Ministry of Culture, Government of India, runs the Scheme for Award of Senior/Junior Fellowships to Outstanding Persons in The Fields of Culture every year for artists who want to take up research-oriented projects in creative or traditional arts. For the Batch Year 2026-27, applications for 400 fellowships were invited, and selected fellows get a monthly stipend of ₹10,000 to ₹20,000 for two years.
Applications for the 2026-27 batch were accepted only in offline mode from 15 June 2026 to 31 July 2026. That last date has passed, so the next round is expected to open next year. Artists can watch the official websites of the Ministry of Culture and CCRT for the next notification.
Scheme for Award of Senior/Junior Fellowships to Outstanding Persons in The Fields of Culture - Introduction
The scheme provides support to artists in creative arts or those working to revive traditional art forms. Through this scheme, the government helps artistic talent, including artists from rural and tribal regions, by funding research-oriented projects.
Every year, up to 400 fellows are selected, with 200 junior and 200 senior fellowships. You will receive a grant of ₹10,000 or ₹20,000 per month depending on your fellowship category for two years. The focus is on deep study and research into different parts of culture, including new and emerging areas.
Artists looking for similar research support can also check the D. D. Kosambi Research Fellowship Scheme.
The scheme supports many artistic and cultural fields, which are grouped below:
| Performing Arts | Music, Dance, Theatre, and folk or traditional arts including puppetry. |
| Literary Arts | Travelogues, history of literature, and literary theory. |
| Plastic Arts | Graphics, sculpture, painting including folk paintings, and creative photography involving research. |
| New Cultural Areas | Indology, epigraphy, sociology of culture, cultural economics, monument conservation engineering, numismatics, and heritage management. |
You should focus your proposal on new, interdisciplinary, and application-oriented research that applies new techniques to current cultural issues. Theoretical macro-studies are not considered for this fellowship.
Key Information
| Scheme Name | Scheme for Award of Senior/Junior Fellowships to Outstanding Persons in The Fields of Culture |
| Level | Central |
| Scheme For | Individual |
| Beneficiary States | All |
| Category | Sports & Culture |
| Eligible People | Artists |
| Sub Category | Culture |
| Benefit Type | Cash |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Culture |
| Total Fellowships | 400 (200 Junior + 200 Senior) |
| Application Mode | Offline (by post) |
| Official Website | culture.gov.in / ccrtindia.gov.in |
Benefits
This scheme rewards your dedication to art and research with the following financial support:
| Fellowship Type | Age Group | Monthly Stipend |
| Junior Fellowship | 25 to 40 years | ₹10,000 |
| Senior Fellowship | Above 40 years | ₹20,000 |
Additionally, you may receive a one-time grant of up to ₹20,000 or 50% of your publication costs, whichever is lower, to help publish your project documents. This specific grant is restricted to 20% of total awardees. To qualify, you should provide evidence of your capability to complete your research-oriented project successfully.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this fellowship, you should meet the following criteria:
- Age Requirement: For the Batch Year 2026-27, junior fellowship applicants must be born between 1 April 1986 and 31 March 2001 (25 to 40 years), while senior fellowship applicants must be born on or before 1 April 1986 (above 40 years). Age is calculated as of 1 April of the application year.
- Education: Graduation is the minimum qualification only for applicants applying under New Areas related to culture and its sub-fields. There is no fixed minimum educational qualification for performing, literary, and plastic arts.
- Employment Status: If you are a government employee, you should obtain a leave of absence for the 2-year project duration and apply through your Head of Department.
- Pension Status: You should not be receiving a pension from the Ministry of Culture under the scheme for artists in indigent circumstances.
- Prior Fellowship: You should not have got the same fellowship earlier. If you held a Junior Fellowship, you may apply for a Senior Fellowship after 5 years have passed since the completion of your previous project.
Keep in mind that you must submit a progress report every six months so that the funds keep releasing. Your research performance will go through a mid-term review after one year, and future payments depend on a positive assessment.
Exclusions
This fellowship is strictly for research projects. You cannot use these funds for general training, hosting workshops, seminars, documenting personal memoirs, writing autobiographies, or producing fiction.
Application Process
For the Batch Year 2026-27, applications were accepted offline only, and no online applications were entertained. You have to send the hard copy of the filled application form along with a project synopsis by post. The steps below explain how the process works.
STEP 1 - Go to the official websites of the Ministry of Culture or CCRT and download the application form for senior or junior fellowship.
STEP 2 - Read the scheme details, instructions, and eligibility conditions carefully, then fill in the application form. Prepare a project synopsis of 1000 to 1500 words in English or Hindi. For the field of literature, the synopsis can be sent in your regional language.
STEP 3 - Take a printout of the filled application form and keep it with you. You will need it at the time of interview or personal talk, along with your detailed project proposal.
STEP 4 - Send the hard copy of the application form along with the project synopsis by post only to The Director, CCRT, 15A, Sector-7, Dwarka, New Delhi - 110075, so that it reaches before the last date.
STEP 5 - If you are employed in a Central or State Government department, institution, undertaking, or university, apply through your Head of Department with a written assurance that you will be granted leave for the fellowship period.
There is no application fee for this fellowship. If you face any difficulty while submitting the application, you can contact CCRT at fellowship.ccrt@nic.in or on telephone number 011-25088747. Shortlisted junior fellowship candidates will be called for an interview or talk by the Expert Committee, while senior fellowship applicants are evaluated on their project merit without an interview.
Documents Required
Keep the following documents ready while applying and for the interview round:
- Valid identity proof.
- Recent passport-sized photographs.
- Official birth certificate or proof of age.
- Relevant educational degree certificates.
- Active bank account details.
- Caste certificate, if applicable.
- No Objection Certificate (NOC) or consent letter from your current employer, if applicable.
- A copy of the written assurance from your employer regarding your leave sanction if you are employed in a government or semi-government role.
- A formal signed undertaking regarding your employment status and confirmation that you have not got a similar fellowship before.
References
Official Website - Ministry of Culture | Scheme Guidelines - CCRT | Official Advertisement PDF 2026-27 | Application Forms
FAQ's
What is the primary objective of this scheme?
The objective is to encourage artists to apply modern research, technology, and management techniques to current issues in the fields of art and culture.
Which organization oversees this scheme?
The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, manages this central sector scheme. The Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) handles the applications.
How many fellowships are awarded every year?
Up to 400 fellowships are awarded every year, with 200 junior fellowships and 200 senior fellowships.
What amount will successful fellows receive?
Junior fellows receive ₹10,000 per month, and senior fellows receive ₹20,000 per month for two years.
Is there any extra funding for publications?
Yes, a one-time grant of up to ₹20,000 or 50% of publication costs is available for selected projects, provided to up to 20% of awardees.
What is the age requirement for applicants?
Junior fellowship applicants must be between 25 and 40 years old, while senior fellowship applicants must be above 40. For the 2026-27 batch, junior applicants must be born between 1 April 1986 and 31 March 2001, and senior applicants must be born on or before 1 April 1986.
Can an existing Junior Fellow move to a Senior Fellowship?
Yes, you can apply for a senior fellowship provided 5 years have passed since the conclusion of your previous junior fellowship project.
How does the department review progress?
You are required to submit a report every six months. A mandatory mid-term performance review takes place after the first year to make sure the project remains on track.
How do I apply?
For the 2026-27 batch, applications were accepted offline only. You have to send the hard copy of the application form along with a project synopsis by post to the Director, CCRT, 15A, Sector-7, Dwarka, New Delhi - 110075. The last date for the 2026-27 batch was 31 July 2026, and the next batch is expected to open next year.