The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) does not maintain a record of privately-owned heritage homes, the government told Parliament on Monday. However, the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA), established by the government in 2007, has been compiling two national registers on monuments and antiquities across the country.

In a written response to a question raised in the Lok Sabha by Andhra Pradesh MP, Tangella Uday Srinivas, the Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat clarified that while the ASI does not specifically document private heritage properties, the NMMA has been actively engaged in cataloguing historical structures.

“So far, the NMMA has documented and published data on 11,406 built heritage structures and sites that are at least 100 years old,” Shekhawat stated.

Responding to a request for state-wise data, the minister provided figures from the NMMA’s records. According to the list, Rajasthan has 2,160 such sites, followed by Odisha with 2,015, Andhra Pradesh with 1,788, Madhya Pradesh with 749, Bihar with 20, and Haryana with one.

The NMMA, according to its official website, aims to document and create a comprehensive database of built heritage and sites using both published and unpublished sources. The mission also seeks to promote public awareness and encourage the preservation of the country’s cultural and historical legacy.

On whether any financial assistance, tax benefits, or special schemes exist to support private owners in conserving, restoring, or repurposing heritage buildings, Shekhawat responded, “This is outside the mandate of ASI.” He also confirmed that there is currently no dedicated central scheme in place for providing financial or technical support for privately-owned heritage homes.

As of now, the ASI oversees 3,698 centrally protected monuments and sites, along with 52 museums. Founded in 1861, the ASI operates under the Ministry of Culture.