Centre allocates Rs 376.88 crore for protected monuments; ASI reports 3,073 vacancies

The Centre informed Parliament that Rs 376.88 crore was allocated in 2025-26 for conservation of protected monuments. It also said all 3,688 ASI-protected monuments are well preserved, despite 3,073 vacancies across the Archaeological Survey of India

New Delhi: The Centre allocated Rs 376.88 cr in 2025-26 for conservation, preservation and environmental development of protected monuments across the country, the government informed Parliament on Monday.

Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in a written response to another query in the Lok Sabha on details of archaeologists, conservation assistants, engineers and other technical staff in the ASI, shared data, according to which the vacancies stood at 3,073 out of the total sanctioned strength of 8,755.

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He was asked the details of number of centrally protected monuments under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) which have been identified as “requiring urgent conservation, repair or protection from encroachment”. There are “3,688 centrally protected monuments and sites” across the country including the Laxman Temple in Sirpur and Bhoramdeo Temple in Chhattisgarh under the jurisdiction of the ASI, the minister said.

The ASI undertakes conservation of these monuments and sites as per the National Policy for Conservation, 2014 and the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958, along with the rules framed thereunder.

“Conservation and day-to-day maintenance, upkeep of all these monuments and sites are carried out regularly as per the need and availability of resources. All these monuments and sites are in a good state of preservation,” he said.

In his response, Shekhawat also shared details of allocation and expenditure incurred for conservation, preservation and environmental development of protected monuments during the last five years.

The Centre allocated Rs 376.88 cr in year 2025-26 on conservation, preservation and environmental development of protected monuments across the country, according to the year-wise data shared by the minister in his response, adding the expenditure for the period stood at Rs 376.67 cr. The allocation for other years stood at — Rs 313.43 cr (year 2024-25); Rs 443.53 cr (year 2023-24); Rs 392.71 cr (year 2022-23); and Rs 270 cr (year 2021-22).

On a query on details of archaeologists, conservation assistants, engineers and other technical staff in the ASI, the minister shared that the vacancies stood at 3,073 out of the total sanctioned strength of 8,755.

In archeology department, of the 420 sanctioned strength of employees, there were 191 vacancies. In conservation department (including conservation assistants and engineers) – the vacancies stood at 447 out of sanctioned strength of 831.

In other technical cadres (surveyor, draftsman, science, epigraphy, horticulture, architect), the vacancies stood at 191 out of sanctioned strength of 440. In miscellaneous category (library, MTS, administrative, stenographer, photographer, etc.), the vacancy stood at 2,244 out of sanctioned strength of 7,064.