Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

#GS 01 Indian Heritage, Indian Architecture

For Prelims

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

  • ASI was founded in 1861 by a British Army engineer, Alexander Cunningham who later was appointed as first Director–General of ASI.
  • It currently exists as an attached office under the Department of Culture under Ministry of Culture.
  • ASI is the premier organization responsible for the archaeological research, scientific analysis, excavation of archaeological sites, conservation and preservation of protected monuments in India.
  • Under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, it regulates all archaeological activities in the country.
  • The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has decided to create a special committee to trace and certify the 24 protected monuments which have apparently gone “missing”.
  • A performance audit of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (CAG) in 2013 stated that 92 protected monuments were missing.
  • However, 68 of these monuments was later traced and certified by the ASI which leaves 24 monuments that are not yet traced.

Centrally protected monuments

  • Centrally Protected Monuments are those monuments which are protected by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Act, 2010.
  • India currently has a total of 3,695 Centrally Protected Monuments or Sites all over the country with Uttar Pradesh having the highest number of such monuments at 743.

Source “ASI decides to form special panel to trace and certify24 ‘missing’ monuments

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