NCPA Announces the Citi Scholarship for Young Musicians 2026–28 (Hindustani Music)

NCPA Announces the Citi Scholarship for Young Musicians 2026–28 (Hindustani Music)

Chandigarh 15 December ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal )  :The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai, announces the opening of applications for the NCPA Citi Scholarship for Young Musicians 2026–28, an initiative dedicated to nurturing emerging talent in Hindustani music. The programme supports advanced training in vocal traditions such as khayal and dhrupad, as well as a range of melody instruments including the flute, harmonium, violin, sitar, sarod and more. Selected scholars will receive ₹10,000 per month for a period of two years, from April 2026 to March 2028.

Aspiring musicians are invited to submit their bio-data detailing their music education via email to indianmusicscholarships@ncpamumbai.com by 20th December 2025. Applications must clearly specify the category for which the candidate is applying—whether khayal, dhrupad, or the specific melody instrument. Physical or couriered applications will not be accepted. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited for auditions, which will be conducted in February 2026 based on video recordings.

The bio-data should contain complete information including the applicant’s name, date of birth, residential address, contact numbers, email ID, and professional qualifications. It should also present a detailed outline of the candidate’s musical training, including names of gurus or teachers, total years of study, achievements, prizes, scholarships received in the past, performance experience and any other significant details relevant to their artistic journey. Applicants are requested not to send scanned documents or audio/video files at this stage; a well-structured bio-data in list format will suffice. Candidates shortlisted for the next round will be informed via email or phone.

To be eligible, applicants for khayal and melody instruments must be between 18 and 30 years of age as on 1st March 2026, while applicants for dhrupad may be between 18 and 35 years. Candidates who are receiving any other scholarship or grant in music during the scholarship period—April 2026 to March 2028—are not eligible to apply. Additionally, individuals who are full-time or part-time working professionals, as well as professional musicians including those with an ‘A’ grade from All India Radio, will not be considered for this programme. Only Indian citizens are eligible, and applications submitted after the closing date of 20th December 2025 will not be entertained. The NCPA Selection Committee will review all applications, and its decision will be final.