Lalit Kala Akademi

1.1 What is the Lalit Kala Akademi?

This is India’s national body for the visual arts. It looks after painting, sculpture, graphic art, and folk and tribal art. People also call it the National Academy of Art.

1.2 When was it set up?

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad inaugurated it in New Delhi on 5 August 1954. He was the Education Minister then.

In his speech, Azad asked the Akademi to keep the best of the past and to support modern artists.

1.3 What happened on 11 March 1957?

The Akademi was registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. That was about two and a half years after the inauguration.

This gave it legal status as a registered society. A registered society is not the same as a statutory body. A statutory body is set up by its own Act of Parliament.

2.1 What does the Akademi do?

It promotes the visual arts across India. It holds exhibitions, gives awards and scholarships, and runs regional centres.

It also publishes two journals. They are Lalit Kala Contemporary and Lalit Kala (Ancient).

2.2 What honours does it give?

It gives Fellowships to eminent visual artists. It also gives National Awards.

Both honours go to artists chosen for their work in the visual arts.

3.1 What is the National Exhibition of Art?

It is the Akademi’s flagship show. It began in 1955.

In 1955, ten awards were given, with Rs 1,000 each.

3.2 How did the prize money change?

Learn the pattern: it only ever went up.

3.3 What are the latest editions?

At the 64th National Exhibition, President Droupadi Murmu gave awards to all 20 artists on 24 September 2025.

The 65th National Exhibition of Art 2026 is at Rabindra Bhawan, New Delhi. It was extended to 31 October 2026. The Minister felicitated all 20 award-winning artists.

4.1 Who runs it, and where is it?

It is funded by the Ministry of Culture. It has a General Council, an Executive Board and other committees.

Its address is Rabindra Bhavan, 35 Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi.

4.2 Where are its centres?

It has five Regional Centres. They are Chennai, Lucknow, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and Garhi (New Delhi). Garhi is a Delhi centre, not a separate city.

It also has sub-centres at Shimla, Ahmedabad, Agartala and Patna. Shillong is not on the official list.

4.3 What are the scholarships?

The Akademi gives up to 75 scholarships a year. The scholar must be aged 21 to 35. The stipend is Rs 20,000 a month for twelve months.

Scholars work at one of the Regional Centres.

Older books say 40 scholarships. The official page now says 75.

5.1 Why were three akademis set up?

The government made three national akademis within about a year, from 1953 to 1954. They were for music and drama, literature, and visual art.

The Sahitya Akademi’s founding resolution was dated December 1952. The idea was to give each art its own national home, at almost the same moment.

Founding order: Sangeet Natak, Sahitya, Lalit Kala. Registration order: Sahitya, Lalit Kala, Sangeet Natak.

5.2 What is the trap?

The Sahitya Akademi was inaugurated five months before the Lalit Kala Akademi. So Lalit Kala is the youngest of the three.

But the registration order is different. Sangeet Natak registered last, in 1961. Read whether the question asks about founding or registration.

6.1 What is Triennale-India?

Triennale-India is an international art show. The Akademi organises it every three years. It was first held in New Delhi in 1968.

The Akademi says it has held 11 editions. The Akademi is an autonomous body funded by the Ministry of Culture.

6.2 What is the latest news?

On 5 August 2026 the Akademi marked its 72nd Foundation Day, 72 years after its 1954 inauguration. The event was at Rabindra Bhawan. Its regional centres and the Patna camp office also took part.