India has intensified efforts to protect and preserve its vast cultural heritage with the Archaeological Survey of India overseeing conservation work at thousands of historical sites while also strengthening initiatives to recover antiquities illegally taken out of the country.
Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply that a total of 3686 centrally protected monuments are currently under the care and maintenance of the Archaeological Survey of India across the country.
These monuments represent some of the most significant archaeological, historical and cultural landmarks in India. The Archaeological Survey of India is responsible for their conservation, maintenance and protection, while also ensuring that necessary visitor amenities are developed based on requirements and available resources.
According to the ministry, conservation activities are carried out regularly to preserve the structural integrity and historical value of these protected monuments and archaeological sites. Officials and officers of the Archaeological Survey of India conduct periodic inspections of all protected monuments to assess their physical condition and determine the conservation measures required.
The government has also taken steps to strengthen conservation capacity within the Archaeological Survey of India by enhancing training programmes and introducing modern technologies for documentation and monitoring.
Training programmes are organized periodically for field officers to build technical skills and improve their ability to undertake complex conservation work. These programmes focus on modern conservation methods, documentation techniques and heritage management practices.
In addition to conventional conservation practices, the Archaeological Survey of India has increasingly adopted advanced technologies to improve documentation and monitoring of heritage sites. Tools such as LiDAR scanning, Geographic Information System based mapping and drone based surveys are being used where necessary to support accurate documentation, site analysis and conservation planning.
These technologies allow authorities to generate high resolution digital records of monuments and archaeological sites, monitor structural conditions and detect potential threats to heritage structures.
Alongside conservation efforts, the government has also been working to retrieve antiquities and cultural objects that were illegally exported from India.
According to the information provided in the Lok Sabha, a total of 655 antiquities have been repatriated to India from abroad up to the year 2025 as part of ongoing efforts to recover stolen cultural property.
A significant number of these recoveries have taken place in recent years. In the last five years alone, a total of 613 cultural artefacts have been successfully retrieved and brought back to India.
Following their return, several artefacts have been transferred to institutions for preservation and public display. Eleven objects with clearly established provenance have been handed over to the concerned organizations and institutions.
Nine objects have been provided on loan to the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts for display at the New Parliament Building. One artefact has been transferred to the National Museum, while fourteen artefacts have been given to the Indian Institute of Heritage.
The remaining retrieved artefacts are currently kept in safe custody by the Archaeological Survey of India to ensure their protection and preservation until appropriate arrangements are made for their display or institutional custody.
The government’s ongoing conservation and repatriation efforts reflect a broader commitment to safeguarding India’s cultural heritage while strengthening institutional capacity to protect historic monuments and recover cultural property taken abroad.
