CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS IN INDIA

INTRODUCTION
- India is a land of immense cultural diversity and civilizational continuity.
- Cultural institutions play a vital role in conservation, promotion, documentation and dissemination of India’s tangible and intangible heritage.
- These institutions function under various Ministries, mainly the Ministry of Culture.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA (ASI)
- Established in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham.
- An attached office of the Ministry of Culture.
- Headquarters: New Delhi.
- Governed by:
  - Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
  - Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972.
- Protects and maintains more than 3500 monuments and sites of national importance.
- Major functions:
  - Archaeological surveys and excavations.
  - Conservation and preservation of monuments.
  - Epigraphical and numismatic research.
  - Chemical preservation of monuments.
  - Establishment of site museums.
  - Publication of journals like Epigraphia Indica, Ancient India.

ANTHROPOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA (AnSI)
- Established in 1945 at Varanasi; shifted to Kolkata in 1948.
- Functions under Ministry of Culture.
- Focus areas:
  - Study of tribes and communities.
  - Cultural and biological anthropology.
  - Documentation of traditional crafts and practices.
  - Conservation of skeletal and ethnographic remains.

INDIAN NATIONAL TRUST FOR ART AND CULTURAL HERITAGE (INTACH)
- Founded in 1984.
- A non-profit NGO registered under Societies Registration Act, 1860.
- Headquarters: New Delhi.
- Objectives:
  - Conservation of architectural, natural and cultural heritage.
  - Public awareness through workshops and heritage walks.
- Major awards:
  - INTACH Heritage Award.
  - INTACH Environmental Award.
  - Award for Documentation of Unprotected Heritage.

INDIAN COUNCIL OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH (ICHR)
- Autonomous body under Ministry of Education.
- Headquarters: New Delhi.
- Regional centres: Pune, Bengaluru, Guwahati.
- Functions:
  - Promotion of historical research.
  - Financial assistance through fellowships and grants.
  - Organising seminars and symposia.

ASIATIC SOCIETY
- Founded in 1784 by Sir William Jones.
- Headquarters: Kolkata.
- Major role:
  - Preservation of ancient manuscripts.
  - Promotion of research in humanities and sciences.
  - Maintenance of libraries and museums.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF MODERN ART (NGMA)
- Established in 1954.
- Under Ministry of Culture.
- Headquarters: Jaipur House, New Delhi.
- Branches: Mumbai and Bengaluru.
- Functions:
  - Preservation of modern Indian art (post-1850).
  - Houses works of Raja Ravi Varma, Amrita Sher-Gil, Rabindranath Tagore etc.

NATIONAL MUSEUM, NEW DELHI
- Established in 1949.
- Under Ministry of Culture.
- Based on Maurice Gwyer Committee recommendations.
- Houses:
  - Artifacts of Indian and foreign origin.
  - Archaeological, historical and cultural collections.

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF SCIENCE MUSEUMS (NCSM)
- Autonomous body under Ministry of Culture.
- Largest network of science museums in the world.
- Developed:
  - 45 science centres across India.
  - India’s first Science City at Kolkata (1997).
- Objective:
  - Promote scientific temper among citizens.

INDIAN COUNCIL FOR CULTURAL RELATIONS (ICCR)
- Established in 1950.
- Under Ministry of External Affairs.
- Founded by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
- Objectives:
  - Promotion of Indian culture abroad.
  - Cultural exchange programmes.
  - International cultural cooperation.

NATIONAL MISSION FOR MANUSCRIPTS (NMM)
- Established in 2003.
- Under Ministry of Culture.
- India has the world’s largest manuscript wealth (over 10 million).
- Functions:
  - Identification and documentation of manuscripts.
  - Conservation and digitisation.
  - Public accessibility.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF INDIA (NAI)
- Established in 1891 at Calcutta.
- Headquarters: New Delhi.
- Repository of records dating from 1748 onwards.
- Functions:
  - Scientific preservation of records.
  - Archival training and research.

INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL CENTRE FOR THE ARTS (IGNCA)
- Established in 1985.
- Autonomous institution under Ministry of Culture.
- Headquarters: New Delhi.
- Focus:
  - Interdisciplinary research.
  - Seminars, exhibitions and documentation.
  - Art, culture and heritage studies.

CENTRE FOR CULTURAL RESOURCES AND TRAINING (CCRT)
- Established by Ministry of Culture.
- Headquarters: New Delhi.
- Regional centres:
  - Udaipur, Hyderabad, Guwahati.
- Functions:
  - Teacher training programmes.
  - Integration of culture with education.
- Award:
  - CCRT Teachers’ Award.

DIRECTORATE OF FILM FESTIVALS
- Established in 1973.
- Under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
- Functions:
  - Organisation of National Film Awards.
  - Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
  - Indian Panorama selection.
  - International film festival coordination.

CRAFTS COUNCIL OF INDIA (CCI)
- Founded in 1964 by Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay.
- Headquarters: Chennai.
- Functions:
  - Promotion of handicrafts.
  - Skill development and marketing support.
  - Artisan welfare.

LALIT KALA ACADEMY
- Established in 1954.
- Autonomous body under Ministry of Culture.
- Headquarters: New Delhi.
- Functions:
  - Promotion of visual arts.
  - National Art Awards.
  - Research and exhibitions.

SANGEET NATAK ACADEMY
- Established in 1952.
- Under Ministry of Culture.
- Focus:
  - Music, dance and drama.
  - Preservation of intangible cultural heritage.
- Established National School of Drama in 1959.

NATIONAL SCHOOL OF DRAMA (NSD)
- Established in 1959.
- Became autonomous in 1975.
- Premier institution for theatre training in India.

SAHITYA ACADEMY
- Established in 1954.
- Autonomous body under Ministry of Culture.
- Promotes literature in 24 Indian languages.
- Awards:
  - Sahitya Akademi Award.
  - Fellowships and translation awards.

ALL INDIA RADIO (AIR)
- Established in 1936.
- Known as Akashvani since 1957.
- Operates under Prasar Bharati.
- Coverage:
  - Reaches over 99% of India’s population.
- Role:
  - Public service broadcasting.
  - Information dissemination and cultural preservation.

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Subject: Art and Culture

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