Context:
National Mission for Manuscripts has established more than 100 Manuscripts Resource Centres and Manuscripts Conservation Centres all over India.
National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM):
- A national level comprehensive initiative which works towards conserving the manuscript heritage of India.
- Works under – Ministry of Culture
- Launched in – 2003
- Mandate – Identifying, documenting, conserving and making accessible the manuscript heritage of India.
- Cover a variety of themes, textures and aesthetics, scripts, languages, calligraphies, illuminations and illustrations.
National Culture Fund:
- Set up by – Government of India as a Trust under the Charitable Endowment Act, 1890 through a Gazette Notification in 1996.
- Established as a funding mechanism distinct from the existing sources and patterns of funding for the arts and culture in India.
- Aim – To mobilize extra resources through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) towards promoting, protecting & preserving India’s Cultural Heritage (Tangible & Intangible).
- Managed and administered by – Council and an Executive Committee to actualize those policies.
- The Council is chaired by – Union Minister of Culture
- Has members representing the corporate and public sector, private foundations and non-profit organizations.
- The Executive Committee is chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Culture
- The donations to the national Culture Fund will be eligible for tax benefit under the Income Tax Act.
Source: PIB
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements in respect of Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards:
1. Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are titles under the Article 18 (1) of the Constitution of India.
2. Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, were suspended only once.
3. The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of five in a particular year.
Which of the above statements are not correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is not correct. National awards such as Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri do not amount to titles within the meaning of Article 18(1) of the Constitution.
Statement 2 is not correct. The government suspended the practice of granting the Padma awards for two years in 1977. It was again suspended in mid-1992 when 2 PILs were filed in the High Courts of India.
Statement 3 is not correct. A maximum of 3 people can be awarded the Bharat Ratna annually.
