Parliament Question: Promotion and preservation of cultural heritage in Maharashtra

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1468 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.02.2026 PROMOTION AND PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE IN MAHARASHTRA 1468 SHRI DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK: Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state: (a) details of initiative undertaken to preserve and promote cultural heritage in Maharashtra during the last five years; (b) how many heritage sites, monuments and traditional art forms have been restored, documented or promoted through central schemes; (c) the measures being taken to support local artists, craftsmen and cultural organizations; and (d) the manner in which the Ministry coordinates with Maharashtra State authorities to organize festivals, exhibitions and awareness programmes that enhance public engagement, attract tourism and safeguard the State’s rich intangible and tangible cultural heritage for future generations? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) There are a total of 3686 Centrally Protected Monuments/Sites across the country & including 286 under the care and maintenance of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) (b) in the State of Maharashtra. ASI takes up conservation work of these protected monuments/sites including provision of amenities as per the need and availability of resources. The Allocation and Expenditure for the Monuments/Sites during the last five years in Maharashtra are given as under: (In Crores) Sl. Year Allocation Expenditure No. 1. 2020-21 18.16 18.16 2. 2021-22 24.50 24.49 3. 2022-23 39.05 39.04 4. 2023-24 52.54 52.54 5. 2024-25 37.39 37.39 6. 2025-26 43.50 34.51 (upto 27.01.2026)The Government of India has set up South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC) at Nagpur and West Zone Cultural Centre (WZCC) at Udaipur to preserve and promote various forms of folk art and culture of their member States. Maharashtra is the member State of these ZCCs and they organize various cultural activities and programme in their member States including the State of Maharashtra on regular basis for which annual grant-in-aid is provided to them. Maratha Military Landscapes of India’ got inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, becoming India’s 44th property to receive this recognition. A total of 12 remarkable Maratha forts; Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, along with Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu were inscribed in the World Heritage List in 2025 by the UNESCO on the recommendation of the World Heritage Committee during it's 47th Session in Paris. In addition to this, three sites namely: Geoglyphs of Konkan Region of India (2022), Serial nomination of Coastal Fortifications along the Konkan Coast in Maharashtra (2024) and Deccan Traps at Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar (2025) were added in the Tentative List of World Heritage, further strengthening, preserving and promoting Maharashtra's Cultural Heritage at global platform during the last five years. (c) The ZCCs engage folk/ tribal artists including local artists from their member States including the State of Maharashtra for the cultural programmes/ activities organized by them and are paid honorarium, TA/DA, local transportation, boarding & lodging etc. to enable them to earn their livelihood. Besides, Ministry of Culture also organizes Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs) at national level through these ZCCs where a large number of folk & tribal artists including local artists from all over India are engaged to showcase their talents during the events. A number of stalls are also set up during these RSMs, where artisans from various parts of the country, including local artisans, exhibit and sell their handmade products, thereby earning their livelihood. (d) ASI, through its field offices, organizes community-driven and people-centric events, such as walkthroughs, talks, drawing and painting competitions for school and college students, photo exhibitions for visitors, and consultative meetings with locals and community stakeholders. These events are held on various occasions, including World Heritage Day, World Tourism Day, World Heritage Week, International Day of Yoga, and the International Day of Non-Violence, among others, and at the time of various other national celebrations as and when entrusted with to raise awareness about the need for sensitization toward the protection of the country's age-old heritage. As and when major cultural events/festivals are organized by Government of Maharashtra, the ZCCs participate in these events/ festivals by way of providing cultural troupes on the request of Government of Maharashtra. The details of financial assistance given for setting up of new museums/development of existing museums during the last five years under Museum Grant Scheme in the state of Maharashtra are attached at Annexure I.Annexure I. ANNEXURE REFERRED IN PART (d) OF RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1468 DATE FOR ANSWER ON 12.02.2026 REGARDING “Promoting and preservation of Cultural Heritage in Maharashtra”. Year-wise details of the fund released under the Museum Grant Scheme during the last 5 years and current year. (Rs. in Lakh) S. State District Name of Type Type of Sanctioned FY: FY: FY: FY: FY: FY: No. Organization of Museum amount 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 Museum 1. Maharashtra Mumbai Funds & Properties of the NGO Existing 400.00 -- 35.52 -- 64.48 100.00 -- Parsi Punchayet Bombay, Museum of Framji Dadabhoy Alpiwalla Museum, Dr. Dadabhai Naoroji Road, Fort, Mumbai 2. Symbiosis Society’s for NGO Existing 35.615 -- -- 17.807 8.90 8.90 -- Development of Asian Museum Cultural Museum, Pune *****