Lok Sabha Question No. 1488 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-09
Subject: Promotion of Assamese Artists
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Md. Rakibul Hussain

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1488 ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026

## PROMOTION OF ASSAMESE ARTISTS

## 1488. MD. RAKIBUL HUSSAIN:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to introduce any special scheme to promote folk arts, classical dance forms and traditional music of Assam at the national and international level;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the number of beneficiaries covered from Assam under existing schemes; and
- (d) the details of the steps taken/being taken by the Government to increase representation of Assamese artists in national platforms?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) To  protect, promote  and  preserve  various forms  of folk art including traditional folk music of North Eastern States including the State of Assam, the Government of India has set up North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) at Dimapur (Nagaland). Assam is  also  the  member  State  of  Eastern  Zonal  Cultural  Centre  (EZCC),  Kolkata.  These  ZCCs organize various cultural activities and programmes on regular basis in their member States including the State of Assam for which annual grant-in-aid is provided to them.

Ministry  of  Culture  through  its  ZCCs  organizes  Rashtriya  Sanskriti  Mahotsavs (RSMs) at national level in the country by providing a platform to a large number of folk/ tribal  artists  from  all  over  India  including  the  State  of  Assam  who  showcase  their  talents during the event. Till date, 14 RSMs and 04 Zonal Level RSMs have been organized by the Ministry of Culture across the country.

Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India administers a scheme viz. 'Scholarships to Young Artists  in  Different  Cultural  Fields'  in  which  financial  assistance  is  given  to  young  artists (upto 400 scholarships in a batch year) of outstanding promise in the age group of    18-25 years  for  advanced  training  within  India  in  the  field  of  Indian  Classical  Music  &  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. The number of beneficiaries benefitted in the State of Assam under the scheme are 28 during 2022-23, 89 during 2023-24 and 58 during 2024-25.

Besides, Ministry of Culture runs Guru-Shishya Parampara (Repertory Grant) Scheme under which financial support is provided to folk artists of all genres of performing arts viz. musical groups, dance groups, theatre groups including children theatre, music ensembles etc. Under the scheme, the amount of assistance for Guru (leader of the Group) is Rs. 15,000/- per month and for the Shishya is Rs. 2,000-10,000/- per month depending upon the age of the artist. The number of organizations benefitted in the State of Assam under the scheme are 37 during 2022-23, 54 during 2023-24 and 23 during 2024-25.

To promote the traditional fair festivals of the country including Assam, Ministry of Culture  also  runs  a  scheme  viz.  Cultural  Function  and  Production  Grant  Scheme  (CFPG) under  which  financial  assistance  is  provided  to  organizations  for  organizing  Seminars, Conferences, Research, Workshops, Festivals, Exhibitions, Symposia, Production of Dance, Drama-Theatre,  Music  etc.  The  number  of  organizations  benefitted  in  the  State  of  Assam under the scheme are 48 during 2022-23, 68 during 2023-24 and 24 during 2024-25.

At international level, EZCC, Kolkata deputed Sattriya and Bihu artists from Assam for the World Expo-2025 held at Osaka, Japan during September-October, 2025.

Ministry of Culture also implements a scheme titled 'Global Engagement Scheme' to promote  India's  rich  cultural  heritage  and  enhance  India's  image  in  the  global  arena  in  a concerted  manner.  The  objective  of  the  Scheme  is  to  provide  artists  practicing  Indian  art forms, an opportunity to perform abroad under the banner of 'Festival of India'. Under the Scheme,  artists  from  diverse  cultural  fields  such  as  Folk  Art  including  Folk  Music,  Folk Dance, Folk Theatre & Puppetry, Classical and Traditional Dance, Experimental/ Contemporary Dance, Classical/ Semi Classical Music, Theatre etc. perform in the 'Festivals of  India'  abroad.  Ministry  of  Culture  has  empanelled  627  artists/groups  under  various  art forms  for  performing  in  the  Festivals  of  India  abroad,  out  of  these  17  artists/  groups  are empanelled from Assam. So far, 4 artists/groups from Assam have been deputed to perform in the Festivals of India viz. 02 artists/groups in France (2023-24) and 01 artist/group in Qatar (2018-19) and 01 artist/group in Freedom 70 events held in Sri Lanka (2017-18).

(d) Artists from the State of Assam are regularly engaged and accorded due representation  in  major  cultural  festivals  and  events  organized  by  all  seven  Zonal  Cultural Centres (ZCCs) under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, at national platforms. Folk and traditional artists from Assam participate in Inter-State and National-level festivals in order to have wider exposure of the State's unique cultural traditions, promoting cultural exchange and national integration. Such participation provides performance opportunities and financial  support  to  the  Assamese  artists  to  sustain  and  popularize  the  rich  folk  and  tribal heritage of Assam among diverse audiences across the country.

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