**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 21 in Lok Sabha regarding the documentation of Indian languages, scripts, and folklore. The Minister of Culture and Tourism provides details on protected monuments, cultural projects, preservation policies, and national projects related to this documentation. The questions were answered on December 1, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Protected Monuments:**
* There are 3685 protected monuments and archaeological sites declared under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
* **Cultural Initiatives:**
* The Ministry of Culture has initiated cultural initiatives under Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, including:
* Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar
* Unsung Heroes
* Digital District Repository (DDR)
* Har Ghar Tiranga
* Unity in Creativity
* Kalanjali Events
* Vibrant Villages Programme
* Meri Maati Mera Desh
* **Preservation of Digital Heritage:**
* Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA's) follows international metadata standards.
* IGNCA ensures long-term digital preservation.
* IGNCA maintains specialized repositories, including Vedic heritage, folk traditions, manuscripts, and rare audiovisual materials.
* **National Project:**
* The Ministry of Culture has initiated a national project called Gyan Bharatam to preserve, digitize, and disseminate the country's vast manuscript heritage.
* IGNCA has implemented National Cultural Audiovisual Archives (NCAA), a digital repository for long-term preservation of linguistic, oral, and folk-performance.
* **Shekhawati Havelis:**
* The havelis of the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan are not protected monuments under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India.
* There is currently no proposal for inclusion of the Shekhawati havelis in UNESCO's Tentative List.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Culture and Tourism**
* **Impact:** Responsible for providing the details of protected monuments and cultural initiatives.
* **Action Required:** Continue implementing and managing cultural projects, maintaining digital repositories, and overseeing national projects.
**Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for digital preservation and maintaining specialized repositories.
* **Action Required:** Continue adhering to international metadata standards and ensuring long-term preservation of cultural heritage.
**Shekhawati Region of Rajasthan**
* **Impact:** The havelis are not currently protected, and there is no proposal for UNESCO recognition.
* **Action Required:** No immediate action.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The primary government entity responsible for the initiatives and policies discussed in the document.
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): An organization under the Ministry of Culture responsible for protecting monuments.
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958: The act under which monuments and archaeological sites are declared as of national importance.
Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav: An initiative under which cultural projects are being undertaken.
Rajasthan: The state where the Shekhawati havelis are located, which are under consideration for preservation.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.21
ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025
DOCUMENTATION OF INDIAN LANGUAGES, SCRIPTS AND FOLKLORE
†21. SHRI BRIJENDRA SINGH OLA:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) the details of number of monuments currently protected by the Archaeological Survey of
India (ASI);
(b) whether the Government has initiated any sustainable cultural projects under the Azadi ka
Amrit Mahotsav, if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has formulated any policy for the preservation of digital heritage;
(d) whether the Government has initiated any national project for the documentation of Indian
languages, scripts and folklore;
(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(f) whether the Government is taking any steps towards the preservation and inclusion of the
havelis of the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan in the World Heritage List; and
(g) if so, the details of the steps taken so far, and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) There are 3685 protected monuments and archaeological sites and remains declared under
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 as of national
importance, in the country.
(b) Ministry of Culture has initiated some cultural initiatives under Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav
namely:- (i) Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar, (ii) Unsung Heroes, (iii) Digital District Repository
(DDR) (iv) Har Ghar Tiranga, (v) Unity in Creativity (vi) Kalanjali Events and (vii) Vibrant
Villages Programme and (viii) Meri Maati Mera Desh.
(c) For the preservation of digital heritage, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts
(IGNCA’s) follows international metadata standards, ensures long-term digital preservation,
and maintains specialized repositories, including Vedic heritage, folk traditions, manuscripts
and rare audiovisual materials.
(d) Ministry of Culture has initiated a national project called Gyan Bharatam to preserve, digitize
& and disseminate the country’s vast manuscript heritage. Further, IGNCA has implemented
(e)
National Cultural Audiovisual Archives (NCAA), a Digital Repository for long-term
preservation of linguistic, oral and folk-performance.
(f)& The havelis of the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan are not protected monuments under the
(g) jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India. At present, no proposal for inclusion of
the Shekhawati havelis in the UNESCO’s Tentative List.
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