**Summary:**
Since 1976, the Ministry of Culture has successfully retrieved 655 antiquities from foreign countries. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is responsible for the conservation and maintenance of 3,685 ancient monuments and archaeological sites of national importance, which includes providing amenities such as drinking water, toilet facilities, pathways, and landscaping. The maintenance of these sites is an ongoing process, subject to need and resource availability. The National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA), established in 2007, has documented and published data on 11,406 built heritage sites and 1,241,349 antiquities, available on the NMMA website: https:nmma.nic.in. For further information, contact Sunil Kumar Tiwari at pibcultureatgmaildotcom. This information was released on July 24, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The Indian government ministry responsible for the preservation and promotion of art and culture.
Archaeological Survey of India: Indian government agency responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural monuments in the country.
National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities: An initiative to document and create a database of built heritage and antiquities in India.
Delhi: The location from which the press release was issued, likely New Delhi.
1976: The year from which the retrieval of antiquities from foreign countries is counted.
Sunil Kumar Tiwari: Individual associated with the press release, possibly a contact person.
India: The country to which the monuments and antiquities belong.
Ministry of Culture
Retrieval of Antiquities from Foreign Countries
Posted On: 24 JUL 2025 4:59PM by PIB Delhi
A total of 655 antiquities has been retrieved from foreign countries since 1976. Archaeological Survey of
India (ASI) takes up conservation and maintenance work of 3,685 ancient monuments and archaeological sites
of national importance including provision of amenities like drinking water, toilet blocks, pathways and
landscaping etc. across the country. Maintenance of these monuments and sites is a continuous process and is
taken up as per the need and availability of resources
The National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA), established in 2007, has documented and
published data for 11,406 Built Heritage and Sites, and 12,41,349 Antiquities. The data has been published at
the NMMA website: https://nmma.nic.in.
***
Sunil Kumar Tiwari
pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com
(Release ID: 2147796)