser-developed constituencies; and
- (f) the  timeline  by  which  the  Government  proposes  to  issue  guidelines  or  outreach  programmes specifically for backward constituencies like Nandurbar to boost participation in CFPGS?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  As per the Scheme guidelines under Cultural Function and Production Grant Scheme (CFPGS), the proposals  are  received  for  organizing  cultural  programmes  and  activities  from  eligible  NGOs, Trusts,  Societies,  and  Universities  from  across  the  country,  including  the  State  of  Maharashtra throughout  the  year.  Further,  no  district-wise  list  of  applications  received  under  the  scheme  is maintained  in the Ministry.
- (b)  No projects have been sanctioned or approved under the Cultural Function and Production Grant Scheme (CFPGS) during the last year or the current year, including in the State of Maharashtra, till date.
- (c) Under  the  scheme  of  Cultural  Function  and  Production  Grant  (CFPG),  financial  assistance  is provided to NGOs/ Societies/ Trusts/ Universities for organizing Seminars, Conference, Research, Workshops, Festivals, Exhibitions, Symposia, Production of Dance, Drama-Theatre, Music etc.  and small  research  projects  on  different  aspects  of  Indian  Culture.    No  such  Infrastructure-  oriented component under CFPGS is reserved or prioritized for tribal dominated districts.
- (d)  The  proposals  under  the  CFPGS  are  considered  and  recommended  by  the  Expert  Committee constituted with the approval of the Hon'ble Culture Minister (HCM). Therefore, the time between submission of an application and sanction of the grant depend on the completeness of the proposal, receipt  of  sufficient  number of applications,  schedule  of  the  Expert  Committee  meetings  and  the approval of the Minutes of the Expert Committee by the Competent Authority.  Hence, no uniform average time-lag can be indicated.
- (e) The utilization of funds is monitored on the basis of documents received such as the funds released under  these  schemes  are  monitored  on  the  basis  of  submission  of  Utilization  Certificates  as  per General  Financial  Rule  (GFR)  Rule  -2017,  audited  statement  of  accounts  (duly  certified  by  a Chartered  Accountant)  and  other  evidentiary  proofs  such  as  video  proofs,  performance  -cum  achievement reports, pamphlets and advertisement, newspapers clippings etc.
- (f) No such proposal is under consideration.

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