Young Artists Scholarship Statistics: Scholars Paid, Applications and States

What the numbers show

The Award of Scholarships to Young Artists in Different Cultural Fields is a small, fixed-size scheme. Every batch has 400 scholarships, and each scholar gets Rs 5,000 a month for two years. The Ministry of Culture told the Lok Sabha on 15 December 2025 that it paid 1,077 scholars Rs 325.5 lakh in 2024-25. In 2025-26, up to 30 October 2025, it had already paid 1,079 scholars Rs 327.00 lakh.

The number of scholars paid in a year is higher than 400 because two batches overlap. A scholar receives four six-monthly instalments, so in any year the ministry is paying both the new batch and the one before it.

Payments over the years

Payments swing a lot from year to year. 1,293 scholars were paid in 2021-22, only 396 in 2022-23, and 1,507 in 2023-24, the highest in the period. The amount followed the same pattern, from Rs 390.30 lakh to Rs 118.80 lakh and then Rs 452.40 lakh. The reply explains that release after the first instalment depends on scholars sending their six-monthly reports on time, so delays in reports and in batch selection both move these numbers.

Competition for places

Demand is far higher than supply. The 2022-23 batch drew 3,885 applications for 400 places. Batches were also running late: applications for the 2019-20 batch were invited only in 2021, and in December 2025 applications for the 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 batches were still being received.

State differences

West Bengal dominates the scheme. It sent 804 applications for the 2022-23 batch and had 70 scholars approved, more than any other state. In 2024-25, 219 of the scholars paid were from West Bengal, followed by Madhya Pradesh (104) and Uttar Pradesh (97). Odisha, Maharashtra and Karnataka also do well. Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland sent no applications at all in any of the four batches listed.

What the figures do not tell you

The tables count scholars who received money in a year, not new scholars, so the same person can appear in two years. The reply does not say how many scholars dropped out or had instalments stopped. It also does not split the figures by art form, so it is not possible to see whether music, dance or theatre gets more scholarships.

How many young artist scholarships are given each year?

Each batch has 400 scholarships. The Ministry of Culture approved 400 scholars in every batch from 2019-20 to 2022-23, according to its Lok Sabha reply of 15 December 2025.

How many people apply for the young artists scholarship?

The 2022-23 batch received 3,885 applications for 400 places. The 2019-20 batch received 3,083, the 2020-21 batch 1,441 and the 2021-22 batch 2,782.

How much money was paid under the scheme in 2024-25?

Rs 325.5 lakh was paid to 1,077 scholars in 2024-25. In 2025-26, Rs 327.00 lakh had been paid to 1,079 scholars by 30 October 2025.

Which state gets the most young artist scholarships?

West Bengal leads by a wide margin. It had 219 scholars paid in 2024-25 and sent 804 applications for the 2022-23 batch, with 70 approved.

Why did payments drop in 2022-23?

Only 396 scholars were paid in 2022-23, against 1,293 the year before. The reply does not give a reason. Payments depend on batch timing and on scholars sending their six-monthly reports, since later instalments are released only after a report arrives.