Parliament Question: Strengthening Conservation Capacity

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3896 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026 STRENGTHENING CONSERVATION CAPACITY 3896. SMT. POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM: Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has conducted any assessments of the condition, conservation status and visitor infrastructure of protected monuments and heritage sites across the country; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) the details of the steps taken by the Government to strengthen conservation capacity, including the use of modern conservation technology; (d) whether the Government has intensified efforts for the identification and repatriation of stolen or illegally exported Indian cultural artefacts from foreign countries; (e) if so, the details thereof; and (f) the details of the total number of cultural artefacts brought back to India during the last five years along with the present status of their preservation and display? ANSWER MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) There are total of 3686 centrally protected monuments under the care and maintenance of & Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) across the country. ASI takes up conservation work (b) of these protected monuments/sites including provision of amenities as per the need and availability of resources. All protected monuments are regularly inspected by the ASI official/officers to assess the condition and conservations works. (c) To strengthen conservation capacity, Training programmes are arranged for Field Officers from time to time for capacity building. Also modern technologies/tools such as LiDAR scanning, GIS based mapping and drone-based surveys etc., are used as per the requirement for proper documentation. (d) Government has taken necessary steps to repatriate the antiquities illegally exported & abroad. A total of 655 antiquities have been retrieved till 2025. (e) (f) A total of 613 cultural artefacts have been retrieved in last five years. 11 objects with clear provenance have been handed over to the concerned organizations/institutions. 09 objects have been given on loan to IGNCA for display at New Parliament Building, 01 to National Museum and 14 to Indian Institute of Heritage. Remaining objects are kept with ASI in safe custody.