About

• Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) is India’s national academy for music, dance and drama.
• It is the apex institution concerned with the preservation and promotion of India’s performing arts and intangible cultural heritage. 
• It is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
• It was created through a Resolution of the then Ministry of Education, Government of India, in 1952 and became functional in 1953.
• The Chairman is appointed by the President of India and has a five-year term.
• Dr. P. V. Rajamannar was its first Chairman. 
• It is fully funded by the Government of India for implementation of its schemes and programmes. 
• Headquarters is located at Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi

Main objective

• SNA works for the preservation and promotion of India’s intangible cultural heritage expressed through Music, Dance, and Drama.
• One of its objectives is to coordinate the activities of regional or State Akademies of dance, drama and music. 
• SNA recognises eight classical dance forms:
  1. Bharatanatyam — Tamil Nadu
  2. Kathak — Uttar Pradesh
  3. Kathakali — Kerala
  4. Mohiniyattam — Kerala
  5. Kuchipudi — Andhra Pradesh
  6. Odissi — Odisha
  7. Manipuri — Manipur
  8. Sattriya — Assam 

Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards

The Akademi confers major honours in performing arts, including:

• Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship — Akademi Ratna

• • • Highest honour of the Akademi.
    • usually requires recipients to be 50 years or older.
    • Restricted to 40 Fellows at a time.
    • Award: ₹3 lakh + Tamrapatra + Angavastram.

• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award — Akademi Puraskar

• • • Given to practising artists in music, dance, theatre, traditional/folk/tribal arts, puppetry, etc.
    • Currently 41 awards annually.
    • Award: ₹1 lakh + Tamrapatra + Angavastram.

• Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar

• • For outstanding young artists below 40 years in music, dance and theatre.
  • Instituted in 2006.
  • Award: ₹25,000 + Tamrapatra + Angavastram.

SNA and India’s cultural ecosystem