Financial Assistance For Development Of Buddhist/Tibetan Arts And Culture

What is the Financial Assistance for Development of Buddhist/Tibetan Arts and Culture scheme?

Financial Assistance for Development of Buddhist/Tibetan Arts and Culture is a grant scheme of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The scheme strengthens voluntary Buddhist and Tibetan organisations: including monasteries — that work to propagate and scientifically develop Buddhist and Tibetan culture, tradition and research in related fields.

According to the Ministry of Culture, an eligible organisation can receive up to Rs 30 lakh per year. For all-India organisations that run monastic schools, assistance can go beyond this ceiling in exceptional cases with the approval of the Expert Advisory Committee and the Ministry. The grant is meant to support cultural, educational and research activity, and in eligible cases civil construction for institutions such as monastic schools.

Key features

• Central grant scheme administered by the Ministry of Culture.
• Grant of up to Rs 30 lakh per year per eligible organisation.
• Aimed at registered voluntary Buddhist/Tibetan organisations and monasteries.
• Covers propagation, scientific development and research on Buddhist/Tibetan culture, and construction of monastic-school infrastructure in eligible cases.

This is an institutional scheme. It funds organisations that preserve and develop a living cultural tradition; it is not a personal scholarship or an individual benefit.

Who is eligible for the Buddhist/Tibetan culture scheme?

An organisation can apply if it:

• Is a voluntary Buddhist/Tibetan organisation or monastery.
• Is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (or a corresponding state law), with the registration certified by a gazetted officer.
• Has been functioning for at least three years in the field of Buddhist/Tibetan studies.
• Is of regional or all-India character.
• Is not receiving a grant from another source for the same purpose.

Preference is given to organisations that can contribute matching funds and that have a demonstrable track record.

Who cannot apply:

• Individuals cannot apply. This is not a personal benefit. Individual artists, monks or scholars seeking personal support must look to other Ministry of Culture schemes.
• Organisations that are not registered, or that have functioned for less than three years in the field, are not eligible.
• Organisations already funded from another source for the identical activity cannot claim a second grant for the same purpose.

How much does the scheme provide?

The Ministry of Culture fixes the maximum grant at Rs 30 lakh per year for an eligible organisation. All-India organisations running monastic schools may, in exceptional cases, receive more than this with the Expert Advisory Committee's and the Ministry's approval.

Grants are typically released in instalments. A performance-cum-achievement report on the activity undertaken must be submitted, duly bound, at the time of seeking the second and final instalment. This links the release of further funds to actual progress on the sanctioned activity.

What documents are required?

How to apply for the Buddhist/Tibetan culture grant

1. Confirm the organisation is a registered voluntary Buddhist/Tibetan body or monastery with at least three years of work in the field.
2. Prepare the application on the Ministry's prescribed form, attaching the registration certificate, Memorandum of Association, three years of audited accounts and annual reports, and a detailed project proposal with a fund breakdown.
3. Submit the application to the State Government or Union Territory administration, which forwards it with its recommendation to the Ministry of Culture. Organisations in North-Eastern States, Sikkim, and the Leh and Kargil districts apply directly to the Ministry with the District Collector's recommendation.
4. On sanction, execute the grant conditions and submit a performance-cum-achievement report before claiming the second and final instalment.

Help and where to check details

The scheme is administered by the Ministry of Culture. The official scheme page and the application form (FormBuddhist.pdf) are hosted on culture.gov.in, and the Ministry of Culture can be reached on 011-23382423. Because the eligibility and documentation are specific, organisations should read the current scheme guidelines on the Ministry portal and confirm the year's application window before applying, since the Ministry has in recent cycles used a central nodal institution to receive and scrutinise applications.