The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) maintains 1,100 monuments and heritage sites declared of national importance across South India, with state-wise distribution showing Karnataka has the highest number at 506 monuments, followed by Tamil Nadu with 412, Andhra Pradesh with 136, Kerala with 30, Telangana with 9, and Puducherry Union Territory with 7 monuments.
ASI has allocated and fully utilized conservation funds totaling ₹396.08 crore over the last five financial years, with detailed annual expenditure showing ₹56.44 crore utilized against ₹56.64 allocated in 2021-22, ₹94.48 crore both allocated and utilized in 2022-23, ₹97.83 crore both allocated and utilized in 2023-24, ₹67.44 utilized against ₹67.48 allocated in 2024-25, and ₹79.89 crore both allocated and utilized in 2025-26.
Periodic inspections are conducted to assess monument status, with conservation works including maintenance, preservation, restoration, and conservation performed regularly in accordance with the National Conservation Policy, 2014, subject to resource availability. The ASI confirmed that no protected monument or site is in deteriorating condition due to these conservation efforts.
To promote community participation and awareness, ASI organizes heritage walks, lectures, exhibitions, competitions, guided tours, and outreach programs during occasions such as World Heritage Day, World Tourism Day, and World Heritage Week. Visitor amenities including drinking water facilities, toilets, Braille signage, QR code-based information systems, souvenir shops, and sound and light shows have been implemented at high-footfall monuments to enhance tourism while ensuring preservation.
This information was formally disclosed by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on July 23, 2026.