All about the Cultural Talent Search Scholarship

Many of us know about the National Talent Search Scholarship. The Cultural Talent Search Scholarship (CTSS) is not so well-known - but it offers a good opportunity for school kids to continue their passion for art forms – on government funds.  

Who gives the CTSS and why?  
The Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), a central government body, invites applications for CTSS every year. The idea is to promote a love for arts and encourage young kids who want to hold on to the rich tradition of Indian performing arts.  

What are the eligibility criteria for CTSS?  
The following counts have to match for a candidate to apply for CTSS:  

• Students aged 10 to 14 years are eligible to apply for the scholarship 
• Applicants must be studying in a school or belong to a family where an art form has been traditionally performed  
• Applicants should already be practitioners of the art form. This means a budding puppeteer, kathakali artiste or dhol player may apply for CTSS  
• Applications from practitioners of rare art forms such as Chhau dance or throat singing are encouraged to help preserve these arts  

What are the benefits of applying for CTSS?  
The selected students will receive INR 3,600 per year personally as an encouragement, while INR 9,000 per year would be reimbursed to the institution, guru or teacher who is engaged in imparting training to the selected students. While the candidate cannot accept any other similar scholarship during the tenure of the CTSS scheme, they can approach the funding body, i.e., CCRT, for permission if they become eligible for any other scheme.  

How to apply for CTSS scheme?  
Students need to log in to the CCRT website, download the application form, fill it in carefully, and send it with required documents to the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training at New Delhi. Application deadlines can change, but it is usually within the end of January every year. Shortlisted candidates are called for a panel interview at the CCRT. These interviews are also held on a regional level to make them easier to attend. They usually happen between May and August every year. The CTSS is a great support for budding artists of the country.