The Government of India has informed that 3,686 Centrally Protected Monuments and Sites are currently under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), with conservation and maintenance carried out as per the National Policy for Conservation.
According to an official statement released by the Press Information Bureau on 12 February 2026, conservation works are undertaken based on structural need and availability of financial resources.
ASI Conservation Budget: Last Three Years
The Ministry of Culture shared allocation and expenditure data for conservation works undertaken by ASI:
- 2022–23: ₹392.71 crore (Expenditure: ₹391.93 crore)
- 2023–24: ₹443.53 crore (Expenditure: ₹443.53 crore)
- 2024–25: ₹313.43 crore (Expenditure: ₹313.04 crore)
The near-total utilization of allocated funds indicates sustained conservation activity across the country.
INTACH’s Heritage Restoration Projects: 100 Initiatives in 3 Years
The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has undertaken 100 heritage conservation projects over the past three years, as detailed in Annexure-I of the official release.
The projects span temples, forts, museums, archives, heritage buildings, water bodies, manuscripts, rare books, and artworks across multiple states.
Major Projects Across India
Some of the notable conservation initiatives include:
Adaptive Reuse & Heritage Building Conservation
- Restoration of Vadia Palace, Rajpipla (Gujarat)
- Conservation of General Post Office, Mumbai
- Restoration of Allahabad High Court Heritage Building
- Conservation of Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi
- Restoration of Darbhanga Palace, New Delhi
- Adaptive reuse of Barh Ki Chowki, Delhi
- Restoration of Senate Hall & Clock Tower, Allahabad University
- Conservation of High Court of Orissa Museum
- Development of Maritime Museum, Chandbali (Odisha)
Temple & Religious Heritage Conservation
- Restoration of Shree Ganga Mandir, Har Ki Pauri
- Conservation of Kapileswar Temple, Bhubaneswar
- Restoration of Charan Paduka Mandir, Ayodhya
- Conservation of temples in Raebareli, Balrampur, Ayodhya, Datia, Maihar and Shekhawati
Water Body & Ecological Restoration
- Rejuvenation of Satpula Lake, Delhi
- Development of 9 Kunds in Varanasi
- Restoration of Davanal Kund, Mathura
- Hydrological revival of Indian Botanic Garden lakes, Howrah
- Afforestation in Uttarakhand Himalayas (over 30,000 saplings planted)
Museums, Archives & Art Conservation
- Establishment of Raja Shankar Shah Museum, Jabalpur
- Development of Orissa High Court Museum
- Conservation of rare manuscripts and books (Lucknow Smart City, National Archives)
- Restoration of artworks at Karnataka High Court, Azim Premji University, Wipro, MAP Museum, DAMH collections
- Digitisation projects at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port Trust
International Collaboration
INTACH also completed conservation consultancy for 12 earthquake-affected heritage sites in Nepal, with six projects completed by April 2024.
National Culture Fund: PPP Model for Heritage
The Ministry highlighted the role of the National Culture Fund (NCF), which enables private entities and CSR sponsors to partner with the government for heritage conservation. The fund facilitates financing for protection, restoration and development of both tangible and intangible cultural assets.
Conservation Methodology
ASI continues to adopt:
- Traditional conservation techniques
- Authentic material use
- Structural stabilization methods
- Employment of local artisans and craftsmen
This approach ensures preservation of historical integrity while improving visitor experience.
Statement in Parliament
The information was provided by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on 12 February 2026.
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