NATIONAL CULTURE FUND (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 - Art and Culture)

Context: During a recent Lok Sabha session, the Union Minister for Culture discussed the operational aspects of the National Culture Fund.

National Culture Fund

• About: The NCF is a trust that facilitates donor institutions in supporting the protection, restoration, conservation, and development of India's cultural heritage in partnership with the government.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Culture.
• Establishment: Formed as a Trust under the Charitable Endowment Act, 1890 in 1996.
• Objectives:

o Conservation and Preservation: Manage and utilize the Fund for the conservation, maintenance, promotion, protection, preservation, and enhancement of monuments.

o Specialist Training: Provide training and support for the development of specialists and cultural administrators.

o Museum Expansion: Expand existing museums and build new ones to create or accommodate special galleries.

o Cultural Documentation: Document cultural expressions and forms that are becoming obsolete or facing extinction.

• Composition:

o Governing Council: Managed by a Governing Council chaired by the Minister of Culture, with up to 25 members setting policies.

o Executive Committee: Led by the Secretary of Culture, with up to 11 members executing policies.

• Role of NCF:

o Partnerships: Partners with Corporations, NGOs, etc., to implement heritage preservation projects, allowing donors to specify project details, locations, and implementing agencies.

o Project Monitoring: Prevents delays in PPP projects through regular monitoring by the Project Implementation Committee, led by the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India or Ministry of Culture officials.

o Donations: Accepts donations from Corporations, PSUs, Trusts, and Individuals for maintaining and preserving centrally protected monuments and cultural projects. Donors must comply with the terms and conditions of the MoU for each project.