**Executive Summary**
This document contains the response of the Minister of Culture and Tourism to Unstarred Question No. †2420, concerning the conservation and maintenance of protected monuments, to be answered on 15.12.2025. It addresses the number of national monuments in dilapidated conditions, the sufficiency of ASI's budget, the "Adopt a Heritage" scheme, and plans for renovating and digitizing central museums.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National Monuments:**
* There are 3685 centrally protected monuments/sites under ASI.
* Conservation and maintenance are ongoing, subject to the National Policy for Conservation.
* All monuments/sites are in a good state of preservation.
* **ASI Budget and Staff:**
* ASI has sufficient budget and staff for conservation of centrally protected monuments/sites under its jurisdiction.
* **Adopt A Heritage 2.0 Program:**
* Launched in September 2023 to engage private/public sectors and NGOs in enhancing visitor experience.
* It involves providing amenities at protected monuments to make them visitor-friendly.
* Work is performed under the supervision of ASI.
* **Museums Grant Scheme:**
* The Ministry of Culture operates this scheme.
* Financial assistance is provided for setting up new museums, developing existing museums, digitizing museums, and training museum professionals.
* Beneficiaries include Central/State Governments, Societies, Autonomous Bodies, Local Bodies, Academic Institutions, and Trusts.
* Digitization of antiquities is processed under the JATAN Portal.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)**
**Impact:**
* Responsible for the conservation and maintenance of 3685 centrally protected monuments/sites.
* Supervises the "Adopt a Heritage 2.0" program.
**Action Required:**
* Continue regular conservation activities subject to resource availability.
* Oversee work performed by agencies in the "Adopt a Heritage 2.0" program.
* **Private/Public Sector Companies & NGOs/Trusts/Societies**
**Impact:**
* Potential partners in the "Adopt A Heritage 2.0" program for enhancing visitor experience at protected monuments.
**Action Required:**
* Engage with the ASI in developing amenities at protected monuments.
* **Central/State Governments, Societies, Autonomous Bodies, Local Bodies, Academic Institutions and Trusts**
**Impact:**
* Eligible to receive financial assistance under the Museums Grant Scheme for developing or setting up museums.
**Action Required:**
* Apply for financial assistance to develop and maintain museums, digitize collections, and train museum professionals.
* **Museum Visitors**
**Impact:**
* Potential to experience improved amenities and visitor-friendly environments at protected monuments through the "Adopt a Heritage 2.0" program.
**Action Required:**
* Utilize new amenities and provide feedback to enhance visitor experience.
Key Entities Referenced
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): The primary agency responsible for the conservation and maintenance of centrally protected monuments.
Ministry of Culture: The ministry overseeing the conservation and management of cultural heritage, including the implementation of the Museums Grant Scheme.
Adopt a Heritage 2.0: A program aimed at engaging private/public sector companies and NGOs/Trusts/Societies in the maintenance and enhancement of protected monuments.
Museums Grant Scheme: A scheme that provides financial assistance for the establishment of new museums and the development of existing ones.
National Policy for Conservation: A policy determining the process of conservation of the centrally protected monuments/sites.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†2420
TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025
CONSERVATION AND MAINTENANCE OF PROTECTED MONUMENTS
†2420. SHRI BALYA MAMA SURESH GOPINATH MHATRE:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the number of National Monuments (Protected Monuments) which are
currently in a dilapidated conditions along with the State/UT-wise;
(b) whether the Archaeological Survey of India (ASl) has sufficient budget and staff for the
conservation of all monuments;
(c) whether the Government is reviewing the “Adopt a Heritage” scheme to hand over the
maintenance of monuments to private companies or trusts; and
(d) whether the Government is planning to renovate and digitize the Central Museums, if so,
the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) There are 3685 centrally protected monuments/sites under the jurisdiction of
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in the country. Conservation, preservation and
maintenance of these monuments/sites is a regular process and is taken up as per the
requirement and availability of resources subject to the National Policy for Conservation.
All these monuments/sites are in a good state of preservation.
(b) ASI has sufficient budget and staff for conservation of all centrally protected
monuments/sites which are under the jurisdiction of ASI.
(c) The Adopt A Heritage 2.0 program for protected monuments of national importance was
launched in September 2023 to create a framework for engaging 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. The work is performed by such agency under the supervision of ASI.
(d) Ministry of Culture operates Museums Grant Scheme under which financial assistance is
provided for setting up of New Museums/development of the existing
museums/digitisation of museums and training of professionals of museums managed by
Central/State Governments, Societies, Autonomous Bodies, Local Bodies, Academic
Institutions and Trusts registered under the societies Act. The digitization of antiquities of
selected museums under Ministry of Culture is processed under JATAN Portal.
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