Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State Policy and Fundamental Duties embodied by the Constitution of India, 1950

Ministry of Culture, Government of India has 8 National level Cultural Institutions directly under it and is responsible for 34 Autonomous Organizations. Through these institutions and organizations the policies, measures and various cultural schemes are implemented at all levels-local, regional, national and international. "Any section of the citizens residing in the territory of India or any part thereof having a distinct language, script or culture of its own shall have the right to conserve the same" - Article 29 of the Constitution of India, 1950 "It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture" - Article 51 A(F) of the Constitution of India, 1950. Following legislations have been formulated by India pertaining to cultural policies: 1. The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958 2. The Delivery of Books (Public Libraries) Act of 1952 3. The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act of 1972 4. Public Records Act of 1993 There are 26 grant-in-aid schemes being implemented directly by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The grant-in-aid is given to voluntary Cultural Organizations/ individuals in the form of financial assistance who are engaged in the area of promotion of art and culture. These schemes are: I. Performing Art Sector 1. Financial Assistance for Promotion of Art & Culture • Financial Assistance to Professional Groups and Individuals for Specified Performing Art Projects. • Cultural Functions Grant Scheme (erstwhile Research Support to Voluntary Organizations engaged in Cultural Activities). • Financial Assistance to Cultural Organizations with a National Presence. • Financial Assistance for Promotion & Dissemination of Tribal/Folk Art. • Preservation and Development of the Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas. • Scheme of MIS and automation of Grants-in-aid schemes under Ministry of Culture 2. Scheme for Building Grants to Voluntary Organizations. 3. Tagore Cultural Complexes (erstwhile Setting up of Multi-purpose Cultural Complexes including those for children). 4. Scheme on intangible Cultural Heritage • Scheme for the Safeguarding and Other Protective Measures in the area of Intangible Heritage and Cultural Diversity (arising out of UNESCO Convention). • Pilot Scheme for Cultural industries • Scheme for Sustaining the Living and Diverse Cultural Traditions of India 5. Setting up of Performing Arts Centre and International Cultural Centers. • Setting up National Centre of Performing Art • Scheme for setting up of International Cultural Centers at Kolkata, West Bengal and Chennai, Tamil Nadu (States of India) 6. Artists’ Pension Scheme • Financial Assistance to persons distinguished in letters, arts and such other walks of life that may be in indigent circumstances and their dependents • Creating National Artists Welfare Funds 7. Fellowship Scheme • Award of Senior/ Junior Fellowships to outstanding Artists in the field of Performing, Literacy and Plastic Arts. • Fellowships to Scholars for Flexible Engagement in knowledge Institutions under the Ministry of Culture (Renamed as ‘Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research’). New Schemes 8. Scheme for Financial Support to State Akademies. 9. Scheme for TV Programs on Art & Culture. 10. Scheme for setting up of Centers of Excellence. 11. Scheme of Financial Assistance for Publication of Magazines and Journals dedicated to Indian Culture and Heritage. 12. Scheme for setting up of National/ State Schools of Drama. II. Buddhist & Tibetan Institutions Sector 13. Preservation and Development of Buddhist/ Tibetan Culture and Art. New Schemes 14. Setting up of Bodh Darshan Higher Study School, Tabo (Himachal Pradesh). III. Museums Sector 15. Museum Schemes • Promotion and Strengthening of Regional and Local Museums. • Scheme for Modernization of Museums in Metro Cities. • Scheme for Public Private Partnership (PPP) for providing financial assistance for establishment of large scale museums. New Schemes 16. Digitization of Museums Collections and Academic Facilities for Museum Related Disciplines • Scheme for financial assistance for digitization of Museum collections for making their catalogues / images available over internet. • Scheme for financial assistance for Management Course and other Additional academic facilities for museum-related disciplines. 17. Capacity Building and training scheme for Museum professionals 18. Scheme for financial assistance for establishment of a National Heritage Sites Commission. 19. Scheme for financial assistance to National Museum Authority 20. Scheme for financial assistance for establishment of a Central Cultural University. IV. Public Library Sector 21. Setting up of a National Mission on Libraries, leading to the formulation of a Commission. 22. Publishing Scheme • Financial Assistance to Publishing (a) Research on Culture (b). Important Manuscript (c). Record of History (d). Co-publishing of Book on Culture. • Financial Assistance to Library / Cultural institute for preservation and Conservation of old and rare document/Manuscripts. (c). Record of History (d). Co-publishing of Book on Culture. V. Memorials Centenaries and Others 23. Development of Jallianwala Bagh Memorial. 24. Centenaries and Celebration Scheme. VI. International Cultural Relations 25. International Cultural Activities and Grants to Indo-Friendship Societies New Scheme 26. Schemes on International Relations. • A Permanent National Pavilion of India at Venice Biennale. • Indian Literature Abroad • Financial Assistance for Artistes and cultural professionals going abroad for seminars, festivals and exhibitions on Cultural subjects. • Scheme for financial assistance to foreign artistes desiring to study and/or learn Indian Culture in any form like dance, music, drama. • Financial Assistance for Book Fairs, Book Exhibitions and participation in International Book Fairs/Publishing Events etc. In addition to the above schemes, Ministry of Culture administers the following Plan schemes also: 1.National Mission for Manuscripts: The National Mission for Manuscripts was launched in February 2003. This Mission aims at cataloguing, conserving and collecting the invaluable manuscripts from all over the country. The Mission has already established a network of Manuscripts Resources Centers and Conservation Centers all over India. 2. National Mission on Libraries: It aims to pointedly address the problems of Public Libraries and to upgrade the infrastructure and technological environment of the public libraries with in a time frame. For development of various libraries proposed to be covered under National Mission on Libraries, the programmes of up-gradation of infrastructures of Public Libraries are being taken up through Raja Rammohum Roy Library Foundation, Kolkata. 3. Gandhi Heritage Sites Mission including Dandi related Projects: Development of Gandhi Heritage Sites and Establishment of Gandhi Heritage Sites Portal in Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmadabad has been set up for restoration, maintenance, conservation and development and also for preservation of writings/publications etc. of Gandhiji. The Construction of Memorial at Dandi has been taken up for implementation of announcements made by Hon’ble P.M. on the occasion of 75th Anniversary of Dandi March. Apart from it, the Ministry also gives Plan grants-in-aid to following Institutions/ Organizations: 35. Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji's Sarasvati Mahal Library (TMSSML), Thanjavur 36. Asiatic Society, Mumbai 37. Tawang Monastery 38. Namgyal Institute of Tibetolaogy, Sikkim 39. Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Dharmshala 40. Vrindavan Research Institute 41. Central Library, Mumbai 42. Connemara Library 43. Tibet House Besides, Ministry of Culture has certain schemes/ projects being implemented under Non-Plan Head like Centenaries and Anniversaries; Gandhi Peace Prize; Festival of India; Development and Maintenance of National Memorials; Delegation under Cultural Exchange Programme; Shanker International Children Competition; Presentation of books and art objects; Institutions/ Individuals engaged in literary activities; Khalsa Heritage Project; Contribution to World Heritage Fund; Contribution to UNESCO; Contribution to International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA); Travel Grant to eminent Artist; GRL, Monastic School, Bomdila; Tagore Award for Universal Brotherhood, etc. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) was founded in 1950 and Its objectives are to actively participate in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes pertaining to India’s external cultural relations; to foster and strengthen cultural relations and mutual understanding between India and other countries; to promote cultural exchanges with other countries and people; and to develop relations with national and inter-national organizations in the field of culture; and to take such measures as may be required to further these objectives. The Ministry of Textiles, Government of India is responsible for policy formulation, planning, development, export promotion and trade regulation of the Textiles Industry. This includes all natural and man made cellulosic fibres that go into the making of textiles, clothing, and handicrafts. The Ministry has the vision to build state of the art production capacities and achieve a pre-eminent global standing in manufacture and export of all types of textiles including technical textiles, jute, silk, cotton and wool and develop a vibrant handlooms and handicrafts sector for sustainable economic development and promoting and preserving the age old cultural heritage in these sectors. The policies and measures are based on the following mission: To promote planned and harmonious growth of textiles by making available adequate fibres to all sectors. To promote technological upgradation for all types of textiles including technical textiles, jute, silk, cotton and wool. To promote skills of all textile workers, handloom weavers and handicrafts artisans, creation of new employment opportunities and development of new designs to make these sectors economically sustainable. To ensure proper working environment and easy access to health care facilities and insurance cover to weavers and artisans to achieve better quality of life. To promote exports of all types of textiles and clothing and handicrafts and increase India’s share of world exports in these sectors. The Ministry strives to make available adequate raw material to all sectors of the Textiles Industry, to augment the production of fabrics at reasonable prices from the organised and decentralised sectors, to lay down guidelines for a planned and harmonious growth of various sectors with special emphasis on the development of the handlooms sector due to its large employment potential, to monitor the techno-economic status of the industry and to provide the requisite policy framework for modernization and rehabilitation. The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India functions as the nodal agency for the development of tourism in the country. It plays a crucial role in coordinating and supplementing the efforts of the State/Union Territory Governments, catalyzing private investment, strengthening promotional and marketing efforts and in providing trained manpower resources. The functions of the Ministry in this regard mainly consist of the following: Development Policies. Incentives. External Assistance. Manpower Development. Promotion & Marketing. Investment Facilitation. Organizing cultural festivals at various heritage sites of India. All these Ministries of the Government of India and their subsidiary and autonomous organizations implement the measures through various grant-in-aid schemes and project missions to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions of India. A defining feature of India is its diversity in terms of religion, caste, language and culture. India adopted a federal structure, with states constituted on a linguistic basis, as the primary mechanism to accommodate the different linguistic groups and to ensure their effective integration into the economic, political, social and cultural mainstream. The demographic and geographical vastness of India poses challenges of direct accessibility of various policies and measures that promulgate the protection and promotion of the cultural diversity. This has posed a new set of issues for multiculturalism and the overall national process of socio-economic and cultural development.