Sangeet Natak Akademi has decided to institute “Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar” from the year 2006 to be awarded to artists who have shown/demonstrated conspicuous talent in the fields of music, dance and drama. Young outstanding practitioners upto the age of 40 years will be eligible to be considered for Yuva Puraskar every year. Age as on the date of nomination received will be reckoned from 1st April of that year.

1. Number and Fields / Categories of Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar

Yuva Puraskar will be given annually and the total number of Yuva Puraskar in a year shall not exceed 33.

The Yuva Puraskar may be given in the following five Fields of activity:

1. Music
2. Dance
3. Theatre
4. Other Traditional / Folk/ Tribal/ Dance/ Music/ Theatre and Puppetry
5. Contribution / Scholarship in Performing Arts

Yuva Puraskar may be given in accordance with numbers and Categories mentioned below:

2A)Field of activity: Music   (Number of Yuva Puraskar – 8)

Categories of Yuva Puraskar:

1. Hindustani Vocal
2. Hindustani Instrumental
3. Carnatic Vocal
4. Carnatic Instrumental
5. Creative & Experimental Music

(The Executive Board of the Akademi at its meeting held on 23 May 2014 has approved that sub-category ‘Creative and Experimental Music’ under the main category of Music may be read as ‘Contemporary Music’).

2B)Field of activity: Dance  (Number of Yuva Puraskar – 8)

Categories of Yuva Puraskar:

1. Bharatanatyam
2. Kathak
3. Kathakali
4. Manipuri
5. Kuchipudi
6. Odissi
7. Sattriya
8. Mohiniattam
9. Chhau
10. Creative & Experimental*
11. Music for Dance

(The Executive Board of the Akademi at its meeting held on 23 May 2014 has approved that sub-category ‘Creative and Experimental Dance’ under the main category of Dance may be read as ‘Contemporary Dance’).

2C) Field of activity: Theatre   (Number of Yuva Puraskar – 8)

Categories of Yuva Puraskar:

1. Playwriting
2. Direction
3. Acting
4. Allied Theatre Arts – a) Lighting, b) Scenic Design, c) Costumes, d) Make-up, and e) Music for Theatre
5. Major Traditions of Theatre

2D) Field of activity:  Traditional / Folk / Tribal Dance/ Music/ Theatre and Puppetry  (Number of Yuva Puraskar  - 8)

Categories of Yuva Puraskar:

1. Other Traditional / Folk / Tribal/ Music/ Dance and Theatre (not covered under 2A, 2B, and 2C)  (Number of Yuva Puraskar – 6)
2. Puppetry /Mime/ Allied arts of traditional forms e.g. Instrument making and Mask making (Number of Yuva Puraskar – 2)

2E) Field of Activity: Contribution / Scholarship in Performing Arts  (Number of Yuva Puraskar – 1)

3. Yuva Puraskar shall not exceed the specified number in each of the field of activities and categories there under where the categories are less than the number of Yuva Puraskar in a given field, then efforts shall be made to get at least one Puraskar to each category, but in no case should there be more than two Puraskar in any Category or sub category (except as earmarked in 2D). Diversion of Yuva Puraskar from one field to another would not be permissible.

4.   PRIZE MONEY

Each Yuva Puraskar will carry a prize money of Rs 25000/- (Rupees twenty five thousand only) and a tamrapatra to be issued under the seal of Akademi and signature of its Chairman.

5.   ELIGIBILITY

1. “Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar” is open to all Indian nationals upto 40 years of age. Puraskar would not be given posthumously.
2. A person who has received the Puraskar once will not be eligible for the same Puraskar under any other field / category.
3.  The members of the General Council will not be eligible for being considered for the Yuva Puraskar.

6. PROCEDURE FOR NOMINATION AND SELECTION

i) The following shall have the right to nominate names for Yuva Puraskar:

1. Akademi Ratna Sadasya and Awardees
2. Members of the General Council of the Akademi
3. Chairman / Presidents of State Akademies
4. Secretaries in the States / Union Territories of the Department of Culture
5. Heads of Departments of Performing Arts in recognized Universities / deemed Universities
6. Eminent scholars, experts in the field of performing arts.

The nominations by the above authorities may be accompanied with reasoned justification together with full documentation including proof of age etc.

ii) Every Year the Akademi shall invite nominations for “Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar” by a specified date and the nominations received in accordance with clause 6 (i) will be placed before the Executive Board for short listing of the names for consideration by the General Council. No new nominations would be considered either by the Executive Board or by the General Council after expiry of the last date. However, Chairman of the Akademi may propose or recommend new names should the need arise in any specific field or area where suitable nominations have not been made or recommended within the specified date.

iii) Efforts should be made to have unanimity in the Executive Board and the General Council but in case unanimity cannot be reached then the opinion of the 3/4th members present shall be called. The decision of the General Council will be final and no appeal or protest can be made against it.

iv) Members of the Executive Board, General Council and officers of the Akademi will not reveal or make public the discussions, deliberations, and proceedings of the General Council in connection with the selection of “Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar” unless authorized by Chairman, SNA to do so.

7. PRESENTATION CEREMONY

1. The presentation of Yuva Puraskar will be made at a ceremony in New Delhi or any other place as decided by the Chairman of the Akademi.
2. The recipients of Yuva Puraskar shall be invited to receive the Puraskar in person. As far as possible each recipient of Yuva Puraskar will be invited to give public performance at the festival of music, dance and theatre to be organized by the Akademi following the Puraskar Presentation Ceremony of at a later date.

8.  GENERAL

• The Executive Board of the Akademi will have the right to amend any clause or clauses in the guidelines.