Welcome to the Akhil Bhartiya Sangeet Kala Mahavidhyalay
India's examination board for the performing & fine arts
Akhil Bhartiya Sangeet Kala Mahavidhyalay is a dedicated Examination and Certification Board that brings academic structure, standardisation and nationally recognised credentials to arts education — so that a student's years of training end in a qualification, not just applause.
- A Unit of Balaji Educational & Social Trust
- Registered with NITI Aayog, Government of India
- Darpan ID: RJ/2022/0309701
- Online Examination Board
Who we are
ABSKM operates as an examination and certification body for Music, Dance and Fine Arts, functioning under the Balaji Educational & Social Trust. We do not replace the teacher or the academy — we sit alongside them, providing the syllabus framework, the examination standard and the credential that turns training into a documented academic record.
Arts academies across India deliver excellent training every day. What most of them lack is a formal examination framework: a way to certify what a student has actually achieved, in a form that a school, a university, an employer or an audition panel will accept. ABSKM exists to close exactly that gap.
Our model is deliberately non-disruptive. An academy becomes an Authorized ABSKM Centre, continues teaching in its own style at its own premises, and its students are examined and certified against a common national standard.
Our purpose
- Bring credibility and structure to arts education
- Create a documented academic pathway for every student
- Give artists a formal, recognised qualification
- Let institutes keep training at their own centres — no relocation, no interference
Collaborate · Certify · Empower
Three commitments that define how the board works with academies across the country.
Collaborate
We partner with Dance, Music and Fine Arts academies nationwide, bringing them into a single examination network without changing how they teach.
Certify
Affiliated academies can award nationally standardised certificates, backed by a documented marksheet and a common evaluation framework.
Empower
Institutes continue training at their own centres. Examinations are conducted on their premises — no relocation, no loss of identity.
The problem we set out to solve
The current gap
Many arts academies deliver quality training but operate without a formal examination framework, which leads to:
- No documented record of academic progression
- No standardised, level-based assessment
- Limited recognition for teaching and professional roles
The ABSKM solution
ABSKM provides a centralised system that:
- Validates skills through a structured framework
- Creates long-term academic value for every student
- Issues nationally recognised standardised credentials
Certification across the arts
ABSKM certifies students across performing arts, fine arts and skill-based disciplines.
Music
- Hindustani Vocal
- Carnatic Music
- Semi-classical forms
- Instrumental music
- All other forms
Dance
- Classical dance forms
- Folk & regional dance
- Western dance
- Contemporary dance
- All forms of dance
Fine Arts
- Painting: oil, watercolour, acrylic, charcoal
- Traditional: Madhubani, Warli, Tanjore, miniature
- Craft & clay: terracotta, pottery, ceramics
- Calligraphy, resin art, block printing
Other Skills
- Theatre & drama
- Yoga & wellness arts
- Recitation & poetry
- Photography & media
- And more disciplines
How ABSKM works
A seamless integration model for existing academies — with no disruption to ongoing teaching.
Authorize
Academy becomes an Authorized ABSKM Centre
Train
Students continue regular training at the academy
Register
Academically eligible students are registered for examinations
Examine
Examination conducted at the academy premises
Evaluate
Assessed as per ABSKM standard guidelines
Certify
Official certificates issued by ABSKM
From beginner to professional mastery
Foundation
Basic skill development, fundamental concepts, theory and practical skill examination.
Academy AssessedIntermediate
Technical proficiency and developed performance skills.
ABSKM ExaminedAdvanced
Internship and practical exposure with applied assessment.
ABSKM ExaminedProfessional
Mastery-level performance, internship and professional credentials.
ABSKM ExaminedHow students are assessed
Frequency
- Examinations held twice every year
- Students appear once per examination cycle
- Structured schedule announced in advance
Assessment components
- Practical / performance assessment
- Viva voce (oral examination)
- Internship component at advanced levels
Advanced levels (6 & 7)
- Internship exposure component
- Opens professional job opportunities
- Evaluated learning outcomes
What a student receives on passing
Student Certificate
Specifies the subject, the level attained and the grade awarded.
Detailed Marksheet
A comprehensive breakdown of performance across all assessed components.
Academy Recognition
Recognises the institute as an Authorized ABSKM Centre.
Convocation ceremony
Certificates are presented at a dedicated convocation — a formal ceremony that adds prestige and academic significance to the achievement.
- Adds prestige and academic significance
- A memorable milestone in every student's journey
Guided by accomplished artists & educators
Performers, scholars and academy heads dedicated to elevating arts education across India.
Pandit
Rajendra Gangani Ji
✦ An Icon of the Jaipur Gharana ✦- Disciple and son of Pt. Kundanlal Gangani
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Award winner
- Guinness World Record holder
- Performed on prestigious stages worldwide
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
- Guinness World Record Holder
- Jaipur Gharana Icon
- International Kathak Maestro
Varsha Panwar
Board MemberPursuing Ph.D · UGC-NET JRF qualified. Post-graduate in Hindustani Vocal. Instructor, Shankar Mahadevan Academy. Veer Durgadas Rathore Yuva Puraskar.
Suhruth Rao
Board MemberHindustani classical vocalist. 10+ years, 100+ concerts pan-India. 5M+ Instagram, 1M+ YouTube views. Dhanvantari Prashasti Awardee 2026.
Mohit Shreedhar
RegistrarKathak performer, Jaipur Gharana. Performed at the G20 Summit for the Hon'ble Prime Minister. International shows across Turkey, China, Japan, Rome, Spain, Italy and South Africa.
Dr. Khyati Jajoo
Board MemberMA English · Doctorate in Kathak. Kathak performer and scholar. 3 lakh+ YouTube subscribers, 90K+ Instagram followers.
Dr. Kanchan Jajoo
Franchise HeadMA Music — Gold Medalist. Sitar specialist and vocal artist. Arts educator and academy head, inspiring next-generation artists.
Our university & skill-development associations
ABSKM is committed to providing quality education, professional training and skill-development programmes aligned with industry requirements and national skill-development frameworks.
We are associated with Medhavi Skills University (MSU), a UGC-recognized university, and support learners through industry-oriented education and skill-development opportunities. Our initiatives are aligned with leading national skill-development organizations and frameworks:
MSU
Medhavi Skills University
Industry-oriented education and skill-development opportunities for our learners.
UGC-recognized universityNCVET
National Council for Vocational Education and Training
Our initiatives are aligned with NCVET's vocational education and training framework.
National frameworkSkill India
Skill India Mission
Supporting India's vision of building a skilled, employment-ready workforce.
National missionGSDM
Global Skill Development Mission
Supporting skill-development and vocational training initiatives.
Skill developmentPowered by Balaji Educational & Social Trust
ABSKM is powered by Balaji Educational & Social Trust, a registered organization with NITI Aayog (Darpan ID RJ/2022/0309701) — reflecting our commitment to structured educational and skill-development initiatives.
Teacher training & professional development
Alongside skill-development programmes, ABSKM offers teacher training courses designed to enhance teaching competencies, professional knowledge, classroom practices and career development.
- Open to students, teachers, trainers and working professionals
- Practical skills for today's evolving education and employment landscape
Built for academic seriousness
Government registered
Registered with NITI Aayog (Government of India) — Darpan ID RJ/2022/0309701.
Transparent process
Standardised examinations, clear evaluation criteria and documented marksheets.
Expert evaluation
Examinations assessed per ABSKM guidelines — never left to individual judgment.
Recognised credentials
Certificates usable for teaching roles, academic applications and auditions.
Tracked progression
A student's documented journey is tracked and recorded across all nine levels.
Trust-backed
Operating as a unit of the Balaji Educational & Social Trust.
Get started with ABSKM
Join the growing network of authorized arts academies across India.