In consonance with the objectives and mandate for promotion, preservation, documentation and dissemination of the Traditional Knowledge in various Art and Craft  forms the Certificate in Indigenous Art Practices (CIAP) under the Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme of the Ministry of Culture, GOI  is being offered through the Zonal Cultural Centres across the country.

The Programme provides identification of the commonalities in the various cultural elements,  provides a forum for interaction of the various cultures, documents the various forms of folk music, dances and crafts and establishes a support mechanism for the art forms that are fast disappearing by the academic certification of the knowledge and learning of the Shishyas from the Traditional Gurus.