Artistes Pension Scheme and Welfare Fund

This scheme is meant for improving the financial and socio-economic status of the old artistes and scholars who due to old age have to lead a miserable life. The Scheme also envisages to provide medical aid facility to these Artistes and his/her spouse by covering them under a convenient and affordable Health Insurance Scheme of the Government for treatment of diseases involving hospitalization through an identified network of health care providers.

This Scheme has following two provisions/components:-

• National Artistes Pension Fund

• National Artistes Medical Aid Fund 

National Artistes Pension Fund (NAPF)

• Assistance from the Government may be in the form of monthly allowance. Such allowance given to the Artistes recommended under the Centre-State Quota will be shared by the Centre and State Government /UT Administration concerned, with the latter paying a monthly allowance of at least Rs.500/- per month per beneficiary.

• The monthly allowance contributed by the Central Government in such cases shall not exceed Rs. 3500/- per month per beneficiary and in cases of those recommended under Central Quota the assistance shall not exceed Rs.4000/- per month per beneficiary.

Selection of Applicants - NAPF

The names of the deserving candidates for award of Artistes Pension will be decided on the basis of financial position and eminence etc. of the applicants by the Central Government on the recommendations of the Expert Committee constituted by Ministry of Culture, subject to availability of fund.  The cases of all recommended candidates will be placed before Minister in charge of Ministry of Culture for approval

Eligibility Criteria - NAPF

• To be eligible for assistance under the Scheme, a person's contribution to art and letters, etc must be of significance.

• Traditional scholars who have made significant contribution in their fields would also be eligible notwithstanding the absence of any published works.

• Personal income of the applicant (including income of the spouse) must not exceed Rs. 4000/- per month.

• The applicant should not be less than 60 years of age

• For in-between period the artists who are awardees (State Awardees or National Awardees) and who can substantially prove their source of earning from the art activity during their active age will be eligible to apply. Such applicants should be recommended by the State Government and physically inspected by one of the organizations of Ministry of Culture before bringing it to the Expert Committee.

Application Procedure - NAPF

The eligible artistes may submit their applications in prescribed form  enclosing therewith the following requisite documents, through respective State Government/UT Administrations with their recommendations. Without recommendations of State Government/UT Administrations, the application shall not be considered and rejected summarily.

The application may also be made online through using the Registration/login Page of Culture Scheme Monitoring System (CSMS)  on the website of the Ministry of Culture www.indiaculture.gov.in under the heading of ‘MOC Schemes Application’.

Till the Ministry of Culture allows/develops fully end-to-end receiving online application process, the hard copy of duly filled-in application form for award of Artistes Pension along with all the necessary enclosures as mentioned in the application form may be sent to respective State Government/UT Administrations with their recommendations in the prescribed format.

The Director, South Central Zonal Cultural Centre, 56/1, Civil Lines, Opposite MLA’s Hostel, Nagpur, Maharashtra, Pin- 440001

All entries in the application form should be legible and filled clearly. Incomplete applications and applications without the recommendation of respective State Government/UT Administrations and necessary enclosures as mentioned in the application form will not be entertained, in any respect and rejected summarily. Each page of the application and enclosures should be serially numbered and signed by the applicant. Further the page number of the relevant document should clearly be indicated on the checklist. 

Ministry of Culture may make such changes in the Application Form as may be felt necessary from time to time.

Documents Required

All documents must be in English or Hindi. Documents in other than English or Hindi should be accompanied with typed English translation from authorized translator.

• A recent (not older than six months) clear & coloured passport size photograph of the applicant to be affixed on the specified place in the application form;

• Self attested copy of any one document from the following listed documents for address proof:-

  • Aadhaar Card issued by Unique Identification Authority of India(UIDAI);

  • Elector’s photo identity card;

  • Passport;

  • Driving License;

  • Electricity Bill, of not more than 3 months old;

  • Landline telephone or broadband connection bill;

  • Water Bill, of not more than 3 months old;

  • Consumer gas connection card or book or piped gas bill;

  • Bank account statement

  • Domicile certificate issued by the Government;

  • Passport of the spouse;

  • Post office pass book having address of the applicant;

  • Property registration document

• Self attested copy of any one document from the following listed documents for proof of Date of Birth:-

  • Aadhaar Card issued by UIDAI;

  • PAN Card

  • Elector’s photo identity card;

  • Passport;

  • Driving License;

  • Birth Certificate issued by the Municipal Authority or any office authorized to issue Birth and Death Certificate by the Registrar of Birth and Deaths;

  • Marriage certificate issued by Registrar of Marriages;

  • Matriculation/10th class certificate or mark sheet of recognized Board;

  • Domicile certificate issued by the Government. 

Certificate enclosed by an applicant in support of Date of Birth issued by a Doctor/any other authority certifying age on the basis of physical appearance of the applicant will not be accepted and application of such applicant will be rejected summarily

• Self attested copy of Aadhaar Card issued by UIDAI.

• Original copy of Income Certificate in the prescribed format issued by the Competent Authority of the State/UTs concerned.

• Copies of relevant documents which support the applicant’s contributions made in the field of Art, Culture etc. or awards, recognition, or distinction received by the applicant from Central/State Government/Union Territory or any prominent Literary or Arts Society.

• Duly filled-in and signed prescribed Bank Authorization letter which is verified & signed by the Manager of the concerned Bank (in original).

• Recommendation letter obtained from the Culture Department of concerned Stated Government/UT Administrations in the prescribed format

Discontinuance of Allowance

• If the financial means of a recipient improve beyond Rs. 4000/- per month, allowance under the Scheme will be discontinued.

• Government may also at its discretion terminate the allowance after giving three months' notice to the recipient.

• Any recipient may also resign his/ her right to receive allowance by giving written notice to the Government. In such cases, the allowance will be discontinued with effect from the date of his/ her letter of resignation.

In case of Death

The mode of payment, in case of death of the recipient, of financial assistance will be as under:

• For spouse : Till life

• For dependents : Till marriage or employment or upto the age of 21 years, whichever is earlier.

National Artistes Medical Aid Fund (NAMAF)

The objective of this fund shall be to provide a convenient and affordable Health Insurance Coverage of the Government for the existing beneficiary Artistes and his/her spouse the quality medical care for treatment of diseases involving hospitalization through an identified network of heath care provider.

The expenses on getting Health Insurance coverage of the existing beneficiaries and his/her spouse shall be borne by the Central Government in addition to the monthly pension amount being disbursed to them.

Eligibility Criteria - NAMAF

The existing beneficiary Artistes who are getting financial assistance under the ‘Scheme for Pension and Medical Aid to Artistes’ along with his/her spouse will be eligible to get this facility.

Application Forms

• Annexure II(A) - Income Certificate

• Annexure II(B) - Income Certificate Issuing Authorities

• Annexure III - Life Certificate

• Annexure IV - Bank Authorisation Letter

• Aadhaar Holder Consent Form

• Aadhaar Linking Bank Account Form