Introduction
India's vibrant and diverse art and culture are cornerstones of its national identity and soft power. Recognizing this, the Government of India, primarily through the Ministry of Culture, along with the Ministry of Tourism and other relevant ministries, has launched a comprehensive array of schemes, policies, and initiatives. These aim to preserve and promote tangible and intangible heritage, support artists and cultural organizations, boost cultural tourism, and integrate cultural education into the national curriculum. From direct financial assistance for traditional arts to leveraging technology for heritage preservation and fostering inter-state cultural exchange, these governmental efforts reflect a holistic approach to safeguarding and celebrating India's rich cultural legacy.
Ministry of Culture Schemes
The Ministry of Culture is the nodal ministry for the preservation, promotion, and dissemination of Indian art and culture. It implements a wide range of schemes:
Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage
Objective: To recognize, promote, and support institutions and individuals engaged in safeguarding and promoting intangible cultural heritage and diverse cultural traditions (e.g., oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, traditional craftsmanship). Crucial for implementing UNESCO's 2003 ICH Convention.
Brief: Provides financial assistance for projects like documentation, research, skill development, and community-led safeguarding efforts.
Seva Bhoj Yojna
Objective: To reimburse CGST and Central Government's share of IGST paid on raw materials for free community food (Langar/Bhandara) by religious institutions.
Brief: Aims to lessen the financial burden on religious institutions providing community kitchen services, which are significant cultural and social traditions.
Tagore Cultural Complexes Scheme
Objective: To establish new cultural complexes and upgrade existing ones across India, focusing on modern infrastructure for performing arts, exhibitions, and cultural events.
Brief: Enhances cultural infrastructure and accessibility across the country.
Financial Assistance for Art & Culture (Umbrella)
Objective: To promote arts and culture by providing financial assistance to individuals, groups, and cultural organizations.
Brief: Includes sub-schemes like Grant to Cultural Organizations with all India character, Cultural Function & Production Grants (CFPG), Performing Art Rehearsal Facilities, and Research & Documentation.
Buddhist/Tibetan Culture & Art
Objective: To promote and preserve the rich Buddhist and Tibetan culture and art through financial assistance to monastic institutions, organizations, and individuals.
Brief: Supports research, documentation, publications, traditional arts, and education within the Buddhist/Tibetan cultural sphere.
Himalayan/Border Cultural Organizations
Objective: To support the development of cultural organizations, traditions, and arts in strategically important and culturally rich Himalayan and border regions.
Brief: Aims to preserve unique local cultures and promote cultural exchange in these sensitive areas.
Centenaries & Anniversaries Grant
Objective: To provide financial assistance for organizing celebrations and commemorating the centenaries/anniversaries of eminent personalities, historical events, and institutions of national importance.
Brief: Ensures that the legacy of significant cultural and national figures is remembered and propagated.
Artist Pension & Welfare Fund
Objective: To provide financial assistance to old and indigent artists and scholars who have made significant contributions to art and culture but are now facing penury.
Brief: A social security measure to support the welfare of artists.
National Mission on Libraries (NML)
Objective: To modernize and digitally connect libraries across India, fostering a reading culture and providing access to information and knowledge.
Brief: Digitization of library resources, capacity building, and public library promotion.
National Mission on Monuments & Antiquities (NMMA)
Objective: To document and create a national database of all monuments and antiquities in India (both protected and unprotected).
Brief: Essential for comprehensive heritage management, research, and protection against illicit trafficking.
Museum Grant Scheme
Objective: To provide financial assistance for the development and modernization of museums at national, state, and regional levels.
Brief: Supports infrastructure development, galleries, conservation labs, digital initiatives, and capacity building in museums.
Project Mausam
Objective: To reconnect and re-establish communications between countries of the Indian Ocean world, sharing common historical, cultural, and economic ties, with a focus on maritime cultural linkages.
Brief: Ministry of Culture initiative for cultural diplomacy and strategic engagement in the Indian Ocean region.
Ministry of Tourism Schemes (Cultural Component)
The Ministry of Tourism leverages culture as a major component of tourism development.
PRASHAD Scheme
Objective: To identify and develop pilgrimage sites and heritage cities across India to promote spiritual tourism.
Brief: Focuses on infrastructure development (connectivity, sanitation, tourist facilities) at identified pilgrimage and heritage sites, ensuring a holistic religious tourism experience.
Swadesh Darshan Scheme
Objective: To develop theme-based tourist circuits in the country, fostering integrated tourism development of identified themes.
Brief: Includes circuits like Buddhist, Coastal, Desert, Eco, Himalayan, Krishna, North-East, Ramayana, Spiritual, Sufi, Tribal, and Heritage Circuit.
Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan
Objective: A collaborative effort between Ministry of Tourism, Culture, ASI, and private/public sector to develop and maintain heritage sites, monuments, and tourist amenities.
Brief: 'Monument Mitras' (private entities) adopt heritage sites, taking responsibility for tourism infrastructure development, maintenance, and visitor management, ensuring sustainability.
Other Relevant Initiatives
Beyond specific Ministry schemes, several broader government initiatives have significant cultural components.
Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
Objective: To promote cultural connect between states and Union Territories in India to enhance mutual understanding and strengthen the unity and integrity of India.
Brief: States are paired for a year to engage in cultural exchange (language, festivals, cuisine, tourism, education), fostering a sense of shared identity and cultural diversity.
National Culture Fund (NCF)
Objective: An autonomous trust under the Ministry of Culture (1996) to mobilize resources (public-private partnerships) for the preservation, protection, and promotion of tangible and intangible heritage.
Brief: Acts as a channel for corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds towards cultural projects, providing tax benefits to donors. Supports conservation, cultural festivals, and educational initiatives.
National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020)
Objective: Holistic reform of the education system, with a strong emphasis on integrating art and culture.
Brief: Promotes art integration across subjects, emphasizes Indian languages (including classical languages), values traditional knowledge systems (IKS), and encourages skill-based education that includes traditional crafts and vocational arts.
State-level Cultural Policies
Objective: Many states have their own cultural departments, academies, and schemes to promote local arts, traditions, and heritage unique to their regions.
Brief: These complement central government efforts and are crucial for decentralized cultural development.
Conclusion & Significance
The comprehensive range of government schemes and initiatives underscores India's deep commitment to safeguarding and promoting its rich art and cultural heritage. From directly supporting artists and institutions to leveraging cultural assets for tourism and embedding cultural education in policy, these efforts are multi-pronged. They play a critical role in:
- Preservation: Ensuring the longevity of both tangible and intangible heritage.
- Promotion: Making India's culture accessible to a wider national and global audience.
- Livelihoods: Supporting traditional artists and craftspeople.
- Soft Power: Enhancing India's global image and diplomatic outreach.
- National Unity: Fostering a sense of shared identity through cultural exchange.
However, challenges remain in terms of adequate funding, effective implementation at the grassroots, inter-agency coordination, and leveraging technology consistently. A sustained, integrated, and participatory approach involving government, private sector, and communities will be vital for the continued flourishing of India's cultural wealth.
Key Notes & Analysis
Prelims-ready Notes
Mains-ready Analytical Notes
Trend Analysis (Last 10 Years)
General Cultural Focus
Questions were more general about "culture in India" or specific historical monuments/festivals, lacking deep dives into government initiatives.
Scheme-Specific & Detailed
Strong focus on specific government schemes, requiring knowledge of their names, core objectives, nodal ministries, key features, and target beneficiaries. Shift towards inter-ministerial collaboration schemes.
Analytical & Evaluative
Questions go beyond listing schemes to evaluating their effectiveness, challenges, impact on sectors (tourism, livelihoods), and their role in broader national goals (soft power, national integration).
Linking Schemes to Events
Expect questions linking schemes to recent events or policy pronouncements (e.g., G20 Cultural Track's influence). Mains answers should identify challenges and suggest improvements.
Table: Major Government Schemes for Art & Culture
| Scheme Name | Nodal Ministry/Body | Primary Objective |
|---|---|---|
| Safeguarding ICH & Diverse Cultural Traditions | Culture | Promote & safeguard intangible heritage |
| Seva Bhoj Yojna | Culture | Reimburse GST on raw materials for free community food |
| PRASHAD Scheme | Tourism | Develop pilgrimage & heritage sites for spiritual tourism |
| Swadesh Darshan Scheme | Tourism | Develop theme-based tourist circuits (e.g., Buddhist, Heritage) |
| Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan | Tourism/Culture/ASI | PPP for development & maintenance of heritage sites |
| Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat | Education (broadly) | Promote cultural connect & understanding between states |
| National Culture Fund (NCF) | Culture (autonomous) | Mobilize resources (PPP/CSR) for heritage preservation |
| National Education Policy 2020 (NEP) | Education | Integrate art, culture, Indian languages, traditional knowledge into education |
Current Affairs and Recent Developments
PRASHAD Scheme Expansion
Continuous addition of new pilgrimage sites and heritage cities. Recent focus on development in Uttar Pradesh (Ayodhya) and Uttarakhand.
Adopt a Heritage Progress
Ongoing adoption of new sites by Monument Mitras. Discussions around increasing private sector participation and diversifying types of adopted sites.
NEP 2020 Implementation
Continuous roll-out of art-integrated learning modules and emphasis on Indian languages/IKS in school and higher education curricula through conferences and workshops.
G20 Cultural Track (2023)
Discussed themes like living heritage, creative industries, digital technologies for culture, influencing future schemes. The "Kashi Culture Pathway" document is a key outcome.
Revival of Festivals/Events
Post-pandemic renewed focus on organizing cultural festivals and events supported by schemes like CFPG and Centenaries/Anniversaries Grant Scheme, bringing back vibrancy.
UPSC Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Prelims MCQs
UPSC Prelims 2023: UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list
In the context of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- Yoga was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016.
- Kumbh Mela was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2017.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c)
Hint: The "Scheme for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage and Diverse Cultural Traditions of India" directly supports efforts that lead to such UNESCO inscriptions.
UPSC Prelims 2022: Amrit Sarovar Mission
Which one of the following is the purpose of 'Amrit Sarovar Mission'?
- (a) To develop and rejuvenate water bodies in every district across the country.
- (b) To promote organic farming in saline affected areas.
- (c) To establish cold storage facilities for agricultural produce.
- (d) To provide clean drinking water to all villages by 2024.
Answer: (a)
Hint: While primarily a water conservation mission, rejuvenation of traditional water bodies (often culturally significant) links to broader heritage preservation efforts.
UPSC Prelims 2019: Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
Consider the following statements regarding 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat':
- It is a programme launched by the Ministry of Culture.
- Its objective is to enhance interaction and mutual understanding between people of various states.
- It involves pairing states/UTs for a year to promote cultural exchange.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b)
Hint: Statement 1 is incorrect (Ministry of Education is the nodal, though others collaborate). Statements 2 and 3 are correct. This directly tests one of the mentioned initiatives.
Mains Questions
UPSC Mains 2018 (GS II): Cultural Diplomacy
"Cultural diplomacy is a growing component of India's foreign policy." Discuss how it has been instrumental in enhancing India's global influence and shaping perceptions. (15 marks)
Direction:
Mention how government schemes like Project Mausam, PRASHAD (for sites popular with foreign tourists), and the cultural components of Swadesh Darshan contribute to cultural diplomacy by developing and promoting India's cultural assets globally.
UPSC Mains 2016 (GS I): Safeguarding Indian Art Heritage
Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the hour. Discuss. (10 marks)
Direction:
Directly applicable. Discuss the threats to heritage (decay, urbanization, neglect). Then, detail how Ministry of Culture schemes (Safeguarding ICH, NMM, Museum Grants, Artist Pension) and Ministry of Tourism schemes (Adopt a Heritage, PRASHAD) are addressing these challenges by providing financial assistance, infrastructure, and promoting public participation in conservation.
UPSC Mains 2021 (GS I): Traditional Knowledge Integration
Discuss the challenges and opportunities of integrating traditional knowledge with modern scientific systems in India. (15 marks)
Direction:
This can be linked by discussing how schemes like 'Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage' and NEP 2020 (emphasis on IKS) are governmental efforts to preserve and integrate traditional knowledge, which often has a scientific basis (e.g., traditional water harvesting, Ayurveda).
Practice Questions
Original MCQs for Prelims
Which of the following schemes is implemented by the Ministry of Culture and primarily aims to provide financial assistance to old and indigent artists and scholars?
- (a) Seva Bhoj Yojna
- (b) Artist Pension Scheme and Welfare Fund
- (c) Tagore Cultural Complexes Scheme
- (d) Scheme for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The Artist Pension Scheme and Welfare Fund directly caters to the welfare of veteran artists facing financial hardship. The other schemes have different objectives.
Consider the following statements regarding government initiatives for art and culture:
- The PRASHAD scheme primarily focuses on developing theme-based tourist circuits across India.
- 'Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan' scheme involves collaboration between government and private entities.
- The National Education Policy 2020 emphasizes art integration and the promotion of Indian languages in education.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect; PRASHAD is for pilgrimage/heritage site development, while Swadesh Darshan is for theme-based circuits. Statements 2 and 3 are correct.
Original Descriptive Questions for Mains
"India's cultural heritage is not merely a static relic of the past but a dynamic resource for national development." Examine how various government schemes and policies are leveraging India's art and culture to achieve socio-economic goals, with a focus on tourism and livelihood generation. (15 marks, 250 words)
Key Points/Structure:
Despite a comprehensive array of government schemes, the preservation and promotion of India's diverse cultural heritage continue to face significant challenges. Critically analyze these challenges and suggest concrete measures for a more effective and sustainable approach. (10 marks, 150 words)
Key Points/Structure: