Context: Sangeet Natak Akademi recently announced plans to set up the first-of-its-kind Dakshin Bharat Sanskritik Kendra in Hyderabad.

Sangeet Natak Akademi

• About: The national level academy for performing arts set up by the Government of India.
• Origin: It was set up by the Indian education ministry on 31 May 1952 and became functional the following year, with the appointment of its first chairman, Dr. P. V. Rajamannar.
• Chairman Appointment: By the President of India for a term of five years.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Culture
• Current Status: It is presently an Autonomous Body of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India and is fully funded by the Government for implementation of its schemes and programmes.
• Functions: The academy functions as the apex body of the performing arts in the country to preserve and promote the vast cultural heritage of India expressed in music, dance and drama.
• Honour: 1,00,000/- (Rupees one lakh) besides a Tamrapatra and Angavastram.

Akademi presently has five centres:

• Kutiyattam Kendra, Thiruvananthapuram for preserving and promoting the age-old Sanskrit theatre of Kerala, Kutiyattam.
• Sattriya Kendra, Guwahati for promoting the Sattriya traditions of Assam.
• North-East Centre, Guwahati for preserving the traditional and folk performing art traditions of north-eastern India.
• North-East Documentation Centre, Agartala for festival and field documentation in the North-east.
• Chhau Kendra, Chandankiyari for promoting the Chhau Dances of eastern India.