The Ministry of Culture has been consistently working to spread awareness about Indian culture and heritage among all sections of society, especially the youth. To achieve this, the Ministry administers several schemes targeted at young people, including:
Objective: To provide financial assistance to young artists aged 18-25 with outstanding promise for advanced training in various cultural fields such as Indian Classical Music, Dance, Theatre, Mime, Visual Arts, Folk, Traditional, Indigenous Arts, and Light Classical Music.- Details: Up to 400 scholarships are awarded each year, with recipients receiving Rs. 5,000 per month for two years. The scholarship is disbursed in four equal six-monthly installments.
- Objective: To support exceptional individuals in cultural research.
- Details: Up to 400 fellowships (200 Junior for ages 25-40 and 200 Senior for those above 40) are awarded each year. Junior fellows receive Rs. 10,000 per month, and Senior fellows receive Rs. 20,000 per month for two years. The fellowship is paid in four equal six-monthly installments.
To protect, promote, and preserve various forms of folk art, culture, and heritage, the Government of India has established seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) with headquarters in Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur, and Thanjavur. These ZCCs organize numerous cultural activities and programs throughout the year across the country, supported by annual grants. They engage artists to showcase their talents and provide them with honorarium, travel and accommodation allowances, and other support.
The ZCCs also implement various schemes, including:
- Award to Young Talented Artistes
- Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme
- Theatre Rejuvenation Scheme
- Research & Documentation Scheme
- Shilpgram Scheme
- OCTAVE
- J&K Festivals
- National Cultural Exchange Programme (NCEP)
To further spread cultural awareness among youth, the Ministry of Culture organizes Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs) through the ZCCs, engaging numerous artists from across India. Since 2015, 14 national RSMs and 4 zonal-level RSMs have been organized. Additionally, the ZCCs hold a minimum of 42 regional festivals annually to promote art and culture.
The Ministry of Culture regularly supports cultural initiatives and programs of various Ministries and Departments, including the Ministry of Education. However, no separate steps have been taken in collaboration with the Ministry of Education to include chapters on Indian culture and heritage in the school curriculum.
This information was provided by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
