Pune: Applications Open For Maharashtra Government’s Honorarium Scheme For Senior Artists And Writers; Apply Before July 31
Pune, 25th June 2025: The Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Government of Maharashtra, has announced the implementation of the ‘Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj Senior Literateur and Artist Honorarium Scheme’ to recognize and support senior individuals with notable contributions to the fields of art and literature. Applications for the scheme are open until 31st July 2025.
Under this initiative, eligible senior artists and writers will receive a monthly honorarium of ₹5,000. To qualify, the applicant must be a resident of Maharashtra and above 50 years of age. For differently-abled individuals in the field, the minimum age requirement is 40 years. Additionally, applicants must have at least 15 years of consistent, high-quality, and valuable contribution to literature or the arts.
Priority will be given to elderly individuals, widows, abandoned women, and differently-abled artists. The annual family income of the applicant must not exceed ₹60,000. The scheme particularly supports those whose sole livelihood is or was dependent on their art, and who currently do not receive any regular monthly pension from central or state government bodies.
Applicants are required to submit supporting documents along with their application. These include:
* Proof of age
* Aadhaar card
* Income certificate
* Domicile certificate
* Affidavit
* Bank passbook copy
* Joint photo of husband and wife (if applicable)
* Disability certificate (if applicable)
* Award certificates from state or central governments (if any)
* Recommendation letters from reputed institutions or individuals
* Other relevant evidence
All applications must be submitted online through the Maharashtra Government’s ‘Aaple Sarkar’ portal between 1st July and 31st July 2025.
The announcement was made via a press release issued by Bhushan Joshi, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Panchayat), Zilla Parishad, and Member Secretary of the Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj Senior Literateur and Artist Honorarium Scheme Committee.
