**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes the activities and financial details of the National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property (NRLC) in Lucknow, a subordinate office of the Ministry of Culture, over the last five years (2021-2026). It includes allocated budget, expenditure, ongoing and completed research projects, publications, conservation efforts, and training programs conducted by the NRLC. The information was presented to the Lok Sabha on December 15, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Financial Details:**
* Provides a table detailing the allocated budget and expenditure (in Lakh) for the financial years 2021-22 to 2025-26.
* **Research Projects:**
* Lists ongoing research projects related to corrosion protection of bronze alloys, silane coatings for copper artifacts, and mortar compressive strength.
* Lists completed research projects, including studies on Paraloid B72 coating, Polyvinyl Acetate Coating concentration, electrochemical impedance, and structure-property correlations of copper alloy coins.
* **Publications:**
* Lists publications related to biologically induced calcium oxalate mineralization, historical earth pigments, microbial activity on potsherds, and other studies.
* **Conservation Activities:**
* Details various conservation projects undertaken from 2020-2021 to 2024-2025, including conservation of museum collections, temples, paintings, and books.
* Lists specific locations where conservation work was conducted, such as New Delhi, Karnataka, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
* **Training Programs:**
* Lists training programs in conservation conducted from 2020-21 to 2025-26.
* Details the number of participants for each course and the institutions involved, e.g., Banaras Hindu University, Rabindra Bharti University.
* **Library Services:**
* NRLC Library offered circulation services and reference services to the patrons including staff, six months trainees, research scholars, etc. covering various parts of India.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Culture**
* **Impact:** The Ministry is responsible for overseeing the activities and funding of NRLC.
* **Action Required:** Review and utilize the information provided to assess NRLC's performance, allocate future budgets, and plan strategic initiatives for cultural property conservation.
**National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property (NRLC)**
* **Impact:** The report documents NRLC's activities, resource utilization, and achievements over the past five years.
* **Action Required:** Continue research, conservation work, and training programs. Report on ongoing projects and plan for future activities to align with conservation needs.
**Museums, Libraries, and Universities**
* **Impact:** These stakeholders benefit from NRLC's assistance, training programs, and conservation efforts.
* **Action Required:** Collaborate with NRLC on conservation projects, participate in training programs, and implement best practices for cultural property preservation.
**Researchers and Scholars**
* **Impact:** The research projects and publications provide valuable insights into conservation methods and cultural property analysis.
* **Action Required:** Utilize NRLC's research findings for further studies, collaborate on projects, and contribute to the advancement of conservation science.
Key Entities Referenced
National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property (NRLC), Lucknow: A subordinate office of the Ministry of Culture established in 1976, focused on research and conservation of cultural property.
Ministry of Culture: The primary government body overseeing the NRLC and responsible for the conservation of cultural property.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Indian Parliament where the question about the activities of NRLC was raised.
Lucknow: Location of the National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2393
TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025
Activities of National Research Laboratory
2393. Dr. Thirumaavalavan Tholkappiyan:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the activities of the National Research Laboratory for conservation of cultural
property during the last five years;
(b) whether the Government has allocated any funds for its activities during the last five years;
and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE & TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a): The details are attached as Annexure-I.
(b) & (c): Yes, sir. Details are as under:-
Financial Year Allocated Expenditure
Budget (in Lakh) (in Lakh)
2021-22 919.22 842.22
2022-23 539.00 465.48
2023-24 454.07 412.78
2024-25 419.72 403.68
2025-26 488.00 293.53
(up to 30.11.2025)ANNEXURE-‘I’
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO. 2393 for 15.12.2025
The details of the activities of National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural
Property during the last five years
National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property (NRLC), Lucknow
established in 1976 is a subordinate office of the Ministry of Culture. It is a premier research
organization with the mandate to Dating, Environmental Archaeology, Technical study by
physical and chemical means, Conservation methods, Reference documentation, Assistance to
other laboratories, Assistance to museums- state departments of archaeology-ASI-universities-
libraries having no laboratory, training in conservation and liaison with national and international
bodies.
2. The details of the activities of National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural
Property (NRLC) during the last five years in various fields are as follows:-
RESEARCH
Ongoing Projects
1. Effect of Tin in Bronze Alloys on the Corrosion Protection Efficacy of Modified Paraloid
B72 Coating, Principal Investigator: Dr. Preeti Verma, Funding Agency: DST–SHRI,
Project Cost: 62 lakh (Approx.)
2. Evaluation of Silane Coatings for Enhancing Corrosion Resistance of Copper Cultural
Artifacts, Principal Investigator: Dr. Preeti Verma
3. Effect of Cuprite and Malachite Layers on the Corrosion Protection Efficacy of Paraloid
B72 and PMMA Coatings on Copper Substrates, Principal Investigator: Dr. Preeti
Verma, Project Member: Mr. Shailesh B.
4. The effect of different additive proportions on the compressive strength of mortars
prepared as per the ASTM Standard, Principal Investigator: Dr. K.S.S. Mounika, Co-PI:
Dr. Preeti Verma (Project to be undertaken)
5. The impact of UV exposure, relative humidity, temperature and salt spray tests on the
durability of these mortar samples, Dr. K.S.S. Mounika, Co-PI: Dr. Preeti Verma (Project
to be undertaken)
Completed Projects
1. Corrosion Protection Performance of Paraloid B72 Coating Modified by Dispersion of
Nano Aluminium Oxide Powder on Iron Using EIS, Principal Investigator: Dr. Preeti
Verma, Sponsored by INSA
2. Influence of Polyvinyl Acetate Coating Concentration on Corrosion Behavior of Copper:In Perspective of Cultural Artifacts, Principal Investigator: Dr. Preeti Verma
3. Electrochemical Impedance and Surface Characterization of Microcrystalline Wax Coating
on Copper for Conservation Application, Principal Investigator: Dr. Preeti Verma
4. Structure- Property Correlation of the Copper Alloy Coins of different Periods and
Regions such as Kaushambi, Sasanian, Mughal, British Coins, Principal Investigator: Dr.
Preeti Verma
PUBLICATIONS
1) Tahseen Karche, M.R. Singh (2021), Biologically induced calcium oxalate mineralization
on 15th century lime mortar, Murud Seafort, India, Journal of Archaeological Science :
Reports, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.103178
2) Anjali Sharma, M.R. Singh (2021), A Review on Historical Earth Pigments Used in
India’s Wall Paintings, Heritage, https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage 4030112
3) M.R. Singh, K. Ganaraj, V.M. Sharma (2021), Microbial activity and studies on
excavated megalithic micaceous potsherds from Peninsular India, Cermica, 67 (2021)
250-260, http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0366-69132021673823026
4) Deepakshi Sharma, M.R. Singh, M. Velayudhan Nair (2021), Scientific analysis of
indigenous materials in Indian palm-leaf manuscripts, ICOM-CC, 19th Triennial
Conference, 2021 Beijing
5) B. Dighe, M.R. Singh, T. Karche (2021), Traditional use of organic additives (bamboo
foliage, flax fibre and millet grains) in 16th century lime plaster of Solapur Fort, India,
Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, Vol 20(1), January 2021, pp 106-116
6) Vandana Singh, M.R. Singh (2021), Microscopic Imaging of Entrapped Slag in Ancient
Iron Artifact (300 BCE) from the Middle Ganga Plains of India, International Journal of
History of Science, VOL 55.4, pp 1-9.
7) Anjali Sharma, M.R. Singh and Karambir Singh (2021), Transfer of Wall Paintings in
India: A Review and Approach, Studies in Conservation DOI:10.1080/00393630.
2021.1890425
8) Siva Sankar Panda, Neena Singh and M.R. Singh (2021), Development, characterization
of traditional inks for restoration of ancient manuscripts and application on various
substrates to understand stability, https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.vibspec.2021.103232
9) Preeti Verma et. al., “Influence of Polyvinyl Acetate Coating Concentration on Corrosion
Behaviour Of Copper: In Perspective of Cultural Artefacts”, Canadian Metallurgical
Quarterly (2025): 1-10.
10) Preeti Vermaet. al., Microstructural Characterization of EarlyTwentieth-Century British
Period Indian Copper Coins, X-Ray Spectrometry, 50 (6) (2021): 482-490
11) Preeti Vermaet. al., Microscopic Examination of the 2,300 Year Old Excavated Steel
Plowshare From Northern India, X-Ray Spectrometry 48 (6) 674-681
12) Preeti Vermaet. al., Metallurgical Investigations of Indo-Sasanian Copper-Silver Alloy
Coins Of Gurjara-Pratiharas Dynasty, Metallurgical And Materials Engineering(2020)
ISSN 2217-8961
13) Preeti Vermaet. al., “Microstructural Characterization of High Tin Bronze Mirror,
Arnamula, Kerala”, Research And Developments In Material Processing, Modelling and
Characterization (RDMPMC 2020), Aug 24-26, 2020, NIT Jamshedpur.
14) Preeti Verma et. al., Microstructural Characterization Of Early Twentieth Century British
Period Indian Copper Coins, Webinar For Young Researchers In Metallurgical &
Materials Science, Aug 12-14, 2020, CSIR-NML.15) Preeti Verma, et al. The Corrosion Behavior of The Paraloid B72 Protective Coating On
Copper Using EIS, International Conference On Corrosion And Coating (i3c), December
07-08, 2022, CSIR, NML
16) Preeti Verma et. al., Effect of Concentration and Multilayered Paraloid B72 Coating On
Corrosion Behaviour of Mild Steel, Eis, International Conference On Corrosion And
Coating (i3C), February 07-08, 2022, CSIR, NML.
17) 01Book on the Conservation of Metallic Artifacts is also about to be finalised.
18) 05 Manuscripts are under review and about to be submitted.
19) Sanjay Prasad Gupta and Sachin Kumar Agnihotri (2025). Fungal Deterioration of
Monument with Special Reference to Aspergillus: A Case Study. International Journal of
Development Research. 15 (01): 67586-67588.
20) Sanjay Prasad Gupta (2025). Eco-Friendly Methods To Control Bio-Deterioration Of
Cultural Property. Conservation of Cultural Property in India Vol.(43):190-193.
21) Sanjay Prasad Gupta and Sachin Kumar Agnihotri (2025). Fungal deterioration of
monument with special reference to As per gillus: A case study. Conservation of Cultural
Property in India Vol.(43):169-173.
22) Presentation on title “Preserving Cultural Heritage through natural insect repellent:
Sustainable strategies for Scientific Conservation and Preservation of Cultural Property”
in the 52th National conference of IASC on Conservation of Cultural Property held on
23rd -25th
Sep 2025 at Assam State Museum, Guwahati.
23) Presentation on title “Bio-deterioration of Cultural Property and their Eco- friendly
Conservation” in the National conference of ICBCP held on
25th -27th
Feb 2025 at
Manipur University, Imphal.
24) Sanjay Prasad Gupta and Sachin Kumar Agnihotri (2024). Fungal deterioration of
monument with reference to Queen’s Mosque and Tomb at Sarangpur, Ahmedabad,
India. International Journal of Biology Innovations, 7(2): 149-152.
25) Sanjay Prasad Gupta and Sachin Kumar Agnihotri (2024). Bio-deterioration and
scientific preservation of Queen’s Mosque, J. Env. Sci. Pollut. Res. 10(3): 498–500.
26) Sanjay Prasad Gupta and Iliyas Ahmad. (2024). New Approach for Restoration of Ivory
and Ivory Inlay object with reference to objects at Maharaja Laxmishwar Singh Museum,
Darbhanga, India : A Case Study. Conservation of Cultural Property in India. Vol
(42):142-146.
27) Presentation on title “Eco-Friendly Methods to Control Bio-Deterioration of Cultural
st
Property” in the 51 National conference of IASC on Conservation, Technology and
Scientific Study of Ancient and Historic Metals held on
14th -15th
Sep 2024 at MMCF,
Udaipur.
28) Presentation on title “Bio Deterioration of ancient monuments: Cause and Remidial
Measures” in the Environment & Social Welfare Society, Khajuraho organized ESW XI
annual National Research Conference held on 28th- 29thJan 2024 Khajuraho.
29) Sanjay Prasad Gupta and Iliyas Ahmed. Conservation of Wooden Monuments of
Maldives: An Endeavour of Padmasri O.P. Agrawal Gains Reputation to the Nation. A
chapter in a book of Biodeterioration of Cultural Property and Researches on
Conservation of Heritage Buildings, Maya Publishing House, New Delhi, 259-280,2023.
30) Sanjay Prasad Gupta and Iliyas Ahmad. (2024). New Approach for Restoration of Ivory
and Ivory Inlay object with reference to objects at Maharaja Laxmishwar Singh Museum,
Darbhanga, India : A Case Study. Conservation of Cultural Property in India.
Vol(42):142-146.31) Sanjay Prasad Gupta and Sachin Kumar Agnihotri, Fungal deterioration of historical
monument with reference to Jaleshwarnath temple of Shivpur, Chhattisgarh, India.
International Journal of Biology Sciences , 5(2): 19-21, 2023.
32) Sanjay Prasad Gupta and Sachin Kumar Agnihotri. Fungal Involvement in Bio
weathering of Historical Monument with reference to Bateshwar Hindu Temples, Morena
Town of Madhya Pradesh, India, International Journal of Current Research Vol. 15,
Issue, 08, pp.25631-25634 August, 2023.
33) Gupta, S.P. & Agnihotri S.K. Isolation and Identification of Fungal Species and
Scientific Preservation of World Heritage: Case of Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh, India.
34) The book titled “Modern Perspectives in the Field of Cultural Heritage Conservation”
authored by Sanjay Prasad Guha and Atul Kumar Yadav,
published in Hindi by Maya Publication, New Delhi. Sanjay Prasad Gupta. Fungal
Involvement in Bio Weathering of Historical Monument with Reference to Gopinath
Temple at Gopeshwar Town, Chamoli, Uttrakhand, India. International Journal of
science and Research (IJSR).Vol-12 (1,) 356-358:2023.
35) Sanjay Prasad Gupta and Manoj Kumar Kurmi. Impact of Fungi on Historical Monument
with reference to Mahadev temple Bastar of Chhattisgarh. International Journal of Life
Science and Research Archive, 04(01,001-005:2023.
36) Sanjay Prasad Gupta and Rohit Mishra. Fungal Involvement in Bio Weathering of
Historical Monument with Reference to Rumi Darwazaat Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh),
India, International Journal of Science and Technology Research Archive,04(01), 222-
225:2023 Sanjay Prasad Gupta and Nitin Kumar Maurya. Microbial Studies to Evaluate
Bio- Deterioration of Oil Painting on Masonite board and its Conservation, International
Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) 11:1,723-728:2022.
37) Sanjay Prasad Gupta and Iliyas Ahmed. Selection of Adhesives And Fillers In
Conservation Of Wooden Monument Deteriorated By Termite With Reference To
Dharumavantha Rasegafanu Mosque at male, Maldives, International Journal of Current
Research, 14, (02), 20596-20600:2022.
38) Sanjay Prasad Gupta et al. Sanitization-mediated Conservation Therapy of Cultural
Property in COVID Situation: an Eco-Friendly Approach German Journal of Advanced
Scientific Research (AJASR), Vol. 1, Issue. 1, pp. 1-4:2021.
39) Sanjay Prasad Gupta et al. Efficacy of Natural Plant Product For Preventive Preservation
Of Documentary Heritage Against Aspergillus Flavus: A Case Study. INT J CONSERV
SCI 12, 2,: 443-450 444:2021.
CONSERVATION
S.No Project Title Nature of objects No of objects
conserved
Year 2020-2021
1. Conservation Project at SMM Collection mainly contains 101
Theatre crafts museum, New polychrome wooden masks, leather
Delhi. puppets, wooden artifacts, paper
materials etc. related to Indian
folklore arts.
2. Conservation Projects of Cloths, Water pots, stoves etc. 1358personal belongings of Baba
Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar at
NIT, Nagpur
3. Conservation project at Shree The paintings were used for 02
Maruti Temple Project, KR worship during the Ramanavami
Nagar, Karnataka- festival procession. They have great
artistic and cultural significance in
traditional Mysore painting.
2021-2022
4. Conservation Project at Collection is made of ivory, silver, 176
Maharajadhiraj Laxmeshwar bone and wooden artifacts
Singh Museum, Darbhanga,
Bihar
5. Conservation of different types Manuscripts of Rahul Sankrityayan, 500 folios of
of objects of Patna Museum, silica paintings, glass paintings, manuscripts,
Patna cloths 12 silica
paintings 6
glass
paintings
2022-2023 & 2023-2024
6. Conservation Project at Collection of sculptures from 12th 76
Sultanpur Museum, Uttar to 17th Century and paintings of
Pradesh different styles, wooden sculptures
of Ganesha.
7. Conservation Project of 18th century Golden Chariot of 01
Golden Chariot at Sri Chitra Travancore royal family used by
Enclave, Trivandrum, Zoo Kings for Dushera festivals. It is
campus huge chariot of 18x9x23 feet in
dimension. beautifully decorated
with gold foil and silver thread
2023-24-25
8. Conservation Project at J.J Paintings of contemporary artists of 100
college of arts, Mumbai Maharashtra states
9. Conservation Project at J.J Books related to Fine arts 100
college of arts, Mumbai
10. Conservation Project at Sri Feature exquisite mural paintings 350 Sq. foot
Ambujavalli Temple, Mysore and architecture resembling the
Karnataka- Sri Varahaswami temples of Belur and Somnathpura.
and Ambujavalli temples, Inscriptions suggest construction
located within the Mysore between 1672–1704 AD. Historical
Palace premises, records note that Sri
Chikkadevaraja Wadiyar brought
the Varahaswami deity from
Srirangapatna in 1809 and
commissioned this temple in
Hoyasala style. The Ambujavalli
temple was built during the reign ofMummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar,
marking the peak of Mysore’s
traditional art. Temple construction
dates are known but the painting
dates remain unrecorded.
2024-2025
11. Conservation Project at Shree According to the temple trust, the 02
Maruti temple project, KR paintings are over ninety years old
Nagar, Karnataka and they are used for worship
during the Ramanavami festival
procession. They have great artistic
and cultural significance in
traditional Mysore painting.
12. Conservation Project of Oil 02
Oil paintings were made of Begam
paintings of Begam Samruat (7x4 ft size )
Samru, paintings were decorated
Rajbhawan Lucknow.
with beautiful frames with original
gold paint which was hidden under
several layers of commercial gold
paint. Joanna Nobilis Sombre
(c. 1753 – 27 January 1836),
popularly known Begum Samru, a
convert Catholic Christian, started
her career as dancing girl in 18th-
century India, and eventually
became the ruler of Sardhana a
small principality near Meerut.
TRAINING IN CONSERVATION
Year Name of the course/Practical training course/workshop Number of
participants
2020-21 Six months course in conservation of cultural property. 07
2021-22 Six months course in conservation of cultural property 05
Two weeks practical training in conservation of art objects for 12
the students M.A. Museology of department of museology,
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
Two weeks practical training course in conservation of museum 22
objects for the students of Post Graduate Diploma in Museology
and Archaeology of Sampurnanand University, Varanasi
Two weeks practical training course in conservation of museum 10
objects for the master students of Museology of Rabindra Bharti
University, Kolkata2022-23 Six months course in conservation of cultural property 09
Practical training course in Conservation Oil Paintings 11
Practical training course in Conservation Wall Paintings 07
Two weeks practical training course in conservation of museum 23
objects for the master students of Museology of Rabindra Bharti
University, Kolkata
Two weeks practical training course in conservation of museum 26
objects for the students of Post Graduate Diploma in Museology
and Archaeology of Sampurnanand University, Varanasi
Two weeks practical training in conservation of art objects for 10
the students M.A. Museology of department of museology,
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
2023-24 Six months course in conservation of cultural property 11
Two weeks practical training course in conservation of museum 16
objects for the students of Post Graduate Diploma in Museology
and Archaeology of Sampurnanand University, Varanasi
Two weeks practical training in conservation of art objects for 08
the students M.A. Museology of department of museology,
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
Two weeks practical training in conservation of paintings for the 06
students M.A. Museology of department of M.A. Conservation
of School of Heritage research &Management, New Delhi.
Two weeks practical training in conservation of paintings for the 06
students M.A. Museology of department of M.A. Museology of
department of museology, Maharaja Saijirao Gaykwad
University, Vadodara
Two weeks practical training course in conservation of museum 25
objects for the master students of Museology of Rabindra Bharti
University, Kolkata
2024-25 Six months course in conservation of cultural property 29
Two weeks practical training in conservation of Museum objects 15
for the students M.A. Museology of department of M.A.
Conservation of School of Heritage research & Management,
New Delhi
Two weeks practical training in conservation of art objects for 08
the students M.A. Museology of department of museology,
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
Two weeks practical training course in conservation of museum 26
objects for the students of Post Graduate Diploma in Museology
and Archaeology of Sampurnanand University, Varanasi
Two weeks practical training course in conservation of museum 33
objects for the master students of Museology of Rabindra Bharti
University, Kolkata2025 -26 One week international workshop by NRLC on Conservation of 28
Paintings practices in India at National Gallery of Fine Arts, Kula
Lumpur, Malaysia
Six months course in conservation of cultural property 24
NRLC- Library offered circulation services and reference Services to the patrons including
staff, six months trainees, research scholars, etc. covering various parts of India.
********