SRINAGAR: Ladakh has received a sanctioned grant of Rs 4.35 crore under the Union Government’s Museum Grant Scheme during the last five financial years, with Rs 4.13 crore shown as utilised, while Jammu and Kashmir does not figure among the beneficiaries listed in the Ministry of Culture’s state and Union Territory-wise funding details placed before the Lok Sabha.
The grant was sanctioned to the Deskid Cultural and Welfare Society, Deskid, Gonpa, Ladakh, for setting up a new museum. Of the sanctioned amount, Rs 1.08 crore was released in 2022-23 and Rs 87.01 lakh in 2025-26, taking the total released amount reflected in the annexure to Rs 1.95 crore, against the Rs 4.13 crore utilisation figure reported in the table.
The figures were provided in the Union Ministry of Culture’s reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2319, answered on August 3, 2026. The reply does not list any grant sanctioned to a museum or organisation in Jammu and Kashmir under the Museum Grant Scheme during the five financial years from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
Across the country, the Ministry has provided financial assistance under the scheme for setting up new museums, developing existing museums and digitising museum collections. The annexure lists 49 projects receiving assistance under the museum grant component, besides one project for digitisation of museum collections.
The Ministry said grants are sanctioned according to the category and component of proposals submitted under the Museum Grant Scheme. Under Component A, the maximum assistance ranges from Rs 4 crore to Rs 15 crore, depending on the category and whether the proposal concerns a new or existing museum. Component B provides up to Rs 50 lakh for Government-owned State or capital-level museums, including museums of PSUs, and up to Rs 25 lakh for other museums. Under Component C, the ceiling is Rs 50 lakh for museums under Central and State Governments and Rs 25 lakh for other museums.
The Government said the Museum Grant Scheme also supports the establishment of virtual museums and training of museum professionals, besides providing assistance to museums managed by Central and State Governments, societies, autonomous bodies, public sector undertakings, local bodies, academic institutions and registered trusts at regional, State and district levels.
The Ministry further stated that the Archaeological Survey of India undertakes preservation, upgrading and modernisation of its site museums from time to time, subject to availability of resources. The measures include modernising galleries, improving museum infrastructure, digitising collections, using digital technologies for interpretation and visitor engagement, preventive conservation of antiquities and improving visitor facilities.
The Union Government also highlighted the installation of a battery-operated stair-lift at Mattancherry Palace Museum in Kochi, Ernakulam district, Kerala, to improve accessibility for visitors.
