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The Ministry of Culture has implemented several schemes aimed at supporting the growth and preservation of India's rich art and cultural heritage. One of the key initiatives is the ‘Financial Assistance for Promotion of Art and Culture’ Scheme, a Central Sector Scheme that provides financial support to eligible cultural organizations across the country. Below is an overview of the scheme, its components, and eligibility criteria.

Eligibility Criteria for Organizations

To be eligible for assistance under this scheme, cultural organizations must meet the following criteria:

• Registered as a society, trust, or not-for-profit company for at least three years.
• Registered on the NGO Darpan Portal of NITI Aayog.
• Have a primary focus on cultural activities.
• Submit audited financial statements for the last three years.
• Have filed Income Tax returns during the last three years.

Sub-Components of the Scheme

The scheme consists of eight sub-components, each designed to support different aspects of art and culture across India.

• Financial Assistance to Cultural Organizations with National Presence
  • Objective: To support large cultural organizations with a nationwide presence.
  • Grant Amount: Up to Rs. 1 crore (may increase to Rs. 5 crore in exceptional cases).
• Cultural Function & Production Grant (CFPG)
  • Objective: Provides financial aid for cultural events like seminars, conferences, research, workshops, festivals, exhibitions, and productions of dance, drama, and music.
  • Grant Amount: Up to Rs. 5 lakh (may increase to Rs. 20 lakh in exceptional cases).
• Financial Assistance for the Preservation & Development of Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas
  • Objective: To promote and preserve the cultural heritage of the Himalayan region, including Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Grant Amount: Up to Rs. 10 lakh per year (may increase to Rs. 30 lakh in exceptional cases).
• Financial Assistance for the Preservation & Development of Buddhist/Tibetan Organizations
  • Objective: To support Buddhist/Tibetan organizations, including monasteries, in preserving and developing Buddhist/Tibetan culture and traditions.
  • Grant Amount: Up to Rs. 30 lakh per year (may increase to Rs. 1 crore in exceptional cases).
• Financial Assistance for Building Grants including Studio Theatres
  • Objective: To provide financial support for creating cultural infrastructure, such as studio theatres, auditoriums, and rehearsal halls, along with providing essential facilities like lighting, acoustics, and sound systems.
  • Grant Amount: Up to Rs. 50 lakh in metro cities and Rs. 25 lakh in non-metro cities.
• Financial Assistance for Allied Cultural Activities
  • Objective: To assist in the creation of assets that enhance the audio-visual spectacle for live performances and cultural activities.
  • Grant Amount:
    • Audio: Up to Rs. 1 crore.
    • Audio + Video: Up to Rs. 1.5 crore (includes 5 years of operation and maintenance costs).
• Intangible Cultural Heritage
  • Objective: To safeguard and promote India’s intangible cultural heritage, supporting institutions, groups, and NGOs involved in relevant activities.
  • Grant Amount: Varies based on specific activities.
• Domestic Festivals and Fairs
  • Objective: To assist in organizing RashtriyaSanskritiMahotsavs (National Culture Festivals) across India, engaging artists and showcasing various cultural traditions.
  • Grant Amount: Event-based assistance; Rs. 38.67 crore was released in the last three years for these events.

Implementation and Monitoring

The Ministry of Culture closely monitors the effective utilization of funds under this scheme through:

• Utilization Certificates and audited financial statements.
• On-site physical inspections to assess the progress and impact of the funded projects.
• Regular oversight ensures that the assistance is used for its intended purpose and meets the objectives of cultural promotion and preservation.

Support for Individual Artists and Cultural Research

In addition to the above schemes, the Ministry of Culture also supports individual artists and cultural researchers through the ‘Scheme of Scholarship and Fellowship for Promotion of Art and Culture’. This scheme includes the following components:

• Award of Scholarships to Young Artists (SYA)
  • Objective: To support young artists aged 18-25 years in various cultural fields.
  • Duration: 2 years.
  • Eligibility: Applicants should have undergone at least 5 years of training under a recognized guru or institution.
• Award of Senior/Junior Fellowships
  • Senior Fellowship: For individuals 40 years and above to support cultural research.
  • Junior Fellowship: For individuals 25-40 years for cultural research.
  • Up to 400 Fellowships are awarded annually.
• Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research
  • Objective: To provide funding for cultural research under two categories: Tagore National Fellowship and Tagore Research Scholarship.
  • Selection: Fellows and scholars are selected by the National Selection Committee.
• Project Grants for Research in Performing Arts
  • Objective: To provide financial assistance to individuals conducting research in performing arts.