ASI - ART AND CULTURE
News: Special
ASI committee to trace 24 ‘missing’ monuments
What's in the news?
● The
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has decided to form a special committee to
trace and certify 24 protected monuments which have gone “missing”.
● The
decision comes after repeated red flags by a Parliamentary Committee as well as
criticism from the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister.
● There
are at present 3,693 centrally-protected monuments and sites in the country.
What are centrally protected monuments?
● The
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological
Sites and Remains Act (AMASR Act), 1958 regulates the preservation of
monuments and archaeological sites of national importance.
● The
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which
is under the aegis of the Union Ministry
of Culture, functions under this Act.
● The
Act protects monuments and sites that are more
than 100 years old, including temples, cemeteries, inscriptions, tombs,
forts, palaces, step-wells, rock-cut caves, and even objects like cannons and
mile pillars that may be of historical significance.
● At
present, there are 3,693 centrally-protected monuments in the country.
● Uttar Pradesh
(745), Karnataka (506) and Tamil Nadu (413) have the highest number of
ASI-maintained sites.
● Once
declared as a protected monument/site, both the conservation and maintenance of
the site will be done by ASI.
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI):
● ASI
is the premier organization for the archaeological research, scientific
analysis, excavation of archaeological sites, conservation and preservation of
protected monuments.
● It
is an attached office under the Department of Culture (Ministry of
Culture).
● ASI
was founded in 1861 by
Alexander Cunningham who became its first Director-General.
● It
also regulates the Antiquities and Art
Treasure Act, 1972.