About Monuments of National Importance

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Context:

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) recently decided to delist 18 protected monuments as they have ceased to be of “national importance”.

Relevance:

GS I: History

Dimensions of the Article:

Legislative Framework:

The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (AMASR Act) of 1958, amended in 2010, serves as the legislative foundation for the identification, preservation, and conservation of ancient and historical monuments, as well as archaeological sites and remains of national significance in India.

Statistical Overview:

As of now, India boasts a total of 3,693 Monuments of National Importance (MNI).
Among the states, Uttar Pradesh leads with the highest count, housing 745 monuments/sites.

Notification and Public Engagement:
- The Central Government initiates the declaration process by issuing a notification, indicating its intent to recognize an ancient monument as of national importance.
- A two-month notice is given, inviting public feedback, views, or objections regarding the proposed declaration.
Final Declaration:
- Post the consultation period, considering the received views and objections, the Central Government can officially declare the monument as an MNI by publishing a notification in the official gazette.

Role of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI):
- Once a monument or site achieves the MNI status, its conservation, preservation, and maintenance fall under the purview of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), operating under the Ministry of Culture.
Protection Zones:
- A 100-meter radius around the monument is designated as a ‘prohibited area’, imposing a ban on construction activities within this zone.
- An additional 200-meter radius (100+200 meters) is termed a ‘regulated area’, subject to specific construction regulations to safeguard the monument’s integrity.

The ASI possesses the authority to delist monuments deemed to “have ceased to be of national importance” under Section 35 of the AMASR Act.
Once delisted, the responsibility of protecting these monuments shifts away from the ASI, rendering them exempt from ASI’s conservation and maintenance protocols.

The Archaeological Survey of India is an Indian government agency attached to the Ministry of Culture.
ASI is responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural monuments in the country.
Maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance is the prime concern of the ASI.
Besides it regulate all archaeological activities in the country as per the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
It also regulates Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972.
For the maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance the entire country is divided into 24 Circles.
- The organization has a large work force of trained archaeologists, conservators, epigraphist, architects and scientists for conducting archaeological research projects through its Circles, Museums, Excavation Branches, Prehistory Branch, Epigraphy Branches, Science Branch, Horticulture Branch, Building Survey Project, Temple Survey Projects and Underwater Archaeology Wing.
The most important of the society’s achievements was the decipherment of the Brahmi script by James Prinsep in 1837. This successful decipherment inaugurated the study of Indian palaeography.