CAS

The scheme aims to identify, support, and commemorate centenaries and special anniversaries of eminent personalities and events of historical and national importance under approved Commemorations.

The scheme "Centenaries and Anniversaries Scheme" by the C&M Division, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, aims to identify, support, and commemorate centenaries and special anniversaries of eminent personalities and events of historical and national importance under approved Commemorations. Through this scheme, grant-in-aid financial assistance is provided to the eligible ministries, departments, autonomous bodies, state/union territory governments, non-governmental organisations, and registered trusts to organise approved commemorative events and programs. The scheme is implemented by the C&M Division, Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

• The applicant must be a Government of India Ministry, Department, or their organisation.
• The applicant must be a State Government or Union Territory Government Department.
• The applicant must be an Autonomous Body.
• The applicant must be a University or Educational Institution.
• The applicant must be a Registered Society or Trust.
• The applicant must be a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).
• The applicant must be an institution or organisation associated with organising approved commemorative events and programmes.
• The applicant must submit proposals that clearly establish a linkage with the approved commemoration theme, personality, or event.
• The applicant must register itself on the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) of the Ministry of Finance, creating vendor(s)/beneficiary(ies) in the EAT/FAT module.
• The applicant (in the case of Private Institutions and NGOs) must be registered under the NGO-Partnership System (NGO-PS) DARPAN portal of NITI Aayog.
• The applicant (in the case of Private Institutions and NGOs) must be registered under the PFMS portal of the Ministry of Finance and must have a registration number issued by the concerned authority.

The scheme provides financial assistance in the form of Grant-in-Aid (General) to organise approved commemorative Events, Programs, and Major Activities.

> Tangible Benefits and Intended Use:

• Monetary Grant-in-Aid: Funding is provided out of the allocated budget under the Centenaries and Anniversaries Scheme to cover the approved cost or actual cost of completion of the events, programs, or activities (whichever is less).
• The total continuing budget outlay of the scheme is ₹750.00 Crores (allocated as ₹150 Crores per year for five financial years from 2026-27 to 2030-31, extending up to 31 March 2031).

> Conditions and Criteria Associated with the Benefits:

• The grant shall not be utilised for any purpose other than the purpose for which it is released.
• In the case of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Trusts, the implementing organisation must contribute a minimum of 30% of the approved program/event cost.
• For Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Trusts, proposals will only be considered if the program/event ensures a participation of a minimum of 500 public members.
• Artist honorariums and payments must be made directly through Digital Benefit Transfer (DBT)/bank transfer. Cash payments are not permitted.
• If any released funds are not utilised, the grantee institution shall refund the unutilised funds along with interest at the rate of 10 per cent.
• No permanent construction, capital projects, civil works, or infrastructure works can be funded under this scheme (as these are subsumed under the "DESH" Scheme).
• Any additional expenditure in program cost due to any reason must be met by the concerned organisation, as the financial liability of the Ministry of Culture remains unaltered as approved in the original program.

> Mode of Disbursement:

• Disbursements are made electronically.
• Grants are released based on balances available in the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) as per the Expenditure-Advance-Transfer (EAT) module data.
• Payments are made directly to the vendor(s) or beneficiary(ies) in their Aadhaar Seeded Account.

> Frequency and Split of Disbursement:

• For Central Government, State Governments, and Autonomous Organisations:

• First Instalment: 75% of the grant-in-aid is released after the completion of all formalities for sanction of funds as per the approved Standard Operating Procedure (SoP). - Second/Final Instalment: The remaining 25% of the grant-in-aid is released after the completion of the events/programs and after completing all required formalities.
• For Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Individuals, and Other Organisations:

• First Instalment: 60% of the grant-in-aid is released after the completion of all formalities for sanction of funds as per the approved Standard Operating Procedure (SoP). - Second/Final Instalment: The remaining 40% of the grant-in-aid is released after the completion of the events/programs and after completing all required formalities.

> Expected Time of Disbursement:

• The sanction letter in each case will be issued within 5 working days after receiving the concurrence of the Internal Finance Division (IFD).
• For the release of subsequent instalments (Second Instalment), the grantee must submit the Utilisation Certificate, audited statement of accounts, progress report, and photographs/videos. For private trusts/societies, these must be submitted within 3 months from the date of release of the First Instalment.

• Proposals involving infrastructure works, permanent construction, civil works, or other capital projects are excluded and shall not be considered under this scheme (as they are subsumed under the "DESH" Scheme).
• Proposals received less than 45 days prior to the event date (or less than 30 days for Government/Autonomous bodies) will not ordinarily be considered, except under exceptional circumstances with recorded justification and competent authority approval.