- Why in news
- On 13 August 2026, the Culture Minister told the Rajya Sabha that 414 of the 3,688 centrally protected monuments and sites have reported encroachments. He described the steps taken under the AMASR Act, 1958.
- What it is
- The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 governs protection of monuments and sites of national importance. It is administered by the Archaeological Survey of India under the Ministry of Culture. The Rules of 1959 made under it carry the procedures.
- Protected count
- 3,688 monuments, sites and remains are declared of national importance.
- Land ownership
- Protecting a monument under the Act does not mandatorily require acquiring or owning the land.
- ASI role
- ASI's primary objective is conservation and maintenance of protected monuments under the Act and the 1959 Rules.
- Boundary fixing
- Joint surveys with local revenue officials are used to fix and safeguard monument boundaries.
- Digitisation
- ASI has geo-referenced and digitised the boundaries and uploaded them on the Bhuvan Portal.
- Amendment
- The Act was amended in 2010 to create prohibited and regulated areas around protected monuments.
- Buffer zones
- Sections 20A and 20B set a uniform 100 m prohibited area and 200 m regulated area around protected monuments and areas.
- Heritage bye-laws
- Section 20E provides for heritage bye-laws for each protected monument and area, with context-specific controls.
- Repair permission
- Repair or renovation of buildings in the regulated area needs prior permission.
- NOAPS
- The National Monument Authority Online Application Processing System portal was launched in 2015 for online applications.
- Origin of buffer zones
- The prohibited and regulated areas and the National Monuments Authority came through the 2010 amendment to the Act.
Don’t confuse with AMASR Act vs Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972: The AMASR Act protects monuments and sites. The 1972 Act regulates trade and export of antiquities and art treasures.
Don’t confuse with Prohibited vs regulated area: Prohibited area (0-100 m) bars new construction; the regulated area (100-200 m beyond it) allows construction or repair with permission.
Don’t confuse with Protected monument vs protected area: A protected monument is a structure; a protected area is a site or remains declared of national importance.
Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.
Why it matters
- Legal protection of monuments preserves cultural heritage and supports tourism.
- Boundary digitisation gives a clear public record against encroachment.
- Buffer zones protect monuments from encroachment and damage.
- Bye-laws allow controls fitted to each site's sensitivity.
Problems
- Land often remains with others, so encroachment is hard to check.
- Coordination with State revenue authorities is needed, and land records may not match ASI boundaries.
- Uniform 100 m and 200 m zones strain dense urban areas and residents' livelihoods.
- Slow permissions and illegal construction near monuments persist.
Way forward
- Integrate geo-referenced boundaries with State land records.
- Act promptly against encroachment and involve local communities in upkeep.
- Frame site-specific heritage bye-laws quickly.
- Expand online single-window integration with more states and local bodies.
Put in your answer
Encroachment data: 414 of 3,688 centrally protected monuments have reported encroachments.
Bhuvan mapping: Digitised boundaries of protected monuments are on the Bhuvan Portal.
NOAPS integration: NOAPS is linked with 14 States and one UT, and 1,407 urban local bodies under the non-single window system.
Balance principle: Heritage controls are meant to balance heritage protection with development and local livelihoods.
- 2018Mains GS1 · Q1Discuss why safeguarding Indian art heritage is needed now.
- 2004Prelims Q6Which ministry the Archaeological Survey of India is an attached office of
- 2023Prelims Q81Which figures were linked to archaeological excavations in colonial India
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Statements
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements:
- 1.Under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, a uniform prohibited area of 100 metres and a regulated area of 200 metres are prescribed around protected monuments.
- 2.The Act is administered by the Ministry of Tourism through the Archaeological Survey of India.
- 3.The prohibited and regulated areas were part of the original 1958 Act and were not added later.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
True or false?
1 of 6
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.Under the AMASR Act, 1958, a uniform prohibited area of 100 metres is prescribed around all protected monuments.
True. Sections 20A and 20B set a 100 m prohibited area.
2.Heritage bye-laws for each protected monument are provided for under Section 20E of the Act.
True. Section 20E provides for heritage bye-laws.
3.The Act is administered by the Ministry of Tourism through the Archaeological Survey of India.
False. The ASI functions under the Ministry of Culture.
4.The NOAPS portal was launched in 2015 for online processing of applications.
True. NOAPS was launched in 2015.
5.The prohibited and regulated areas were part of the original 1958 Act and not added later.
False. They were added by the 2010 amendment.
6.The NOAPS portal is integrated with ISRO's BHUWAN portal and the SMARAC mobile app.
True. The release states this integration.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.