Lok Sabha Question No. 5866 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Availability of Staff under ASI
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Dr. Sharmila Sarkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5866

ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026

## AVAILABILITY OF STAFF UNDER ASI

## 5866. DR. SHARMILA SARKAR:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of total number of monuments under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), circle-wise;
- (b) the  details  of  total  number  of  sanctioned  staff  at  each  of  the  ASI  circles,  in-position  and vacancies, circle and category-wise;
- (c) the details of total number of contractual staff hired by the ASI, circle and category-wise;
- (d) the details of total number of ticketed monuments and passenger footfall, ASI, circle-wise; and
- (e) the details of total amount of funds released and utilised for conservation and maintenance, ASI circle-wise

## ANSWER

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

- (a) There  are  3686  protected  monuments  and  protected  areas  (Archaeological  sites)  across  the country,  which  are  looked  after  by  the  Archaeological  Survey  of  India  (ASI).  Circle-wise details are given at Annexure-I.
- (b) Details  of  total  number  of  sanctioned  staff  at  each  of  the  ASI  circles,  in-position  and vacancies, circle and category-wise are given at Annexure-II.
- (c) Contractual  staff  like  Data  Entry  Operators  Skilled/Semi-skilled  labour,  security  staff  are engaged by the circles as per need and availability of resource.
- (d) There are 143 protected monuments across the country under Archeological Survey of India where entry fee is charged. The Circle-wise details of footfall are given at Annexure-III.
- (e)   The  Circle-wise  allocation  and  expenditure  on  conservation  and  maintenance  is  given  at Annexure-IV.

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED   QUESTION NO.5866 FOR 30.03.2026.

CIRCLE-WISE DETAILS OF PROTECTED MONUMENTS AND PROTECTED AREAS (SITES)  UNDER  THE  ARCHAEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OF  INDIA  ACROSS  THE COUNTRY.

| Sl.No.   | Name of Circle        | Number of Protected Monuments and Protected Areas (Sites)   |
|----------|-----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.       | Agra Circle           | 154                                                         |
| 2.       | Aizawl Circle         | 11                                                          |
| 3.       | Amaravati Circle      | 135                                                         |
| 4.       | Aurangabad Circle     | 75                                                          |
| 5.       | Bangalore Circle      | 129                                                         |
| 6.       | Bhopal Circle         | 183                                                         |
| 7.       | Bhubaneswar Circle    | 42                                                          |
| 8.       | Chandigarh Circle     | 124                                                         |
| 9.       | Chennai Circle        | 257                                                         |
| 10.      | Dehradun Circle       | 43                                                          |
| 11.      | Delhi Circle          | 170                                                         |
| 12.      | Dharwad Circle        | 282                                                         |
| 13.      | Goa Circle            | 21                                                          |
| 14.      | Guwahati Circle       | 70                                                          |
| 15.      | Hampi Circle          | 95                                                          |
| 16.      | Hyderabad Circle      | 08                                                          |
| 17.      | Jabalpur Circle       | 108                                                         |
| 18.      | Jaipur Circle         | 88                                                          |
| 19.      | Jhansi Circle         | 170                                                         |
| 20.      | Jodhpur Circle        | 73                                                          |
| 21.      | Kolkata Circle        | 86                                                          |
| 22.      | Leh Mini-circle       | 15                                                          |
| 23.      | Lucknow Circle        | 196                                                         |
| 24.      | Meerut Circle         | 82                                                          |
| 25.      | Mumbai Circle         | 117                                                         |
| 26.      | Nagpur Circle         | 94                                                          |
| 27.      | Patna Circle          | 70                                                          |
| 28.      | Puri Circle           | 40                                                          |
| 29.      | Raipur Circle         | 46                                                          |
| 30.      | Raiganj Circle        | 52                                                          |
| 31.      | Rajkot Circle         | 51                                                          |
| 32.      | Ranchi Circle         | 14                                                          |
| 33.      | Sarnath Circle        | 132                                                         |
| 34.      | Shimla Circle         | 40                                                          |
| 35.      | Srinagar Circle       | 56                                                          |
| 36.      | Tiruchirapalli Circle | 162                                                         |
| 37.      | Thrissur Circle       | 30                                                          |
| 38.      | Vadodara Circle       | 165                                                         |
| Total    |                       |                                                             |
|          |                       | 3686                                                        |

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5866 FOR 30.03.2026.

TOTAL  NUMBER  OF  SANCTIONED  STAFF  AT  EACH  OF  THE  ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA CIRCLES, IN-POSITION AND VACANCIES, CIRCLE AND CATEGORY-WISE

| Sl. No .   | Name of Circle/ Offices/ Branches   | Sanctioned Strength   | In- Position   | Vacanci es   | Category-wise Staff position   | Category-wise Staff position   | Category-wise Staff position   | Category-wise Staff position   | Category-wise Staff position   |
|------------|-------------------------------------|-----------------------|----------------|--------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Sl. No .   | Name of Circle/ Offices/ Branches   | Sanctioned Strength   | In- Position   | Vacanci es   | UR                             | OB C                           | EW S                           | SC                             | ST                             |
| 1.         | Agra Circle                         | 552                   | 420            | 132          | 142                            | 167                            | 12                             | 88                             | 11                             |
| 2.         | Aizawl Circle                       | 29                    | 17             | 12           | 4                              | 4                              | 1                              | 4                              | 4                              |
| 3.         | Amaravati Circle                    | 358                   | 249            | 109          | 60                             | 115                            | 8                              | 50                             | 16                             |
| 4.         | Aurangabad Circle                   | 229                   | 78             | 151          | 34                             | 23                             | 0                              | 16                             | 5                              |
| 5.         | Bangalore Circle                    | 290                   | 204            | 86           | 64                             | 68                             | 16                             | 42                             | 14                             |
| 6.         | Bhopal Circle                       | 393                   | 192            | 201          | 71                             | 69                             | 4                              | 25                             | 23                             |
| 7.         | Bhubaneswar Circle                  | 151                   | 75             | 76           | 41                             | 20                             | 3                              | 7                              | 4                              |
| 8.         | Chandigarh Circle                   | 161                   | 118            | 43           | 59                             | 22                             | 1                              | 33                             | 3                              |
| 9.         | Chennai Circle                      | 239                   | 170            | 69           | 61                             | 62                             | 4                              | 35                             | 8                              |
| 10.        | Dehradun Circle                     | 92                    | 66             | 26           | 48                             | 9                              | 0                              | 1                              | 8                              |
|            | Delhi Circle                        | 622                   | 464            | 158          | 240                            | 91                             | 7                              | 10                             | 18                             |
| 12.        | Dharwad Circle                      | 355                   | 252            | 103          | 78                             | 89                             | 23                             | 44                             | 18                             |
| 13.        | Goa Circle                          | 97                    | 63             | 34           | 12                             | 18                             | 5                              | 8                              | 20                             |
| 14.        | Guwahati Circle                     | 130                   | 84             | 46           | 27                             | 24                             | 3                              | 19                             | 11                             |
| 15.        | Hampi Circle                        | 139                   | 63             | 76           | 21                             | 28                             | 1                              | 8                              | 5                              |
| 16.        | Hyderabad Circle                    | 132                   | 98             | 34           | 16                             | 50                             | 5                              | 19                             | 8                              |
| 17.        | Jabalpur Circle                     | 274                   | 112            | 162          | 43                             | 53                             | 1                              | 14                             | 1                              |
| 18.        | Jaipur Circle                       | 296                   | 228            | 68           | 72                             | 66                             | 8                              | 26                             | 56                             |
| 19.        | Jhansi Circle                       | 147                   | 105            | 42           | 19                             | 45                             | 8                              | 30                             | 3                              |
| 20.        | Jodhpur Circle                      | 192                   | 153            | 39           | 46                             | 56                             | 11                             | 22                             | 18                             |
| 21.        | Kolkata Circle                      | 130                   | 104            | 26           | 43                             | 30                             | 1                              | 23                             | 7                              |
| 22.        | Leh Mini Circle                     | 47                    | 12             | 35           | 2                              | 0                              | 0                              | 0                              | 10                             |
| 23.        | Lucknow Circle                      | 182                   | 143            | 39           | 54                             | 62                             | 0                              | 23                             | 4                              |
| 24.        | Meerut Circle                       | 87                    | 66             | 21           | 24                             | 16                             | 3                              | 16                             | 7                              |
| 25.        | Mumbai Circle                       | 262                   | 142            | 120          | 35                             | 54                             | 21                             | 23                             | 9                              |
| 26.        | Nagpur Circle                       | 147                   | 106            | 41           | 23                             | 52                             | 8                              | 20                             | 3                              |
| 27.        | Patna Circle                        | 212                   | 185            | 27           | 69                             | 73                             | 0                              | 40                             | 3                              |
| 28.        | Puri Circle                         | 213                   | 91             | 122          | 39                             | 36                             | 0                              | 15                             | 1                              |
| 29.        | Raiganj Circle                      | 139                   | 93             | 46           | 40                             | 21                             | 0                              | 26                             | 6                              |
| 30.        | Raipur Circle                       | 68                    | 38             | 30           | 10                             | 14                             | 1                              | 7                              | 6                              |
| 31.        | Rajkot Circle                       | 81                    | 50             | 31           | 10                             | 19                             | 4                              | 10                             | 7                              |
| 32.        | Ranchi Circle                       | 44                    | 32             | 12           | 11                             | 16                             | 1                              | 1                              | 3                              |
| 33.        | Sarnath Circle                      | 252                   | 192            | 60           | 52                             | 90                             | 12                             | 32                             | 6                              |
| 34.        | Shimla Circle                       | 152                   | 55             | 97           | 25                             | 8                              | 0                              | 8                              | 14                             |
| 35.        | Srinagar circle                     | 190                   | 83             | 107          | 64                             | 2                              | 6                              | 10                             | 1                              |
| 36.        | Thrissur Circle                     | 100                   | 67             | 33           | 20                             | 28                             | 2                              | 15                             | 2                              |
| 37.        | Trichy Circle                       | 158                   | 117            | 41           | 24                             | 74                             | 1                              | 16                             | 2                              |
| 38.        | Vadodara Circle                     | 242                   | 151            | 91           | 28                             | 61                             | 12                             | 30                             | 20                             |

ANNEXURE-III

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5866 FOR 30.03.2026.

CIRCLE-WISE  FOOTFALL  AT  TICKETED  MONUMENTS,  DURING  LAST  THREE YEARS AND CURRENT YEAR ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

| Sl.N o.   | Name of Circle        | Number of ticketed monument   | Details of visitors footfall   | Details of visitors footfall   | Details of visitors footfall   | Details of visitors footfall   |
|-----------|-----------------------|-------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|           |                       |                               | 2022-23                        | 2023-24                        | 2024-25                        | 2025-26 (up to Jan..202 6)     |
| 1.        | Agra Circle           | 08                            | 9295001                        | 10235684                       | 1045051 7                      | 8403250                        |
| 2.        | Amaravati Circle      | 05                            | 336060                         | 330930                         | 34885                          | 304324                         |
| 3.        | Aurangabad Circle     | 06                            | 3856418                        | 4368304                        | 4280488                        | 4080259                        |
| 4.        | Bangalore Circle      | 04                            | 1259606                        | 1458969                        | 1339209                        | 1196014                        |
| 5.        | Bhopal Circle         | 11                            | 1455682                        | 1654386                        | 1598345                        | 1479127                        |
| 6.        | Bhubaneswar Circle    | 02                            | 507846                         | 1086445                        | 1356626                        | 1332331                        |
| 7.        | Chandigarh Circle     | 02                            | 83517                          | 86167                          | 92567                          | 83011                          |
| 8.        | Chennai Circle        | 04                            | 1797519                        | 1509168                        | 1235189                        | 1259940                        |
| 9.        | Delhi Circle          | 11                            | 6750531                        | 8138214                        | 8850048                        | 6965429                        |
| 10.       | Dharwad Circle        | 06                            | 1971867                        | 2294826                        | 2051973                        | 1904698                        |
| 11.       | Goa Circle            | 01                            | 1023289                        | 1202240                        | 1371815                        | 1151965                        |
| 12.       | Guwahati Circle       | 05                            | 635672                         | 543449                         | 577616                         | 479987                         |
| 13.       | Hampi Circle          | 02                            | 840046                         | 1050440                        | 1046175                        | 1085995                        |
| 14.       | Hyderabad Circle      | 03                            | 2610495                        | 3030547                        | 3039275                        | 2823545                        |
| 15.       | Jabalpur Circle       | 03                            | 496768                         | 534243                         | 632365                         | 426389                         |
| 16.       | Jaipur Circle         | 03                            | 339497                         | 505122                         | 493471                         | 412532                         |
| 17.       | Jhansi Circle         | 04                            | 522677                         | 879214                         | 679255                         | 589531                         |
| 18.       | Jodhpur Circle        | 03                            | 1914103                        | 1798841                        | 1828503                        | 2869160                        |
| 19.       | Kolkata Circle        | 02                            | 204041                         | 220304                         | 216168                         | 195870                         |
| 20.       | Leh Mini-circle       | 01                            | 62662                          | 95021                          | 93937                          | 90135                          |
| 21.       | Lucknow Circle        | 03                            | 334856                         | 417931                         | 397111                         | 322258                         |
| 22.       | Mumbai Circle         | 13                            | 3856835                        | 4003835                        | 3795420                        | 3423195                        |
| 23.       | Nagpur Circle         | 02                            | 26511                          | 33898                          | 25259                          | 28008                          |
| 24.       | Patna Circle          | 05                            | 993900                         | 1163980                        | 1230202                        | 1214694                        |
| 25.       | Puri Circle           | 03                            | 2478266                        | 3284937                        | 3777631                        | 2907970                        |
| 26.       | Raipur Circle         | 01                            | 62990                          | 85489                          | 81119                          | 68423                          |
| 27.       | Raiganj Circle        | 02                            | 1520358                        | 1669845                        | 1591603                        | 1288698                        |
| 28.       | Rajkot Circle         | 03                            | 32105                          | 47845                          | 74107                          | 67150                          |
| 29.       | Sarnath Circle        | 06                            | 1113821                        | 1244849                        | 1154537                        | 1018971                        |
| 30.       | Shimla Circle         | 02                            | 178511                         | 195246                         | 173850                         | 138282                         |
| 31.       | Srinagar Circle       | 03                            | 58253                          | 67330                          | 61781                          | 34726                          |
| 32.       | Tiruchirapalli Circle | 07                            | 316701                         | 318326                         | 293033                         | 238712                         |
| 33.       | Thrissur Circle       | 03                            | 918575                         | 904140                         | 884775                         | 899828                         |
| 34.       | Vadodara Circle       | 04                            | 1325007                        | 1350691                        | 1187156                        | 989488                         |
| Total     | Total                 | 143                           |                                |                                |                                |                                |

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (e) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5866 FOR 30.03.2026.

CIRCLE-WISE  DETAILS  OF  ALLOCATION  AND  EXPENDITURE  INCURED  FOR CONSERVATION  AND  MAINTENANCE  OF  PROTECTED  MONUMENTS  AND  SITES DURING LAST TWO YEARS AND CURRENT YEAR IN THE COUNTRY.

| Sl.N o.   | Name of Circle     | Details of allocation and expenditure for conservation and maintenance (Amount in crore)   | Details of allocation and expenditure for conservation and maintenance (Amount in crore)   | Details of allocation and expenditure for conservation and maintenance (Amount in crore)   | Details of allocation and expenditure for conservation and maintenance (Amount in crore)   | Details of allocation and expenditure for conservation and maintenance (Amount in crore)   | Details of allocation and expenditure for conservation and maintenance (Amount in crore)   |
|-----------|--------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|           |                    | 2023-24                                                                                    | 2023-24                                                                                    | 2024-25                                                                                    | 2024-25                                                                                    | 2025-26 (up to 27.01.2026)                                                                 | 2025-26 (up to 27.01.2026)                                                                 |
|           |                    | Allocati on                                                                                | Expendit ure                                                                               | Allocation                                                                                 | Expen diture                                                                               | Allo cati on                                                                               | Expe nditu re                                                                              |
| 1.        | Agra Circle        | 23.52                                                                                      | 23.52                                                                                      | 15.90                                                                                      | 15.90                                                                                      | 17.0 0                                                                                     | 13.36                                                                                      |
| 2.        | Aizawl Circle      | 1.29                                                                                       | 1.29                                                                                       | 1.26                                                                                       | 1.25                                                                                       | 1.20                                                                                       | 0.93                                                                                       |
| 3.        | Amaravati Circle   | 14.70                                                                                      | 14.70                                                                                      | 12.90                                                                                      | 12.90                                                                                      | 14.0 0                                                                                     | 11.64                                                                                      |
| 4.        | Aurangabad Circle  | 26.80                                                                                      | 26.80                                                                                      | 8.60                                                                                       | 8.60                                                                                       | 11.0 0                                                                                     | 9.18                                                                                       |
| 5.        | Bangalore Circle   | 17.34                                                                                      | 17.34                                                                                      | 8.55                                                                                       | 8.55                                                                                       | 12.0 0                                                                                     | 8.96                                                                                       |
| 6.        | Bhopal Circle      | 17.22                                                                                      | 17.22                                                                                      | 12.30                                                                                      | 12.30                                                                                      | 13.5 0                                                                                     | 11.55                                                                                      |
| 7.        | Bhubaneswar Circle | 12.29                                                                                      | 12.29                                                                                      | 11.50                                                                                      | 11.37                                                                                      | 11.0 0                                                                                     | 6.74                                                                                       |
| 8.        | Chandigarh Circle  | 11.00                                                                                      | 11.00                                                                                      | 8.40                                                                                       | 8.40                                                                                       | 11.0                                                                                       | 10.19                                                                                      |
| 9.        | Chennai Circle     | 12.95                                                                                      | 12.95                                                                                      | 13.15                                                                                      | 13.14                                                                                      | 13.0 0                                                                                     | 9.50                                                                                       |
| 10.       | Dehradun Circle    | 5.42                                                                                       | 5.42                                                                                       | 5.10                                                                                       | 5.10                                                                                       | 6.50                                                                                       | 4.74                                                                                       |
| 11.       | Delhi Circle       | 36.14                                                                                      | 36.14                                                                                      | 24.95                                                                                      | 24.94                                                                                      | 39.9 2                                                                                     | 33.99                                                                                      |
| 12.       | Dharwad Circle     | 9.57                                                                                       | 9.57                                                                                       | 7.46                                                                                       | 7.46                                                                                       | 6.25                                                                                       | 5.18                                                                                       |
| 13.       | Goa Circle         | 9.90                                                                                       | 9.90                                                                                       | 9.00                                                                                       | 9.00                                                                                       | 5.06                                                                                       | 5.05                                                                                       |
| 14.       | Guwahati Circle    | 8.78                                                                                       | 8.78                                                                                       | 5.72                                                                                       | 5.71                                                                                       | 4.66                                                                                       | 3.35                                                                                       |
| 15.       | Hampi Circle       | 12.25                                                                                      | 12.25                                                                                      | 6.52                                                                                       | 6.52                                                                                       | 8.75                                                                                       | 7.14                                                                                       |
| 16.       | Hyderabad Circle   | 14.38                                                                                      | 14.38                                                                                      | 6.80                                                                                       | 6.77                                                                                       | 12.0                                                                                       | 9.58                                                                                       |
| 17.       | Jabalpur Circle    | 9.27                                                                                       | 9.27                                                                                       | 7.00                                                                                       | 6.99                                                                                       | 0 6.00                                                                                     | 4.80                                                                                       |
| 18.       | Jaipur Circle      | 12.75                                                                                      | 12.75                                                                                      | 10.91                                                                                      | 10.91                                                                                      | 8.00                                                                                       | 6.66                                                                                       |
| 19.       | Jhansi Circle      | 5.82                                                                                       | 5.82                                                                                       | 6.10                                                                                       | 6.10                                                                                       | 9.50                                                                                       | 7.65                                                                                       |
| 20.       | Jodhpur Circle     | 10.65                                                                                      | 10.65                                                                                      | 9.25                                                                                       | 9.24                                                                                       | 9.00                                                                                       | 6.89                                                                                       |
| 21.       | Kolkata Circle     | 9.10                                                                                       | 9.10                                                                                       | 6.01                                                                                       | 6.01                                                                                       | 4.75                                                                                       | 3.92                                                                                       |
| 22.       | Leh Mini-circle    | 3.50                                                                                       | 3.50                                                                                       | 2.20                                                                                       | 2.20                                                                                       | 4.50                                                                                       | 3.71                                                                                       |
| 23.       | Lucknow Circle     | 16.93                                                                                      | 16.93                                                                                      | 8.91                                                                                       | 8.91                                                                                       | 7.95                                                                                       | 7.41                                                                                       |
| 24.       | Meerut Circle      | 7.95                                                                                       | 7.95                                                                                       | 6.70                                                                                       | 6.64                                                                                       | 6.50                                                                                       | 4.61                                                                                       |
| 25.       | Mumbai Circle      | 15.56                                                                                      | 15.56                                                                                      | 18.19                                                                                      | 18.19                                                                                      | 17.5                                                                                       | 13.12                                                                                      |
| 26.       | Nagpur Circle      | 10.18                                                                                      | 10.18                                                                                      | 10.60                                                                                      | 10.60                                                                                      | 15.0                                                                                       | 12.21                                                                                      |
| 27.       | Patna Circle       | 16.00                                                                                      | 16.00                                                                                      | 8.73                                                                                       | 8.73                                                                                       | 14.5                                                                                       | 11.77                                                                                      |

|    |                       |                                   |                                   |                                   |      | 0      |      |
|----|-----------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|------|--------|------|
| 28 | Puri Circle           | (included in Bhubaneshwar Circle) | (included in Bhubaneshwar Circle) | (included in Bhubaneshwar Circle) |      |        |      |
| 29 | Raipur Circle         | 5.94                              | 5.94                              | 8.19                              | 8.19 | 12.2 5 | 9.21 |
| 30 | Raiganj Circle        | 8.00                              | 8.00                              | 6.10                              | 6.10 | 8.00   | 7.11 |
| 31 | Rajkot Circle         | 2.50                              | 2.50                              | 3.00                              | 3.00 | 4.00   | 2.62 |
| 32 | Ranchi Circle         | 2.15                              | 2.15                              | 2.25                              | 2.25 | 2.37   | 2.50 |
| 33 | Sarnath Circle        | 11.32                             | 1132                              | 7.62                              | 7.62 | 9.75   | 6.89 |
| 34 | Shimla Circle         | 5.00                              | 5.00                              | 2.80                              | 2.79 | 2.00   | 1.88 |
| 35 | Srinagar Circle       | 7.17                              | 7.17                              | 4.90                              | 4.89 | 5.75   | 4.97 |
| 36 | Tiruchirapalli Circle | 9.55                              | 9.55                              | 5.80                              | 5.80 | 6.50   | 4.77 |
| 37 | Thrissur Circle       | 7.09                              | 7.09                              | 6.30                              | 6.30 | 4.25   | 3.55 |
| 38 | Vadodara Circle       | 12.00                             | 12.00                             | 7.70                              | 7.69 | 10.5 0 | 7.58 |

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