Lok Sabha Question No. 1286 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Promotion of Cultural and Heritage sites in Ladakh
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Mohmad Haneefa

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1286 ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025

## PROMOTION OF CULTURAL AND HERITAGE SITES IN LADAKH

## 1286. SHRI MOHMAD HANEEFA:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has identified key cultural and heritage sites in Ladakh, including  ancient  monasteries  and  rock  carvings  for  protection  under  centrally sponsored schemes;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the funds have been allocated under the 'Adopt a Heritage' or 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive'(PRASHAD) schemes for conservation  or  tourism-linked  development  of  sites  such  as  Hemis,  Diskit  or Lamayuru monasteries and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government  is working with local stakeholders and Buddhist organizations  to  digitize  manuscripts  and  promote  Ladakhi  language  and  folk traditions and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has any plans to establish a regional cultural centre or museum in Leh or Kargil to showcase Ladakh's unique trans-Himalayan heritage and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) There are 15 protected monuments in the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh under
- & regular conservation and maintenance by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
- (b) The  officers of ASI conduct periodic inspections to monitor the status of conservation, maintenance and any necessary repair works of these monuments. These efforts ensure the proper upkeep and protection of heritage structures within the Union Territory.
- (c) No protected monument in the UT of Ladakh has been taken up under the 'Adopt a Heritage' 2.0 program.

Under the PRASHAD Scheme of Ministry of Tourism, no project is sanctioned in the UT of Ladakh.

- (d) Ministry  of  Culture  has  an  Autonomous  Institution  namely  Central  Institute  of Buddhist  Studies  (Deemed  to  be  University)  operating  from  Leh,  UT  of  Ladakh. Among other activities, CIBS helps in the promotion of Ladakhi language and folk tradition of Ladakh. It also runs Certificate and Masters Courses in Bhoti language & literature.

The Sahitya Akademi, an Autonomous Institution of Ministry of Culture has been working for the promotion of Indian Literature in 24 Indian languages recognized by it, besides unrecognized and tribal languages. The Sahitya Akademi conferred the Bhasha Samman in Ladhakhi language in 1998 and 2015.

Under the National Mission for Manuscript (now Gyan Bharatam Mission), Central Institute  of  Buddhist  Studies,  Leh  has  been  documenting  and  executing  the conservation of Manuscripts since 2003.

The Government has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres having their headquarters  at Patiala, Udaipur, Allahabad, Kokata, Dimapur,  Nagpur  and Thanjavur  with  objectives  of  preservation,  promotion  and  dissemination  of  the traditional  folk  arts  and  culture  of  the  various  States/  Union  Territories  including Union Territory of Leh, Ladakh.

- (e) There is no proposal under consideration to establish a regional cultural centre or museum at Leh or Kargil.

*****