The Cultural Property Agreement (CPA) has been signed with the United States of America (USA) to prevent smuggling of Indian antiquities. Agreement, being preventive in nature has no timelines or target numbers.  So far, 588 antiquities have been repatriated from USA, out of which 297 received in 2024.

India collaborates with different international organizations including UNESCO and INTERPOL as per requirement.

The CPA has provision for fostering cooperation and mutual understanding in the matters of technical assistance, illicit trade and pillage of cultural property.

This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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Sunil Kumar Tiwari

pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com