**Summary:**
The Ministry of Culture is actively engaged in the preservation and restoration of India's cultural heritage. As of August 4, 2025, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is responsible for 3685 centrally protected monuments and sites nationwide, with conservation efforts ongoing based on the National Policy for Conservation, 2014. The Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) documents and digitally archives performing arts and Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), conducts capacity-building workshops, and provides financial assistance for ICH preservation. Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) document visual and performing arts in collaboration with State Cultural Departments. The Sahitya Akademi promotes traditional art forms through the "Loka: The Many Voices" program.
ASI is also implementing accessibility standards, as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act 2016 and Ministry of Culture guidelines issued in 2023, to ensure inclusivity at protected sites. Measures to prevent the looting and illicit trafficking of cultural property include security personnel and coordination with law enforcement.
In the last five years, 610 artifacts have been retrieved from foreign countries: 8 in 2020 (3 from Australia, 5 from the UK), 159 in 2021 (1 from UK, 1 from Canada, 157 from USA), 30 in 2022 (29 from Australia, 1 from UK), 115 in 2023 (1 from Australia, 7 from UK, 105 from USA, 1 from Italy, 1 from Thailand) and 298 in 2024 (297 from USA).
The SNA is collaborating with NCERT to integrate performing arts into the school curriculum.
This information was provided by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. For further details, contact pibcultureatgmaildotcom.
Key Entities Referenced
Archaeological Survey of India: The primary organization responsible for the conservation, preservation, and maintenance of centrally protected monuments/sites in India.
National Policy for Conservation, 2014: A set of rules and terms governing the conservation efforts of centrally protected monuments/sites.
Sangeet Natak Akademi: An autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture that conducts programs for documentation and digital archiving of performing arts and other Intangible Cultural Heritage elements.
Intangible Cultural Heritage: Elements of culture that are documented, digitally archived, and preserved by the Sangeet Natak Akademi.
Zonal Cultural Centres: Centers across India that conduct Research Documentation for the preservation and promotion of visual and performing arts.
Sahitya Akademi: An organization that promotes traditional art forms and cultural exchanges through programs like 'Loka: The Many Voices'.
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016: Indian legislation that ASI follows to ensure accessibility standards and guidelines at protected monuments, sites, and site museums.
Lok Sabha: House of the Parliament of India where the Union Minister for Culture and Tourism provided information related to the Ministry's activities.
Ministry of Culture
Preservation and Restoration of Ancient Monuments
Posted On: 04 AUG 2025 5:09PM by PIB Delhi
There are 3685 centrally protected monuments/sites under the jurisdiction of Archaeological Survey of India
(ASI) in the country. Conservation, preservation and maintenance of these centrally protected
monuments/sites is a continuous process and is taken up as per the requirement and availability of resources
subject to the Rules and terms of National Policy for Conservation, 2014.
Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA), an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture, conducts various
programmes for documentation & digital archiving of performing arts and other Intangible Cultural Heritage
(ICH) elements on a regular basis. These efforts contribute towards the digital preservation of the ICH. In
addition, regular workshops are carried out for capacity building and raising awareness about ICH. Financial
assistance is also provided to organizations, civil society groups, local communities and individuals dedicated
to preserving and promoting ICH elements. Similarly Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) across India conduct
Research & Documentation for the preservation and promotion of visual and performing arts across
disciplines like music, dance, theatre, literature and fine arts. This initiative documents these traditions in both
print and audio-visual formats, with the selection of art forms done in consultation with State Cultural
Departments.
Further, Sahitya Akademi promotes traditional art forms and cultural exchanges at the grassroots level
through its series of programme called “Loka: The Many Voices”, a programme consisting of lectures as well
as demonstrations. The programme was conceived to protect and preserve the folk and tribal art and culture of
the country.
It is ASI's responsibility to make the establishments under its jurisdiction as accessible as possible, aiming to
uphold the rights of persons with disabilities and prevent discrimination, while emphasizing the right to
equality, dignity, and respect for all persons with disabilities to ensure their full participation in society.
Therefore, for effective implementation of the provision of the RPwD Act 2016, ASI follows the accessibility
standards and guidelines, as notified by the Ministry of Culture in 2023, at protected monuments, sites, and
site museums.
The Government has taken necessary steps towards the prevention of loot and illicit trafficking of cultural
property. Besides regular watch and ward staff, Private Security Guards and Central Industrial Security Force
have been deployed as per requirement at monuments, sites and museums. Whenever any theft of antiquity is
reported, FIR is lodged and ‘Look Out Notice’ is issued to law enforcement agencies including Custom Exit
Channels to keep vigil to trace stolen antiquity and prevent its export. Details of the antiquities retrieved from
foreign countries in last five years are annexed as ‘Annexure A’.
Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) has engaged with NCERT officials to explore various elements of ICH and
the integration of performing arts into the school curriculum.
This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a
written reply in Lok Sabha today.
****
Sunil Kumar Tiwari
pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com
Annexure-I
Details of artifacts brought back during the last five yearsS .
Year Country Artifacts brought back Year-wise Total
No.
Australia 03
1. 2020 08
UK 05
UK 01
2. 2021
Canada 01 159
USA 157
Australia 29
3. 2022 30
UK 01
Australia 02
UK 07
4. 2023 115
USA 105
Italy 01
Thailand 01
5. 2024 298
USA 297
Total 610
(Release ID: 2152157)