Culture and Tourism
6. CULTURE AND TOURISM |
- The Ministry of Culture has two attached, six subordinate offices and thirty-five autonomous organisations, which are fully funded by the Government.
- There are seven zonal cultural centres working mainly on folk and traditional arts of different zones.
- There are also four missions:
- National Mission for Manuscripts
- National Mission for Monument and Antiquities
- National Mission on Libraries
- Gandhi Heritage Sites Mission
- India has Cultural Agreements with 107 countries and agreements relating to Cultural Exchange Programmes have been signed with 69 countries.
Functions of Ministry of Culture:
- Protection, development and promotion of all types of heritage of culture namely, tangible heritage, intangible heritage and knowledge heritage.
- In tangible heritage, takes care of all the centrally protected monuments of national importance, which is achieved through Archeological Survey of India.
- Promotion of museum movement in the country and majority of the museums are under its administrative control.
- Engaged in recognizing excellence in the field of art and culture by way of awards given by institutions like Sahitya Akademi and Sangeet Natak Akademi.
- Custodian of all the major libraries in the country. It also extends grant-in-aid for library development and is also responsible for all policy matters regarding library development.
- Responsible for the implementation of various UNESCO conventions in the field of culture and for entering into Cultural Exchange Agreements with Partnering countries.
- Involved in the protection and promotion of Buddhist and Tibetian Culture and is doing this through various institutions located at Sarnath, Varanasi and Leh.
Achievements |
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Mumbai gets World Heritage Building |
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International Kala Mela |
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Seva Bhoj Yojana |
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550th Birth Anniversary Celebration of Guru Nanak (2019) |
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Kabir Mahotsav |
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Lalit Kala Akademi:
- Lalit Kala Akademi, the National Academy of Art, was set up in 1954.
- It is the government’s apex cultural body in the field of visual arts in India.
- It is an autonomous body, which is fully funded by the Ministry of Culture.
- All through the year, it presents exhibitions and educational programmes of unparalleled significance; sustains a library, art collection, archives, conservation laboratory and supports scholars and publications of pre-eminent intellectual merit all over the country.
- The Akademi’s sincere commitment to the development of art is evident through the strong national and international programmes organized by the headquarters in New Delhi and by the Centres situated at Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Garhi (New Delhi) and sub-centres at Shimla and Patna.
- Another major art promotional activity of the Akademi is to provide studios to artists who work in various disciplines of art, such as sculpture, graphics, ceramics and paintings.
- In Delhi, the Akademi administers the Garhi Artists’ Studios where approximately 200 artists work regularly.
Sangeet Natak Akademi:
- In 1945, the Asiatic Society of Bengal submitted a proposal for the creation of a National Cultural Trust consisting of three academies- an academy of dance, drama and music; an academy of letters and an academy of art and architecture.
- It led to the creation of three national academies after Independence.
- The national Academy named Sangeet Natak Akademi was the first of these entities to be established by a resolution of the Ministry of Education.
- In 1961, it was reconstituted by the Government as a society and registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (as amended in 1957).
- The Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards conferred annually on eminent artists and scholars are considered the most coveted honours in the field of the performing arts.
- The Akademi has a large archive of audio and video tapes, 16-mm films, photographs and transparencies and remains the single most important resource for researchers in the field of performing arts of India.
- The Akademi maintains a reference library consisting of books in English, Hindi and some regional languages.
- The Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (JNMDA) in Imphal, the premier institution in the teaching of Manipuri dance and music, established in 1954, is the first of these institutions.
- In 1959, the Akademi established the National School of Drama and the Asian Theatre Institute; and in 1964, the Kathak Kendra, both being based in Delhi.
- The Akademi’s other projects of national importance are in Kutiyattam theatre of Kerala, commenced in 1991.
- Kutiyattam was recognized by UNESCO as a masterpiece of oral and intangible heritage of humanity in 2001.
- The project on Chhau dance of Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal began in 1994.
- The project support to Sattriya music, dance, theatre and allied arts of Assam was started in 2002.
National School of Drama:
- One of the foremost theatre institutions in the world and the only one of its kind in India was set up by Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1959.
- Later in 1975, it became an autonomous organization, totally financed by Department of Culture.
- Objective: to train students in all aspects of theatre, including theatre history, production, scene design, costume design, lighting, make-up, etc.
- The training course at NSD is of three years duration.
- It (renamed as Sanskar Rang Toli) was founded in 1989 and has been actively involved in production of plays for children, organizing summer theatre workshops in the schools of Delhi and also promoting children’s theatre through Saturday Club.
- Since 1998, the School has organized National Theatre Festival for Children christened ‘Jashne Bachpan’ every year.
- The first ever National Theatre Festival christened was held from March 18 to April 14, 1999 to commemorate the 50th year of India’s Independence has been made an annual feature.
Sahitya Akademi:
- Sahitya Akademi, India’s National Academy of Letters promotes literature in 24 languages of India recognized by it.
- It organizes programmes, confers Awards and Fellowships on writers in Indian languages and publishes books throughout the year and in 24 recognized languages.
- Over the past six decades, the Akademi has published over 7000 books in 24 languages.
- The Akademi publishes original works and also works in translation - fiction, poetry, drama and criticism covering classical, medieval, pre-modern and contemporary literature.
- Sahitya Akademi publishes three journals, Indian Literature (bi-monthly in English), Samkaleena Bhartiya Sahitya (bi-monthly in Hindi) and Sanskrit Pratibha (quarterly in Sanskrit).
- Head office- New Delhi, with offices in Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai.
- Sahitya Akademi Award [the Award carries the prize money of ? 1 lakh and citation], awarded to the most outstanding book(s) of literary merit published in the 24 Indian languages recognized by the Akademi.
- Bhasha Samman [the Award carries the prize money of ? 1 lakh and citation] is given to writers/ scholars / editors collectors/ performers / translators who have made a considerable contribution to the propagation and enrichment of languages.
- The Akademi organizes Festival of Letters every year to celebrate Indian writing.
- It promotes Tribal and Oral Literature in the country through its Centre for Tribal and Oral Literature in Delhi and North-East Centre for Oral Literature in Imphal.
- Major projects- Monographs on Indian writers (MIL), encyclopaedias, anthologies, archives of Indian literature, national bibliography of Indian literature, encyclopaedia of Indian poetics and histories of Indian literature are some of the major projects undertaken by the Akademi.
- Sahitya Akademi Library in New Delhi is one of the very few multilingual libraries which cater solely to literature.
Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts(IGNCA):
- It is a national level academic research centre encompassing the study and experience of all the arts, classical and folk, written and oral, ancient and modern.
- IGNCA is an autonomous trust under the Ministry of Culture.
- The IGNCA has six functional unit:
- Kalanidhi, the multi-form library;
- Kalakosa, devoted mainly to the study and publication of fundamental texts in Indian languages;
- Janapada Sampada, the division engaged in lifestyle studies;
- Kaladarsana; the executive unit which transforms researches and studies emanating from the IGNCA into visible forms through the exhibition;
- Cultural Informatics Lab, which applies technology tools for cultural preservation and propagation;
- Sutradhara, the administrative section that acts as a spine supporting and coordinating all the activities.
Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT):
- It is one of the premier institutions working in the field of linking education with culture.
- CCRT was set up in 1979 as an autonomous organization by the Government of India.
- Objectives: Revitalize the education system by creating an understanding and awareness among students about the plurality of the regional cultures of India and integrating this knowledge with education.
- It conducts a variety of training programmes for in-service teachers drawn from all parts of the country.
- The training provides an understanding and appreciation of the philosophy, aesthetics and beauty inherent in Indian art and culture and focuses on formulating methodologies for incorporating a cultural component in curriculum teaching.
- This training also stresses the role of culture in science and technology, housing, agriculture, sports, etc.
- It creates awareness amongst students and teachers of their role in solving environmental pollution problems and conservation and preservation of the natural and cultural heritage.
- CCRT implements the Cultural Talent Search Scholarship Scheme, which provides scholarships to outstanding children in the age group of 10 to 14 years, studying either in recognized schools or belonging to families practicing traditional performing or other arts to develop their talent in various cultural fields, particularly in rare art forms.
Zonal Cultural Centres:
- Aim: To arouse awareness of the local culture and to show how these merge into zonal identities and eventually into the rich diversity of India’s composite culture.
- The seven Zonal Centres were established under this scheme during 1985-86 at Patiala, Kolkata, Thanjavur, Udaipur, Allahabad, Dimapur and Nagpur.
- Guru Shishya Parampara has been introduced to promote new talents.
Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat:
- Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat was announced in 2015 on the occasion of the 140th Birth Anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
- The broad objectives of the initiative are:-
- To celebrate the unity in diversity of our nation and to maintain and strengthen the fabric of traditionally existing emotional bonds between the people of our country;
- To promote the spirit of national integration through a deep and structured engagement between all states and union territories through a year-long planned engagement between states;
- To showcase the rich heritage and culture, customs and traditions of either state for enabling people to understand and appreciate the diversity that is India, thus fostering a sense of common identity;
- To establish long-term engagements;
- To create an environment which promotes learning between States by sharing best practices
- and experiences.
Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas:
- The aim of Buddhist Tibetan Institutions (BTI) is to help preserve, promote and propagate the intangible of Buddhist/Tibetan/Himalayan cultural heritage of the country.
- Objective: To promote and preserve the cultural heritage of the Himalayas.
- The scheme was revised in 2011.
- As per the revised scheme the grant shall be provided for undertaking the activities:
- Study and research on cultural heritage,
- Preservation of old manuscripts, literature, art & crafts and documentation of cultural activities/events like music, dance, etc.,
- Dissemination through audio-visual programmes of art and culture and Training in traditional and folk art in the states falling under the Himalayan Region i.e. Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
- The colleges and universities are also eligible to apply.
Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas |
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Development of Buddhist/ Tibetan Organization |
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Central Institute of Buddhist Studies(CISB) |
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Nava Nalanda Mahavihara |
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Central University of Tibetan Studies(Sarnath, Varanasi) |
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Central Institute of Himalayan Culture Studies |
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Archaeological Survey of India:
- Established in 1861.
- It functions as an attached office of the Ministry of Culture.
- Major activities:
- Survey of archaeological remains and excavations;
- Maintenance and conservation of centrally protected monuments, sites and remains;
- Chemical preservation of monuments and antiquarian remains;
- Architectural survey of monuments;
- Development of epigraphical research and numismatic studies;
- Setting up and re-organization of site museums;
- Expeditions abroad;
- Training in archaeology;
- Publication of technical reports and research works.
- Under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, the ASI has declared 3,686 monuments/sites to be of national importance in the country which includes twenty-one properties that are inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO.
- Thanjavur (now commonly called as the Great Living Chola Temples) have been inscribed on the World Heritage List of UNESCO in 2004.
- Nomination dossiers for the Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai have been sent to the World Heritage Centre for inscription on the World Heritage List of UNESCO.
- Search, study and preservation of cultural heritage lying submerged in inland or territorial Waters are among the principal functions of the Underwater Archaeology Wing.
- It carries out exploration and excavation in the Arabian Sea as well as in the Bay of Bengal.
- The Epigraphy Branch at Mysore carries out research work in Sanskrit and Dravidian languages while the one at Nagpur carries out research work in Arabic and Persian.
National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA):
- Launched in 2007.
- Objective: To prepare a National database on Built Heritage and Sites (BH&S) and antiquities from different sources and museums during the XIth Five Year Plan for information and dissemination to planners, researchers etc., and better management of such cultural resources.
- As per recommendations of National Productivity Council in its 3rd Party Evaluation Report, NMMA has been made a Division of Archaeological Survey of India.
- As part of the mandate, NMMA has to prepare two national registers viz.,
- National Register on Built Heritage and Sites
- National Register on Antiquities.
National Mission for Manuscripts:
- Launched- 2003.
- Nodal agency: Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA).
- Objective: To reclaim India’s inheritance of knowledge contained in the vast treasure of manuscripts.
- Major activities: Documentation of manuscripts through survey, conservation of manuscripts through preventive and curative methods, training courses and workshops on conservation-methods.
National Museum:
- It functions as a subordinate office under the Ministry of Culture since 1960, houses over 2.6 lakh art objects dating from pre-historic era onwards.
- Main activities: exhibitions, reorganization/modernization of galleries, educational activities and outreach programmes, public relations, publications, photo documentation, summer holiday programmes, memorial lectures, museum corner, Photo unit, modelling unit, library, conservation laboratory and workshops.
National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA):
- NGMA, New Delhi was founded in 1954 to promote and develop contemporary Indian Art.
- It houses 17,858 works of art, representing about 1,748 contemporary Indian artists.
- The collection has been built up mainly by purchase and also by gift.
Indian Museum:
- The eighth oldest Museum in the world houses almost 1.10 lakhs of artefacts telling the Oriental history and the heritage of India.
- Sir William Jones as one of the profoundest scholars devoted his life to the service of India founded Asiatic Society in 1784.
- Dr. Nathanial Wallich, a Danish Botanist, wrote a letter to the Asiatic Society in which he strongly advocated the formation of a Museum at the premises of the Society.
- Thus a museum, under the guidance of Dr. Nathanial Wallich was established in 1814 at the cradle of the Asiatic Society.
- The museum was known in the beginning as the “Asiatic Society Museum” subsequently came to be known as the “Imperial Museum” and later familiarized as the “Indian Museum” which is more familiar by the name ‘Jadughar’ among the visitors.
- The present building of the Indian Museum was completed in 1875.
- Multi-disciplinary objects have been displayed in its six sections viz, art, archaeology, anthropology, zoology, geology and botany.
Museums |
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National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) |
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Victoria Memorial Hall (VMH) |
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National Museum Institute of History of Art, Conservation and Museology |
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National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property(NRLC) |
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Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture |
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Anthropological Survey of India:
- It has been mandated to study the bio-cultural attributes of the Indian populations since its establishment, about 65 years before.
- Over the decades, the An.S.I. grew from strength to strength to acquire An unparalleled blend of holistic perspective to study the human surface of the country.
- The activities include collection, preservation, maintenance, documentation and study of ethnographic materials as well as ancient human skeletal remains.
- Of late, the Anthropological Survey of India went about an all-round modernization of its infrastructure to usher in the DNA technology to study the phylogenies of Indian populations, the anthropological genetics of diseases and the frontier areas of Anthropology.
National Archives of India:
- It is the custodian of the non-current records of the Government of India and is holding them in trust for the use of the records creators and the users at large.
- It is the biggest repository of the non-current records in south-east Asia.
- NAI plays a key role in guiding and shaping the development of archives both at the national as well as international level.
- National Archives of India functions as an attached office of the Ministry of Culture entrusted with the preservation of the documentary heritage of the nation.
- It is also the nodal agency for the implementation of the Public Records Act, 1993 and public records.
Libraries |
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National Library
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Central Secretariat Library |
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Nehru Memorial Museum and Library
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National Mission on Libraries |
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Performing Arts |
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Performing Arts Grants Scheme |
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Scheme for Cultural Organizations with National Presence |
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Scheme of Building Grants |
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Tagore Cultural Complexes Scheme |
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Scheme of Pension to Artistes |
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Gandhi Heritage Sites Mission |
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Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti
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Tourism |
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Foreign Tourist Arrivals |
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Special Tourism Zones |
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Foreign Exchange Earnings |
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E-Visa facility |
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Indian Culinary Institute |
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Incredible India |
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PRASAD Scheme |
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