This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Culture's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2321, concerning the digital preservation of artifacts and monuments, particularly in Karnataka, as of August 4, 2025.
**Digital Preservation Efforts:**
* The National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) has documented 904 antiquities and 312 built heritage sites in Karnataka. This data is publicly accessible on the NMMA website (http://nmma.nic.in).
* The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Bangalore, Dharwad, and Hampi Circles have digitally mapped 177 Centrally Protected Monuments using topographical and photogrammetric surveys.
**Collaboration and Challenges:**
* NMMA is conducting workshops in coordination with Circle Offices to train universities, colleges, NGOs, and other organizations in documentation.
* Efforts are underway to revive the State-Level Implementation Committee (SLIC) in Karnataka and other states to accelerate documentation efforts.
**Accessibility and Copyright:**
* The government repatriates antiquities sent abroad and takes necessary action through Indian Missions when illegally exported antiquities of Indian origin are reported on foreign soil.
* The Archaeological Survey of India has retrieved 655 antiquities since 1976.
**Cultural Heritage Preservation Initiatives in Karnataka:**
* The ASI Bangalore, Dharwad, and Hampi Circles maintain the cultural heritage preservation of central protected monuments.
* Expenditure for these circles over the past two years and the current year is as follows (in INR):
* **Bangalore:** 173,349,537 (2023-2024), 50,499,895 (2024-2025), 47,734,574 (2025-2026)
* **Dharwad:** 23,175,393 (2023-2024), 94,058,99 (2024-2025), 4,412,665 (2025-2026)
* **Hampi:** 12,24,98,772 (2023-2024), 65,195,861 (2024-2025), 34,749,671 (2025-2026)
* **Total:** 31,90,23,702 (2023-2024), 57,96,01,655 (2024-2025), 8,68,96,910 (2025-2026)
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The Indian government ministry responsible for the preservation and promotion of art and culture.
Karnataka: A state in South India with numerous monuments, artefacts, and cultural sites that are the focus of digital preservation efforts.
National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA): An initiative focused on documenting unprotected monuments and antiquities throughout India.
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): An Indian government agency responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural monuments in the country.
SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT: The Minister of Culture and Tourism of India at the time of the question.
ASI Bangalore Circle: A regional branch of the Archaeological Survey of India responsible for archaeological activities in and around Bangalore, Karnataka.
ASI Dharwad Circle: A regional branch of the Archaeological Survey of India responsible for archaeological activities in and around Dharwad, Karnataka.
ASI Hampi Circle: A regional branch of the Archaeological Survey of India responsible for archaeological activities in and around Hampi, Karnataka.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2321
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025.
DIGITAL PRESERVATION OF ARTEFACTS AND MONUMENTS
2321. SHRI TEJASVI SURYA:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) the number of monuments, artefacts, and cultural sites digitally preserved by the Government,
particularly in the State of Karnataka, and the manner in which these digital assets are being
utilised for educational and tourism purposes;
(b) the extent of collaboration between the Union Government and State Governments, including
Karnataka, to digitally map undocumented or lesser-known heritage sites, and the key
challenges faced in updating and maintaining official heritage databases;
(c) Whether the Government has a policy to make digital reconstruction of India’s heritage
accessible to global audience and the steps taken to safeguard copyright. Provence, or recovery
claims related to Indian antiquities abroad; and
(d) the comprehensive status of culture heritage preservation initiatives in Karnataka, including
funding, intuitional support and digitisation projects undertaken during the last two years and
the current year?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) 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.
(b) 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.
(c) 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
are initiated through Indian Missions for their retrieval. Archaeological Survey of India
has retrieved 655 number antiquities since 1976.(d) ASI Bangalore, Dhardwad and Hampi Circles are maintain 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:
S. No. Circle Name Expenditure in Expenditure in Expenditure in
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