## Policy Summary: Proposed UNESCO World Heritage Site and Heritage Preservation Efforts
This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Culture's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2428, answered on August 4, 2025, regarding heritage site nominations for the UNESCO World Heritage List, grant schemes for community heritage sites, and the promotion of local museums.
**UNESCO World Heritage Nomination:** The nomination dossier for the "Ancient Buddhist Site, Sarnath" has been submitted to the World Heritage Centre for the 2025-26 nomination cycle. The nomination process, as per the Operational Guidelines, 2024, is expected to take approximately 1.5 years from the date of submission. Only one property can be submitted per cycle.
**Grant Schemes and Funding for Community Heritage Sites:** The Ministry of Culture confirms that there are no specific grant schemes or special funds currently allocated to support the restoration and preservation of community heritage sites. However, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) utilizes its allocated budget to conduct conservation work on protected monuments, based on availability and requirement.
**Strengthening and Promoting Local Museums:** The ASI maintains 52 site museums, including those in remote areas, and is implementing digital technologies to improve visitor experiences. Outreach programs are being conducted to increase awareness and engagement, particularly among youth, regarding cultural heritage preservation. The Ministry also provides grants to local museums under the Museum Grant Scheme.
**Contact:** Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Culture and Tourism, Government of India.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: A ministry of 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 Rajmohan Unnithan: Member of Parliament who asked the unstarred question.
UNESCO World Heritage List: A list maintained by UNESCO of sites with outstanding universal value.
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: The Minister of Culture and Tourism who answered the question.
Ancient Buddhist Site, Sarnath: The heritage site nominated for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List for the 2025-26 cycle. Sarnath is located in Uttar Pradesh, India.
World Heritage Centre: The secretariat of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention.
Archaeological Survey of India: An Indian government agency responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural monuments in the country.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2428
ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
HERITAGE SITE FOR INCLUSION IN UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST
2428. SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the number of new heritage sites being proposed for inclusion in the
UNESCO World Heritage List and the timelines set for this process;
(b) whether the Government has any new grant schemes or special funds for allocation
to support the restoration and preservation of community heritage sites across the
country; and
(c) the manner in which the Government is strengthening and promoting local
museums and cultural centres to enhance public outreach?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) This year, the nomination dossier titled Ancient Buddhist Site, Sarnath has been
submitted to the World Heritage Centre for the 2025–26 nomination cycle. As per the
Operational Guidelines, 2024, only one property can be submitted for the inscription
process in any given cycle. The nomination process takes approximately 1.5 years from
the date of submission of the dossier, after following the process of inscription as laid
down in Operational Guidelines,2024.
(b) No Sir, there is no specific grant scheme or special fund allocated to support the
restoration and preservation of community heritage sites. However, all monuments
protected by the Archaeological Survey of India are in a good state of preservation.
Conservation work is carried out using the allocated budget, based on availability and
requirement.
(c) The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) maintains 52 site museums, including those in
remote areas, and is adopting digital technologies to enhance visitor experiences. It also
undertakes outreach programs to raise awareness and engagement, especially among
youth, for the preservation of cultural heritage. Ministry also gives grants under Museum
Grant Scheme for local museums.
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