**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to unstarred question number 2353, asked in the Lok Sabha, concerning the establishment and modernization of museums, cultural spaces, and exhibitions across the country. The response was provided on December 15, 2025, by the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. It details the current number of archaeological site museums, plans for new establishments, upgrades to existing museums, and the impact of national events on public engagement.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Archaeological Site Museums:**
* The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has 52 archaeological site museums under its administrative jurisdiction nationwide (Annexure-I).
* **New Museums, Galleries, and Experiential Spaces:**
* A list of new museums, galleries, experiential spaces developed by ASI is enclosed (Annexure II).
* There is no current proposal for establishing new archaeological site museums or galleries in Pali Lok Sabha Constituency and Dakshina Kannada in Karnataka.
* **Maintenance and Upgrades:**
* ASI annually maintains and periodically upgrades existing archaeological site museums nationwide, based on annual budget allocations.
* **Museums Grant Scheme:**
* The Ministry of Culture operates a Museums Grant Scheme that provides financial assistance for:
* Setting up new museums.
* Developing existing museums.
* Digitizing museums.
* Training museum professionals.
* Eligible organizations: Central/State Governments, Societies, Autonomous Bodies, Local Bodies, Academic Institutions, and Trusts registered under the Societies Act.
* Financial assistance provided to Museums in Rajasthan and Karnataka (Annexure-III).
* **Public Engagement:**
* ASI enhances public engagement through:
* Large-scale exhibitions.
* Observance of World Heritage Day, World Heritage Week, ICOM International Museum Day, and other national events.
* **Cultural Tourism and Economic Activities:**
* Archaeological museums serve as centers for site interpretation and secure display of antiquities, promoting cultural tourism.
* Museums support local creative economies by promoting regional crafts and cuisines, strengthening associated economic activities.
* **Girodhpuri Dham:**
* There is no proposal under consideration to declare Girodhpuri Dham (religious place) in Chhattisgarh as a national heritage site or carry out its development/construction.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the maintenance, upgrades, and potential establishment of new archaeological site museums and galleries.
* **Action Required:** Continue annual maintenance and upgrades, and review any future proposals for new museums.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Culture**
* **Impact:** Operates the Museums Grant Scheme, impacting the financial assistance available to museums.
* **Action Required:** Continue operating and managing the Museums Grant Scheme, and review potential proposals for Girodhpuri Dham.
**Stakeholder: Museums and Cultural Institutions**
* **Impact:** Affected by the Museums Grant Scheme and ASI initiatives for public engagement.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the Museums Grant Scheme for development and digitalization, and engage in ASI initiatives for public outreach.
**Stakeholder: Residents of Pali Lok Sabha Constituency and Dakshina Kannada**
* **Impact:** No immediate plans for new archaeological site museums or galleries.
* **Action Required:** None.
**Stakeholder: Cultural Tourism Sector**
* **Impact:** Benefiting from archaeological museums as centers for interpretation and secure display of antiquities.
* **Action Required:** Continue to promote these museums as tourist destinations.
**Stakeholder: Local Creative Economies**
* **Impact:** Supported by museums through the promotion of regional crafts and cuisines.
* **Action Required:** Continue to utilize museums as platforms for promoting local creative economies.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The primary government entity responsible for cultural preservation and promotion, including museums, as addressed in the Lok Sabha question.
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): The government agency responsible for maintaining and upgrading archaeological site museums, as well as undertaking surveys and research.
Museums Grant Scheme: A financial assistance program operated by the Ministry of Culture that supports the establishment and development of museums.
Rajasthan: One of the states specifically mentioned concerning museum modernization and support.
Karnataka: One of the states specifically mentioned concerning museum modernization and support.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2353
ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025
ESTABLISHMENT AND MODERNIZATION OF MUSEUMS, CULTURAL SPACES
AND EXHIBITIONS
2353. SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:
DR. THIRUMAAVALAVAN THOLKAPPIYAN:
SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:
SHRI VIJAY BAGHEL:
SHRI MAHESH KASHYAP:
SHRI P P CHAUDHARY:
SHRI DILIP SAIKIA:
SHRI SUKHJINDER SIGH RANDHAWA:
SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA:
SHRI ALOK SHARMA:
SHRI DHAVAL LAXMANBHAI PATEL:
SHRI DINESHBHAI MAKWANA:
SHRI LUMBARAM CHOUDHARY:
SHRI NABA CHARAN MAJHI:
SHRI PRAVEEN PATEL:
SHRI SHANKAR LALWANI:
SMT. KAMLESH JANGDE:
Will the MINISTER OF CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) The details of the number of Archaeological site museums in the country, State/UT-wise;
if so, so the details thereof;
(b) the progress made in establishing new museums, galleries and experiential spaces in the
country especially in Rajasthan particularly in Pali Lok Sabha Constituency and
Dakshina Kannada in Karnataka;
(c) the details of the steps taken to modernize existing museums and support to regional
museums in the country especially in Rajasthan in Pali Lok Sabha Constituency and
Dakshina Kannada such as Rani Abakka Museum;
(d) the extent to which national-level events have contributed to enhancing public
engagement with cultural institutions of the country particularly in Dakshina Kannada;
(e) the way in which these museum-related initiatives are expected to support cultural
tourism, creative economies and wider access to India’s cultural heritage particularly in
cultural hubs like Dakshina Kannada; and
(f) whether the Government proposes to declare Girodhpuri Dham (religious place) situated
in the Sated of Chhattisgarh as a national heritage site and carry out its
development/construction?ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) At present, the Archaeological Survey of India has Fifty-Two (52) Archaeological Site
Museums under its administrative jurisdiction across the country. The state-wise list is
enclosed at Annexure – 1.
(b) The list of new museums, galleries, experiential spaces developed by ASI is enclosed at
Annexure – II, however, there is no proposal at present for establishing new
archaeological site museum or gallery in Pali Lok Sabha Constituency and Dakshina
Kannada in Karnataka
(c) Archaeological Survey of India annually maintains and periodically upgrades the existing
archaeological site museums across the nation, as per the annual budget allocations by the
Union Government.
Further, 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.
Financial assistance provided to museums in the state of Rajasthan and Karnataka in the
past years is enclosed at Annexure – III.
(d) Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has enhanced public engagement with cultural
institutions through large-scale exhibitions, observance of World Heritage Day, World
Heritage Week, ICOM International Museum Day, and other national events. These
initiatives improve visibility, support outreach activities, and generate wider public
interest while showcasing the nation’s rich heritage.
(e) Archaeological museums function as centres for site interpretation and secure display of
antiquities, thereby serving as important hubs of cultural tourism. They also support local
creative economies, including promotion of regional crafts and cuisines, and
consequently contribute to strengthening associated economic activities.
(f) At present, there is no such proposal under consideration.
*****ANNEXURE-I
List of Archaeological Site Museums under the jurisdiction of
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
State Sl. No. Name of the Museums
Andhra Pradesh 1. Amravati
2. Chandragiri
3. Nagarjunakonda
Assam 4. Sri Surya Pahar
Bihar 5. Bodhgaya
6. Nalanda
7. Vaishali
8. Vikramshila
Delhi 9. Purana Qila
10. Gallery of Confiscated and Retrieved
Antiquities, Purana Qila
11. 1857 - India’s First War of Independence
12. Yaad-e-Jallian
13. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Indian
National Army
14. Azaadi-ke-Diwane
15. Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site
Museum
16. Archaeological Site Museum, Red Fort
17. Indian War Memorial Museum, Red Fort
Goa 18. Velha Goa
Gujarat 19. Dholavira
Haryana 20. Sheikh Chilli’s Tomb, Thaneswar
Himachal Pradesh 21. Kangra Fort, Kangra
Karnataka 22. Halebidu
23. Tipu Sultan Museum, Srirangapattanam
24. Hampi, Kamlapur
25. Aihole
26. Badami
27. Bijapur
Kerala 28. Mattancherry Palace
Madhya Pradesh 29. Chanderi
30. Gwalior
31. Sanchi
32. Shivpuri
33. Khajuraho
Maharashtra 34. Museum on Mahatma Gandhi at Aga Khan
Palace, Pune
Odisha 35. Konarak
36. Ratnagiri
37. LalitagiriPunjab 38. Ropar
Rajasthan 39. Kalibangan
40. Deeg Palace Museum
Tamil Nadu 41. Fort St. George Museum
Telangana 42. Kondapur
Uttar Pradesh 43. Taj
44. Fatehpur Sikri
45. Sarnath
46. Virtual Experiential Museum (VEM), Man
Mahal, Varanasi
47. 1857 Residency Museum
48. Piprahwa
Uttrakhand 49. Jageshwar
West Bengal 50. Koch Bihar Palace Museum
51. Hazarduari Palace Museum
52. TamlukANNEXURE-II
List of New Museums and Galleries by Archaeological Survey of India:
Sl. No. Name of the Archaeological Museum State Year of opening
1 Archaeological Site Museum, Piprahwa Uttar Pradesh 2016
(Kapilvastu)
2 Archaeological Site Museum, Shivpuri Madhya Pradesh 2017
3 Archaeological Site Museum, Lalitagiri Odisha 2019
4 ‘1857- India’s First War of Independence’, Delhi 2019
Red Fort, Delhi
5 ‘Yaad-e-Jallian’, B2 Colonial Building, Delhi 2019
Red Fort, Delhi
6 ‘Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and INA’, Delhi 2019
Red Fort, Delhi
7 Virtual Experiential Museum, Man Mahal, Uttar Pradesh 2019
Varanasi
8 ‘Azaadi-ke-Diwane’, Red Fort, Delhi Delhi 2019
9 ‘Gallery of Confiscated and Retrieved Delhi 2019
Antiquities’, Purana Qila
10 ‘Museum on Mahatma Gandhi’, Aga Khan Maharashtra 2019
Palace, Pune
11 The Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site Delhi 2024
Museum
.ANNEXURE-III
Museums set up or developed through financial assistance thorough ‘Museum Grant
Scheme’, Ministry of Culture in the state of Rajasthan and Karnataka
S.No. Name of Museum State Year of Amount (in
Grant (F.Y.) lakhs Rs.)
1. Shivappa Nayaka Museum & Karnataka 2022-23 75
Research Bureau,
Bekkiinakalmatha,
Shivamogga, Karnataka
2. Veer Shiromani Maharana Rajasthan 2021-22 112.50
Pratap Samiti, Udaipur,
Rajasthan
3. Shri Girdhar Samarak Rajasthan 2020-21 250
Dharmarth Nyas Trust, (Shri
Girdhar Samarak Trust)
Kings Palace, Jaisalmer Fort
Palace
4. Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Rajasthan 2023-24 & 200
II Museum, City Palace,
2025-26
Jaipur