:
(a) whether there is any proposal to prepare a database of India’s cultural heritage
and evolving of a mechanism involving checks and balance for preservation/prevention of
antiquities from falling into the hands of illegal exporters;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefore?
MINISTER OF CULTURE SRIMATI CHANDRESH KUMARI KATOCH
(a) to (c) Yes Madam. National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) was launched in
2007 with the objective to prepare a National database on built heritage, sites and antiquities
from secondary sources. The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act of 1972 has been enacted with the
objective to regulate the export trade in antiquities and art treasures, to provide for the
prevention of smuggling of and fraudulent dealings in antiquities, to provide for the compulsory
acquisition of antiquities and art treasures for preservation in public places and to provide
for certain other matters connected therewith or incidental or ancillary thereto.