Scholarships to Young Artists in Different Cultural Fields (SYA)

Scholarships to Young Artists in Different Cultural Fields (SYA)

Context

The Ministry of Culture is implementing the ‘Scholarships to Young Artists in Different Cultural Fields (SYA)’ scheme to support young artists in various cultural domains, including classical dance, indigenous artwork, and traditional art forms.

• This scheme aims to provide financial assistance for advanced training to talented individuals who have been training under a Guru or Institution for at least five years.

Relevance:
GS-02 (Government policies and interventions)

Key Highlights

1. Scholarship Details:
   • A scholarship of Rs. 5,000 per month is provided to up to 400 scholars.
   • The scholarship is distributed over a period of 2 years in four equal six-monthly installments.
   • Eligible candidates must be between 18 to 25 years old.
2. Selection Process:
   • Scholars are selected based on their performance in a personal interview or interaction with an Expert Committee constituted by the Ministry.
3. Recognized Cultural Fields:
   • Scholarships are awarded in various fields including:
     • Indian Classical Music
     • Indian Classical Dance/Dance Music
     • Theatre
     • Visual Arts
     • Folk, Traditional, and Indigenous Arts
     • Light Classical Music
4. Scheme and Funding:
   • The SYA scheme is a component of the ‘Scheme of Scholarship and Fellowship for Promotion of Art and Culture’.
   • Funds allocated for this scheme over the last five years are as follows:
     • 2019-20: Rs. 12.30 crores
     • 2020-21: Rs. 15.83 crores
     • 2021-22: Rs. 21.25 crores
     • 2022-23: Rs. 23.68 crores
     • 2023-24: Rs. 16.22 crores
5. Beneficiary Data:
   • State-wise details of beneficiaries and fund utilization over the last five years, including Andhra Pradesh, are documented in Annexure-I and Annexure-II.

Significance

1. Promotion of Cultural Heritage: The scheme supports the preservation and promotion of India’s rich cultural heritage by nurturing young talent in various traditional art forms.
2. Financial Assistance: Providing financial aid helps young artists to focus on their training without the burden of financial constraints, ensuring they can achieve excellence in their fields.
3. Encouragement for Youth: The initiative motivates young artists to pursue advanced training and contributes to the development of a new generation of skilled practitioners in traditional arts.
4. Balanced Regional Development: By providing state-wise data on beneficiaries, the scheme ensures that talented individuals from across the country, including underrepresented regions, receive equal opportunities.