The National Bal Bhawan’s, Bal Shree Programme is intended to honor children’s talents in the areas of Creative performance, Creative writing, Creative arts etc. The NCF – National Curriculum Framework has initiated for a scholarship in order to retain the cultural diversities of the country. The recommendations were made for areas of Dance, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts. Three level activities are conducted for the selection purpose.

Selection Procedure for Chacha Nehru Scholarship for Artistic and Innovative Excellence

The National Bal Bhawan’s, Bal Shree Programme is intended to honor children’s talents in the areas of Creative performance, Creative writing, Creative arts and Creative Scientific Innovations. The selection is through the conduction of three levels of activities which consist of;

• Organizing of local level two day camps with 8 children (each stream should include two children)
• Organizing of Zonal level 3 day camps with local specialists and experts from East, West, North, South – I, South – II and Central zones for selection
• Organizing of National level 4 day camps — Six zones will participate and the panel for the observation and assessment of children’s creativity will include resource persons and experts from four streams.

The Bal Shree Awards selection criteria include innovative approach, flexibility, fluency, originality, divergent thinking, ideas elaboration, critical/ analytical approach and meaningful products out of culminating creative processes. The activity bank of the National Bal Bhawan will identify participant’s creative talents.

Details on Chacha Nehru Scholarship for Artistic and Innovative Excellence

The National Bal Bhawan’s National camp will get the support from NCERT through their scheme Chacha Nehru Scholarship for Artistic and Innovative Excellence. Children from secondary and senior secondary classes IX to XII will be eligible for participating in this scholarship. Children pursuing studies from Class IX to XII and participating in National Bal Bhawan’s National camp will get a scholarship amount of Rs.500/- per month. This can be availed till the completion of class XII. For identifying Bal Shree awardees the National Bal Bhawan will evolve and design independently all testing tools, assessment and evaluation schemes. The selected candidates list will be submitted to NCERT by National Bal Bhawan for the award of Chacha Nehru Scholarship for Artistic and Innovative Excellence.

An advisory committee, which is constituted especially for the purpose will monitor NCERT’s Bal Shree scholarship implementation. The schemes content will be improvised from time to time by the recommended policies of the advisory committee. The decision regarding continuing financial support for the students after class XII for studies in arts (professional) will be made on case basis by the advisory committee.