SSC
The National Culture Fund (NCF) was created as a Trust in:
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Answer: Option D — 1996
Detailed Solution
The National Culture Fund (NCF) was created as a Trust in November 1996 by the Government of India.
About the National Culture Fund:
- It was set up under the Charitable Endowments Act, 1890, by the Ministry of Culture.
- It was created as a funding mechanism, distinct from the normal government budget, to mobilise extra resources for the protection, preservation and promotion of India's tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
- It works through public-private partnerships (PPPs), encouraging companies, trusts, individuals and NRIs to fund heritage projects.
- Donations to the NCF are eligible for a 100 per cent income tax deduction under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, which makes it attractive for donors.
- Companies can also use their CSR funds for its projects.
- It is managed by a Council chaired by the Minister of Culture and an Executive Committee chaired by the Secretary of Culture.
Projects:
It has supported the conservation and development of many monuments and heritage sites, such as the restoration of parts of the Red Fort, the Jantar Mantar, Humayun's Tomb, the monuments of Hampi and many others, often in partnership with the Archaeological Survey of India.
It has supported documentation of oral traditions, crafts, and the training of craftspeople.
It has supported the development of museums and tourist facilities at heritage sites.
Related heritage initiatives:
- "Adopt a Heritage" scheme ("Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan"): launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Tourism, with the Ministry of Culture and the ASI, allowing companies to adopt monuments and develop tourist facilities.
- National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (2007).
- Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH): founded in 1984; a non-governmental organisation working for heritage conservation, headquartered in New Delhi.
Other cultural institutions:
Sangeet Natak Akademi (1953), Sahitya Akademi (1954), Lalit Kala Akademi (1954), National School of Drama (1959), and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA, 1987).
Why not the other options?
- ✗1952 is the year the Sangeet Natak Akademi was set up by resolution.
- ✗1977 is not related to the NCF.
- ✗2010 is not the year of the NCF.
Quick tip
Remember: National Culture Fund = 1996 (Trust under the Charitable Endowments Act 1890; Ministry of Culture; PPP for heritage; 100 per cent tax deduction under 80G); INTACH = 1984; Adopt a Heritage = 2017.
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Art & Culture Personalities — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Art & Culture Personalities, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the people behind India's art and culture: classical and folk dancers, vocalists and instrumentalists, painters, sculptors, theatre and film personalities, and the gurus who founded or revived art forms. Questions also cover the art form each person is known for and the honours they have received. Exams typically name a person and ask for their art form, or name an art form and ask who popularised it. Recent Padma award winners from the arts appear often, so link each name to the field and state the award was given for. Since award lists change every year, always revise from the latest official list rather than relying on older notes. Practise the art and culture personalities questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.