Lalit Kala Akademi, India’s National Academy of Visual Arts, was inaugurated on 5 August 1954 under the leadership of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Registered in 1957 under the Societies Registration Act, it has remained dedicated to promoting and preserving India's visual art traditions - classical, modern, folk, and tribal. With its headquarters in New Delhi and regional centres across the country.
Founded in 1959 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi and becoming independent in 1975, the National School of Drama (NSD) is India’s premier theatre training institution. Fully funded by the Ministry of Culture, it offers an intensive, comprehensive syllabus combining theory and practice. Students at NSD are trained through hands-on experience, producing and performing plays before public audiences.
Sahitya Akademi, India’s National Academy of Letters, was formally established in 1954 to promote and celebrate literary excellence across the country’s diverse languages. Though supported by the government, it functions autonomously under the Societies Registration Act of 1860. Working across 24 languages, including English, the Akademi fosters literary dialogue through publications, awards, seminars, translations, and archival projects.
Sangeet Natak Akademi, established in 1953, is India’s premier institution for the preservation and promotion of performing arts. Operating under the Ministry of Culture, the Akademi manages key institutions such as the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Kathak Kendra, and Rabindra Rangshala, along with regional centres dedicated to diverse traditions like Kutiyattam and Sattriya.
The Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS) was established in 1959 in Leh to promote Buddhist culture. It became government-supported in 1962 and offers degrees in Buddhist Studies, covering subjects like philosophy, history, art, and medicine, with Bhoti as the medium of instruction.
The Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS) was established in 1967 at Sarnath, Varanasi, to preserve Tibetan culture, language, and traditions. Initially part of Sampurnananda Sanskrit University, it became an autonomous body in 1977 under the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
The Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, established in 1951 in Bihar, was created to develop a centre for higher studies in Pali and Buddhism, inspired by the ancient Nalanda Mahavihara. Initially functioning as a residential institute, it welcomed both Indian and foreign students. The ruins of the ancient Nalanda Mahavihara span 14 hectares, with much of it still unexplored.
The Central Institute of Himalayan Culture Studies (CIHCS) was established in 2003 at Dahung, Arunachal Pradesh, under the Buddhist Culture Preservation Society (BCPS). Affiliated with Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, it became an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
Established in 1951 with support from UNESCO, the Delhi Public Library (DPL) is a prominent public library system in India. Inaugurated by Prime Minister Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, it operates under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Located in Chandni Chowk, it offers free library services to all, regardless of distinction, and provides a platform for socio-cultural activities.
The Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library, founded in 1891 by Khan Bahadur Khuda Bakhsh in Patna, holds 21,000 Oriental manuscripts and 2.95 lakh printed books. Declared an Institution of National Importance in 1969, it is funded by the Ministry of Culture and managed by a Board with the Governor of Bihar as Chairman.
