Adopt a Heritage 2.0 Project

The Adopt a Heritage project underwent a structural and institutional transformation to optimize private sector participation in heritage management.

Scheme Genesis (Version 1.0)

Launched on World Tourism Day (27th September 2017), the original iteration was a collaborative initiative executed by the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Corporate entities that successfully bid for monuments were designated as “Monument Mitras.” Under this model, the Red Fort in Delhi became the first major monument adopted by a private entity (Dalmia Bharat Group).

The Revamped Framework (Version 2.0)

Launched on 4th September 2023, the scheme was restructured and brought directly under the nodal execution of the Ministry of Culture and the ASI. The updated policy addresses legacy execution challenges, shifts partnering titles from Monument Mitras to “Smāraka Sārathī,” and aligns modern asset creation strictly with the statutory provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958.

Key Objectives and Strategic Philosophy

• Sustaining Cultural Wealth: Enhancing basic and advanced tourist infrastructure across the 3,696 centrally protected monuments under the ASI’s jurisdiction.
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Channelization: Providing a transparent, legal framework for public sector undertakings (PSUs), private corporate houses, NGOs, trusts, and societies to deploy CSR funds toward national heritage conservation.
• Enhancing Visitor Experience: Upgrading tourist sites into world-class destinations to maximize domestic and international tourism potential under the operational vision of Virasat Bhi, Vikas Bhi (Heritage along with Development).
• Mitigating Public Exchequer Burden: Mobilizing non-governmental resources to scale public amenities without depleting direct cultural budgetary allocations.

Institutional Framework and Implementation Process

Core Structural Mandates

• Structural Safety and Modifications: Selected partner entities are strictly prohibited from altering, modifying, or undertaking conservation interventions on the core historic structure of the monument. All tasks are strictly confined to creating, upgrading, and maintaining visitor amenities.
• Operational Tenure: The initial appointment of a Smāraka Sārathī spans a fixed term of five years. This period is extendable for an additional five years based on independent performance evaluations.
• Revenue Management Protocol: All revenues generated through permitted semi-commercial activities at the site (e.g., sound and light shows, souvenir kiosks, cafeteria operations) must be deposited into a dedicated, ring-fenced account. These funds can only be utilized to sustain, develop, and operate that specific adopted monument. Partnering entities must submit a audited statement of accounts every six months.

Digital Infrastructure Sub-systems

• Indian Heritage Web Portal (indianheritage.gov.in): A centralized digital dashboard showcasing the complete inventory of monuments open for adoption. The portal features a comprehensive gap analysis and pre-calculated financial estimation reports for required amenities at each site, ensuring data symmetry for prospective corporate bidders.
• Indian Heritage Mobile Application: A public-facing citizen application providing state-wise details of monuments, available amenities, geotagged locations, and a direct digital feedback mechanism for visitors.
• e-Permission Portal (asipermissionportal.gov.in): An automated single-window clearance platform created to fast-track administrative approvals for photography, filming, and spatial development projects at monument sites.

Administrative Governance Lifecycle

• Application & Registration: Eligible stakeholders register and submit detailed amenity enhancement proposals through the unified web portal.
• Scrutiny and Approval: Proposals undergo strict evaluation by a centralized “Approval and Implementation Committee” within the ASI.
• Execution & Oversight: Once approved, a binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is signed. The development works are executed under the direct, real-time supervision of ASI field circles.

Four-Pronged Amenity Framework

The scheme classifies permissible private interventions into four structured functional verticals to ensure holistic site development.

1. Hygiene Infrastructure

• Construction and automated maintenance of clean public convenience blocks and toilets.
• Provision of purified drinking water facilities and reverse osmosis (RO) plants.
• Institutionalized solid waste management systems, including segregated dustbins and daily disposal protocols.
• Setting up dedicated baby care rooms and nursing stations.

2. Accessibility and Inclusivity

• Creation of seamless, barrier-free pathways optimized for senior citizens and differently-abled tourists.
• Deployment of golf carts and battery-operated vehicles for low-emission intra-site transport.
• Installation of uniform braille signages, multi-lingual direction boards, and interactive digital maps.
• Landscaping of peripheral areas and development of structured vehicle parking facilities with EV charging stations.

3. Safety and Security Systems

• Deployment of advanced closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance networks linked to security hubs.
• Installation of low-impact, aesthetically compatible architectural lighting and perimeter night-lighting.
• Provision of emergency medical rooms, first-aid posts, and trained emergency response personnel.

4. Knowledge and Interpretation Enhancements

• Development of interactive digital interpretation centers, multi-lingual audio-guide applications, and virtual reality (VR) walkthrough booths.
• Setting up curated site museums and publication kiosks for ASI-approved historical literature.
• Organizing standardized light and sound shows mapping the historical trajectory of the monument.

Structural Comparison: Version 1.0 vs Version 2.0

Major Monument Adoptions and Allotted Partners

The program has institutionalized several high-value partnerships across key historical sites in India.

Core Institutional Adoptions

• Agra Fort (Uttar Pradesh): Adopted by the Ease My Trip Foundation to upgrade global tourist amenities and multi-lingual digital signaling.
• Humayun’s Tomb (Delhi): Allotted to the Sabhyata Foundation for advanced visitor center operations and comprehensive peripheral integration.
• Qutub Minar (Delhi): Adopted by the Ease My Trip Foundation for illumination upgrades and barrier-free pathways.
• Sun Temple, Konark (Odisha): Partnered with the Ease My Trip Foundation to implement coastal-resilient tourist facilities and hygiene infrastructure.
• Archaeological Site Museum, Hampi (Karnataka): Adopted by JSW Ltd. to establish cutting-edge conservation display systems and digitize artifacts.
• Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh): Allotted to HEG Ltd. to develop eco-friendly pathways and preserve prehistoric cave-site surroundings.
• Kailasanatha Temple, Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu): Adopted by Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Limited for preservation of public facilities and advanced signage.
• Purana Qila & Safdarjung Tomb (Delhi): Comprehensive maintenance and knowledge-center integration executed by the Sabhyata Foundation.

Key Facts and Trivia for UPSC Prelims

• Exclusion of State Assets: The scheme applies exclusively to centrally protected monuments managed by the ASI. It does not possess any statutory jurisdiction over state archaeological departments, municipal heritage structures, or university-controlled excavation sites.
• No Privatization of Land: The ownership, title, and absolute sovereign control of the monument land and structures remain permanently with the Government of India (ASI). No land-use change or commercial leasing is permitted under the MoU.
• Global Model Parallels: The scheme mimics international corporate heritage preservation frameworks, specifically the Italian model initiated in 2014, which successfully engaged top-tier global fashion houses to restore and maintain iconic structures like the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain via tax incentives and corporate funding.