Heritage

The government has increased the budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Culture for the fiscal year 2025-26, with a total outlay of Rs 3,360.96 crore against a revised estimate of Rs 3,260.93 crore in the current fiscal. Within the ministry, a major chunk has gone to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which has been allocated Rs 1,278.49 crore against Rs 1273.91 crore allocated in 2024-25 which was revised to Rs 1191.99 crore. While the government has continued to support cultural development, it has significantly reduced funding for organising events to mark centenaries and anniversaries. The budget for these commemorations has been slashed from Rs 110 crore in 2024-25 to just Rs 35 crore in 2025-26. However, key celebrations such as the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, the 75th anniversary of Constitution Day, and the 300th birth anniversary of Ahilya Bai Holkar will still be observed with government support. Funds earmarked for international cultural collaborati

India's rich heritage continues to inspire the world and Tamil Nadu's contributions reflect India's innovation and unity, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Thursday after Chief Minister M K Stalin announced that the Iron Age began on Tamil soil. "With immense pride and unmatched satisfaction, I have declared to the world: 'The Iron Age began on Tamil soil!' Based on results from world-renowned institutions, the use of iron in Tamil Nadu dates back to the beginning of 4th millennium B.C.E., establishing that iron usage was prominent in South India over 5,300 years ago," Stalin said in a post on X. "What was written in our ancient literature is now becoming scientifically proven history, thanks to the meticulous efforts of our Dravidian Model Government. The history of the Indian subcontinent can no longer overlook Tamil Nadu. In fact, it must begin here!" he said. Tagging Stalin's post, Gandhi said India's rich heritage continues to inspire the world. Recent archaeological findin

An ancient civilisation with a modern outlook, India has a lot of fine strengths - in cinema, sports, art, culture, food, yoga - that it is building on

The Ministry of Culture has planned to set up and run a cultural village -- 'Kalagram' -- in Prayagraj to showcase the rich, spiritual and cultural heritage of the country during the upcoming Maha Kumbh in the holy city, Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Thursday. The Maha Kumbh will be held in Prayagraj from January 13 to February 26. Interacting with mediapersons at his residence here, Shekhawat, who holds the culture and tourism portfolios, said the Ministry of Culture aims to set up and run a cultural village -- 'Kalagram' -- in Prayagraj for which an area measuring 10.24 acres has been allocated at Nagvasuki. "A Ganga Pandal with a capacity of 10,000 people will be set up by the Mela authority where celebrity performances would be held," the ministry said in a statement. Three stage pandals with a 4,000 audience capacity each at Jhunsi, Nagvasuki and Areil as well as a 1,000 capacity amphitheatre at Kalagram will showcase the emerging Sangeet Natak Akademi awarde

At the 106th National Convention of the Indian Numismatic Society here, experts called for the removal or reduction of customs duty on bringing back valuable artefacts and cultural heritage from abroad. They argued that such measures would encourage individuals and organisations to restore India's cultural legacy. The convention was organised by the Uttar Pradesh State Archaeology Department. "It's surprising and disappointing that India imposes 33 per cent customs duty on bringing back its heritage, whereas countries like the UK and the US not only waive such charges but also honour and encourage those who undertake such efforts," Farukh S Todiwala, a member of the Indian Numismatic Society's Executive Council and president of the Mumbai Coin Society, told reporters. "If the government takes up such initiatives itself, it is seen as a matter of national pride and is widely publicised. However, when private individuals go the extra mile and pay hefty sums to retrieve Indian cultura

At least 1,440 antiquities collectively valued at USD 10 million will be returned to India, a statement has said. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., in a statement on Wednesday, said the pieces recovered under several ongoing investigations into criminal trafficking networks, including those of alleged antiquities trafficker Subhash Kapoor and convicted trafficker Nancy Wiener, were returned at a ceremony with Manish Kulhary from the Consulate General of India here and Alexandra deArmas, Group Supervisor from the Homeland Security Investigation of New York Cultural Property, Art, and Antiquities Group. Bragg announced the return of 1,440 antiquities collectively valued at USD 10 million to the people of India, according to the statement. "We will continue to investigate the many trafficking networks that have targeted Indian cultural heritage," Bragg said. The returned pieces included a sandstone sculpture depicting a Celestial Dancer looted from a temple in Madhya ..

Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Thursday that the recognition of Pali as a classical language honours the great heritage of Lord Buddha, as he took swipe at past Congress governments for its neglect of India's cultural legacy after Independence. Speaking at a programme on the occasion of International Abhidhamma Divas, Modi said while every nation associates its heritage with its identity, India was left far behind. Invaders tried to erase India's identity before its Independence, and those suffering from "slave mindset" did so afterwards, he said, adding that an ecosystem captured the country which took it in an direction opposite to its its heritage. He said his government's policies and programmes have been guided by the teachings of Lord Buddha, reiterating that the world plagued by instability and insecurity can find solution to its problems in his teachings. World can find solution not in "yuddh" (war) but in Buddha, and it should learn from his teachings to pave the

Amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit, US has formally handed over 297 antiquities that were stolen or trafficked from India

The Supreme Court dismissed on Friday a plea seeking to declare Agra as a "heritage city" and said there is nothing to show that such a declaration would give the city any special advantage. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan dismissed the application filed in a 1984 PIL on the protection and preservation of the iconic Taj Mahal and its adjoining areas. "Nothing has been placed on record to show that there will be any special advantage to the city. Moreover, this court cannot grant any such declaration. Interlocutory application is dismissed," the bench ordered. During the hearing, the bench asked the counsel what advantage the city would get if it was declared a heritage city and what were the provisions under law to give such a declaration. The counsel said that Agra needed to be declared a heritage city as it has a history of over 1,000 years and several historic monuments which need to be preserved. "Declaring Agra as a heritage city would give a boost to tourism

Historians say the 200-metre-long Barapullah bridge was built during the reign of Mughal emperor Jahangir in 1628. At present, a drain passes through the structure

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said a coordinated and strong effort by governments at the Centre and in states will ensure the goal of 'Viksit Bharat' is attained. Both developing heritage and building a legacy of development have a special place in the idea of 'Viksit Bharat', Modi said, according to senior party leader Vinay Sahasrabuddhe. The prime minister was addressing the 13 chief ministers and 15 deputy chief ministers from the BJP-ruled states on the second day of their two-day meeting -- 'mukhyamantri parishad' -- here. Modi spoke at length about his government's agenda of making India a USD 5 trillion economy and stressed the importance of public participation in welfare measures. Sahasrabuddhe, who coordinates the party's 'good governance' exercise, said the prime minister also emphasised on using social media to ensure maximum reach of government schemes targeting different groups. Senior BJP leaders, including Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and J P Nad

The theft of the magical Durandal sword has become the talk of the town. The sharpest sword could cut boulders with a single strike. Authorities are trying to recover the lost historical artefact

Even former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and ex vice-president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat were its admirers

9 heritage properties on block for private bidders

The CM also honoured filmmakers, cinematographers and singers of the state associated with the film world, the statement informed

The presentations at the Gala Dinner continued the ACWG meeting's push for lending global exposure to local cultural traditions, industries, and craftsmanship

The archives department here is abuzz with activity as several teams work diligently to digitise precious manuscripts, books, and historic records of the erstwhile Dogra dynasty's kings to preserve the "invaluable heritage" for future generations. "We are focusing on the digitisation of the archival records (containing manuscripts, books, journals, newspapers and historic records of erstwhile kings). We have a total archival record of 55,88,000 and we have already digitised 38,88,000 records," Director, Archives, Archaeology and Museums, Jammu and Kashmir, Pradeep Kumar told PTI here. The department has laid focus on digitisation of the archival records of rare and precious documents and files concerning the armies of the erstwhile 'maharajas' of Jammu and Kashmir. "These are files concerning the armies of the maharajas and the decisions taken by them. The digitisation of these rare and precious files is going on," another official said. "We floated tenders for the digitisation of

From a Ricky Kej show to the conjuring of the Vijayanagar Empire, delegates treated to all

Noting the goals and resolutions of the future are extremely important for the country, the Prime Minister said that equal emphasis has to be laid on key priority areas of the present2

Five caves at the Ellora world heritage site in Maharashtra's Aurangabad district will be illuminated with LED lights and the Archaeological Survey of India will try to complete the work before the city hosts a G20-related event, a senior ASI official has said. The 'first inception meet' of Women 20 (W20) as part of India's presidency of G20 will be held in the city on February 13-14, 2023. The Women 20, an official G20 engagement group, was set up in 2015 to ensure gender considerations figure in G20 discussions. The ASI has already put up lights in various Ajanta caves for visitors to see the paintings made there between 400 and 650 CE, an official said on Wednesday. ASI's superintendent archaeologist Milan Kumar Chauley told PTI that they will also illuminate the inside portions of Ellora cave numbers 5, 10, 16, 29 and 32 which have paintings and sculptures. Chauley said they will try to finish the work before the G20-related event in Aurangabad in February next year. "The lig