**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Culture has launched the Adopt A Heritage (AAH) 2.0 program to establish a framework for private and public sector entities to develop and maintain visitor amenities at protected monuments. The program focuses on non-conservational aspects to enhance visitor experiences, with 30 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) already materialized as of March 19, 2026. All activities are conducted under the guidance and supervision of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Program Scope and Objectives**
* Exclusively targets protected monuments of national importance.
* Engages private/public companies, NGOs, trusts, and societies to make monuments "visitor-friendly."
* Restricts partner roles to non-conservational aspects such as cleaning, providing washrooms, drinking water, signage, and illumination.
**Conservation and Supervision**
* Archaeological conservation and preservation remain the exclusive responsibility of ASI experts.
* Partner entities must work under the guidance and due consultation of the ASI.
* Donors can contribute to the National Culture Fund (NCF) and specify projects for conservation or amenity development.
**Current Status and Documentation**
* 30 MoUs have been signed with various entities, including the Sabhyata Foundation, Ease My Trip Foundation, and JSW Foundation.
* The document provides a list of 18 monuments and sites that have ceased to be of national importance during the last three years (notified between 2024 and 2025).
**Community Engagement and Awareness**
* The ASI organizes people-centric events such as walkthroughs, photo exhibitions, and competitions for students.
* Sensitization efforts are linked to global observances like World Heritage Day, World Tourism Day, and International Day of Yoga.
**Impact Analysis**
**Private/Public Sector Entities, NGOs, and Trusts**
**Impact**
These organizations can now actively participate in the management of heritage sites by providing essential tourist infrastructure and services.
**Action Required**
Interested entities must enter into MoUs and coordinate with the ASI to develop approved amenities and maintenance frameworks.
**Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)**
**Impact**
The ASI retains total control over technical conservation while gaining support for site maintenance and visitor services. It also manages the delisting and notification of national monuments.
**Action Required**
ASI field offices must supervise partner activities, execute conservation work, and organize community-driven awareness events.
**General Public and Tourists**
**Impact**
Visitors benefit from improved facilities, such as better pathways, child care rooms, and educational shows, alongside increased heritage awareness.
**Action Required**
The public is encouraged to participate in community-centric programs and consultative meetings held at heritage sites.
Key Entities Referenced
Adopt A Heritage (AAH) 2.0: A program launched to create a framework for private and public sector engagement to develop amenities and enhance visitor experiences at protected monuments of national importance.
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): The primary regulatory and expert body responsible for executing and supervising archaeological conservation and preservation work at protected monuments.
National Culture Fund (NCF): A mechanism through which donors and sponsors contribute funds for specific monument conservation projects and the development of surrounding amenities.
Ministry of Culture: The central government ministry overseeing the implementation of heritage conservation initiatives and the Adopt A Heritage program.
Ministry of Culture
CONSERVATION OF MONUMENTS BY PRIVATE
SECTOR - ADOPT A HERITAGE (AAH) 2.0
Posted On: 19 MAR 2026 1:15PM by PIB Delhi
Adopt A Heritage (AAH) 2.0 program has been launched, exclusively for protected monuments of
national importance, to create a framework for engagement with private/public sector companies and
NGOs/ Trusts/ Societies, etc., to develop/ provide a group of amenities at protected monuments to enhance
visitors' experience and make them visitor-friendly, wherein the role of stakeholders or partnered entities
is limited to the engagement in the non-conservational aspects viz., cleaning of monument premises,
besides providing and maintaining basic tourist amenities like washrooms, drinking water, child care
room, benches, pathways, garbage bins, signage, Sound and Light shows, illumination, etc. under the
guidance and due consultation with ASI.
However, the work related to archaeological conservation and the preservation of protected
monuments/sites is executed/supervised by ASI experts.
A donor/sponsor while making contributions to the NCF can indicate a project to be taken up for
conservation or developing amenities around any monument. The conservation of protected monuments is
executed/supervised by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
In addition, the details of 30 MoUs signed under Adopt A Heritage (AAH) 2.0 program is given at
Annexure I.
The details of centrally protected monuments and sites delisted or newly notified during the last three
years are given at Annexure-II.
Archaeological Survey of India, (ASI), through its field offices, organizes community-driven and
people-centric events, such as walkthroughs, talks, drawing and painting competitions for school and
college students, photo exhibitions for visitors, and consultative meetings with locals and community
stakeholders. These events are held on various occasions, including World Heritage Day, World Tourism
Day, World Heritage Week, International Day of Yoga, among others, and at the time of various other
national celebrations as and when entrusted with to raise awareness about the need for sensitization toward
the protection of the country's age-old heritage.
Annexure-I
MoUs signed under AAH 2.0
A total of 30 MoUs have been materialized, the details of which are as below:
S.No. Name of Monument Entity State
1. Agra Fort, Agra (UP) Ease My Trip Foundation Uttar Pradesh2. Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Sabhyata Foundation Delhi
Delhi
3. Safdarjung Tomb, Delhi Sabhyata Foundation Delhi
4. Western Group of Temples, Ease My Trip Foundation Madhya
Khajuraho Pradesh
5. Kailasanatha temple, Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Tamil Nadu
Kanchipuram (TN) Company Limited (CIFCL)
6. Sun temple, Konark, Puri Ease My Trip Foundation Odisha
(Odisha)
7. Elephanta Caves, Raigarh Mahesh Enterprises and Infra India Private Maharashtra
(Maharashtra) Limited
8. Upper Fort Aguada, Goa Drishti Lifesaving Pvt Ltd Goa
9. PuranaQila, Delhi Sabhyata Foundation Delhi
10. QutubMinar, Delhi Ease My Trip Foundation Delhi
11. Humanyun’s Tomb, Delhi Sabhyata Foundation Delhi
12. JantarMantar Powerlinks Transmission Ltd Delhi
13. Group of Monuments, Tata Power Trading Pvt Ltd Delhi
HauzKhas
14. UgrasenkiBaoli Zee Aakash Delhi
15. Delhi Gate Redtape Ltd Delhi
16. Kashmere Gate and Mori Gate Redtape Ltd Delhi
17. Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka HEG Ltd Madhya
Pradesh
18. Ajmeri Gate Redtape Ltd Delhi
19. Madrasa Mahmud Gawan Shaheen Group of Institutions Karnataka
20. Kamalapur Museum JSW Foundation Karnataka21. Tomb of Khan-i-Khana Inter Globe Aviation Pvt Ltd (Indigo) Delhi
22. Tomb of Najaf Khan Sawasdee Projects Pvt Ltd Delhi
23. Padma and Rani Talabs at Bisleri International Pvt Ltd Rajasthan
Ranthambore Fort
24. BaoriAbaneri Bisleri International Pvt Ltd Rajasthan
25. BaoriNeemrana Bisleri International Pvt Ltd Rajasthan
26. BudhaBudhi pond at Kalinjar Bisleri International Pvt Ltd Uttar Pradesh
Fort
27. Development of audio guides Resbird Technologies Multiple sites
28. Red Fort Dalmia Bharat Limited Delhi
29. Aga Khan Palace DCB Bank Maharashtra
30. Airavateswara Temple, Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Tamil Nadu
Darasuram Company Limited (CIFCL)
Annexure-II
DETAILS OF ANCIENT MONUMENTS AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES & REMAINS
CEASED TO BE OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS.
Sl. No. Name of Monument Locality State/UT Notification
date
1. Nicholson Statue and its Outside the Delhi NCT of 02.12.2024
platform, and the surrounding Kashmiri Gate, Delhi
gardens, paths and enclosure Delhi
wall
2. Bara Khamba Cemetery Imperial City Delhi NCT of 01.07.2025
Delhi
3. Inchla Wali Gumti Mubarakpur Kotla Delhi, NCT of 01.07.2025
Delhi
4. Kos Minar No.13 Village Mujessar Haryana 01.07.20255. Kos Minar Shahabad Haryana 01.07.2025
6. Inscription in the fort of Bachhaun Madhya Pradesh 01.07.2025
Bachhaun
7. Temple (12th Century) Baran Rajasthan 01.07.2025
8. Inscription in Fort Nagar Rajasthan 01.07.2025
9. A banyan grove of great Bharanli Ganga tir Uttar Pradesh 01.07.2025
antiquity containing traces of
ancient buildings
10. Closed Cemetery, Katra Naka South-west of Banda Uttar Pradesh 01.07.2025
City
11. Gunner Burkill’s Tomb at Rangoon Uttar Pradesh 01.07.2025
Rangoon
12. Cemetery Gaughat Uttar Pradesh 01.07.2025
13. Cemeteries At mile 6 and 8, Uttar Pradesh 01.07.2025
Jahraila Road
14. Tombs In miles 3, 4 and 5, Uttar Pradesh 01.07.2025
Lucknow-Fyzabad
Road
15. Remains of 3 small Linga Ahugi Uttar Pradesh 01.07.2025
temples to the north of the
village Circa 1000 A.D.
16. Telia Nala Buddhist ruins, Varanasi Uttar Pradesh 01.07.2025
forms part of deserted village
17. Tablet on the Treasury Varanasi Uttar Pradesh 01.07.2025
Building
18. Kutumbari area 1316 nalis Dwarahat Uttarakhand 01.07.2025
This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in
a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
*****M Annadurai
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