**Summary:**
The Ministry of Culture is actively engaged in the digital preservation of artifacts and monuments, as outlined in a press release dated August 4, 2025. The National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) has documented 904 antiquities and 312 built heritage sites in Karnataka, with this data publicly accessible on the NMMA website (http://nmma.nic.in).
In addition to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Bangalore, Dharwad, and Hampi Circles have digitally mapped 177 centrally protected monuments using topographical and photogrammetric surveys. The NMMA is conducting workshops across various regions, in collaboration with Circle Offices, to provide training programs for universities, colleges, NGOs, and other organizations. Efforts are underway to revive State-Level Implementation Committees (SLICs) in each state, including Karnataka, to accelerate documentation efforts.
The government is committed to repatriating antiquities sent abroad, initiating action through Indian Missions when illegally exported antiquities of Indian origin are reported on foreign soil. Since 1976, the ASI has retrieved 655 antiquities.
The ASI Bangalore, Dharwad, and Hampi Circles are responsible for the cultural heritage preservation of centrally protected monuments, with the following expenditures incurred over the past two years and the current year (in Rupees):
* **Bangalore Circle:** 173,349,537 (2023-2024), 50,499,895 (2024-2025), 47,734,574 (2025-2026)
* **Dharwad Circle:** 23,175,393 (2023-2024), 94,058,994 (2024-2025), 4,412,665 (2025-2026)
* **Hampi Circle:** 122,498,772 (2023-2024), 65,195,861 (2024-2025), 34,749,671 (2025-2026)
* **Total:** 319,023,702 (2023-2024), 579,601,655 (2024-2025), 86,896,910 (2025-2026)
This information was provided by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha. For further information, contact Sunil Kumar Tiwari at pibcultureatgmaildotcom.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The Indian government ministry responsible for the preservation and promotion of art and culture.
National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA): An initiative focused on documenting unprotected monuments and antiquities.
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): Indian government agency responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural monuments in the country.
Karnataka: A state in South India where unprotected Monuments and Antiquities were documented.
ASI Bangalore Circle: A regional circle of the Archaeological Survey of India responsible for the Bangalore region.
ASI Dhardwad Circle: A regional circle of the Archaeological Survey of India responsible for the Dhardwad region.
ASI Hampi Circle: A regional circle of the Archaeological Survey of India responsible for the Hampi region.
State Level Implementation Committee (SLIC): A committee to speed up the documentation work of monuments and antiquities in each state.
Ministry of Culture
Digital Preservation Of Artefacts And Monuments
Posted On: 04 AUG 2025 5:07PM by PIB Delhi
The total number of unprotected Monuments and Antiquities documented by the National Mission on
Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) as on date stands as follows at Karnataka: Antiquities-904 and Built
heritage & Sites-312. The above data’s are uploaded on the NMMA website: http://nmma.nic.in for public
access. Beside ASI Bangalore, Dhardwad and Hampi Circles are digitally mapped like topographical survey
and photogrammetric survey of 177 Centrally Protected Monuments.
NMMA is conducting workshops in various regions to provide training programs to universities, colleges,
NGOs, and other interested organizations, in coordination with Circle Offices. Efforts are also being made to
revive the State-Level Implementation Committee (SLIC) in each state including Karnataka to speed up the
documentation work.
Government takes necessary action to repatriate the antiquities sent abroad. Whenever, any illegally exported
antiquity of Indian origin is reported on foreign soil, necessary action is initiated through Indian Missions for
their retrieval. Archaeological Survey of India has retrieved 655 number antiquities since 1976.
ASI Bangalore, Dhardwad and Hampi Circles are maintaining the cultural heritage preservation of central
protected monuments for the above expenditure is made in the last 2 years and the current year is as follows:
Expenditure in Expenditure in Expenditure in
S. No. Circle Name
2023-2024 2024-2025 2025-2026
1 Banglore 173,349,537 50,4999,895 47,734,574
2 Dharwad 23,175,393 94,058,99 4,412,665
3 Hampi 12,24,98,772 65,195,861 34,749,671
Total 31,90,23,702 57,96,01,655 8,68,96,910
This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a
written reply in Lok Sabha today.
****
Sunil Kumar Tiwari
pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com
(Release ID: 2152153)