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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO.*339.
ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026
STATUS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION PROPOSALS
*339. SHRI DAGGUMALLA PRASADA RAO:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the list of new archaeological exploration proposals received during the last
two years along with the current status thereof, year and State/UT-wise;
(b) the details of the total funds allocated, released and utilised for archaeological explorations,
excavations and maintenance of sites under Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) during the
last five years, year and State/UT-wise;
(c) the details of the list of archaeological sites under ASI in Andhra Pradesh;
(d) the details of the funds sanctioned and utilised for the adoption of advanced technological
tools like Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and ground penetrating radar, etc., by
regional ASI centres during the last five years, year and State/UT-wise; and
(e) whether the Government has organised any training sessions for regional ASI staff for using
the said technologies during the last two years, if so, the details thereof along with the
number of persons trained?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *339 FOR 16.03.2026. RAISED BY SHRI DAGGUMALLA
PRASADA RAO: HON’BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT REGARDING STATUS OF
ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION PROPOSALS
(a) The year wise and the state wise details of the proposals received for archaeological
exploration during the last two years are given at Annexure-I.
(b) The details of the funds allocated and utilized by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for
archaeological explorations and excavations are given at Annexure- II and the maintenance
of protected monuments and protected areas during last five years are given at Annexure-
III.
(c) The list of archaeological sites under ASI in Andhra Pradesh is given at Annexure-IV.
(d) Advanced technological tools are being used for the exploration and excavation of
archaeological sites and expenditure for the same is made under funds allocated for
exploration and excavation. Such studies have been carried out at some archaeological sites
like Rajgir (Bihar), Rakhigarhi (Haryana), Bhismaknagar (Arunachal Pradesh) and
Warangal Fort (Telangana), as per requirement.
Such training programs are organised by the institutions having expertise in these area. ASI
(e)
has deputed 14 officials from Southern Region to attend workshop on Integrating Digital
Documentation for Cultural Studies in 2025.ANNEXURE-l
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF LOK SABHA STARRED
QUESTION NO. *339 FOR 16.03.2026.
THE YEARWISE AND THE STATEWISE DETAILS OF THE PROPOSALS
RECEIVED FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION DURING THE LAST TWO
YEARS
Name of the States 2024 2025
Approved Not-Approved Approved Not-Approved
Andhra Pradesh - - 1 -
Arunachal Pradesh - - 1 -
Assam 1 - - -
Gujarat 1 - 2 -
Himachal Pradesh - 1 2 -
Jharkhand 1 - 1 -
Kerala 2 - - -
Ladakh (U.T.) - 1 1 -
Madhya Pradesh - 1 2 -
Maharashtra 2 - 2 -
Tamil Nadu 1 - 2 1
Sikkim - - 1 -
West Bengal - - 1 -
Uttar Pradesh 1 1 1 -
Uttarakhand - - 2 -
Total 09 04 19 01ANNEXURE-II
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF LOK SABHA STARRED
QUESTION NO. *339 FOR 16.03.2026.
THE DETAILS OF THE FUNDS ALLOCATED AND UTILIZED BY ARCHAEOLOGICAL
SURVEY OF INDIA (ASI) FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS AND
EXCAVATIONS
(In lakhs)
State/ UT 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
Allot. Exp. Allot. Exp. Allot. Exp. Allot. Exp. Allot. Exp.
Andhra 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.00 3.70 2.00 1.99
Pradesh
Arunachal 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 16.78 16.78 18.00 17.90 4.00 3.99
Pradesh/
Assam/
Meghalaya/
Nagaland
Bihar 14.50 14.50 32.00 32.00 40.00 40.00 145.0 145.0 59.95 59.95
0 0
Chhattisgarh 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.30 0.60 0.60
Delhi 1.29 1.27 2.42 2.22 62.85 59.51 48.00 28.71 78.50 76.66
Goa 0.00 0.00 0.50 0.50 3.50 3.50 14.62 14.62 0.15 0.15
Gujarat 117.0 117.0 328.5 328.5 174.9 174.9 111.0 110.9 123.00 123.00
1 0 2 0 5 5 0 9
Himachal 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00 0.50 0.49 0.07 0.07
Pradesh
Jharkhand 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 6.20 6.15 46.50 46.37 9.83 9.82
Jammu & 1.50 1.50 5.00 5.00 3.00 3.00 2.00 2.00 52.00 52.00
Kashmir
Karnataka 25.50 25.50 19.83 19.83 152.4 152.3 34.00 33.56 81.27 81.12
2 8
Kerala 1.00 0.99 0.50 0.50 4.00 4.00 5.00 3.70 2.00 1.96
Ladakh 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.80 0.80 4.11 4.11 0.00 0.00
Madhya 20.50 20.47 17.36 17.36 26.50 26.50 42.50 41.19 118.00 118.00
Pradesh
Maharashtra 40.50 39.58 46.90 46.43 82.97 78.82 96.50 95.99 86.36 78.87
Manipur/ 1.00 0.93 0.80 0.80 8.00 8.00 0.15 0.15 0.00 0.00
Mizoram/
Tripura
Odisha 6.00 6.00 11.80 11.80 40.00 39.72 70.00 70.00 131.50 131.50
Panjab/ 10.00 10.00 6.47 6.47 1.00 1.00 25.00 25.00 63.00 63.00
Haryana
Rajasthan 1.00 1.00 1.50 1.50 27.38 27.38 8.00 8.00 165.96 165.96
Tamil Nadu 3.50 3.49 49.50 49.47 114.0 114.0 137.6 137.6 130.50 130.34
0 0 7 7
Telangana 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00 39.00 39.00 1.00 1.00 3.06 3.06Uttarakhand 0.00 0.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.00 2.00 1.70 1.70
Uttar Pradesh 6.50 6.08 78.00 77.76 168.5 167.9 235.4 235.2 138.65 138.58
0 0 3 2
West Bengal/ 0.00 0.00 2.80 2.80 18.00 18.00 3.12 2.84 9.96 9.96
Sikkim
250.0 248.3 609.0 607.9 1000. 994.0 1130. 1122. 1262.0 1251.2
0 0 0 6 00 9 00 74 0 4
TotalANNEXURE-III
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF LOK SABHA STARRED
QUESTION NO. *339 FOR 16.03.2026.
THE DETAILS OF THE FUNDS ALLOCATED AND UTILIZED BY ARCHAEOLOGICAL
SURVEY OF INDIA (ASI) FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF PROTECTED MONUMENTS
AND PROTECTED AREAS
(Amount Rs. in Crore)
Sl. Name of 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
No. State/UT Allot. Exp. Allot. Exp. Allot. Exp. Allot. Exp. Allot. Exp.
Andhra 4.57 4.57 5.75 5.75 11.60 11.60 14.70 14.70 12.90 12.90
1.
Pradesh
Assam/ 3.04 3.04 3.30 3.30 7.44 7.44 8.78 8.78 5.72 5.71
Meghalaya/
2. Nagaland/
Arunachal
Pradesh
Bihar 1.23 1.23 3.35 3.35 9.00 9.00 16.00 16.00 8.73 8.73
3.
Chhattisgarh 2.89 2.89 4.78 4.78 7.50 7.50 5.94 5.94 8.19 8.19
4.
Delhi 24.51 24.5 19.1 19.0 30.50 30.35 36.14 36.14 24.95 24.94
5.
(NCT) 1 0 8
Goa 3.70 3.70 7.00 7.00 10.45 10.45 9.90 9.90 9.00 9.00
6.
Gujarat/ 7.34 7.34 10.5 10.5 14.09 14.09 14.50 14.50 10.70 10.69
7. Daman & 0 0
Diu (UT)
Himachal 1.25 1.25 1.15 1.15 8.90 8.90 5.00 5.00 2.80 2.79
8.
Pradesh
Jharkhand 0.88 0.88 1.18 1.16 2.00 2.00 2.15 2.15 2.25 2.25
9.
Jammu & 0.80 0.80 2.55 2.55 6.11 6.03 7.17 7.17 4.90 4.89
Kashmir
(U.T)
10.
Karnataka 20.77 20.7 25.0 25.0 39.93 39.93 39.16 39.16 22.53 22.53
11.
7 7 7
Kerala 2.03 2.03 6.82 6.82 7.50 7.50 7.09 7.09 6.30 6.30
12.
Ladakh (UT) 0.20 0.20 0.43 0.43 1.92 1.92 3.50 3.50 2.20 2.20
13.14. Maharashtra 18.16 18.1 24.5 24.4 39.05 39.04 52.54 52.54 37.39 37.39
6 0 9
15. Madhya 15.00 15.0 16.2 16.2 22.90 22.90 26.49 26.49 19.30 19.29
Pradesh 0 5 5
16. Manipur/ 1.31 1.31 1.25 1.25 2.00 2.00 1.29 1.29 1.26 1.25
Mizoram/
Tripura
17. Odisha 3.63 3.63 8.23 8.23 13.18 13.17 12.29 12.29 11.50 11.37
18. Punjab/ 0.80 0.80 1.50 1.50 6.53 6.53 11.00 11.00 8.40 8.40
Haryana
19. Rajasthan 11.50 11.5 12.0 12.0 17.93 17.93 23.40 23.40 20.16 20.15
0 3 3
20. Tamil 7.25 7.25 12.0 12.0 22.50 22.50 18.95 18.94
Nadu/Puduc 0 0 19.95 19.95
herry
21. Telangana 2.80 2.80 7.00 6.80 15.50 15.50 14.38 14.38 6.80 6.77
22. Uttarakhand 4.60 4.60 3.75 3.75 4.85 4.85 5.42 5.42 5.10 5.10
23. Uttar 22.26 22.2 42.2 42.2 63.65 63.53 65.54 65.54 45.23 45.17
Pradesh 2 4 4
24. West 7.38 7.37 12.6 12.5 17.16 17.16 17.10 17.10 12.11 12.11
Bengal/Sikki 7 7
m
25. Chemical 3.82 3.81 6.51 6.48 9.91 9.89 8.36 8.36 3.88 3.74
conservation
(all India)
26. Horticultural 44.75 44.7 19.3 19.3 -- -- -- -- -- --
activity (all 5 3 2
India)
27. DG office 44.42 44.4 11.7 11.7 3.15 2.77 13.19 13.19 2.17 2.15
2 4 3
28. Reserve - - 0.02 0.00 -- -- -- -- -- --
Total 260.9 260. 270. 269. 392.7 391.93 443.5 443.5 313.4 313.0
0 83 00 57 1 3 3 3 4ANNEXURE-lV
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED
QUESTION NO. *339 FOR 16.03.2026.
THE DETAILS OF THE LIST OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES UNDER ASI IN ANDHRA
PRADESH
Sl. Name of the Site
No.
1. Ancient Mound in part of S. No. 855 A, Ramatirtham (Hamlet of Varini), Nellore
(Present- Ramatirtham, SPSR. Nellore)
2. Ancient Buddhist Site, Kalingapatnam, Srikakulam (Present- Kalingapatnam,
Srikakulam)
3. Ancient site and remains comprised in survey plot No. 37, Munagacherla, Krishna
(Present- Munagacherla, NTR)
4. Ancient Mound, Pedganjam, Guntur (Present-Peddaganjam, Bapatla)
5. Mound known as 'Bodipati Dibba', Ramatirtham (Hamlet of Varini), Nellore
(Present- Ramatirtham, SPSR. Nellore)
6. Mounds containing Buddhist remains such as stupas, Adurru, East Godavari
(Present- Adurru, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema)
7. Mounds locally known as Bhimalingadibba, Denduluru, Kistna (Present-
Denduluru, Eluru)
8. The caves and structural stupa of Archaeological interest on
Dharmalingesvar swami hill, Jilakarragudem (Hamlet of Guntupalli), Ellore
(Present- Jilakarragudem, Eluru)
9. The mounds of Pedavegi: Dibba No.1 Dibba No.2, Dibba No. 3, Dibba No. 4, Dibba
No. 5, Pedavegi, Kistna (Present- Pedavegi, Eluru)
10. Ancient Site, Pusalapadu, Prakasam
*****