**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Culture's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 146, answered on July 21, 2025, regarding the inclusion of two Ashoka Pillars from Bihar in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, clarified that the Ashokan pillars of Rampurva and Lauriya Nandangarh in West Champaran have *not* been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. However, they *have* been included in the Tentative List of UNESCO under the title "Serial Nomination for Ashokan Edict Sites along the Mauryan Routes." The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is responsible for the protection and conservation of these pillars, and they are currently in a good state of preservation. Contrary to the question's assertion, no part of the Ashoka pillar is kept in Rashtrapati Bhawan. Instead, the Lion Capital and Bull Capital of the Rampurva pillars are housed in the Indian Museum, Kolkata, and Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, respectively. Finally, there is no current proposal to build a museum in the Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha Constituency to house the pillars.
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.
UNESCO: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Ashoka Pillars: A series of pillars erected by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka during his reign in the 3rd century BCE.
West Champaran, Bihar: A district in the state of Bihar, India, where the Ashoka pillars of Rampurva and Lauriya Nandangarh are located.
Rampurva: A site in West Champaran, Bihar, known for its Ashokan pillar.
Lauriya Nandangarh: A town in West Champaran, Bihar, known for its Ashokan pillar and other archaeological remains.
Archaeological Survey of India: Indian government agency attached to the Ministry of Culture that is 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.†146
ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
INCLUSION OF TWO ASHOKA PILLARS FROM BIHAR IN THE WORLD HERITAGE
LIST OFUNESCO
†146. SHRI SUNIL KUMAR:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that two Ashoka pillars of Rampurna Awan Lauriya in West
Champaran, Bihar have been included in the World Heritage list by the
UNESCO;
(b) if so, whether any arrangement has been made to maintain these two Ashoka
pillars and to inform the tourists;
(c) whether it is true that one part of the Ashoka pillar has been kept in the museum
in Kolkata and another part has been kept in the Rashtrapati Bhawan;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to build a museum in the Valmiki Nagar Lok
Sabha Constituency to keep these pillars safe at one place?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) No, Sir. The Ashokan pillars of Rampurva and Lauriya Nandangarh in West
Champaran have not yet been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
However, these two pillar edicts have been included in the Tentative List of
UNESCO under the title “Serial Nomination for Ashokan Edict Sites along the
Mauryan Routes.”
(b) These pillars are protected and conserved from time to time, as required, by the
Archaeological Survey of India and are in good state of conservation and
preservation.
(c) No, Sir. The Lion Capital and Bull Capital of the Rampurva pillars have been kept in
& the Indian Museum, Kolkata and Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi respectively.
(d)
At present, there is no proposal to develop a museum at the site.
(e)
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