Lok Sabha Question No. 2353 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-15
Subject: Establishment and Modernization of Museums, Cultural Spaces and Exhibitions
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, Dr. Thirumaavalavan Tholkappiyan, Shri Bidyut Baran Mahato, Shri Vijay Baghel, Shri Mahesh Kashyap, Shri P P Chaudhary, Shri Dilip Saikia, Shri Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Shri Dineshbhai Makwana, Shri Lumbaram Choudhary, Shri Naba Charan Majhi, Shri Praveen Patel, Shri Shankar Lalwani, Smt. Kamlesh Jangde, Shri Captain Brijesh Chowta, Shri Alok Sharma, Shri Dhaval Laxmanbhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2353

ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025

## ESTABLISHMENT AND MODERNIZATION OF MUSEUMS, CULTURAL SPACES AND EXHIBITIONS

## 2353.   SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

DR. THIRUMAAVALAVAN THOLKAPPIYAN:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI VIJAY BAGHEL:

SHRI MAHESH KASHYAP:

SHRI P P CHAUDHARY:

SHRI DILIP SAIKIA:

SHRI SUKHJINDER SIGH RANDHAWA:

SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA:

SHRI ALOK SHARMA:

SHRI DHAVAL LAXMANBHAI PATEL:

SHRI DINESHBHAI MAKWANA:

SHRI LUMBARAM CHOUDHARY:

SHRI NABA CHARAN MAJHI:

SHRI PRAVEEN PATEL:

SHRI SHANKAR LALWANI:

SMT. KAMLESH JANGDE:

## Will the MINISTER OF CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) The details of the number of Archaeological site museums in the country, State/UT-wise; if so, so the details thereof;
- (b) the progress made in establishing new museums, galleries and experiential spaces in the country  especially  in  Rajasthan  particularly  in  Pali  Lok  Sabha  Constituency  and Dakshina Kannada in Karnataka;
- (c) the  details  of  the  steps  taken  to  modernize  existing  museums  and  support  to  regional museums  in  the  country  especially  in  Rajasthan  in  Pali  Lok  Sabha  Constituency  and Dakshina Kannada such as Rani Abakka Museum;
- (d) the extent to which national-level events have contributed to enhancing public engagement with cultural institutions of the country particularly in Dakshina Kannada;
- (e) the  way  in  which  these  museum-related  initiatives  are  expected  to  support  cultural tourism, creative economies and wider access to India's cultural heritage particularly in cultural hubs like Dakshina Kannada; and
- (f) whether the Government proposes to declare Girodhpuri Dham (religious place) situated in the Sated of Chhattisgarh as a national heritage site and carry out its development/construction?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) At present, the Archaeological Survey of India has Fifty-Two (52) Archaeological Site Museums under its administrative jurisdiction across the country. The state-wise list is enclosed at Annexure - 1.
- (b) The list of new museums, galleries, experiential spaces developed by ASI is enclosed at Annexure -II, however, there is no proposal at present for establishing  new archaeological  site  museum  or  gallery  in  Pali  Lok  Sabha  Constituency  and  Dakshina Kannada in Karnataka
- (c) Archaeological Survey of India annually maintains and periodically upgrades the existing archaeological site museums across the nation, as per the annual budget allocations by the Union Government.

Further,  Ministry  of  Culture  operates  Museums  Grant  Scheme  under  which  financial assistance  is  provided  for  setting  up  of  New  Museums/development  of  the  existing museums/digitisation of museums and training of professionals of museums managed by Central/State  Governments,  Societies,  Autonomous  Bodies,  Local  Bodies,  Academic Institutions and Trusts registered under the societies Act.

- Financial assistance provided to museums in the state of Rajasthan and Karnataka in the

past years is enclosed at Annexure - III.

- (d) Archaeological  Survey  of  India  (ASI)  has  enhanced  public  engagement  with  cultural institutions  through  large-scale  exhibitions,  observance  of  World  Heritage  Day,  World Heritage  Week,  ICOM  International  Museum  Day,  and  other  national  events.  These initiatives  improve  visibility,  support  outreach  activities,  and  generate  wider  public interest while showcasing the nation's rich heritage.
- (e) Archaeological museums function as centres for site interpretation and secure display of antiquities, thereby serving as important hubs of cultural tourism. They also support local creative economies, including promotion of regional crafts and cuisines, and consequently contribute to strengthening associated economic activities.
- (f) At present, there is no such proposal under consideration.

*****

## ANNEXURE-I

## List of Archaeological Site Museums under the jurisdiction of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

| State            |   Sl. No. | Name of the Museums                                           |
|------------------|-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh   |         1 | Amravati                                                      |
| Andhra Pradesh   |         2 | Chandragiri                                                   |
| Andhra Pradesh   |         3 | Nagarjunakonda                                                |
| Assam            |         4 | Sri Surya Pahar                                               |
| Bihar            |         5 | Bodhgaya                                                      |
| Bihar            |         6 | Nalanda                                                       |
| Bihar            |         7 | Vaishali                                                      |
| Bihar            |         8 | Vikramshila                                                   |
| Delhi            |         9 | Purana Qila                                                   |
| Delhi            |        10 | Gallery of Confiscated and Retrieved Antiquities, Purana Qila |
| Delhi            |        11 | 1857 - India's First War of Independence                      |
| Delhi            |        12 | Yaad-e-Jallian                                                |
| Delhi            |        13 | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Indian National Army           |
| Delhi            |        14 | Azaadi-ke-Diwane                                              |
| Delhi            |        15 | Humayun's Tomb World Heritage Site Museum                     |
| Delhi            |        16 | Archaeological Site Museum, Red Fort                          |
| Delhi            |        17 | Indian War Memorial Museum, Red Fort                          |
| Goa              |        18 | Velha Goa                                                     |
| Gujarat          |        19 | Dholavira                                                     |
| Haryana          |        20 | Sheikh Chilli's Tomb, Thaneswar                               |
| Himachal Pradesh |        21 | Kangra Fort, Kangra                                           |
| Karnataka        |        22 | Halebidu                                                      |
| Karnataka        |        23 | Tipu Sultan Museum, Srirangapattanam                          |
| Karnataka        |        24 | Hampi, Kamlapur                                               |
| Karnataka        |        25 | Aihole                                                        |
| Karnataka        |        26 | Badami                                                        |
| Karnataka        |        27 | Bijapur                                                       |
| Kerala           |        28 | Mattancherry Palace                                           |
| Madhya Pradesh   |        29 | Chanderi                                                      |
| Madhya Pradesh   |        30 | Gwalior                                                       |
| Madhya Pradesh   |        31 | Sanchi                                                        |
| Madhya Pradesh   |        32 | Shivpuri                                                      |
| Madhya Pradesh   |        33 | Khajuraho                                                     |
| Maharashtra      |        34 | Museum on Mahatma Gandhi at Aga Khan Palace, Pune             |
| Odisha           |        35 | Konarak                                                       |
| Odisha           |        36 | Ratnagiri                                                     |
| Odisha           |        37 | Lalitagiri                                                    |

| Punjab        |   38. | Ropar                                                  |
|---------------|-------|--------------------------------------------------------|
| Rajasthan     |    39 | Kalibangan                                             |
| Rajasthan     |    40 | Deeg Palace Museum                                     |
| Tamil Nadu    |    41 | Fort St. George Museum                                 |
| Telangana     |    42 | Kondapur                                               |
| Uttar Pradesh |    43 | Taj                                                    |
| Uttar Pradesh |    44 | Fatehpur Sikri                                         |
| Uttar Pradesh |    45 | Sarnath                                                |
| Uttar Pradesh |    46 | Virtual Experiential Museum (VEM), Man Mahal, Varanasi |
| Uttar Pradesh |    47 | 1857 Residency Museum                                  |
| Uttar Pradesh |    48 | Piprahwa                                               |
| Uttrakhand    |    49 | Jageshwar                                              |
| West Bengal   |    50 | Koch Bihar Palace Museum                               |
| West Bengal   |    51 | Hazarduari Palace Museum                               |
| West Bengal   |    52 | Tamluk                                                 |

## ANNEXURE-II

## List of New Museums and Galleries by Archaeological Survey of India:

|   Sl. No. | Name of the Archaeological Museum                               | State          |   Year of opening |
|-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|-------------------|
|         1 | Archaeological Site Museum, Piprahwa (Kapilvastu)               | Uttar Pradesh  |              2016 |
|         2 | Archaeological Site Museum, Shivpuri                            | Madhya Pradesh |              2017 |
|         3 | Archaeological Site Museum, Lalitagiri                          | Odisha         |              2019 |
|         4 | '1857- India's First War of Independence', Red Fort, Delhi      | Delhi          |              2019 |
|         5 | 'Yaad-e-Jallian', B2 Colonial Building, Red Fort, Delhi         | Delhi          |              2019 |
|         6 | 'Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and INA', Red Fort, Delhi          | Delhi          |              2019 |
|         7 | Virtual Experiential Museum, Man Mahal, Varanasi                | Uttar Pradesh  |              2019 |
|         8 | 'Azaadi-ke-Diwane', Red Fort, Delhi                             | Delhi          |              2019 |
|         9 | 'Gallery of Confiscated and Retrieved Antiquities', Purana Qila | Delhi          |              2019 |
|        10 | 'Museum on Mahatma Gandhi', Aga Khan Palace, Pune               | Maharashtra    |              2019 |
|        11 | The Humayun's Tomb World Heritage Site Museum                   | Delhi          |              2024 |

.

## ANNEXURE-III

Museums  set  up  or  developed  through  financial  assistance  thorough  'Museum  Grant Scheme', Ministry of Culture in the state of Rajasthan and Karnataka

|   S.No. | Name of Museum                                                                                              | State     | Year of Grant (F.Y.)   |   Amount (in lakhs Rs.) |
|---------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|------------------------|-------------------------|
|       1 | Shivappa Nayaka Museum& Research Bureau, Bekkiinakalmatha, Shivamogga, Karnataka                            | Karnataka | 2022-23                |                    75   |
|       2 | Veer Shiromani Maharana Pratap Samiti, Udaipur, Rajasthan                                                   | Rajasthan | 2021-22                |                   112.5 |
|       3 | Shri Girdhar Samarak Dharmarth Nyas Trust, (Shri Girdhar Samarak Trust) Kings Palace, Jaisalmer Fort Palace | Rajasthan | 2020-21                |                   250   |
|       4 | Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum, City Palace, Jaipur                                                     | Rajasthan | 2023-24& 2025-26       |                   200   |