## Policy Summary: Conservation of Privately-Owned Heritage Homes in India
This document summarizes the Indian government's stance on providing assistance for the conservation of privately-owned heritage homes, as articulated in response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 19, answered on July 21, 2025, by the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
**Key Findings:**
* **Inventory of Heritage Homes:** While the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) does not maintain a specific inventory of privately-owned heritage homes, the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA), established in 2007, has documented and published data on 11,406 Built Heritage Sites (100+ years old) across the country. This data is available on the NMMA website: http://nmma.nic.in. A state-wise list of these sites is included in Annexure 1 of the original document.
* **Financial Assistance and Incentives:** The response indicates that providing financial assistance, tax incentives, or special schemes for the conservation, restoration, or adaptive reuse of privately-owned heritage properties falls outside the mandate of the ASI.
* **Dedicated Central Scheme:** The document does not indicate the existence of a dedicated central scheme to provide financial or technical assistance for the conservation of privately owned heritage homes. No timeline for the introduction of such a scheme is provided.
**State-wise Data on Documented Built Heritage Sites (from NMMA website):**
* Andhra Pradesh: 1788
* Bihar: 20
* Chhattisgarh: 60
* Delhi: 872
* Gujarat: 46
* Haryana: 1
* Himachal Pradesh: 280
* Jammu & Kashmir: 292
* Karnataka: 312
* Kerala: 174
* Madhya Pradesh: 749
* Maharashtra: 32
* Odisha: 2015
* Punjab: 687
* Rajasthan: 2160
* Tamil Nadu: 922
* Telangana: 629
* Tripura: 4
* Uttar Pradesh: 228
* West Bengal: 135
* **Total: 11406**
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: A ministry within the Government of India responsible for the preservation and promotion of art and culture.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
SHRI TANGELLA UDAY SRINIVAS: Member of Parliament who raised the question about assistance to privately-owned heritage homes.
SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT: The Minister of Culture and Tourism who provided the answer to the question.
Archaeological Survey of India: An Indian government agency attached to the Ministry of Culture that is responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural monuments in the country.
National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities: A mission established by the Government of India in 2007 to prepare a national register of monuments and antiquities.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India with 1788 Built Heritage Sites documented by NMMA.
Rajasthan: A state in India with 2160 Built Heritage Sites documented by NMMA.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.19
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
ASSISTANCE TO PRIVATELY-OWNED HERITAGE HOMES FOR
CONSERVATION
19. SHRI TANGELLA UDAY SRINIVAS:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government maintains any inventory or registry of privately-owned
heritage home/ buildings in the country and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-
wise;
(b) whether any financial assistance, tax incentives or special schemes exist to
support the private owners in the conservation, restoration or adaptive reuse of
such heritage properties, and if so, the details thereof; and;
(c) Whether the Government has any proposal to introduce a dedicated central
scheme to provide financial or technical assistance for conservation of privately-
owned heritage homes, and if so, the details and timeline thereof?;
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) The Archaeological Survey of India does not maintain any inventory of
privately – owned heritage homes specifically, however the Government of
India has established the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities
(NMMA) in 2007 to prepare two national register on monuments and
antiquities from length and breadth of across the country. So far the NMMA
has documented and published data for 11,406 Built Heritage & Sites which
are 100 or more years old. State wise list is attached in Annuxure-1 The
data has been published at the NMMA website: http://nmma.nic.in.
(b)&(c) This is outside the mandate of ASI.
*******Total Built Heritage Sites data published on NMMA website state wise
S. No. State Name Total Data
1 Andhra Pradesh 1788
2 Bihar 20
3 Chhattisgarh 60
4 Delhi 872
5 Gujrat 46
6 Haryana 1
7 Himachal Pradesh 280
8 Jammu & Kashmir 292
9 Karnataka 312
10 Kerala 174
11 Madhya Pradesh 749
12 Maharashtra 32
13 Odisha 2015
14 Punjab 687
15 Rajasthan 2160
16 Tamil Nadu 922
17 Telangana 629
18 Tripura 4
19 Uttar Pradesh 228
20 West Bengal 135
Total 11406