Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana

Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY) is a Central Sector Scheme of the Government of India implemented by the Ministry of Culture. It is an umbrella programme designed to promote, preserve, and propagate India’s rich cultural heritage, including performing arts, visual arts, folk traditions, and intangible cultural expressions. The scheme provides financial assistance to individuals and organisations involved in cultural activities, with the aim of supporting artists, strengthening cultural infrastructure, and encouraging traditional art forms.

Objectives

The key objectives of the Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana are:

• To promote and preserve India’s diverse forms of art and culture, both classical and folk.
• To provide financial assistance to individuals, cultural organisations, and institutions for artistic development.
• To support the Guru–Shishya Parampara, ensuring the transfer of traditional knowledge and skills between generations.
• To assist veteran and indigent artists for their contribution to Indian art and culture.
• To develop and upgrade cultural infrastructure such as theatres, auditoriums, and cultural complexes.
• To safeguard India’s intangible cultural heritage and promote lesser-known art forms across different regions.

Components of the Scheme

Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana functions as an umbrella scheme integrating several sub-schemes that cater to different aspects of cultural promotion. The major components include:

1. Scheme for Financial Assistance for Promotion of Guru–Shishya Parampara: Supports the continuation of traditional learning systems by providing stipends to gurus and shishyas for training in classical, folk, and tribal art forms.
2. Scheme for Financial Assistance to Cultural Organisations: Provides grants to registered cultural institutions and organisations to conduct workshops, exhibitions, performances, and research projects in art and culture.
3. Scheme of Scholarships and Fellowships for Promotion of Art and Culture: Offers scholarships to young artists and fellowships to experienced practitioners for advanced research, innovation, and creative work.
4. Scheme for Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists: Extends monthly financial support to ageing artists who have contributed significantly to the cultural sector but lack regular income or support.
5. Tagore Cultural Complexes Scheme: Provides grants for the construction and modernisation of multi-purpose cultural centres and studio theatres in different states to promote community-level cultural engagement.
6. Scheme for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage: Focuses on identifying, documenting, and preserving traditional art forms, rituals, festivals, and crafts that are in danger of disappearing.
7. Development of Buddhist/Tibetan Arts and Culture: Supports monasteries, institutes, and organisations engaged in preserving Buddhist and Tibetan art, manuscripts, and performing traditions.

Eligibility and Financial Assistance

• Individuals, registered cultural organisations, academic institutions, and non-profit cultural bodies are eligible to apply under relevant sub-schemes.
• Assistance is provided for conducting cultural programmes, training, performances, exhibitions, and infrastructure development.
• In the Guru–Shishya component, both the teacher (guru) and students (shishyas) receive stipends for a fixed duration to promote traditional learning.
• Under the Veteran Artists component, financial grants are provided to senior artists in recognition of their lifelong dedication to the arts.
• For infrastructure projects, the scheme assists in the construction and upgradation of cultural complexes, auditoriums, and regional art centres.

Implementation and Funding

Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana is a 100% centrally funded scheme, meaning all expenses are borne by the Government of India. Funds are disbursed directly to selected beneficiaries after evaluation of proposals by expert committees.
In recent years, the Ministry of Culture has expanded the reach of KSVY by increasing allocations, ensuring digital transparency in fund disbursement, and encouraging participation from artists across rural and tribal regions.

Impact and Significance

The Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana plays a crucial role in:

• Sustaining Traditional Arts: Ensuring continuity of classical, folk, and tribal art forms through training and support.
• Artist Welfare: Providing financial stability to artists, particularly senior practitioners and those from underprivileged backgrounds.
• Infrastructure Development: Establishing Tagore Cultural Complexes and other facilities that enable performances and cultural interaction.
• Cultural Preservation: Protecting endangered traditions and intangible heritage such as oral storytelling, crafts, rituals, and dance forms.
• Inclusive Growth: Encouraging participation from marginalised communities and promoting cultural diversity across regions.

The scheme aligns with India’s broader cultural policy of integrating heritage preservation with sustainable development and social inclusion.

Challenges and Recommendations

While the scheme has made significant contributions, some challenges remain:

• Awareness and Accessibility: Many rural artists lack information about funding opportunities and the application process.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: There is a need for continuous assessment of fund utilisation and outcomes.
• Equitable Distribution: Ensuring balanced representation across states, regions, and art disciplines remains a priority.
• Capacity Building: Training cultural organisations in project management and documentation can enhance effectiveness.