Q. With reference to protected monuments/sites under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), consider the following statements:
1.Both the conservation and maintenance of the site will be done by ASI.
2.Maharastra have the highest number of protected monuments/sites in India.
3.In India, to be declared as Ancient monument the site has to exist for at least 100 years.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 3 is correct: According to the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, an “Ancient Monument means any structure, erection or monument, or any tumulus or place of interment, or any cave, rock-sculpture, inscription or monolith which is of historical, archaeological or artistic interest and which has been in existence for not less than 100 years.”
Statement 2 is incorrect: There were 3,686 centrally protected monuments/sites under the ASI in the country; the number has now increased to 3,693. Uttar Pradesh (745 monuments/sites), Karnataka (506) and Tamil Nadu (413) have the highest number of ASI-maintained sites.
Statement 3 is correct: Once declared as protected monuments/site, both the conservation and maintenance of the site will be done by ASI.
Source: PIB
