Ministry of Culture
EXCAVATION AND CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES IN NALANDA
AVAILABILITY OF STAFF UNDER ASI
Posted On:
30 MAR 2026 1:13PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today said that, Government is providing adequate funds and resources to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for archaeological excavations and conservation work in Nalanda.
Local communities are involved in excavations and conservation work, which provide employment to local people along with enabling them to participate in the preservation of heritage.
Nalanda has come up as a popular tourist destination, achieved through archaeological excavation, conservation of ancient structures, landscaping and environmental development for better presentation of monuments to visitors, providing various visitors facilities etc. Further, considering its Outstanding Universal Values, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has listed Nalanda on the World Heritage List in the year 2016.
Replying to a separate question in the Lok Sabha today Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that:
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There are 3686 protected monuments and protected areas (Archaeological sites) across the country, which are looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Circle-wise details are given at Annexure-I.
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Details of total number of sanctioned staff at each of the ASI circles, in-position and vacancies, circle and category-wise are given at Annexure-II.
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Contractual staff like Data Entry Operators Skilled/Semi-skilled labour, security staff are engaged by the circles as per need and availability of resource.
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There are 143 protected monuments across the country under Archeological Survey of India where entry fee is charged. The Circle-wise details of footfall are given at Annexure-III.
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The Circle-wise allocation and expenditure on conservation and maintenance is given at Annexure-IV.
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ANNEXURE-I
CIRCLE-WISE DETAILS OF PROTECTED MONUMENTS AND PROTECTED AREAS (SITES) UNDER THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
|
Sl.No.
|
Name of Circle
|
Number of Protected Monuments and Protected Areas (Sites)
|
|
| |
-
|
Agra Circle
|
154
|
|
-
|
Aizawl Circle
|
11
|
|
-
|
Amaravati Circle
|
135
|
|
-
|
Aurangabad Circle
|
75
|
|
-
|
Bangalore Circle
|
129
|
|
-
|
Bhopal Circle
|
183
|
|
-
|
Bhubaneswar Circle
|
42
|
|
-
|
Chandigarh Circle
|
124
|
|
-
|
Chennai Circle
|
257
|
|
-
|
Dehradun Circle
|
43
|
|
-
|
Delhi Circle
|
170
|
|
-
|
Dharwad Circle
|
282
|
|
-
|
Goa Circle
|
21
|
|
-
|
Guwahati Circle
|
70
|
|
-
|
Hampi Circle
|
95
|
|
-
|
Hyderabad Circle
|
08
|
|
-
|
Jabalpur Circle
|
108
|
|
-
|
Jaipur Circle
|
88
|
|
-
|
Jhansi Circle
|
170
|
|
-
|
Jodhpur Circle
|
73
|
|
-
|
Kolkata Circle
|
86
|
|
-
|
Leh Mini-circle
|
15
|
|
-
|
Lucknow Circle
|
196
|
|
-
|
Meerut Circle
|
82
|
|
-
|
Mumbai Circle
|
117
|
|
-
|
Nagpur Circle
|
94
|
|
-
|
Patna Circle
|
70
|
|
-
|
Puri Circle
|
40
|
|
-
|
Raipur Circle
|
46
|
|
-
|
Raiganj Circle
|
52
|
|
-
|
Rajkot Circle
|
51
|
|
-
|
Ranchi Circle
|
14
|
|
-
|
Sarnath Circle
|
132
|
|
-
|
Shimla Circle
|
40
|
|
-
|
Srinagar Circle
|
56
|
|
-
|
Tiruchirapalli Circle
|
162
|
|
-
|
Thrissur Circle
|
30
|
|
-
|
Vadodara Circle
|
165
|
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Total
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3686
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ANNEXURE-II
TOTAL NUMBER OF SANCTIONED STAFF AT EACH OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA CIRCLES, IN-POSITION AND VACANCIES, CIRCLE AND CATEGORY-WISE
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Sl. No.
|
Name of Circle/ Offices/ Branches
|
Sanctioned Strength
|
In-Position
|
Vacancies
|
Category-wise Staff position
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|
UR
|
OBC
|
EWS
|
SC
|
ST
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| |
Agra Circle
|
552
|
420
|
132
|
142
|
167
|
12
|
88
|
11
|
| |
Aizawl Circle
|
29
|
17
|
12
|
4
|
4
|
1
|
4
|
4
|
| |
Amaravati Circle
|
358
|
249
|
109
|
60
|
115
|
8
|
50
|
16
|
| |
Aurangabad Circle
|
229
|
78
|
151
|
34
|
23
|
0
|
16
|
5
|
| |
Bangalore Circle
|
290
|
204
|
86
|
64
|
68
|
16
|
42
|
14
|
| |
Bhopal Circle
|
393
|
192
|
201
|
71
|
69
|
4
|
25
|
23
|
| |
Bhubaneswar Circle
|
151
|
75
|
76
|
41
|
20
|
3
|
7
|
4
|
| |
Chandigarh Circle
|
161
|
118
|
43
|
59
|
22
|
1
|
33
|
3
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| |
Chennai Circle
|
239
|
170
|
69
|
61
|
62
|
4
|
35
|
8
|
| |
Dehradun Circle
|
92
|
66
|
26
|
48
|
9
|
0
|
1
|
8
|
| |
Delhi Circle
|
622
|
464
|
158
|
240
|
91
|
7
|
108
|
18
|
| |
Dharwad Circle
|
355
|
252
|
103
|
78
|
89
|
23
|
44
|
18
|
| |
Goa Circle
|
97
|
63
|
34
|
12
|
18
|
5
|
8
|
20
|
| |
Guwahati Circle
|
130
|
84
|
46
|
27
|
24
|
3
|
19
|
11
|
| |
Hampi Circle
|
139
|
63
|
76
|
21
|
28
|
1
|
8
|
5
|
| |
Hyderabad Circle
|
132
|
98
|
34
|
16
|
50
|
5
|
19
|
8
|
| |
Jabalpur Circle
|
274
|
112
|
162
|
43
|
53
|
1
|
14
|
1
|
| |
Jaipur Circle
|
296
|
228
|
68
|
72
|
66
|
8
|
26
|
56
|
| |
Jhansi Circle
|
147
|
105
|
42
|
19
|
45
|
8
|
30
|
3
|
| |
Jodhpur Circle
|
192
|
153
|
39
|
46
|
56
|
11
|
22
|
18
|
| |
Kolkata Circle
|
130
|
104
|
26
|
43
|
30
|
1
|
23
|
7
|
| |
Leh Mini Circle
|
47
|
12
|
35
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
10
|
| |
Lucknow Circle
|
182
|
143
|
39
|
54
|
62
|
0
|
23
|
4
|
| |
Meerut Circle
|
87
|
66
|
21
|
24
|
16
|
3
|
16
|
7
|
| |
Mumbai Circle
|
262
|
142
|
120
|
35
|
54
|
21
|
23
|
9
|
| |
Nagpur Circle
|
147
|
106
|
41
|
23
|
52
|
8
|
20
|
3
|
| |
Patna Circle
|
212
|
185
|
27
|
69
|
73
|
0
|
40
|
3
|
| |
Puri Circle
|
213
|
91
|
122
|
39
|
36
|
0
|
15
|
1
|
| |
Raiganj Circle
|
139
|
93
|
46
|
40
|
21
|
0
|
26
|
6
|
| |
Raipur Circle
|
68
|
38
|
30
|
10
|
14
|
1
|
7
|
6
|
| |
Rajkot Circle
|
81
|
50
|
31
|
10
|
19
|
4
|
10
|
7
|
| |
Ranchi Circle
|
44
|
32
|
12
|
11
|
16
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
| |
Sarnath Circle
|
252
|
192
|
60
|
52
|
90
|
12
|
32
|
6
|
| |
Shimla Circle
|
152
|
55
|
97
|
25
|
8
|
0
|
8
|
14
|
| |
Srinagar circle
|
190
|
83
|
107
|
64
|
2
|
6
|
10
|
1
|
| |
Thrissur Circle
|
100
|
67
|
33
|
20
|
28
|
2
|
15
|
2
|
| |
Trichy Circle
|
158
|
117
|
41
|
24
|
74
|
1
|
16
|
2
|
| |
Vadodara Circle
|
242
|
151
|
91
|
28
|
61
|
12
|
30
|
20
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ANNEXURE-III
CIRCLE-WISE FOOTFALL AT TICKETED MONUMENTS, DURING LAST THREE YEARS AND CURRENT YEAR ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
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Sl.No.
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Name of Circle
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Number of ticketed monument
|
Details of visitors footfall
|
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2022-23
|
2023-24
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2024-25
|
2025-26
(up to Jan..2026)
|
-
|
Agra Circle
|
08
|
9295001
|
10235684
|
10450517
|
8403250
|
-
|
Amaravati Circle
|
05
|
336060
|
330930
|
34885
|
304324
|
-
|
Aurangabad Circle
|
06
|
3856418
|
4368304
|
4280488
|
4080259
|
-
|
Bangalore Circle
|
04
|
1259606
|
1458969
|
1339209
|
1196014
|
-
|
Bhopal Circle
|
11
|
1455682
|
1654386
|
1598345
|
1479127
|
-
|
Bhubaneswar Circle
|
02
|
507846
|
1086445
|
1356626
|
1332331
|
-
|
Chandigarh Circle
|
02
|
83517
|
86167
|
92567
|
83011
|
-
|
Chennai Circle
|
04
|
1797519
|
1509168
|
1235189
|
1259940
|
-
|
Delhi Circle
|
11
|
6750531
|
8138214
|
8850048
|
6965429
|
-
|
Dharwad Circle
|
06
|
1971867
|
2294826
|
2051973
|
1904698
|
-
|
Goa Circle
|
01
|
1023289
|
1202240
|
1371815
|
1151965
|
-
|
Guwahati Circle
|
05
|
635672
|
543449
|
577616
|
479987
|
-
|
Hampi Circle
|
02
|
840046
|
1050440
|
1046175
|
1085995
|
-
|
Hyderabad Circle
|
03
|
2610495
|
3030547
|
3039275
|
2823545
|
-
|
Jabalpur Circle
|
03
|
496768
|
534243
|
632365
|
426389
|
-
|
Jaipur Circle
|
03
|
339497
|
505122
|
493471
|
412532
|
-
|
Jhansi Circle
|
04
|
522677
|
879214
|
679255
|
589531
|
-
|
Jodhpur Circle
|
03
|
1914103
|
1798841
|
1828503
|
2869160
|
-
|
Kolkata Circle
|
02
|
204041
|
220304
|
216168
|
195870
|
-
|
Leh Mini-circle
|
01
|
62662
|
95021
|
93937
|
90135
|
-
|
Lucknow Circle
|
03
|
334856
|
417931
|
397111
|
322258
|
-
|
Mumbai Circle
|
13
|
3856835
|
4003835
|
3795420
|
3423195
|
-
|
Nagpur Circle
|
02
|
26511
|
33898
|
25259
|
28008
|
-
|
Patna Circle
|
05
|
993900
|
1163980
|
1230202
|
1214694
|
-
|
Puri Circle
|
03
|
2478266
|
3284937
|
3777631
|
2907970
|
-
|
Raipur Circle
|
01
|
62990
|
85489
|
81119
|
68423
|
-
|
Raiganj Circle
|
02
|
1520358
|
1669845
|
1591603
|
1288698
|
-
|
Rajkot Circle
|
03
|
32105
|
47845
|
74107
|
67150
|
-
|
Sarnath Circle
|
06
|
1113821
|
1244849
|
1154537
|
1018971
|
-
|
Shimla Circle
|
02
|
178511
|
195246
|
173850
|
138282
|
-
|
Srinagar Circle
|
03
|
58253
|
67330
|
61781
|
34726
|
-
|
Tiruchirapalli Circle
|
07
|
316701
|
318326
|
293033
|
238712
|
-
|
Thrissur Circle
|
03
|
918575
|
904140
|
884775
|
899828
|
-
|
Vadodara Circle
|
04
|
1325007
|
1350691
|
1187156
|
989488
|
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Total
|
143
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ANNEXURE-IV
CIRCLE-WISE DETAILS OF ALLOCATION AND EXPENDITURE INCURED FOR CONSERVATION AND MAINTENANCE OF PROTECTED MONUMENTS AND SITES DURING LAST TWO YEARS AND CURRENT YEAR IN THE COUNTRY.
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Sl.No.
|
Name of Circle
|
Details of allocation and expenditure for conservation and maintenance
(Amount in crore)
|
|
2023-24
|
2024-25
|
2025-26
(up to 27.01.2026)
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|
Allocation
|
Expenditure
|
Allocation
|
Expenditure
|
Allocation
|
Expenditure
|
-
|
Agra Circle
|
23.52
|
23.52
|
15.90
|
15.90
|
17.00
|
13.36
|
-
|
Aizawl Circle
|
1.29
|
1.29
|
1.26
|
1.25
|
1.20
|
0.93
|
-
|
Amaravati Circle
|
14.70
|
14.70
|
12.90
|
12.90
|
14.00
|
11.64
|
-
|
Aurangabad Circle
|
26.80
|
26.80
|
8.60
|
8.60
|
11.00
|
9.18
|
-
|
Bangalore Circle
|
17.34
|
17.34
|
8.55
|
8.55
|
12.00
|
8.96
|
-
|
Bhopal Circle
|
17.22
|
17.22
|
12.30
|
12.30
|
13.50
|
11.55
|
-
|
Bhubaneswar Circle
|
12.29
|
12.29
|
11.50
|
11.37
|
11.00
|
6.74
|
-
|
Chandigarh Circle
|
11.00
|
11.00
|
8.40
|
8.40
|
11.00
|
10.19
|
-
|
Chennai Circle
|
12.95
|
12.95
|
13.15
|
13.14
|
13.00
|
9.50
|
-
|
Dehradun Circle
|
5.42
|
5.42
|
5.10
|
5.10
|
6.50
|
4.74
|
-
|
Delhi Circle
|
36.14
|
36.14
|
24.95
|
24.94
|
39.92
|
33.99
|
-
|
Dharwad Circle
|
9.57
|
9.57
|
7.46
|
7.46
|
6.25
|
5.18
|
-
|
Goa Circle
|
9.90
|
9.90
|
9.00
|
9.00
|
5.06
|
5.05
|
-
|
Guwahati Circle
|
8.78
|
8.78
|
5.72
|
5.71
|
4.66
|
3.35
|
-
|
Hampi Circle
|
12.25
|
12.25
|
6.52
|
6.52
|
8.75
|
7.14
|
-
|
Hyderabad Circle
|
14.38
|
14.38
|
6.80
|
6.77
|
12.00
|
9.58
|
-
|
Jabalpur Circle
|
9.27
|
9.27
|
7.00
|
6.99
|
6.00
|
4.80
|
-
|
Jaipur Circle
|
12.75
|
12.75
|
10.91
|
10.91
|
8.00
|
6.66
|
-
|
Jhansi Circle
|
5.82
|
5.82
|
6.10
|
6.10
|
9.50
|
7.65
|
-
|
Jodhpur Circle
|
10.65
|
10.65
|
9.25
|
9.24
|
9.00
|
6.89
|
-
|
Kolkata Circle
|
9.10
|
9.10
|
6.01
|
6.01
|
4.75
|
3.92
|
-
|
Leh Mini-circle
|
3.50
|
3.50
|
2.20
|
2.20
|
4.50
|
3.71
|
-
|
Lucknow Circle
|
16.93
|
16.93
|
8.91
|
8.91
|
7.95
|
7.41
|
-
|
Meerut Circle
|
7.95
|
7.95
|
6.70
|
6.64
|
6.50
|
4.61
|
-
|
Mumbai Circle
|
15.56
|
15.56
|
18.19
|
18.19
|
17.50
|
13.12
|
-
|
Nagpur Circle
|
10.18
|
10.18
|
10.60
|
10.60
|
15.00
|
12.21
|
-
|
Patna Circle
|
16.00
|
16.00
|
8.73
|
8.73
|
14.50
|
11.77
|
-
|
Puri Circle
|
(included in Bhubaneshwar Circle)
|
|
|
|
-
|
Raipur Circle
|
5.94
|
5.94
|
8.19
|
8.19
|
12.25
|
9.21
|
-
|
Raiganj Circle
|
8.00
|
8.00
|
6.10
|
6.10
|
8.00
|
7.11
|
-
|
Rajkot Circle
|
2.50
|
2.50
|
3.00
|
3.00
|
4.00
|
2.62
|
-
|
Ranchi Circle
|
2.15
|
2.15
|
2.25
|
2.25
|
2.37
|
2.50
|
-
|
Sarnath Circle
|
11.32
|
1132
|
7.62
|
7.62
|
9.75
|
6.89
|
-
|
Shimla Circle
|
5.00
|
5.00
|
2.80
|
2.79
|
2.00
|
1.88
|
-
|
Srinagar Circle
|
7.17
|
7.17
|
4.90
|
4.89
|
5.75
|
4.97
|
-
|
Tiruchirapalli Circle
|
9.55
|
9.55
|
5.80
|
5.80
|
6.50
|
4.77
|
-
|
Thrissur Circle
|
7.09
|
7.09
|
6.30
|
6.30
|
4.25
|
3.55
|
-
|
Vadodara Circle
|
12.00
|
12.00
|
7.70
|
7.69
|
10.50
|
7.58
|
***
M Annadurai
(Release ID: 2246806)
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