Lok Sabha Question No. 2311 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-15
Subject: Inclusion of Heritage Sites and Majuli Island in UNESCO List
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Gaurav Gogoi, Shri Jai Prakash

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2311 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025

## INCLUSION OF HERITAGE SITES AND MAJULI ISLAND IN UNESCO LIST

## 2311. SHRI JAI PRAKASH: SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

Will the Minister of Culture be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has recommended any proposal to include heritage sites in the UNESCO list and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the current status of proposals for the inclusion of Majuli Island in the UNESCO World Heritage List;
- (c) the  details  of  the  funds  allocated  and  utilised  for  the  conservation  of  Ahom-era monuments, the Satras of Majuli and other major heritage sites in Assam during the last five years and current year; and
- (d) whether the Government has taken steps to integrate traditional festivals such as Bihu, Hornbill, Sangai, Ambubachi Mela and the Ziro Festival of Music into India's cultural tourism circuit and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Yes Sir. Archaeological  Survey of  India, nodal body on behalf of the Government of India for UNESCO World Heritage related matters has recommended Ancient Buddhist Site, Sarnath to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- (b) The river island of Majuli has been included in the Tentative List of the World Heritage in  2004.  As  of  now,  there  is  no  proposal  to  include  the  property  in  the  list  of  World Heritage.
- (c) There are 55 monuments and sites protected in the state of Assam under the jurisdiction of Archaeological Survey of India. This includes monuments from Ahom-era and other major monuments.

The details of funds allocated and utilized for the conservation of the monuments in the state  of  Assam  including  Ahom-era  monuments  and  other  major  heritage  sites  is  as follows:

| Year                          |   Allocated funds (in Lakhs) |   Expenditure (in Lakhs) |
|-------------------------------|------------------------------|--------------------------|
| 2020-21                       |                       257.98 |                   257.98 |
| 2021-22                       |                       292.01 |                   292.01 |
| 2022-23                       |                       625.55 |                   625.55 |
| 2023-24                       |                       754.68 |                   754.68 |
| 2024-25                       |                       379.57 |                   379.57 |
| 2025-26 (till 09 th Dec 2025) |                       303.16 |                   233.16 |

Government of India regularly promotes major traditional and cultural festivals of the Northeastern  region  through  its  various  programmes.  The  government  organises  Bihu

- (d) workshops every year during Rongali Bihu, with around 1,000 participants, to promote and  preserve  the  traditional  dance  and  music  of  Assam.  For  Hornbill  and  Sangai Festivals,  Government of  India actively participates  by  sponsoring  and  involving  folk artistes from the region.