Goa government runs Kalakar Kritadnyata Nidhi (KKN) Scheme to give money help to aged and needy Goan artists and their dependent family members. For the year 2025-26, the state has set aside ₹25 lakh for this scheme, and Directorate of Art and Culture has extended the last date for submitting application forms to July 17, 2026.
This scheme covers artists recognised by Directorate of Art and Culture, Goa, whose age is 50 years or above and whose family income from all sources does not cross ₹2 lakh a year, except in case of the lump sum grant after death, where the income limit is ₹25,000 a year. Money under this scheme goes toward marriage of daughters, medical treatment, house repair after natural disasters, funeral costs, scholarships for children of artists, self-employment support, and a lump sum grant when an artist dies.
Kalakar Kritadnyata Nidhi Scheme Application Process
Eligible artists, their family members, co-artists, or any member of the public can apply for this scheme in the prescribed form. Application forms are available on working days at the office of Directorate of Art and Culture. Applicants can also download the form directly instead of visiting the office.
STEP 1 - Download Kalakar Kritadnyata Nidhi Scheme application form PDF directly from https://artandculture.goa.gov.in/sites/default/files/KKN%20FORM.pdf, or collect it in person from Sanskruti Bhavan, Patto, Panaji.
STEP 2 - Fill in personal details, artist recognition details, and the category of help being sought - medical treatment, marriage, funeral, scholarship, self-employment, or lump sum grant.
STEP 3 - Attach required documents such as birth certificate, marriage certificate, dependency certificate, income certificate, and medical certificate, depending on which category of help is claimed.
STEP 4 - Submit the filled form along with documents at Directorate of Art and Culture, Sanskruti Bhavan, Patto, Panaji, Goa.
STEP 5 - A sub-committee formed by the government checks applications and recommends names of artists in genuine need to the Director of Art and Culture for final approval.
Kalakar Kritadnyata Nidhi Yojana application form PDF looks like this:
Application Deadline Extended for 2026
Directorate of Art and Culture announced on June 26, 2026 that the last date to submit application or recommendation forms for schemes it runs, including Kalakar Kritadnyata Nidhi, has moved to July 17, 2026. Artists, groups, individuals, or institutions whose earlier applications were not considered can apply again within this extended window.
Eligibility Criteria for Kalakar Kritadnyata Nidhi Scheme
Following conditions decide who can apply under this scheme:
- Applicant should be a Goan artist born and brought up in Goa, recognised by Directorate of Art and Culture, or a family member of such an artist.
- Family income from all sources should not cross ₹2 lakh a year, except for the lump sum grant category, where the limit is ₹25,000 a year.
- Artist should be 50 years or older, though government can relax this age limit for genuine cases under special circumstances.
- All required documents like birth certificate, marriage certificate, dependency certificate, income certificate, and medical certificate must be attached, or the application gets rejected.
Kalakar Kritadnyata Nidhi Scheme Benefits and Coverage
Money help under this scheme is split into different categories based on need:
- Medical Treatment - Up to ₹50,000 for surgery and treatment costs for the artist or fully dependent family members, with government able to relax the limit for major long-term illness.
- Marriage - Up to ₹20,000 for the first daughter's wedding and ₹15,000 for the second, limited to two fully dependent unmarried daughters.
- Natural Calamity Repair - Up to ₹25,000 or the amount fixed by the Taluka Mamlatdar's valuation, whichever is lower, for house damage from natural disasters.
- Funeral Costs - Up to ₹10,000 to cover funeral expenses of the artist.
- Scholarship - ₹750 a month during the academic year for children of recognised artists studying in postgraduate, degree, or professional courses.
- Self Employment - Up to ₹50,000 or actual cost, whichever is lower, for artists or their family members starting a self-employment venture, provided they haven't taken similar help under any other government scheme.
- Lump Sum Grant - Up to ₹20,000 to the family after an artist's death, given first to the spouse and then divided equally among unmarried or unemployed children, if family income is below ₹25,000 a year.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Kalakar Kritadnyata Nidhi (KKN) Scheme |
| Launched By | Directorate of Art and Culture, Government of Goa |
| Eligible People | Aged and needy Goan artists (50 years or above) and their dependent families |
| Benefit Amount | ₹10,000 to ₹50,000, depending on category of help |
| Application Mode | Offline (form submission at Directorate office) |
| Last Date to Apply (2026) | July 17, 2026 |
| Official Website | artandculture.goa.gov.in |
Nature and Quantum of Assistance
Government deposits ₹10 lakh every year in a bank account meant for this scheme, and a committee decides which artists get money and how much, based on recommendations. Budget papers for 2025-26 show ₹25 lakh set aside for the scheme, up from a revised estimate of ₹20 lakh in 2024-25, during which 10 artists received a total of ₹4.32 lakh in help.
Disbursement Procedure
Once an application reaches Directorate of Art and Culture, a sub-committee checks it closely and the Director gives a recommendation on how much help to sanction. After government approval, the Director releases the one-time money help to the applicant by cheque.
Scheme Guidelines, Relaxation and Grievance Redressal
Government can update guidelines for this scheme from time to time if required, and can relax any clause for genuine cases with reasons recorded. If a dispute comes up about how a clause or the scheme should be read, government's decision is final and binding on all concerned. For any complaint about how the scheme is run, Minister for Art and Culture hears the matter and gives a final decision.
Full guidelines are available in this Goa government notification (PDF) - https://www.goa.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Scheme-Kalakar-Kritadnyata-Nidhi.pdf
Read Kalakar Kritadnyata Nidhi Scheme information at https://www.artandculture.goa.gov.in/pages/schemes-programmes/kalakar-kritadnyata-nidhi-kkn
FAQ's
Is Kalakar Kritadnyata Nidhi Scheme still open in 2026?
Yes. Directorate of Art and Culture has set aside ₹25 lakh for it in the 2025-26 budget and extended the application deadline to July 17, 2026.
Who can apply for this scheme?
Any Goan artist aged 50 or above, recognised by Directorate of Art and Culture, along with their dependent family members, can apply. Family income should not cross ₹2 lakh a year (₹25,000 for the lump sum grant category).
Where can artists submit their application?
Filled forms along with documents go to Directorate of Art and Culture, Sanskruti Bhavan, Patto, Panaji, Goa.
How much money can an artist get under this scheme?
Amount depends on the category, from ₹10,000 for funeral costs to ₹50,000 for medical treatment or self-employment support.