Lok Sabha Question No. 178 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-25
Subject: National Culture Fund
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Kota Srinivasa Poojary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 178

ANSWERED ON 25.11.2024

## NATIONAL CULTURE FUND

## 178.          SHRI KOTA SRINIVASA POOJARY:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state :-

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  set  up  National  Culture  Fund  (NCF)  to  facilitate  Public Private  Partnership  (PPP)  in  the  field  of  heritage  conservation  and  if  so,  the  details thereof, including objectives, features, etc.;
- (b) the  details  of  projects  undertaken  during  the  last  five  years  along  with  the  funds sanctioned, State-wise; and
- (c) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  review  the  functioning  of  NCF  for  its  effective implementation?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM

## (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) 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 resources through Public Private Partnerships (PPP) towards promoting, protecting and preserving India's cultural heritage. A donor/sponsor while making contributions to the NCF may indicate a project along with any specific location/aspect.

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) For the training and development of a cadre of specialists and cultural administrators;
3. iii) The  promotion  and  reinforcement  of  oral  and  other  intangible  forms  of  culture expression  and  recording  documentation  of  forms  that  are  dying  out  or  are threatened with extinction;
4. iv) Protection and promotion of artistic endeavor in all its forms, particularly innovative experiments in arts.

Features of NCF:

- i) The NCF is managed and administered through a Council chaired by the 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 :-

'(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.'

Annual Accounts are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

- (b) The  state  wise  details  of  projects  undertaken  during  last  five  years  along  with  funds sanctioned   State/UT-wise are attached at Annexure.
- (c) Department from time to time takes review of the activities under National Culture Fund.

*****

Annexure

## Annexure  referred  in  part  (b)  of  Lok  Sabha  unstarred  Question  No.178  for  Reply  on 25.11.2024 regarding National Culture Fund

| S.No.   | Donor                                             | Details of Project                                                                               | Funds Spent (Rs. in lakhs)   |
|---------|---------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|
| Assam   | Assam                                             | Assam                                                                                            | Assam                        |
| 1       | Oil &Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC)          | Conservation of Ahom Monuments                                                                   | 221.00                       |
| Total   | Total                                             | Total                                                                                            | 221.00                       |
| Bihar   | Bihar                                             | Bihar                                                                                            | Bihar                        |
| 1       | National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. (NTPC)    | Conservation and development of the excavated remains at Vikramshila                             | 14.50                        |
| 2       | National Culture Fund                             | Preparation of DPR for Nalanda Site Museum                                                       | 24.80                        |
| Total   | Total                                             | Total                                                                                            | 3 9.30                       |
| 1       | Bhilai steel plant                                | Restoration and Development of National Heritage Site at Deobaloda                               | 150.86                       |
| Delhi   | Delhi                                             | Delhi                                                                                            | 150.86                       |
| 1       | Apeejay Surrendra Hotels Ltd.                     | Conservation and enhancement of Jantar Mantar, New Delhi                                         | 7.20                         |
| 2.      | State Bank of India, Mumbai                       | Atmanirbhar Bharat Project (ABCD Project)                                                        | 380.00                       |
| 3.      | NCF funded                                        | Barh ki Chowki (Restoration & Conservation of "BARH KI CHOWKI" Delhi)                            | 14.63                        |
| 4.      | NCF funded                                        | The Legends of Jyotirlingam - Sunaina (Society for the upliftment of the National Arts of India) | 30.00                        |
| 5.      | India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd. (IIFCL) | Installation of Turnstile system at Humayun Tomb, Purana Quilla, Qutub Minar                     | 43.19                        |
| Total   | Total                                             | Total                                                                                            | 475.02                       |
| Gujarat | Gujarat                                           | Gujarat                                                                                          | Gujarat                      |
| 1.      | Rural Electrification Corporation (REC)           | Crafts and sustainable skill development in Gujarat (Self-employed women's association-SEWA)     | 2.41                         |
| 2.      | National Culture Fund                             | Setting up of National Maritime Heritage Complex                                                 | 1500.00                      |
| 3.      | India Infrastructure                              | Installation of Turnstile system at Rani Ki                                                      | 33.00                        |

|                                | Finance Company Ltd. (IIFCL)                      | Vav                                                                                                                                             |                                |
|--------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Total 1535.41 Himachal Pradesh | Total 1535.41 Himachal Pradesh                    | Total 1535.41 Himachal Pradesh                                                                                                                  | Total 1535.41 Himachal Pradesh |
| 1.                             | UCO Bank, Chandigarh                              | Hidimba Devi Temple                                                                                                                             | 9.25                           |
| Total 9.25 Karnataka           | Total 9.25 Karnataka                              | Total 9.25 Karnataka                                                                                                                            | Total 9.25 Karnataka           |
| 1.                             | Airports Authority of India                       | Digital upgradation of the ASI Hampi Museum at Kamalapura                                                                                       | 280.30                         |
| 2.                             | Smt. Nagarathnamma                                | Conservation work and providing tourist amenities at Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Temple Nuggehalli, Bengaluru                                         | 110.00                         |
| 3.                             | NCF funded                                        | Samskriti Foundation Authentic & Critical study & presentation of 64 Arts (Chatusshasti Kalas) that form the bedrock of Indian culture heritage | 18.90                          |
| 4.                             | NCF funded                                        | Samskriti Foundation Bringing out a comprehensive Monograph on the 16 Samskara-s" & a mini - encyclopaedic version of the 64 Arts of India      | 7.12                           |
| Total 416.32 Madhya Pradesh    | Total 416.32 Madhya Pradesh                       | Total 416.32 Madhya Pradesh                                                                                                                     | Total 416.32 Madhya Pradesh    |
| 1.                             | Infosys Foundation                                | Conservation of Vishnu Temple, Bateshwar                                                                                                        | 190.00                         |
| 2.                             | Armored Vehicles Nigam Limited                    | Developmental activities at Temple of Somnath &ruins at Badgaon.                                                                                | 11.40                          |
|                                |                                                   | Total                                                                                                                                           | 201.40                         |
| Maharashtra                    | Maharashtra                                       | Maharashtra                                                                                                                                     | Maharashtra                    |
| 1.                             | Pune Municipal Corporation                        | To enliven the environs and recreate the splendor of Shaniwarwada Palace, Pune                                                                  | 1.01                           |
| 2.                             | Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, Pune                   | Gallery &museum development                                                                                                                     | 6.63                           |
| 3.                             | Smt. Uttaradevi Charitable &Research Foundation   | Restoration of Shri Bhulleshwar Temple                                                                                                          | 9.12                           |
| 4                              | India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd. (IIFCL) | Installation of Turnstile system (Bibi-ka- Maqbara, Ellora Caves, Shaniwarwada)                                                                 | 43.32                          |
|                                |                                                   |                                                                                                                                                 | 60.08                          |
| Total Odisha                   | Total Odisha                                      | Total Odisha                                                                                                                                    | Total Odisha                   |
| 1.                             | Armoured Vehicles                                 | Providing of public amenities like, smart                                                                                                       | 14.20                          |

|               | Nigam Limited                                     | toilet, Childcare room, Rest room for Senior Citizens at Sun temple, Konark, Dist.-Puri                                  |               |
|---------------|---------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|
| 2             | India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd. (IIFCL) | Installation of Turnstile system at Sun Temple,Konark, Dist.-Puri                                                        | 23.32         |
| Total         | Total                                             | Total                                                                                                                    | 37.52         |
| Rajasthan     | Rajasthan                                         | Rajasthan                                                                                                                | Rajasthan     |
| 1.            | World Monument Fund                               | Jaisalmer Fort, Rajasthan( for SMP)                                                                                      | 17.29         |
| 2.            | NCF funded                                        | Rekhta Foundation (Preserving the oral traditions of Rajasthan                                                           | 32.80         |
| Total         | Total                                             | Total                                                                                                                    | 50.09         |
| Tamil Nadu    | Tamil Nadu                                        | Tamil Nadu                                                                                                               | Tamil Nadu    |
| 3.            | Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited                   | Expanding the illumination to the exterior portion of the Prakara wall & entrance area of Brihadiswara Temple, Thanjavur | 6.54          |
| Total         | Total                                             | Total                                                                                                                    | 6.54          |
| Telangana     | Telangana                                         | Telangana                                                                                                                | Telangana     |
| 1.            | India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd (IIFCL)  | Execution of the replica of the 120 ft. Tall Flag post at Rashtrapati Nilayam, Hyderabad                                 | 275.00        |
| Total         | Total                                             | Total                                                                                                                    | 275.00        |
| Uttar Pradesh | Uttar Pradesh                                     | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                            | Uttar Pradesh |
| 1.            | Sony India Pvt. Ltd.                              | Up gradation of Sarnath Site &Museum                                                                                     | 118.81        |
| 2.            | India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd. (IIFCL) | Installation of Turnstile system at Taj Mahal                                                                            | 52.76         |
| Total         | Total                                             | Total                                                                                                                    | 171.57        |
| West Bengal   | West Bengal                                       | West Bengal                                                                                                              | West Bengal   |
| 1.            | Children's Academy of Culture, Durgapur           | Training Centre for Performing Arts, Children's Art gallery, Museum, Auditorium                                          | 1.59          |
| Total         | Total                                             | Total                                                                                                                    | 1.59          |