Lok Sabha Question No. 1721 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-31
Subject: Returning of Artefacts
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Gautam Gambhir, Manoj Rajoria, Ranjeeta Koli, Jagdambika Pal, Sumedhanand Saraswati

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1721

TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2023

## RETURNING OF ARTEFACTS

## 1721. SHRI GAUTAM GAMBHIR:

DR. MANOJ RAJORIA:

SHRIMATI RANJEETA KOLI:

SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any new proposal for the maintenance and conservation of monuments and antiquities brought by the Indian Government in the recent years;
- (b) if so, the number of heritage items brought back to India from other countries during each of  the  last  nine  years  and  the  current  year  along  with  the  names  of  the  countries  from which the heritage items were brought back to India;
- (c) the details  of  the steps  being  taken  by  the  Government to bring the  remaining heritage items back to India;
- (d) whether  the  Government  of  India  is  implementing  any  programme  namely  National Missions on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) to prepare a database of antiquities and if so, the salient features thereof; and
- (e) whether  any  programme  is  being  implemented  under  the  NMMA  to  spread  cultural awareness  amongst  people  by  way  of  preserving  heritage  sites  in  other  States  of  the country including Rajasthan and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE, TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a) Archaeological  Survey  of India  (ASI)  undertakes  conservation  &  maintenance  of
- & monuments  from  the  budget  provided  to  ASI  as  per  requirement  and  availability  of
- (b) resources. The antiquities brought back to the country are authenticated and subsequently handed over to the respective agencies/states. Remaining antiquities are displayed/kept in safe custody by the ASI for upkeep. 238 antiquities have been retrieved in last nine years. A year-wise detail is given at Annexure-I.
- (c) Government  of  India  is  committed  to  bringing  back  antiquities  of  Indian  origin  which were  taken  away  from  India.  Whenever  any  such  antiquity  of  Indian  origin  surfaces abroad, ASI takes up the matter with the Indian Embassies/Missions abroad through MEA for their retrieval.
- (d) Yes, Sir.  The Government of India has established the National Mission on Monuments and  Antiquities  (NMMA) in 2007 to prepare two national registers  on  monuments  and antiquities,  which  will  be  beneficial  to  the public  including  students,  researchers, administrative personnel, etc.
- (e) No, Sir.  NMMA is not separately involved in promoting cultural awareness in any part of the country other than conducting training programmes and workshops on documentation of monuments and antiquities.

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## Annexure-I

## ANNEXURE REFFERED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF THE LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1721 FOR 31.07.2023.

## LIST OF ANTIQUITIES RETRIEVED FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES SINCE 2014 TO TILL DATE

| Year        | Country     | No. of Antiquity   |
|-------------|-------------|--------------------|
| 2014        | Australia   | 2                  |
| 2015        | Canada      | 1                  |
| 2015        | Germany     | 1                  |
| 2015        | Singapore   | 1                  |
| 2016        | USA         | 11                 |
| 2016        | Australia   | 3                  |
| 2017        | USA         | 8                  |
| 2017        | UK          | 1                  |
| 2018        | USA         | 2                  |
| 2019        | UK          | 1                  |
| 2019        | Australia   | 1                  |
| 2020        | Australia   | 3                  |
| 2020        | UK          | 5                  |
| 2021        | UK          | 1                  |
| 2021        | Canada      | 1                  |
| 2021        | USA         | 157                |
| 2022        | Australia   | 29                 |
| 2022        | UK          | 1                  |
| 2023        | Australia   | 2                  |
| 2023        | UK          | 7                  |
| Total - 238 | Total - 238 | Total - 238        |

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