National Culture Fund (NCF) to mobilise extra resources through Public Private Partnerships (PPP) mode towards conservation and development of heritage sites
NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 04, 2025: A total of 655 antiquities have been retrieved from foreign countries since 1976. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) takes up conservation and maintenance work of 3,685 ancient monuments and archaeological sites of national importance, including provision of amenities like drinking water, toilet blocks, pathways and landscaping etc. across the country. Maintenance of these monuments and sites is a continuous process and is taken up as per the need and availability of resources.
The National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities, established in 2007, has documented and published data for 11,406 Built Heritage and Sites, and 12,46,211 Antiquities. The data has been published on the NMMA website www.nmma.nic.in
The government set up the National Culture Fund (NCF) in 1996 as a Trust under the Charitable Endowment Act, 1890, to mobilise extra resources through Public Private Partnerships (PPP) mode towards conservation and development of heritage sites, and overall promotion of India’s cultural heritage
A donor/sponsor, while making contributions to the NCF, can indicate a project to be taken up for conservation or developing amenities around any monument. The conservation of protected monuments is carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and the same is maintained by them. All donor agencies comply with the norms set up by NCF and ASI.
The progress of projects approved by the NCF under the PPP mode for Centrally Protected Monuments is regularly monitored by the Project Implementation Committee involving ASI, Donor and NCF.
No Pilot Project has been initiated to allow private players, including corporate, PSUs or non-profit organisations, for conservation of Centrally Protected Monuments.
This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in written replies in the Rajya Sabha today.
