Lok Sabha Question No. 3873 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-16
Subject: Financial Assistance to Traditional Artists, Folk Artists and Cultural Institutions
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Smt. Geniben Nagaji Thakor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. †3873 ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026

## FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO TRADITIONAL ARTISTS, FOLK ARTISTS AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS

## †3873. Smt. Geniben Nagaji Thakor:

Will the MINISTER OF CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the Government is providing  financial assistance to traditional artist,  folk  artists  and cultural institutions;
- (b) if so, the details of the assistance provided during the last three years;
- (c) whether there is any special scheme to encourage young artists; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to enhance the effectiveness of these schemes?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  and  (b)  The  Ministry  of  Culture  administers  Kala  Sanskriti  Vikas  Yojana (KSVY),  a Central Sector  scheme  consisting  various  scheme  components,  for  providing  financial  assistance  to organizations / artists engaged in various forms of performing arts including traditional & folk arts across  the  country.  The  brief  of  these  schemes  is  given  at Annexure. The  details  of  quantum  of financial assistance provided under KSVY scheme during the last three financial years is given as under: -
- (c)  Ministry of Culture administers scheme of Scholarships to Young Artistes in Different Cultural Fields. Under this scheme financial assistance is given to young artistes of outstanding promise in the  age  group  of  18-25  years  for  advanced  training  within  India  in  the  field  of  Indian  Classical Music,  Indian  Classical  Dance, Theatre,  Mime, Visual  art,  Folk, Traditional  and  Indigenous Arts and Light Classical Music etc. @ Rs. 5,000/- p.m. for 2 years.
- (d)   In order to enhance the effectiveness & outreach, the scheme guidelines and application forms are made available on the Ministry's official website. In addition, wide publicity is given through advertisements  in  newspapers,  the  Ministry's  official  website,  and  its  social  media  platforms,  as well as those of the concerned nodal agencies. Further, the Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) and the Sangeet  Natak  Akademi  (SNA)  also  undertake  various  cultural  activities  and  programmes  on regular basis in the country for which they engage folk/tribal and traditional artists from all over India who showcase their talent.

| Financial Year   |   Amount disbursed (Rs. In Cr.) |
|------------------|---------------------------------|
| 2022-23          |                          213.76 |
| 2023-24          |                          218.36 |
| 2024-25          |                          201.67 |

## Annexure referred to in  reply  of  part  (a)  &  (b)  of  the  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  Question  No. †3873 answered on 16.03.2025

## 1.  FINANCIAL  ASSISTANCE  FOR  PROMOTION  OF  GURU-SHISHYA  PARAMPARA (REPERTORY GRANT)

The objective of this scheme component is to provide financial support for all genres of performing arts  activities  like  dramatic  groups,  theatre  groups,  music  ensembles,  children  theatre  etc.  and imparting training of artists  by  their  respective  Guru  on  regular  basis  in  line  with  Guru-Shishya Parampara. As per the scheme, support is provided to 1 Guru and maximum 18 Shishyas in the field of  theatre,  music  &  dance. The Amount  of Assistance for Guru is  Rs.15000/- per month and for Shishya, the same is Rs.2000-10000/-per month depending upon the age of artist.

## 2.  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. 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 have been organized by Ministry of Culture in the country.

## 3. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF  TAGORE CULTURAL COMPLEXES (TCC)

The aim of the scheme component is to provide financial support to NGO, Trust, Societies, Govt. Sponsored  bodies,  State  /  UT  Govt.  University,  Central/State  Govt.  agencies/bodies,  Municipal Corporations,  reputed  not-for-profit  organizations  etc.  for  creation  of  new  Large  Cultural  Spaces such  as  Auditorium  with  facilities  and  infrastructure  for  stage  performances  (dance,  drama  and music),  exhibitions,  seminars,  literary  activities,  green  rooms,  etc.  The  Scheme  component  also provides support for restoration, renovation, extension, alteration, up-gradation, modernization of existing cultural facilities (Rabindra Bhawans, Rangshalas) etc. Under this scheme component, the financial assistance for any project will normally be up to a maximum of Rs. 15.00 crore. Central financial assistance would be 90% of the total approved project cost and remaining 10% of the total approved project cost will be borne by the recipient  State  Govt./NGO or  concerned  organization  for  NER  Projects  and  except NER, there is 60:40 ratio for central assistant and state share (matching share).

## 4.  SCHEME OF SCHOLARSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP FOR PROMOTION OF ART AND CULTURE: The scheme consists of following three components:

i. Scheme for the Award of Fellowship to Outstanding Persons in the field of Culture Upto 400 fellowships (200 Junior and 200 Senior) are awarded in a batch year to outstanding persons in the age  group  of  25  to  40  years  (Jr.)  and  above  40  years  (Sr.)  in  different  cultural  fields  @  of  Rs. 10,000/- p.m. and 20,000/-p.m. for the period of 2  years for cultural research. The Fellowship is released in four equal six monthly installments.

## ii. Scheme for Scholarships to Young Artistes in Different Cultural Fields

Upto 400 Scholarships are awarded in a batch year. Under this scheme financial assistance is given to  young  artistes  of  outstanding  promise  in  the  age  group  of  18-25  years  for  advanced  training within India in the field of Indian Classical Music, Indian Classical Dance, Theatre, Mime, Visual art, Folk, Traditional and Indigenous Arts and Light Classical Music etc. @ Rs. 5,000/- p.m. for 2 years. The Scholarship is released in four equal six monthly installments.

## iii. Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research

The purpose of the Scheme Component is to invigorate and revitalize the various institutions under the  Ministry  of  Culture  (MoC)  and  other  identified  cultural  institutions  in  the  country,  by encouraging  scholars/  academicians  to  affiliate  themselves  with  these  institutions  to  work  on projects of mutual interest. Upto 15 Fellowships (Rs.80,000/- p.m. + Contingency Allowance) and 25 Scholarships (Rs.50,000/- p.m. + Contingency Allowance) for a maximum period of 2 Years. The Fellowship is released in four equal six monthly installments.

## 5.  FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR VETERAN ARTISTS

The objective of this Scheme is to provide financial assistance maximum upto Rs.6.000/- p.m. to the old artistes and scholars aged 60 years above having annual income not exceeding Rs.72,000/who have contributed significantly in their specialized fields of arts, letters etc. In the event of death of the beneficiary, the financial assistance is transferred to his/her spouse.

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