Lok Sabha Question No. 2321 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-04
Subject: Digital Preservation of Artefacts and Monuments
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Tejasvi Surya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2321

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025.

## DIGITAL PRESERVATION OF ARTEFACTS AND MONUMENTS

## 2321.    SHRI TEJASVI SURYA:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of monuments, artefacts, and cultural sites digitally preserved by the Government, particularly  in  the  State  of  Karnataka,  and  the  manner  in  which  these  digital  assets  are  being utilised for educational and tourism purposes;
- (b) the extent of collaboration between the Union Government  and State Governments, including Karnataka,  to  digitally  map  undocumented  or  lesser-known  heritage  sites,  and  the  key challenges faced in updating and maintaining official heritage databases;
- (c) Whether  the  Government  has  a  policy  to  make  digital  reconstruction  of  India's  heritage accessible to global audience and the steps taken to safeguard copyright. Provence, or recovery claims related to Indian antiquities abroad; and
- (d) the  comprehensive  status  of  culture  heritage  preservation  initiatives  in  Karnataka,  including funding, intuitional support and digitisation projects undertaken during  the last two years and the current year?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM

## (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) The total number of unprotected Monuments and Antiquities documented by the National Mission  on  Monuments  and  Antiquities  (NMMA)  as  on  date  stands  as  follows  at Karnataka: Antiquities-904 and Built heritage & Sites-312. The above data's are uploaded on  the  NMMA  website:  http://nmma.nic.in    for  public  access.  Beside  ASI  Bangalore, Dhardwad  and  Hampi  Circles  are  digitally  mapped  like  topographical  survey  and photogrammetric survey of 177 Centrally Protected Monuments.
- (b) NMMA  is  conducting  workshops  in  various  regions  to  provide  training  programs  to universities,  colleges,  NGOs,  and  other  interested  organizations,  in  coordination  with Circle  Offices.  Efforts  are  also  being  made  to  revive  the  State-Level  Implementation Committee (SLIC) in each state including Karnataka to speed up the documentation work.
- (c) Government takes necessary action to repatriate the antiquities sent abroad. Whenever, any illegally  exported antiquity of  Indian origin is reported on foreign soil, necessary action are  initiated  through  Indian  Missions  for  their  retrieval.  Archaeological  Survey  of  India has retrieved 655 number antiquities since 1976.
- (d) ASI Bangalore, Dhardwad  and  Hampi  Circles  are maintain the cultural heritage preservation of central protected monuments for the above expenditure is made in the last 2 years and the current year is as follows:

| S. No.   | Circle Name   | Expenditure in 2023-2024   | Expenditure in 2024-2025   | Expenditure in 2025-2026   |
|----------|---------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
| 1        | Banglore      | 173,349,537                | 50,4999,895                | 47,734,574                 |
| 2        | Dharwad       | 23,175,393                 | 94,058,99                  | 4,412,665                  |
| 3        | Hampi         | 12,24,98,772               | 65,195,861                 | 34,749,671                 |
|          | Total         | 31,90,23,702               | 57,96,01,655               | 8,68,96,910                |