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Current AffairsPolityPIBprelims

Repatriation of Antiquities and Cultural Objects: Lok Sabha Reply

UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity

CulturePolitySecurity

Why in news

Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat informed Lok Sabha about measures to prevent theft of antiquities and the ongoing process of repatriation. The reply included details of stolen and recovered antiquities over the past five years, highlighting India's efforts to protect cultural heritage.

Background

India has a rich cultural heritage with many ancient monuments and artifacts. The government has been taking steps to prevent theft and illegal export of antiquities, and to bring back those that have been taken abroad.

Key facts

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  1. Security measures include regular staff, private guards, and CISF deployment at monuments and museums.

  2. On theft reports, an FIR is lodged and lookout notices are issued to customs and law enforcement agencies.

  3. Repatriation process involves Ministry of External Affairs and Indian embassies/missions.

  4. Stolen items recovered: Nandi statue from Gollingeshwara temple (AP, 2021), Bhairav temple Shivling from Uttarakhand (2021), two Buddha statues from Jharkhand (2021).

  5. Stolen items not yet recovered: Stone statue of Ganapati from Karnataka (2022), Vishnu image from Bihar (2022), Vishnu statue from Tamil Nadu (2024).

  6. Total antiquities repatriated in last five years (till June 30, 2026): 615.

  7. Major sources of repatriation: USA (157 in 2021, 105 in 2023, 297 in 2024, 2 in 2026), UK (1 each in 2021, 2022, 7 in 2023), Australia (29 in 2022, 2 in 2023, 11 in 2026), Canada (1 in 2021), Italy (1 in 2023), Thailand (1 in 2024).

Prelims pointers

  • Ministry of Culture
  • Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
  • Lookout notice
  • FIR
  • Customs clearance channels
  • Ministry of External Affairs
  • Gollingeshwara temple group (Andhra Pradesh)
  • Mrityunjay temple complex (Uttarakhand)
  • Sitagarha archaeological excavation site (Jharkhand)
  • Parthasarathy and Krishna temple (Tamil Nadu)

Mains angles

  • GS1: Indian culture – preservation and protection of heritage sites and artifacts.
  • GS2: Government policies and interventions for cultural heritage; role of MEA in repatriation.
  • GS3: Security challenges – theft and illegal trafficking of cultural property; role of CISF and law enforcement.