Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY)

Introduction

India has a rich tradition of art, culture, and heritage. To preserve and promote this, the government launched an umbrella scheme called Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY).
➡️ Being an “umbrella scheme” means it brings together several smaller schemes under one framework for better implementation.

Objective

The broad aim is:
To promote art and culture across the country and support artists, cultural organizations, and preservation of heritage.

Major Components

(A) Scheme of Financial Assistance for Promotion of Art and Culture

1. Repertory Grant
   • Provides financial help to all performing arts groups.
   • Based on the Guru–Shishya Parampara model.
   • Each Guru/teacher gets ₹15,000 per month, and each Shishya/artist gets ₹2,000 to ₹10,000 per month depending on age.
2. Financial Assistance to Cultural Organizations with National Presence
   • NGOs, Societies, Universities, etc. can get up to ₹5 crore for cultural activities.
3. Cultural Function & Production Grant (CFPG)
   • Provides financial support for seminars, conferences, research, drama, theatre, music, etc.
   • Assistance: Up to ₹5 lakh (extendable to ₹20 lakh in special cases).
4. Preservation of Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas
   • Funding for organizations working on Himalayan culture.
   • Normally ₹10 lakh per year, can go up to ₹30 lakh in exceptional cases.
5. Preservation of Buddhist/Tibetan Culture
   • Financial aid up to ₹30 lakh per year, extendable to ₹1 crore in exceptional cases.

(B) Scheme of Financial Assistance for Creation of Cultural Infrastructure

This has three parts:

1. Building Grants → For creating studios, theatres, cultural spaces.
2. Financial Assistance for Allied Cultural Activities.
3. Assistance for Tagore Cultural Complexes (TCC).

(C) Scheme of Scholarship and Fellowship for Promotion of Art and Culture

1. Fellowships for Outstanding Persons in culture.
2. Scholarships for Young Artists in different fields.
3. Tagore National Fellowship for cultural research.

(D) Artists Pension Scheme

• Provides pension of ₹4,000 per month to artists and scholars above 60 years who have made significant contributions to art and literature but are now in financial need.
• Annual income should not exceed ₹48,000.

(E) Seva Bhoj Yojana

• Under this, the GST/CGST/IGST paid on food items served by charitable/religious institutions is reimbursed by the government.
• Purpose: To reduce financial burden on organizations providing free food to the public.

(F) Scheme for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage

• Supports institutions, NGOs, and groups engaged in activities/projects that strengthen, protect, and promote intangible cultural heritage of India (like folk music, oral traditions, traditional crafts, etc.).

Significance of KSVY

• Provides financial security to artists.
• Strengthens cultural infrastructure (studios, theatres, complexes).
• Preserves regional heritage like Himalayan and Tibetan culture.
• Promotes research, education, and documentation in art and culture.
• Protects intangible heritage such as folk traditions, crafts, and oral culture.

✅ In summary:
The Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana is a comprehensive umbrella scheme to preserve India’s cultural heritage, support artists financially, build cultural infrastructure, and promote research and education in arts. It safeguards both tangible (infrastructure, institutions) and intangible (folk traditions, oral heritage) aspects of culture.