REPATRIATION OF INDIAN ARTEFACTS
REPATRIATION OF INDIAN ARTEFACTS
Total 345 antiquities have been repatriated from different countries since 2014. No specific budget is allocated for repatriation of the antiquities. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) makes expenditure from its available budget as per requirement.
Country-wise list is annexed as ‘Annexure I’.
Public interest has increased towards the cultural heritage. Various exhibitions and workshops have been organized by the Archaeological Survey of India for public awareness. For instance, exhibitions of repatriated artefacts curated during G-20 meeting at Khajuraho and World Heritage Committee meeting at New Delhi were appreciated by the delegates and visitors. Selected repatriated antiquities are also displayed for the public in the gallery at Purana Quila.
ASI works in coordination with different law-enforcement agencies for preventing smuggling of artefacts.
Whenever any theft of antiquity is reported, FIR is lodged in concerned police station and ‘Look Out Notice’ is issued to law enforcement agencies including Custom Exit Channels to keep vigil to trace stolen antiquity.
This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
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BY/SKT
Annexure I
Year
Country
No. of Antiquity
Year-wise total
2014
Australia
02
2
2015
Canada
01
3
Germany
01
Singapore
01
2016
USA
11
14
Australia
03
2017
USA
08
09
UK
01
2018
USA
02
02
2019
UK
01
02
Australia
01
2020
Australia
03
08
UK
05
2021
UK
01
159
Canada
01
USA
157
2022
Australia
29
30
UK
01
2023
Australia
02
115
UK
07
USA
105
Italy
01
2024
Thailand
01
01
Total
345