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There are nearly 60 properties in <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> that find a place in the Tentative List for further inclusion in the <keyword id="20413005" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="UNESCO-World-Heritage-List" source="keywords">UNESCO World Heritage List</keyword>, according to information shared by the government in Parliament on Monday. A Tentative List is an inventory of those properties that each State Party intends to consider for nomination as a <keyword id="19908797" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UNESCO" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="UNESCO" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="UNESCO">UNESCO</keyword> <keyword id="20989756" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="world-heritage" source="keywords">World Heritage</keyword> Site. The 46th session of the World <keyword id="19960510" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="heritage" source="keywords">Heritage</keyword> Committee (WHC) is being held in New Delhi from July 21 to July 31. India is hosting the key event of UNESCO for the first time. The mound-burial system of the Ahom dynasty in Assam -- '<keyword id="22553829" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Moidams" source="keywords">Moidams</keyword>' -- was, on July 26, inscribed on the UNESCO <keyword id="22552065" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="world-heritage-list" source="keywords">World Heritage List</keyword>, making it the first <keyword id="22477662" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cultural-property" source="keywords">cultural property</keyword> from the Northeast to get the coveted tag. 'Moidams' was submitted as India's nomination for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List for the year 2023-24. The site was put in the Tentative List of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2014. In a written response to a query in Lok Sabha, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, "There are 57 properties in the Tentative List for further inclusion in the World Heritage List. However, as per the Operational Guidelines 2023, only one property can be submitted for the World Heritage inscription process each year. As of now, 42 properties have been inscribed on the World Heritage List." The updated list for India, after the inclusion of centuries-old 'Moidams', is now 43 sites on the World Heritage List and 56 properties on the Tentative List, according to the website of UNESCO, which adds that out of the 195 States Parties to the <keyword id="22589969" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Heritage-Convention" source="keywords">World Heritage Convention</keyword>, 189 have submitted a Tentative List. Shekhawat was also asked whether the government has formulated any scheme for the protection of cultural heritage in compliance with the guidelines of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). "No, sir, there is no such scheme formulated for the protection of cultural heritage in compliance with the guidelines of UNESCO. However, India has ratified the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention. All the World Heritage properties, along with other sites and monuments under the jurisdiction of the <keyword id="19946002" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Archaeological-Survey-of-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Archaeological Survey of India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Archaeological Survey of India">Archaeological Survey of India</keyword>, Ministry of Culture, are protected and conserved by funds provided by the Government of India based on their requirements and Annual Conservation Plan (ACP)," the Union minister replied. In response to another query, he said the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) takes up conservation and maintenance work of protected monuments and sites throughout the country, including 286 in the state of Maharashtra. "Conservation and maintenance of monuments and archaeological sites is a continuous process and is taken up as per the need of monuments and availability of resources," the minister said. Shekhawat, in his response, also shared details of expenditure incurred on conservation, preservation and environmental development of protected monuments during the last three years and till July 15 of the current financial year. The figures stand as follows -- Rs 269.57 crore (2021-22), Rs 391.93 crore (2022-23), and Rs 443.53 crore (2023-24), while it was Rs 73.36 crore (2024-25) till July 15 of the current financial year.

Nearly 60 properties from India on Tentative List for inclusion on World Heritage List, says govt

<ul><li>The Supreme Court pronounced the historic <keyword id="399476" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ayodhya-verdict">Ayodhya verdict</keyword> today. </li><li>The Hindus get to keep the land of dispute and build a temple, while the Muslims get a 5 acre land within <keyword id="6354931" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ayodhya">Ayodhya</keyword> to build a mosque. </li><li>The SC cited the findings of <keyword id="6355180" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="archaeological-survey-of-india">Archaeological Survey of India</keyword> in its verdict.</li></ul>The evidence from Archaeological Survey of India played a crucial part in the Supreme Court verdict in the Ayodhya dispute, where the judges allowed the construction of a temple for Lord Rama and ordered that the government must give the Muslims a separate 5-acre site for the construction of a mosque. While it cited ASI findings, the SC also said that the title for the disputed property cannot be based solely on the report. The archaeological findings in Ayodhya didn't prove the existence of Lord Rama, or even the existence of a Hindu temple beneath the Babri Masjid. They only exposed the holes in the arguments of the Muslim side, particularly, the Waqf Board. Babri Masjid was not built on vacant land According to the judgement the discovery of structures and articles showed evidence of continuous public use of the disputed land starting from the Gupta era to the early medieval Rajput era through the Delhi Sultanate era up until the construction of the mosque in the 16th century. This finding helped debunk the claim by Muslims, particularly the Sunni Waqf Board, that the Babri Masjid was built on a vacant piece of land. At that juncture, the counsel for the Muslim side went back on the earlier claim, and insisted that the underlying structure was an Idgah⁠— an open space used for Id prayers. The change in stance from the Waqf Board brought the argument to a point where the court had to decide whether the underlying structure was an Islamic or non-Islamic. The court eventually decided that it was non-Islamic, based on the ASI report. However, while the Supreme Court clearly dismissed the presence of an Islamic structure, it didn’t confirm a Hindu temple too. “The possible linkages of Buddhist or Jain traditions cannot be excluded. Indeed, in assessing archaeological or historical material one must eschew a unidimensional view. The excavation in the present case does in fact suggest a confluence of civilisations, cultures and traditions," said the order. Against the Allahabad HC verdict The Supreme Court’s order also quashed the 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict by Justice SU Khan. Justice Khan had discarded the ASI findings to say that, <ul><li>firstly, there was evidence of continuity in structural phases from the tenth Century onward upto the construction of the disputed structure is directly in conflict with the pleadings, gazetteers and history books </li></ul><ul><li>secondly, that in the case a temple had been demolished for constructing a mosque, the super structure of the temple would not have gone inside the ground</li></ul>But the SC called the first argument ‘specious’ and the second one ‘pure conjecture’. Historians’ report debunked The Supreme Court also dismissed a report “Babri Mosque or Rama‘s Birth Place? Historians‘ Report to the Indian Nation” released by four historians in 1991. The report said that there is no basis to prove that the site of Babri Masjid is the birthplace of Lord Rama, and that the pillar carvings in the mosque do not bear any relation to a Vaishnavite among other claims. The SC went on to say in its verdict that the historians didn’t have the ASI material assessed by them and thus the 1991 report doesn’t carry any weight. See Also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/news/ayodhya-ram-mandir-case-supreme-court-verdict-top-highlights/articleshow/71979856.cms">Hindus get the disputed site in Ayodhya for a Ram Temple-- that and other top highlights from the Supreme Court verdict</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/news/inside-details-of-supreme-court-verdict-on-ayodhya-dispute-on-land-rights/articleshow/71983309.cms">Supreme Court ensured that the Ayodhya verdict can’t be used to take over land by citing faith</a>

The archaeological survey findings played a crucial part in the Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya dispute

<ul><li>The court has asked the <keyword id="6355180" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="archaeological-survey-of-india">Archaeological Survey of India</keyword> (<keyword id="46215" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="ASI">ASI</keyword>) why the monument is changing its hue from a bright white to a dull brown and green.</li><li>ASI has cited many reasons for this, including dirty socks, green slime emitted by millions of mosquito-like insects and algae. </li><li>The ASI said the <keyword id="6355354" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="taj-mahal">Taj Mahal</keyword> floor was dirty at several places because many walking on it do not wear socks. </li></ul> India’s <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> is supremely <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/supreme-court-expresses-concern-over-change-in-colour-of-taj-mahal/articleshow/63985113.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">annoyed</a> with the caretakers of the Taj Mahal, who have not been able to prevent or combat the world heritage site’s discolouration. It has sought answers from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as to why the monument is changing its hue from a bright white to a dull brown and green. The apex court has been hearing the case based on a plea filed by environmentalist M.C. Mehta, seeking protection of the Taj. On May 1, the court asked the Centre and <keyword id="6357713" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uttar-Pradesh">Uttar Pradesh</keyword> government to consider hiring experts from outside if local experts could not get the job done. "We don't know whether you have or perhaps don't have the expertise. Even if you have the expertise, you are not utilising it," Justices MB Lokur and Deepak Gupta told the government. "Or perhaps you don't care," the bench added. “You all appear to be helpless. Money should not be the consideration. We might order you to hire experts from within India or abroad. We need to save it,” it further added. ASI, the body entrusted with the upkeep of the 17th-century tomb, has cited many reasons for this, <a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/india/saving-taj-mahal-supreme-court-says-throw-out-asi-govt-says-calling-experts-5170706/" data-type="tilCustomLink">including</a> dirty socks, green slime emitted by millions of mosquito-like insects and algae. ASI also suggested that water stagnation in the Yamuna river and high phosphorus levels on the riverbed made it a breeding ground for insects that formed patches on the walls of the Taj every summer. On hearing ASI’s advocate A.D.N Rao’s comment that algae were a big source of the discolouration, Justice Madan B. Lokur asked how the algae reached the top parts of the Taj Mahal. “It flew there,” the lawyer said. “Can algae fly?” the judge asked. The ASI also told the court that the Taj Mahal floor was dirty at several places because many walking on it do not wear socks. Apparently, the ASI provides clean socks only to VIPs when they tour the Taj Mahal. Rao also told the bench, "I am not saying that there is no problem but we are trying our best." Clearly miffed with the ASI's feeble attempt to provide a satisfactory explanation or a solution, the judges told the Additional Solicitor General A.N.S. Nadkarni, appearing for the Centre: “You (Centre) please consider if the ASI is needed there or not. The view of ASI is very clear from their submissions. They are not prepared to accept the problem… you have to remove the ASI because they are saying they are doing an excellent job. ASI will have to be thrown out of the picture.” To this, Nadkarni told the bench that the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) was already considering the recommendation to involve international experts in the monument’s conservation.

India’s Supreme Court asks for the top archaeological body to be “thrown out” to preserve the Taj Mahal

<keyword id="155922" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="Google-Street-View">Google Street View</keyword> executives might be crashing cars into buses in <keyword id="8692" type="COUNTRY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Indonesia">Indonesia</keyword> and making the headlines for the wrong reasons. But in India, they are in news for the right ones. <keyword id="6355629" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Google">Google</keyword> has entered into an alliance with the <keyword id="6355180" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Archaeological-Survey-of-India">Archaeological Survey of India</keyword> (ASI) to create panoramic 360 degree views of 100 popular and famous monuments of India. 
 This has been done in various other countries across the globe and has proved to be fruitful for both Google and its users. Google will create virtual walkthroughs of monuments such as the <keyword id="6355354" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Taj-Mahal">Taj Mahal</keyword>, the Qutub Minar and the caves of Ajanta and Ellora. The list has not been finalised yet, but the <keyword id="101796" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Culture">Ministry of Culture</keyword> will do that soon. With this move, people from all over the country and across the world would be able to tour through those famous monuments with ease in the virtual world. 
 Google’s Street View Trekker will be used to create the virtual walkthroughs. The search giant has already created walkthroughs of places such as the Grand Canyon in the US and the <keyword id="36539" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="eiffel-tower">Eiffel Tower</keyword> in <keyword id="6354785" type="COUNTRY" weightage="40" keywordseo="France">France</keyword>. The Indian monuments will be an interesting addition for the world to watch and appreciate.

Google Will Soon Give You Wall-To-Wall View Of 100 Indian Monuments

What happens when two heads of two nations meet? Discuss defence, talk about economy or maybe something on civil nuclear. But this is not what PM <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> plans to discuss with his French counterpart. In fact, PM Modi plans to have a discussion around culture, heritage and history reveals an Economic Times report. The financial daily mentions that Modi’s agenda of discussion in <keyword id="106" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Paris">Paris</keyword> includes an agreement to pair national monuments and heritage sites - possibly starting with New Delhi's imposing India Gate and the Arc de Triomphe in the heart of the French capital. 
 The agreement that India and <keyword id="6354785" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="France">France</keyword> are expected to sign to 'twin' iconic structures and monuments, based on similarities they share, may include as many as six pairings and are aimed at strengthening the cultural links between the two countries, officials from the Ministry of Culture and the Archaeological Survey of India told the ET. 
 
The modalities of arrangement will be worked out later by the governments and associated bodies such as ASI and its counterpart in France. The ideas being discussed include putting up plaques at the monuments to generate awareness about their foreign twins and to have imprints of both structures on tickets and publicity brochures. India Gate and the Arc de Triomphe have many similarities that make them ideal as paired monuments. 
 
The similarity between the two monuments includes triumphal arches built to commemorate unknown soldiers who laid down their lives for the country, are located in the capital and revered as patriotic sites. The financial daily also said, the 42 metre high India Gate commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during World War I, while the Arc de Triomphe, at 49.5 metres, stands at the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle in honour of those who fought for France, especially during the Napoleonic Wars. The names of soldiers are engraved on both structures. 
 
If all goes well, Jaisalmer Fort in Rajasthan may also be linked to Carcassonne in France. 
 
The Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa is proposed to be twinned with the Chartres Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Chartres. Both are Catholic churches and key pilgrim centres. Other sites that could be linked are the prehistoric rock shelters of Bhimbetka in MP with the Lascaux Caves in southwestern France, famous for Palaeolithic cave paintings. 
 
New Delhi's Lodi Gardens could be linked with the Jardin des Tuileries - both much-frequented and loved public parks in the capital cities. There is also a plan to link Mysore Palace with a Chateau in France. India and France are also expected to collaborate on preventive and underwater archaeology, training of personnel and joint research. 
 
(Image: Reuters)

This is what Narendra Modi will do in France beginning today

For those who think there is dearth of <keyword id="6362949" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Government-jobs">government jobs</keyword> in the country, it might come as a shock that there are over 5,000 vacant posts in 45 organisations, under the Ministry of Culture. This is also leading to difficulties in security, conservation and preservation of historical monuments, as told by Culture Minister <keyword id="210147" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mahesh-Sharma">Mahesh Sharma</keyword>. 
 
It was during his address to Lok Sabha that Sharma informed of 15,607 sanctioned posts in 45 organisations under his Ministry, of which only 10,284 posts are filled. 
 
"These vacancies have occurred over the years and we have taken a number of steps, including appointing people on contractual basis, to fill the vacant posts," he said during Question Hour. He added that old and stringent rules of hiring are the reasons behind these vacant posts. 
 
There are around 80,000 historic monuments in India, of which 3,686 were protected by Archaeological Survey of India. He however added that "no monument of national importance has been neglected or defaced for want of adequate manpower." 
 
<a href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/3405520/images/o-MAHESH-SHARMA-facebook.jpg">Image source</a>

Culture Ministry has 5,000 vacant positions 45 organisations

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image">David Becker/GettyIf found guilty of the violations, the beauty queen and other members of her group could reportedly face up to two years in <keyword id="6363869" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="jail">jail</keyword> and a $1,600 fine.</div></div><keyword id="6381672" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Miss-Universe">Miss Universe</keyword> <keyword id="1493355" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Olivia-Culpo">Olivia Culpo</keyword>, 21, is <a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/UttarPradesh/Miss-Universe-caught-on-the-wrong-foot-at-Taj-Mahal/Article1-1132152.aspx" target="_blank">in trouble for an unauthorized photo shoot</a> outside of <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>'s iconic Taj Mahal.
Culpo, who is dating pop star Nick Jonas, is being accused of violating the country's Heritage Act after she allegedly shot a footwear commercial Sunday in front of the Taj Mahal, a World Heritage Site.
According to the <a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/UttarPradesh/Miss-Universe-caught-on-the-wrong-foot-at-Taj-Mahal/Article1-1132152.aspx" target="_blank">Hindustan Times</a>, the state-run Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) filed a complaint with police after Culpo posed for a photograph, showing off red high heeled shoes for a footwear company.
While no police who were on duty at the time raised any objections, India's Supreme Court strictly prohibits any commercial activity or branding and publicity on the Taj Mahal grounds.
According to the the Times, ASI officials are saying Culpo's visit was actually a covert fashion shoot and not authorized by its organization nor the tourism police.
If found guilty of the violations, the beauty queen and other members of her group <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57606939-504083/olivia-culpo-miss-universe-in-trouble-over-unauthorized-photo-shoot-at-taj-mahal-police-say/" target="_blank">could reportedly face up</a> to two years in jail and a $1,600 fine.
But Culpo clearly didn't know she was breaking any laws at the time of the shoot, tweeting:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Taj Mahal is breathtaking!!!!!!!!! Never thought I would actually make it here. Amazing experience <a href="http://t.co/nzDqDpVZxy">pic.twitter.com/nzDqDpVZxy</a>
- Olivia Culpo (@oliviaculpo) <a href="https://twitter.com/oliviaculpo/statuses/387075251320147968">October 7, 2013</a></blockquote>

And instagramming:
"Gorgeous Taj Mahal #india #instabeauty #nofilter."

"Thank you #India ??"

Miss Universe Facing Possible Jail Time After Unauthorized Taj Mahal Photo Shoot 

After taking up various missions like bringing back black money stashed abroad, Swachh Bharat, Digital India and Make in India, the Narendra Modi-led government has embarked on another mission to repeal outdated and archaic laws. 
 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the Law Ministry to identify these laws and get it repealed through an Act of Parliament. Let’s have a look at six most weird laws in India: 
 
<keyword id="2123426" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Motor-Vehicles-Act">Indian Motor Vehicles Act</keyword>, 1914: This Act requires that a person needs to have ‘well brushed teeth’ in order to be eligible to become an inspector in Andhra Pradesh. A person with dirty, pale teeth cannot become an inspector in the state! 
 
The <keyword id="75223" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Penal-Code">Indian Penal Code</keyword>, 1860 (Section 497): Under this law, a married man can ‘legally’ have sex with an unmarried girl, a divorcee or a widow. It will not be treated as adultery. 
 
If you wish to have sex with a married woman, you need to have her husband’s prior approval! The law states, “Whoever has sexual intercourse with a person who is and whom he knows or has reason to believe to be the wife of another man, without the consent or connivance of that man, such sexual intercourse not amounting to the offence of rape, is guilty of the offence of adultery, and shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both.” 
 
On the other hand, women have the special privilege of having as many extra marital affairs as they wish. This is how gender equality exists in our country. 
 
Indian <keyword id="1327581" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Treasure-Trove-Act">Treasure Trove Act</keyword>, 1878: Did you know that you can be jailed if you, by chance, find anything that is worth more than Rs 10 and you do not report it to a revenue officer? The Indian Treasure Trove Act, 1878, states that it is mandatory to report it to a revenue officer. According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the law was designed to “protect and preserve treasure found accidentally but had archaeological and historical value.” 
 
Indian Post Office Act, 1898: This Act states that “the exclusive privilege of conveying letters is reserved to the government.” So, the whole courier industry in the country is illegal according to this Act. Even sending letters through pigeons might in violation of this Act. 
 
Indian <keyword id="1936372" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sarais-Act">Sarais Act</keyword>, 1887: This Act makes it mandatory for an innkeeper to report to the nearest police station if someone falls ill at a hotel. The innkeeper is also required “to thoroughly cleanse the rooms and verandahs, and drains of the sarai (hotel), and the wells, tanks, or other sources from, which water is obtained for the persons or animals using it, to the satisfaction of, and so often as shall be required by, the Magistrate of the District, or such person as he shall appoint in this behalf.” 
 
Moreover, he must “remove all noxious vegetation on or near the sarai (hotel), and all trees and branches of trees capable of affording to thieves means of entering or leaving the sarai.” 
 
Indian Aircraft Act, 1934: Flying a kite might be your hobby, but did you know that you need to get a permit for that? According to the Indian Aircraft Act, 1934, kites are also aircraft, and you must obtain a permit as required for a plane.

Naya
Daur Naya Kanoon: These 6 Weird
Indian Laws Along
With Many Others
Might Get Abolished
Or Changed
By Modi Govt

(Eds: With more inputs) New Delhi, Feb 13 () Senior IAS officer Debasish Panda was on Thursday appointed as the new finance secretary as part of a top level bureaucratic reshuffle effected by the Centre. Panda, a 1987-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, is at present special secretary, department of financial services. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved his appointment as secretary, department of financial services, in place of Rajiv Kumar, who superannuates this month-end, a personnel ministry order said. Besides him, Pawan Kumar Agarwal, chief executive officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has been appointed secretary, department of consumer affairs. Saraswati Prasad, a 1985-batch IAS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre, will be secretary, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. He is at present special secretary and financial adviser, ministry of steel. Usha Sharma, Director General, Archaeological Survey of India, has been appointed secretary, department of youth affairs. Senior civil servant Raj Kumar will be secretary, department of defence production. Kumar, a 1987-batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre, is currently Director General, Employees' State Insurance Corporation. Rajeev Ranjan has been appointed as secretary, department of fisheries. Ranjan is currently special secretary, GST council secretariat. He has been appointed as the fisheries secretary in place of Rajni Sekhri Sibal, who retires on February 29. The tenure of Parameswaran Iyer, secretary, department of drinking water and sanitation, has been extended by one more year. The ACC has approved extension for a further period of one year beyond April 30, 2020, i.e. up to April 30, 2021, in Iyer's tenure, the order said. AKV AKV SMNSMN

Bureaucratic reshuffle: Debasish Panda appointed finance secretary

The politically charged town of <keyword id="6354931" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ayodhya">Ayodhya</keyword> in Uttar Pradesh would have a state of-the-art Ram museum to promote <keyword id="6363500" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="ramayana">Ramayana</keyword>. <keyword id="6358079" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tourism-Minister">Tourism Minister</keyword> <keyword id="210147" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Mahesh-Sharma">Mahesh Sharma</keyword> told the Economic Times that the <keyword id="6360789" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Modi-Government">Modi government</keyword> is coming up with the museum, which would be part of the proposed 'Ramayana circuit'. Fortunately, the ‘disputed site’, the reason for all the battles, would not be touched by the project. "This will be an exclusive museum which will be part of a larger holistic plan. The idea is to depict the mahima (grandeur) of <keyword id="353792" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Lord-Ram">Lord Ram</keyword> and Ramayana," Sharma said. "It is on high priority and the scale will depend on funds available. We will do this next year." The museum would be build on the model of the Swaminarayan <keyword id="76721" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Akshardham-Temple">Akshardham temple</keyword> in Delhi - which features a sound and light show, boat ride and a film on Swaminarayan - and house archaeological material related to the deity. 

	The minister said work would soon begin on the detailed project report. 
 

	In order to again turn Ayodhya into a major cultural hub, the Modi government plans to develop all sites related to Lord Ram in and around the town.. When asked about the political ramifications, the minister said that the museum may reach the state of completion in 2017, a time when UP elections are due. He added, "Tourism we can develop. We are not saying we are going to make a Ram mandir there."
 

	The tourism minister further stated that the government is already working on a chain of five circuits. "For every year we will declare a different circuit. Ramayana circuit will start with the centre somewhere in Ayodhya and Chitrakoot and definitely we go to Makohda in Basti, then Janaki kund in Unnao and nearby areas and places relevant to the life of Ram...that is our idea," he said. 
 

	The Centre would also host what it calls are cultural activities revolving around Ram and Ramayana at events abroad, including festivals and travel marts. According to officials of the Tourism Ministry, the government has already asked Uttar Pradesh to send a proposal for the project under the Centre's Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spirituality Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme. 
 

	"We have requested the state government to develop the proposal under the PRASAD scheme. Cost estimates are open-ended as of now and depend on the outline and scale of the proposal. This is actually an inter-state project as well so we will talk to other states as well," Tourism Secretary Lalit Pawar said. Rakesh Tiwari, director-general of Archaeological Survey of India (<keyword id="46215" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="ASI">ASI</keyword>), said that discussions on the Ramayana circuit are still at a preliminary stage and the ASI would help the tourism ministry with all related inputs. 

	"We will help develop the circuit in whichever way the government asks us to. Cultural bodies are also going to be roped in to bring alive the folklore and legends associated with Ramayana," said Tiwari. 
 

	(Image: Indiatimes)

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Nearly 60 properties from India on Tentative List for inclusion on World Heritage List, says govt

PTI

The archaeological survey findings played a crucial part in the Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya dispute

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India’s Supreme Court asks for the top archaeological body to be “thrown out” to preserve the Taj Mahal

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Google Will Soon Give You Wall-To-Wall View Of 100 Indian Monuments

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This is what Narendra Modi will do in France beginning today

BI India Bureau

Culture Ministry has 5,000 vacant positions 45 organisations

BI India Bureau

Miss Universe Facing Possible Jail Time After Unauthorized Taj Mahal Photo Shoot

Aly Weisman

Naya Daur Naya Kanoon: These 6 Weird Indian Laws Along With Many Others Might Get Abolished Or Changed By Modi Govt

BI India Bureau

Bureaucratic reshuffle: Debasish Panda appointed finance secretary

PTI

Not a temple, but a hi-tech Ram museum is coming up in Ayodhya

BI India Bureau

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