The objective of the Scheme is to support voluntary cultural organizations and government-aided cultural organizations in their efforts to create appropriately equipped training, rehearsal and performance spaces for artistes.

• 3.1 Grants will be given to projects for creating cultural spaces, which will include:
• 3.1.1 Conventional Cultural Spaces for Performing Arts:
  • Performance venues, like Auditoria, Open-air Theatres, Concert Halls.
  • Rehearsal halls for Theatre/ Music/ Dance.
  • Training Centres/ Schools for Theatre/ Music/ Dance.
• 3.1.2 Flexible Spaces, i.e., Studio Theatres, etc.: Non-proscenium rehearsal-cum-performance spaces, referred to as Studio Theatre or Experimental Theatre, that are characterized by the following special features:
  • A small theatre, with all the essential equipment for the performance of live music, dance or theatre or combination of these arts;
  • An unconventional space that cannot qualify as an auditorium in the traditional sense; therefore, the stage or performance area is not normally placed within a proscenium arch nor raised too high or separated from the audience by a clearly demarcated division.
  • A seating arrangement for spectators that is totally flexible and can be moved fluidly from one part of the space to another depending on the artistic aim of a particular performance; therefore, the seats/chairs must not be fixed in position.
  • A capacity that usually does not go over 100 to 200; therefore, such a space is often called a “little theatre” or “intimate theatre”, because it allows for close-up and intimate viewing by spectators.
  • One or two adjoining green room(s) / dressing room(s) /makeup room(s) with toilet(s) for the performers, and a storage area; therefore, the entire unit, though minimal, functions as a theatre in every sense.
• 3.2 A project proposal to create an auditorium, a studio theatre or other cultural space(s) may include an appropriate combination of any of the following components:
  • New construction or purchase of a built-up space.
  • Renovation/ upgradation/ modernization/ extension/ alteration of an existing building/ space/ facility.
  • Remodeling of the interiors of an existing built-up space/cultural centre.
  • Provision of facilities like electricals, air conditioning, acoustics, light and sound systems and other items of equipment, such as musical instruments, costumes, audio/ video equipment, furniture and stage material that may be required for a studio theatre, auditorium, rehearsal hall, classroom etc.

• 4.1 The scheme covers:
  • All not-for-profit organizations that fulfill the following criteria:-
    • The organization has a predominantly cultural profile, working primarily for the promotion of arts and culture in fields such as dance, drama, theatre, music, fine arts, Indology and literature at least for a period of three years.
    • The organization is registered as a society under the Registration of Societies Act (XXI of 1860) or similar Acts, or as a Trust or as a Not-for-Profit Company, at least for a period of three years.
    • The organization is well established and known to be doing meaningful work in the field of its activity and has gained a local, regional or national identity.
    • Its charter is devoted to the preservation, propagation and promotion of Indian arts and culture.
  • Government-sponsored bodies for promoting the performing arts.
  • University Departments or Centres dedicated to the performing arts.
  • Colleges set up to promote the performing arts.
• 4.2 An organization that has been receiving salary grant for the last 3 years under the Ministry’s Scheme of “Financial Assistance to Professional Groups and Individuals Engaged for Specified Performing Arts Projects” will be deemed to have fulfilled all the above conditions.
• 4.3 A Government-sponsored body, University Department/Centre or College dedicated to the performing arts may also be automatically eligible, provided its record over the preceding three years is satisfactory.
• 4.4 Religious institutions, public libraries, museums, schools, colleges or University Departments/Centres that are not specifically dedicated for the performing arts and allied cultural activities, departments or offices of the Central Government/ State Governments/ U.T. Administrations/ Local Bodies will not be eligible.
• 4.5 An organization that has availed of a grant for its building project grant under the erstwhile Scheme of Building Grants to Cultural Organizations or under this scheme will not be eligible for a second grant under the Scheme before the completion of the project sanctioned earlier, except where such second grant is sought for a Studio Theatre (or Experimental Theatre) and the applicant organization has not defaulted on the ongoing sanctioned project.

• 5.1 All grants under the Scheme will be of a non-recurring nature. Recurring expenditure, if any, will be the responsibility of the grantee organization.
• 5.2 Maximum assistance under the scheme will be as under:

• CITIES	TYPE OF PROJECT	LIMIT OF ASSISTANCE
  Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai.	Projects involving new construction or purchase of built up space	Rs. 50 lakhs
  	All other projects	Rs. 25 lakhs
  All non-Metro cities, towns or places	All projects	Rs. 25 lakhs

• 5.3 Assistance under the scheme to an organization will be restricted to a maximum of 60% of the approved estimated project cost, subject to the ceilings given above. The balance of the approved estimated project cost is to be incurred by the organization as its ‘matching share’. ILLUSTRATIONS:- FOR PROJECTS INVOLVING NEW CONSTRUCTION/ PURCHASE OF BUILT UP SPACE IN METRO CITIES
  • CASE: 1 If the approved cost of the project is Rs. 100 lakhs, the maximum grant which may be sanctioned would be Rs. 50 lakhs, the matching share of the grantee organization being Rs. 50 lakhs.
  • CASE: 2 If the approved cost of the project is Rs. 70 lakhs, the maximum grant which may be sanctioned would be Rs. 42 lakhs, the matching share of the grantee organization being Rs. 28 lakhs.
  FOR PROJECTS INVOLVING NEW CONSTRUCTION/ PURCHASE OF BUILT UP SPACE IN NON-METRO CITIES AND ALL PROJECTS UNDER 3.2 (b, c and d)
  • CASE: 3 If the approved cost of the project is Rs. 60 lakhs, the maximum grant which may be sanctioned would be Rs. 25 lakhs, the matching share of the grantee organization being Rs.35 lakhs.
  • CASE: 4 If the approved cost of the project is Rs. 40 lakhs, the maximum grant which may be sanctioned would be Rs. 24 lakhs, the matching share of the grantee organization being Rs.16 lakhs.
• 5.4 Cost of the land (actual consideration paid by the recipient organization and not market value) and development charges borne by the organization shall be accounted as matching share.
• 5.5 Expenditure already incurred by the organization on construction/ purchase/ development of land & building and purchase of fixtures and fittings within a period of one year from the date of application, shall also be accounted as matching share. The organization will submit accounts of expenditure incurred in this regard duly certified by Chartered Accountant.
• 5.6 In case the cost of the project is enhanced subsequently, the liability of the Government of India will be restricted to the original sanctioned amount, and all the extra expenditure will be met by the grantee organization from its own resources.
• 5.7 Once the project proposal has been considered and approved for a certain amount, no subsequent requests for review and enhancement of project cost will usually be entertained.
• 5.8 The validity of sanction of financial assistance will be 3 years from the date of release of the 1st installment and all projects must be completed within this 3-year period.

• 6.1 National School of Drama (NSD) under the Ministry of Culture will notify the Scheme annually through NSD’s/Ministry’s websites: nsd.gov.in/indiaculture.nic.in .
• 6.2 A brief advertisement to publicize the scheme will be brought out at least once a year by Ministry of Culture..
• 6.3 Applications in the prescribed Pro forma would have to be submitted to “The Director, National School of Drama, Bahawalpur House, Plot No.1, Bhagwandas Road, New Delhi – 110 001 [Any deficiency in the Application Form(s) intimated by the National School of Drama to the applicant organisation(s), may be furnished directly to NSD itself].
• 6.4 All documents mentioned under Clause 7 below must accompany the application. Applications received without any of these mandatory documents will not be taken up for consideration and returned to the sender.

The application should be accompanied by the following documents:

• 7.1 Project Report/Proposal which will include–
  • Organization’s profile containing a description of the organization, its strengths, achievements and year-wise details of its activities over the last 3 years.
  • Description of the project/proposal including its rationale/ justification.
  • Summary of the cost estimates (building/ equipments/ facilities).
  • Sources of finance/funds.
  • Time schedule for completion of project, and
  • Post completion- how the organization will manage the operation & maintenance of the facility created through the project and meet the recurring maintenance/ operational costs.
• 7.2 Copy of the Certificate of Registration under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 or other relevant Acts.
• 7.3 Copy of the Memorandum of Association (or Trust Deed) of the organization including Rules & Regulations, if any.
• 7.4 List of present members of the Board of Management/ Office Bearers/Trustees with name & address of each member.
• 7.5 Copies of Annual Accounts for the last 3 financial years (duly certified / audited by a Chartered Accountant or Government Auditor).
• 7.6 Copy of the title deed (registered conveyance deed, gift deed, lease deed, etc.), showing
  • Ownership of the land/building for the project in the name of the applicant organization and confirming that the property can be used for commercial, institutional or educational purpose. In the case of a proposal to purchase built up space, copy of Allotment letter/Agreement to Sale be submitted.
  • Cost of land/building. In case the cost of land/ building is not indicated in the title deed, relevant documents in support of cost be submitted.
• 7.7 Copy of Building / Development Plans duly approved by the appropriate civic body/ local authority (Municipality, Panchayat, Development Authority, Improvement Trust etc.).In case of proposal to purchase built up space, copy of the layout plan and completion certificate duly approved/issued by competent civic body/local authority to be submitted.
• 7.8 Cost estimates (Building/ Equipments), duly approved by a registered Architect who will also certify that:
  • The quantities are in conformity with the structural requirements of the project.
  • The rates are in conformity with the prevailing market rates, and
  • The cost estimates are reasonable.
• 7.9 Documentary evidence in support of the claim that the organization has secured or made arrangements to secure its matching share e.g. a bank statement, certificate of expenditure already incurred on the project (with break-up, duly certified by Chartered Accountant), loan sanction letter, letter of the State Government / Union Territory Administration/ Local Body etc. sanctioning funds for the project.
• 7.10 Resolution (in the prescribed format) of the Board of Management/ Executive Board/ Governing Body of the organization authorizing a person to sign the application for grant, bond etc. on behalf of the organization.
• 7.11 A Bond (in the prescribed format) for the assistance sought, on a stamp paper of prescribed denomination.
• 7.12 A Bank Authorization letter (in the prescribed format) showing ECS details of the Bank Account of the organization.
  Notes
  • The applicant organizations are free to attach any other document they may wish to submit in support of their proposal (e.g. certificate or recommendation letters from a national or state level Government body or Akademi, annual reports, press clippings/ reviews, award letters, affiliation letters etc.).
  • Wherever the documents are in a regional language, an English or Hindi version must also be made available
  • Wherever copies of certain documents are being submitted, the same should be duly attested by a Gazetted Officer or Notary Public.
  • For proposals from Government-sponsored bodies, University Departments or Centres and Colleges that are dedicated to the Performing Arts, out of the documents specified at point nos. 7.2 to 7.10 above, only such documents as are relevant to the applicant organization will need to be provided.

• 8.1 All applications received by the National School of Drama (NSD) will be scrutinized for completeness as per the requirements of the Scheme. Applications which are incomplete (without requisite documents provided under clause no.7 above) will not be processed further for evaluation by the Expert Committee.
• 8.2 Before evaluation by the Expert Committee, wherever the Committee so desires, the applications may also be subjected to a pre-verification check with the assistance of any organization under the Ministry of Culture or a group of experts or an agency appointed for the purpose. Alternatively, the proposal may be subjected to a pre-appraisal by a Peer Group the Ministry may constitute in particular cases or as a standing arrangement. The purpose of this pre-verification or pre-appraisal will be to make a local assessment of the standing and the capabilities of the applicant organization and worthiness of the project.
• 8.3Applications complete in all respects will be taken up in batches for consideration by the Expert Committee, which will be appointed by the Ministry of Culture and will meet from time to time during the year, depending on the number of applications received for the grant.
• 8.4 The Expert Committee will evaluate each project proposal on its merit, with specific reference to the following :
  • Whether the applicant organization is well established in the field and has got an identity of its own.
  • Whether the proposal is well-conceived
  • Whether the cost estimates are reasonable; and
  • Whether the organization has capacity or has made arrangements to bring in their matching share to complete the project. (Where the applicant organization has already spent full amount of the matching share, this requirement will be deemed to have been fulfilled).
• 8.5 The Expert Committee will include artistes, representing different fields of performing arts and culture, and may also include an Architect, a Civil Engineer and a Technical Expert in light/sound/stage craft, as also concerned officials of Ministry of Culture.

• 9.1 On approval of the project proposal, the Ministry will communicate the decision to the organization, indicating the approved total cost of the project, the quantum of assistance sanctioned, the quantum of matching share of the organization and other terms and conditions for release of the sanctioned amount of assistance.
• 9.2 The sanction letter will also specify the building/ equipments for which the assistance has been sanctioned.
• 9.3 The sanctioned amount of assistance will be released in installments in the following manner.
  • 9.3.1 First Installment: The first installment equal to 40% of the sanctioned assistance will be released on approval of the project proposal/sanction by the Ministry without any further correspondence.
  • 9.3.2 Second Installment: The second installment equal to 30% of the sanctioned grant will be released on submission of:
    • Physical and financial progress report on the project from a registered Architect, giving details of the work already carried out/ completed, along with the photographs of site.
    • A certificate from registered Architect to the effect that: The project has been completed/ is in progress as per the approved plan; That there has been no violation of the local laws or the approved plan of construction/development; The work done is of satisfactory quality; and indicating Valuation of the cost of the work done and the further amount required to complete the project.
    • The audited statement of accounts of the project, duly signed by a Chartered Accountant.
    • A Utilization Certificate from Chartered Accountant, certifying that the first installment of assistance has been fully utilized for the project.
    • A certificate from Chartered Accountant certifying that the organization has spent 40% of its matching share.
  • 9.3.3 Final Installment: The final installment equal to 30% of the sanctioned grant will be released after:
    • The grantee organization has submitted the following documents:
      • Physical and financial progress report on the project from a registered Architect, giving details of the work already carried out/ completed, along with the photographs of site.
      • A certificate from registered Architect to the effect that: • The project has been completed/ is in progress as per the approved plan; • That there has been no violation of the local laws or the approved plan of construction/development; • The work done is of satisfactory quality; and indicating • Valuation of the cost of the work done and the further amount required to complete the project.
      • The audited statement of accounts of the project, duly signed by a Chartered Accountant.
      • A Utilization Certificate from Chartered Accountant, certifying that the second installment of assistance has been fully utilized for the project.
      • A certificate from Chartered Accountant certifying that the organization has spent 70% of its matching share.
    • The Ministry of Culture has got the project physically inspected through its representative(s). Depending on the nature and the size of the project, the Ministry may for such field verification, depute an official from the Ministry and/ or any of its organizations or a team of officials and/ or experts drawn from various offices/disciplines, or it may engage a third party to carry out the inspection. Note If the final requirement of funds arrived at, falls short of the approved project cost or the amount of matching share spent by the organization is less than 40% of the approved project cost, the amount of the last installment of the grant will be reduced correspondingly.
• 9.4 Proposals up to Rs. 25.00 lakhs would be approved by the concerned Joint Secretary, on the recommendation of the Expert Committee and proposals above Rs. 25.00 lakhs and up to Rs. 50.00 lakhs, would be approved at the level of Secretary (Culture).

• 10.1 Separate accounts shall be maintained in respect of the grants released by the Government of India.
• 10.2 The accounts and the site of the project shall be open for inspection by the representatives of the Ministry of Culture at any time for verification.
• 10.3 If the project is not completed within a period of three years from the date of release of the 1st installment, no further grant shall be released to the organization and the claim will become time barred.
• 10.4 The accounts of the organization will be open to audit at any time by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India or his nominees at his discretion.
• 10.5 Within six months of the close of the financial year of the release of grant or any installment thereof, the grantee shall submit to the Government of India a Statement of Accounts audited and certified by a Chartered Accountant setting out the expenditure incurred on the approved project and a Utilization Certificate indicating the utilization of the Government of India grant in the preceding year. If the utilization certificate is not submitted within the said period, the grantee may be asked to refund immediately the whole amount of the grant received together with interest thereon at the prevailing borrowing rate of the Government of India unless specially exempted by the Government of India.
• 10.6 For closure of the case the applicant shall submit the following documents within 6 months of the close of the financial year in which the final installment is released: a) In cases of projects involving new construction, copy of the intimation of completion of the building sent to the appropriate civic authority or the Completion certificate issued by it; and in cases of projects involving purchase of ready built space, copy of the receipts of all the payments made to the builder/ seller, possession letter, and the registration/ ownership deed.
  • Project completion report from the architect.
  • Certificate from the Chartered Accountant that the organization has spent full amount of its matching share.
• 10.7 A register of the permanent and semi-permanent assets acquired wholly or mainly out of the Government of India grant should be maintained in prescribed form (FORM GFR-19). Every year, a copy of this register should be furnished to the Ministry of Culture by the grantee.
• 10.8 The grantee shall execute a bond in prescribed form with two sureties, in favor of the President of India, providing therein that he will abide by the conditions of the grant. In the event of his failing to comply with the conditions of the grant or committing a breach of the bond, the grantee and the sureties shall individually or jointly refund to the President of India the entire amount of the grant, together with interest thereon at the prevailing borrowing rate of the Government of India.
• 10.9 The first lien on the buildings and other assets acquired with Central assistance will vest in the President of India and neither the building nor the equipment shall be leased or mortgaged to other parties without the prior approval of the Government of India. Provided, however, that the lease of the studio theatre or other facilities, so acquired, to other parties for temporary use shall be excluded from this rule.
• 10.10 If at any stage the Government is not satisfied about the proper utilization of the Government grant, or of the facilities created out of it, the Government may ask for the refund of the entire amount of the grant together with interest thereon at the prevailing lending rates of the Government of India.
• 10.11 The grantee organization will acknowledge the financial support of the Government of India, Ministry of Culture by appropriately displaying the name of the Ministry at the studio theatre/ cultural space developed with assistance under the Scheme.
• 10.12 The grantee organization will be solely responsible for any violation of the laws governing construction of buildings or the use of land and buildings as may be applicable in the local area.
• 10.13 Such other conditions as may be imposed by the Government of India from time to time.
• 10.14 The Organizations should mandatorily organize at least 02 activities (function, lecture, seminar, workshop, exhibition etc.) in any of the schools in their vicinity. A certificate to this effect from the Principal of school would be a mandatory requirement for release of 2nd installment”.

The cases sanctioned under the erstwhile Scheme of Building Grants to Cultural Organizations will not be usually reopened nor will the sanctioned amount be usually enhanced under the provisions of this scheme, but the installments pending for disbursement in such cases of building grant may, at the request of the grantee organization, be released by following the procedure and the documentary requirements contemplated in this scheme for the release of different installments. However, in cases where no installments have been released, the grantee organization may request for cancellation of the earlier sanction and fresh consideration of its project under this scheme. In past cases where the sanctioned grant has not been released in full and the project is lying incomplete and the grantee organization seeks a review of its case and enhancement of the sanctioned grant under this scheme, a view will be taken on a case to case basis.