DELISTING OF MONUMENTS FROM PROTECTED LIST

**Executive Summary** The Centre Government has delisted 18 monuments from the list of Protected Monuments, effective February 12, 2026, as these monuments were found to have ceased to be of national importance according to the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. The details of the delisted monuments are provided in the Annexure. The information was provided by the Union Minister for Culture and Tourism. **Key Points / Main Content** * **Delisting of Monuments:** * 18 monuments have been removed from the list of Protected Monuments. * The reason for delisting is that the monuments no longer meet the criteria for national importance, as per the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. * **Digitization and Preservation Efforts:** * More than 7.5 Lakh manuscripts have been digitized under Gyan Bharatam Mission. * 1.29 Lakh manuscripts are available on the Gyan Bharatam Portal (https://gyanbharatam.com). * The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) undertakes documentation, research, and audio-visual recording of traditional art forms. * **Security and Maintenance:** * Multi-Tasking Staff are assigned for watch and ward duties at protected monuments. * Private security personnel are deployed at selected monuments based on footfall and sensitivity. * CISF personnel have been deployed at Red Fort, Delhi, and Taj Mahal, Agra. * **List of Delisted Monuments (as per Annexure):** * Nicholson Statue and its platform, Delhi (NCT). * Kos Minar No.13, Village Mujessar, Gurugram, Haryana. * Kos Minar, Shahabad, Karnal, Haryana. * Inscription in the fort of Bachhaun, Satna, Madhya Pradesh. * Bara Khamba Cemetery, Imperial City, Delhi, Delhi. * Inchla Wali Gumti, Mubarakpur Kotla, Delhi, Delhi. * Temple (12th Century), Baran, Kotah, Rajasthan. * Inscription in Fort, Nagar, Jaipur, Rajasthan. * Kutumbari area 1316 nalis, Dwarahat, Almora, Uttarakhand. * A banyan grove of great antiquity, Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. * Closed Cemetery, Katra Naka, Banda, Uttar Pradesh. * Gunner Burkill's Tomb at Rangoon, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. * Cemetery, Gaughat, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. * Cemeteries, Jahraila Road, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. * Tombs, Lucknow-Fyzabad Road, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. * Remains of 3 small Linga temples, Ahugi, Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. * Telia Nala Buddhist ruins, Varanasi (Benares), Uttar Pradesh. * Tablet on the Treasury Building, Varanasi (Benares), Uttar Pradesh. **Impact Analysis** **Ministry of Culture** * **Impact:** The Ministry's list of protected monuments is updated to reflect the delisting of 18 monuments. * **Action Required:** Update official records and databases to reflect the change in status of these monuments. **Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)** * **Impact:** The ASI's responsibilities for these 18 monuments are altered, as they are no longer under national protection. * **Action Required:** Review resource allocation and potentially reallocate resources previously used for these monuments. **Local Authorities (Districts and States)** * **Impact:** Local authorities in Delhi (NCT), Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh will have increased responsibility for the management and preservation of the delisted monuments. * **Action Required:** Assess the current state of the monuments and develop plans for their future management, preservation, or repurposing. **General Public/Researchers/Historians** * **Impact:** Access to and preservation of these monuments could be affected, depending on the actions taken by local authorities. * **Action Required:** Stay informed about the future management plans for these monuments and advocate for their continued preservation and accessibility.

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