List of Ancient Monuments

RAJYA SABHA

Minister of Tourism and Culture Smt. Ambika Soni has said that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has not undertaken any comprehensive listing of ancient monuments in the country. However, the Government has set up a National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities to create a database for all monuments/ sits. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today she said, 3675 ancient monuments/ archaeological sites/ remains have been declared as of national importance. These are maintained and conserved by the ASI. Section 4 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 lays down the following criteria for declaration as of national importance-

(a) historical, archaeological or artistic importance;

(b) not less than one hundred years old

The Minister said, there is no proposal to amend the law for protection. She said, eleven monuments/ sites have been declared as of national importance during the last three years. Smt. Soni said, ASI has an in-house Committee with expertise in archaeology/ history to evaluate protection proposals in accordance with Section 4 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites & Remains Act, 1958.

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