National Solar Science Fellowship Programme 2026

This scheme aims to support promising young artists with advanced training opportunities within India across various cultural Read More... domains like classical music, dance, theatre, and visual arts. Read less

Details

Are you a talented young artist passionate about taking your skills to the next level? The Indian government, through the Ministry of Culture, offers a fantastic opportunity to nurture your talent.

## What Is This Scheme?

The 'Award of Scholarships to Young Artists in Different Cultural Fields' scheme is designed to provide financial assistance to budding artists who show exceptional promise. It helps them pursue advanced training within India in a wide array of cultural areas, from traditional Indian classical music and dance to theatre, visual arts, and folk traditions.

Who Can Benefit From This Scheme?

This scheme is for young Indian artists who have already developed a good level of proficiency in their chosen art form. If you're looking to hone your skills further under a seasoned Guru or at a reputable institution, and you meet the age and experience criteria, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.

Why This Scheme Is Important

Recognizing the importance of preserving and promoting India's rich cultural heritage, this scheme plays a crucial role in identifying and supporting the next generation of artists. By providing financial aid for advanced training, it ensures that traditional art forms continue to thrive and evolve, while also encouraging contemporary artistic expression.

Objective

This scheme aims to support promising young artists with advanced training opportunities within India across various cultural domains like classical music, dance, theatre, and visual arts.

Benefits

Each selected Fellow will receive a total annual grant of up to ₹32.00 lakhs comprising (i) emolument of up to ₹12.00 lakhs (ii) contingencies of up to ₹5.00 lakhs and (iii) research grant of up to ₹15.00 lakhs. This will be pro-rated for the duration of the tenure of the particular Fellow.
This grant will be released to the host institution for being granted to the Fellow.
The Fellow may also raise additional resources from other sources such as the host Institution, grant providers, grant-in-aid Institutions, etc. for the purpose of carrying out his/her research.

Note 01:On selection, the Fellow will be attached to one of the selected schools/institutions in consultation with the Fellow as well as the host institution.

Note 02:Selected Fellows shall commit to work at the host institution for the full tenure of the fellowship and shall submit a bond in this regard to the host institution.

Note 03:The Fellow must submit quarterly progress reports and a final technical report to the Fellowship Management Committee. The Fellowship Management Committee may from time to time, seek updates from the Fellow and provide inputs and guidance to the project of the Fellows so that the project remains relevant to the Government of India agenda and can be successfully completed on time.

Note 04:An annual conference of the Fellows will be held, where the Fellows will be expected to present their findings to the Fellowship Management Committee and other invitees and share knowledge and learning and discuss areas for further collaboration and practical application of their research.

Note 05:There would be a visible improvement in the quality of solar technology through the application of innovative solutions/technologies in the field arising out of the research under the programme.

Note 06:The resources in terms of manpower and infrastructural facilities available at various schools/ institutions of the country would be enhanced /strengthened.

Sources and references

Guideline

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be Indian citizens.
You should have a solid general education background to effectively manage your advanced studies.
A genuine passion and dedication to pursuing your chosen art form is essential.
This scheme is for advanced training, not for beginners. You must already possess a good level of proficiency in your field.
You need to have completed at least 5 years of dedicated training with a Guru or a recognized institute. You must provide a certificate signed by your current and any former Guru/Institute.
Familiarity with related art forms or disciplines is required.
Your age must be between 18 and 25 years as of April 1st of the application year. Please note, age relaxation is not provided under this scheme.

How To Apply

Applications for this scheme are accepted online.
Aspiring artists need to submit their applications through the official CSMS Portal.
The link for the portal is usually made available on the websites of the Ministry of Culture and the CCRT.
You can find the application portal at: https://indiaculture.gov.in/

Documents Required

Identity Proof
Self-attested copies of your educational qualifications (like degrees, diplomas) and any relevant experience certificates.
Self-attested copy of your Matriculation certificate or equivalent, or any other document proving your age.
A recent passport-sized photograph.
Your bank account details.
Caste certificate, if applicable.
Residence proof, if applicable.
For Visual Arts applicants (Painting, Sculpture, Applied Arts): You need to submit self-attested copies of photographs of your original artworks. The minimum qualification for Visual Arts is a BFA or its equivalent.
Proof of training: Certificates duly signed by your present Guru/Institute and former Guru/Institute (if any), confirming a minimum of 5 years of training, must be submitted.

FAQ’s

What exactly does the 'Award of Scholarships to Young Artists in Different Cultural Fields' scheme offer?

This scheme provides financial help to talented young artists for advanced training within India. It covers various cultural fields like Indian classical music and dance, theatre, mime, visual arts, and folk/traditional arts.

What is the age limit for applying for this scholarship?

You must be at least 18 years old and no older than 25 years as of April 1st of the year you apply. No exceptions are made for age relaxation.

How much money do scholars receive, and for how long?

Each scholar gets ₹5000 per month for a period of two years. This amount is meant to help with living expenses, travel, study materials, equipment, and training costs.

Can you tell me more about the specific art forms covered by the scholarships?

Certainly! The scholarships are available for Indian Classical Music (Hindustani & Carnatic), Indian Classical Dance (like Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Odissi), Theatre (acting, direction), Visual Arts (painting, sculpture), Folk & Traditional Arts (like puppetry, folk music), and Light Classical Music (Thumri, Ghazal, etc.).

Is there a minimum training duration required to apply?

Yes, you need to have completed at least 5 years of training with your Guru or a recognized institute. You'll need to provide a certificate for this.

Who is responsible for running this scholarship program?

The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, is the body that has launched and manages this scheme.

How many scholarships are given out each year?

The scheme offers a total of 400 scholarships to deserving young artists.

Do I need to be a beginner to apply?

No, this scheme is specifically for advanced training. You must already have a good level of proficiency in your chosen art form, not be a beginner.

Where can I find the application form and submit my application?

You can apply online through the CSMS Portal, which is available on the Ministry of Culture's website. The link is https://indiaculture.gov.in/

Is this scholarship only for certain regions or is it for all of India?

The scheme is for Indian Nationals, and it offers advanced training opportunities within India. So, it's for artists across the country.

What if I have trained under multiple Gurus in the past?

That's fine. You'll need to submit a certificate signed by your current Guru/Institute and also from any former Guru/Institute you may have trained with, confirming your 5 years of training.