31st Divya Kala Mela Inaugurated in Kolkata on July 14, 2026

Key facts

• The 31st Divya Kala Mela was inaugurated by Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar at Ravindra Sadan, Kolkata.
• The eight-day Mela was held from July 14 to 22, 2026.
• It was the first Divya Kala Mela jointly organized by the Government of India and the Government of West Bengal.
• The Mela featured around 40 stalls, predominantly by artisans from West Bengal.
• The initiative was conceived in December 2022 and has expanded across India from Srinagar to Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi to Guwahati, and Ahmedabad to Patna.
• Since 2014, financial assistance of nearly ₹1,462 crore has been extended to around 1.82 lakh Divyang beneficiaries for self-employment and entrepreneurship.
• Under the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme, 20 students with disabilities are selected every year for higher education abroad.