**Executive Summary:**
This document summarizes the Ministry of Culture's response to questions regarding the promotion of cultural and heritage sites in Ladakh. It outlines the protection of monuments by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), initiatives for language and cultural promotion through institutions like the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS) and Sahitya Akademi, and the absence of current plans for new regional cultural centers or projects under specific schemes. The response was given on July 28, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Protection of Heritage Sites:**
* The ASI protects 15 monuments in Ladakh, conducting regular conservation and maintenance.
* ASI officers monitor the condition of these monuments and undertake necessary repairs.
* **Schemes and Projects:**
* No monuments in Ladakh are included in the "Adopt a Heritage 2.0" program.
* No projects have been sanctioned in Ladakh under the Ministry of Tourism's PRASHAD Scheme.
* **Promotion of Language and Culture:**
* CIBS promotes Ladakhi language and folk traditions, offering courses in Bhoti language literature.
* Sahitya Akademi promotes Indian literature, including unrecognized and tribal languages, and has recognized Ladhakhi language in the past.
* CIBS has been documenting and conserving manuscripts since 2003 under the Gyan Bharatam Mission.
* Zonal Cultural Centres promote traditional folk arts and culture of various States Union Territories including Union Territory of Leh, Ladakh.
* **Regional Cultural Center/Museum:**
* There are no current plans to establish a regional cultural center or museum in Leh or Kargil.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Archaeological Survey of India (ASI):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for the ongoing conservation, maintenance, and monitoring of 15 protected monuments in Ladakh.
* *Action Required:* Continue regular inspections and execute necessary repair works to ensure the upkeep of heritage structures.
* **Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS):**
* *Impact:* Plays a key role in promoting Ladakhi language and folk traditions.
* *Action Required:* Continue offering courses, documenting manuscripts, and executing their conservation under the Gyan Bharatam Mission.
* **Sahitya Akademi:**
* *Impact:* Supports the promotion of Indian literature, including Ladakhi, and unrecognized languages.
* *Action Required:* Continue supporting and promoting Ladhaki language through its various programs.
* **Local Stakeholders and Buddhist Organizations:**
* *Impact:* Benefit from the preservation and promotion of Ladakhi culture and heritage.
* *Action Required:* Collaborate with government initiatives and institutions like CIBS to further enhance cultural preservation and promotion efforts.
* **Ministry of Tourism:**
* *Impact:* No projects are currently sanctioned in Ladakh under the PRASHAD Scheme.
* *Action Required:* Should the Ministry chose to do so, consider projects for the UT of Ladakh in the future.
Key Entities Referenced
Ladakh: A Union Territory of India, focus of the question regarding promotion of cultural and heritage sites.
Ministry of Culture: The Indian government ministry responsible for culture, answering the question in Lok Sabha.
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): An Indian government agency under the Ministry of Culture, responsible for conservation and maintenance of protected monuments.
Adopt a Heritage 2.0 program: A program mentioned in the context of conservation of heritage sites, specifically that no sites in Ladakh are currently included.
Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) Scheme: A scheme of the Ministry of Tourism mentioned in the context of tourism-linked development of sites, specifically that no projects are sanctioned in Ladakh under this scheme.
Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS), Leh: An Autonomous Institution of Ministry of Culture, operating from Leh, UT of Ladakh, involved in promotion of Ladakhi language and folk tradition.
Sahitya Akademi: An Autonomous Institution of Ministry of Culture, working for the promotion of Indian Literature including Ladhakhi language.
Hemis Monastery: A monastery in Ladakh, specifically mentioned regarding potential conservation or tourism-linked development.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1286
ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
PROMOTION OF CULTURAL AND HERITAGE SITES IN LADAKH
1286. SHRI MOHMAD HANEEFA:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has identified key cultural and heritage sites in Ladakh,
including ancient monasteries and rock carvings for protection under centrally
sponsored schemes;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the funds have been allocated under the “Adopt a Heritage” or “Pilgrimage
Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive”(PRASHAD) schemes for
conservation or tourism-linked development of sites such as Hemis, Diskit or
Lamayuru monasteries and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government is working with local stakeholders and Buddhist
organizations to digitize manuscripts and promote Ladakhi language and folk
traditions and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government has any plans to establish a regional cultural centre or
museum in Leh or Kargil to showcase Ladakh's unique trans-Himalayan heritage
and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) There are 15 protected monuments in the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh under
& regular conservation and maintenance by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
(b) The officers of ASI conduct periodic inspections to monitor the status of
conservation, maintenance and any necessary repair works of these monuments.
These efforts ensure the proper upkeep and protection of heritage structures within
the Union Territory.
(c) No protected monument in the UT of Ladakh has been taken up under the “Adopt a
Heritage” 2.0 program.
Under the PRASHAD Scheme of Ministry of Tourism, no project is sanctioned in
the UT of Ladakh.
(d) Ministry of Culture has an Autonomous Institution namely Central Institute of
Buddhist Studies (Deemed to be University) operating from Leh, UT of Ladakh.
Among other activities, CIBS helps in the promotion of Ladakhi language and folk
tradition of Ladakh. It also runs Certificate and Masters Courses in Bhoti language
& literature.The Sahitya Akademi, an Autonomous Institution of Ministry of Culture has been
working for the promotion of Indian Literature in 24 Indian languages recognized by
it, besides unrecognized and tribal languages. The Sahitya Akademi conferred the
Bhasha Samman in Ladhakhi language in 1998 and 2015.
Under the National Mission for Manuscript (now Gyan Bharatam Mission), Central
Institute of Buddhist Studies, Leh has been documenting and executing the
conservation of Manuscripts since 2003.
The Government has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres having their
headquarters at Patiala, Udaipur, Allahabad, Kokata, Dimapur, Nagpur and
Thanjavur with objectives of preservation, promotion and dissemination of the
traditional folk arts and culture of the various States/ Union Territories including
Union Territory of Leh, Ladakh.
(e) There is no proposal under consideration to establish a regional cultural centre or
museum at Leh or Kargil.
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