Arts and Cultural Institutions in India

To promote and propagate understanding of Indian art, both within and outside the country Government of India had established many organisations. They are as follows.

Sahitya Academy

Sahitya Academy is the Indian National Academy of letters intended to support the foundation of Indian literature through newspapers, rendition, seminars, meetings, cultural programmes and literary meets planned all over india. Sahitya Academy was founded in March 1954. It is an autonomous body fully funded by the Department of Culture. The Academy has recognised 24 languages. The Head office of Sahitya Academy is at New Delhi.

Sangeet Natak Academy

The first Academy of the arts, set up by the Republic of India is Sangeet Natak Academy. It is India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama. Sangeet Natak Academy was established on January 28, 1953 by a resolution of the Ministry of Education headed by Maulana A bul Kalarn Azad signed on 31st May 1952. The Headquarters is at New Delhi.

Lalit Kala Academy

Lalit Kala Academy was established on 5 August 1954. It’s Headquarters is at New Delhi. Every three years, the Academy also conducts Triennial India, an International exhibition of contemporary art in New Delhi. The Regional Centres of Academy are at Chennai, Kolkata, Bhubaneshwar, Lucknow and Delhi. To publicize Indian art aboard, the Academy often take part in International Biennials and Triennials in a foreign country and also arrange demonstration of works of art from foreign countries.

National School of Drama

It is one among the chief theatre establishment of the World and the only one of its type in India. It was set up by Sangeet Natak Academy in 1959, later in 1975 it became an autonomous body, totally financed by Department of Culture. The intention of NSD is to guide students in all phase of theatre, together with Theatre History making, Scene, Costume, Lighting, Makeup etc. NSD is located in New Delhi.

Archaeological Survey of India

The Archaeological Survey of the country was set up in 1861. Its Location is at New Delhi. The first Director General is Sir Alexander Cunningham. The Father of Indian Archaeology is also Sir Alexander Cunningham.

National Archives of India

The National Archives of India is in New Delhi. The Former name of National Archives of India is Imperial Record Department. It is the official custodian of the non-current records of the Government of India and is holding them in trust for the use of administrators and scholars.

Anthropological Survey of India

Anthropological Survey of India was founded in 1945 at Varanasi. It was shifted to Calcutta in 1948. It’s Headquarters is at Kolkata.

Museums

National Museum was established in 15th August 1949. It is working as a subsidiary office under department of culture since 1960. It is officially opened on 18th December 1960. It’s location is at the Darbar Hall in the Rashtrapati Bhawan. The major actions are attainment of art objects, their demonstration and conservation. It coordinates the 'Festival of India' in various countries.

Indian Museum

It was set up in 2nd February 1814. Its location is at Kolkata. The largest and oldest museum in India is Indian Museum. It has the richest collection on Art, Archeology, Anthropology, Geology, Zoology and Botany articles.

AlIahabad Museum

It is set up in 1931. It is stated as an establishment of national importance by the Indian Government in 1985. It safeguards and presents ancient Art and archaeological stuffs.

Other Museums

The only Museum University in the country is National Museum Institute of History of Art, Conservation and Museology located at the capital city, New Delhi. India's first Heritage Transport Museum is in Gurgaon (Haryana), India's first National film Museum is in Mumbai and India's first Business Museum in Kozhikode IIT.

Literary Institutions

National Book Trust

National Book Trust was established in 1957. Its headquarters is at New Delhi. Its main function is to encourage the creation of first-class literature and create books offered at reasonable prices to libraries, schools, institutes, colleges and the public. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is the principal publishers of the trust.

National Library

It is the largest library in India. It is located in Kolkata and was established in 1948.

Central Secretariat Library

The Central Secretariat Library (CSL) originally known as Imperial Secretariat Library, (Location Kolkata). It was established in 1891.

Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT)

CCRT is one among the foremost association working in the area of relating education with culture. The CCRT was set up in May 1979. Its headquarters is at New Delhi. CCRT has two regional centres at Udaipur and Hyderabad.

National Educational Resources Centre (NERC)

NERC was established in 1972. NERC is also called as Raja Ram Mohan Roy National Educational Resource Centre. The main purpose of NERC is to promote national authorship, original creation of university type books and to offer citations and Statistical study of written material. It ranks third around the globe after America and Britain in the distribution of English books.

Asiatic Society

It is located in Kolkata and was founded in 1776 by a reputed indologist named Sir William Jones, with the idea of searching into the History, Arts and Science and Literature of the Asian continent. It has presented to the expansion and progression of most of the chief Antiquarian, technical and literary establishments of India. The government stated it a foundation of 'National Importance’ in 1984. The society upholds a museum that consists of more than 47000 manuscripts in different languages. With its collection of original printed books, records and the album of manuscripts, it is one among the main centres of study of indology around the globe.