**Executive Summary**
This report details the conservation and protection status of 3,686 protected monuments and archaeological sites managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as of March 2026. It provides a comprehensive breakdown of financial allocations, expenditure, and revenue generation, while addressing the management of 36,083 reported cases of illegal construction. The document confirms that all protected sites are currently traceable and outlines the enforcement actions taken to prevent further violations in prohibited areas.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Monument Inventory and Status**
* The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) oversees 3,686 protected monuments and areas across the country.
* No protected monuments or archaeological sites are currently reported as untraceable.
* Uttar Pradesh (734), Karnataka (506), and Tamil Nadu (412) are the states with the highest number of protected sites.
**Financial Allocation and Expenditure**
* For the year 2025-26 (up to 05.03.2026), 375.28 crore was allocated, with an expenditure of 333.92 crore.
* In the 2023-24 fiscal year, the expenditure fully utilized the allocation of 443.53 crore.
* Funding is specifically utilized for conservation, preservation, and environmental development of the sites.
**Revenue Generation**
* Revenue is generated through the sale of entry tickets at ticketed monuments and other miscellaneous sources.
* High-revenue areas include Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka, which consistently show significant ticket sales and income from other sources.
**Enforcement and Protection Measures**
* A total of 36,083 cases of illegal construction have been reported within prohibited and regulated areas.
* Legal and administrative actions taken include the issuance of notices, filing police complaints, and the stoppage of unauthorized work.
* Demolition of illegal structures is carried out through coordination with district administrations and local authorities.
**Impact Analysis**
**Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)**
**Impact**
The ASI is responsible for the ongoing monitoring, preservation, and financial management of 3,686 sites. They bear the administrative burden of reporting and processing tens of thousands of illegal construction cases.
**Action Required**
The ASI must continue to coordinate with local authorities for enforcement, manage allocated budgets for conservation, and maintain the traceability of all sites.
**District Administration and Local Authorities**
**Impact**
These bodies serve as the enforcement arm for the Ministry of Culture in local jurisdictions. They are directly involved in the physical stoppage and demolition of unauthorized structures.
**Action Required**
They must maintain active coordination with the ASI to execute demolition orders and prevent further violations of the Act and related rules.
**Unauthorized Developers and Individuals**
**Impact**
Parties involved in illegal construction within prohibited or regulated areas are subject to legal action, including police complaints and the loss of property through demolition.
**Action Required**
Affected parties must comply with the regulations of the Act, respond to official notices, and cease all unauthorized construction activities in protected zones.
Key Entities Referenced
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): The primary agency responsible for the conservation, preservation, and protection of 3,686 monuments and archaeological sites of national importance.
Ministry of Culture: The central ministry that oversees the Archaeological Survey of India and manages the allocation of funds for the maintenance of protected heritage sites.
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: The Union Minister for Culture and Tourism who provided the official data and status report on monument conservation to the Lok Sabha.
Ministry of Culture
CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF
MONUMENTS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE
Posted On: 23 MAR 2026 1:23PM by PIB Delhi
There are 3686 protected monuments and protected areas (Archaeological sites) across the country,
which are looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). State/UT-wise numbers are given
at Annexure-I.
The details of revenue generated through sale of entry tickets at ticketed monuments and from other
sources during the last three years, State/UT-wise are at Annexure-II.
The details of funds allocated and expenditure incurred on the conservation, preservation and
environmental development of 3686 protected monuments and protected areas during the last three
years as under:
Year Allocation Expenditure (amount in crore)
2022-23 392.71 391.93
2023-24 443.53 443.53
2024-25 313.43 313.04
2025-26
(up to 05.03.2026) 375.28 333.92
At present, no protected monument or protected area (sites) is untraceable.
On notice of instances of unauthorized constructions in the prohibited and regulated areas around
protected monuments action/steps are has taken as per the Act and related rules, which includes
issuance of notices, police complaint, stoppage of construction, demolition of illegal structures through
district administration and coordination with local authorities to prevent further violations.
In total, 36083 cases of illegal constructions have been reported within prohibited and regulated areas.
ANNEXURE-I
State-Wise Details of Protected Monuments and Protected Areas (Sites) Under the
Archaeological Survey of India in the Country.S. No. Name of State / U.T. Number of Protected Monuments
and
Protected Areas
1. Andhra Pradesh 135
2. Arunachal Pradesh 03
3. Assam 55
4. Bihar 70
5. Chhattisgarh 46
6. Daman & Diu (U.T.) 11
7. Goa 21
8. Gujarat 205
9. Haryana 91
10. Himachal Pradesh 40
11. Jammu & Kashmir (U.T.) 56
12. Jharkhand 14
13. Karnataka 506
14. Kerala 30
15. Ladakh (U.T.) 15
16. Madhya Pradesh 291
17. Maharashtra 286
18. Manipur 01
19. Meghalaya 08
20. Mizoram 0221. Nagaland 04
22. N.C.T. Delhi (U.T) 170
23. Odisha 82
24. Puducherry (U.T.) 07
25. Punjab 33
26. Rajasthan 161
27. Sikkim 03
28. Tamil Nadu 412
29. Telangana 08
30. Tripura 08
31. Uttarakhand 43
32. Uttar Pradesh 734
33. West Bengal 135
TOTAL 3686
ANNEXURE 2
Details Of Revenue Earned from the Protected Ticketed Monuments and Other Sources Under
Archaeological Survey of India During the Last Three Year and Current Year (Amount Rs. In
Rupees)
SI.No States 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
Revenue Revenue Revenue Revenue Revenue Revenue
generated generate generated generated generated generated
from tickets from from from from from
other tickets other tickets other
sources sources sources
1 Andhra 8559635 2947712 8499205 1022423 8724450 2088365
Pradesh2 Assam 16357895 -- 11738406 26281 12364135 269
3 Bihar 38861635 2617900 49342178 538650 52026465 4942400
4 Chattisgarh 1497835 12156 1928535 16334 1952490 12242
5 Delhi 394788502 32861091 544510590 35201685 576990532 66496812
6 Gujarat 40023100 755432 43642160 1218096 40228445 1999005
7 Himachal 4559505 75000 5509465 500000 4254315 75000
Pradesh
8 Jammu & 1408940 100000 1616103 350000 1456970 --
Kashmir
9 Karnataka 126418285 8463650 155179613 6753627 143077900 6353898
10 Kerala 22911850 2418264 22972300 617080 22402400 2730812
11 Ladakh 1605930 50000 3938960 -- 3611940 --
12 Maharashtra 247408890 10375068 273048517 12212558 272468820 13871409
13 Madhya 65710975 2798740 80648736 2640626 87980630 1037475
Pradesh
14 Odisha 110205095 155930 155057642 678548 178895930 705949
15 Punjab 1660870 52805 1703075 678425 1844895 360555
(Haryana)
16 Rajasthan 90997945 4480196 111840822 5879905 121341360 6783792
17 Tamil 90274965 6600710 89096697 10020368 77029380 9809102
Nadu
18 Telangana 67795150 1043064 77578352 1107855 108106980 1090650
19 Union 27726575 -- 31888375 -- 37464425 --
Territory
(U.T)20 Uttar 1116950805 11326015 1462022752 6259751 1484268599 7005663
Pradesh
21 West 42922085 942755 47457602 903604 45522280 478369
Bengal
22 Goa -- 962455 -- 118417 -- 193087
23 Tripura -- -- -- 80200 46784
24 Mizoram -- -- -- -- -- --
(Aizawl)
This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in
a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
*****
M Annadurai
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