AMASR Act
The primary Indian legislation protecting centrally important monuments and archaeological sites — defining protected monuments, prohibited areas and the role of ASI.
The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958 (AMASR Act), as amended by the Amendment and Validation Act 2010, is the primary legislative instrument for heritage protection in India at the central level. It empowers the Archaeological Survey of India to declare and protect monuments of national importance.
Key provisions of the Act include: declaration of 'protected monuments' by the Central Government; prohibition of mining, quarrying, building, blasting or other harmful activities within the prohibited area (100 m) around a protected monument; requirement of National Monuments Authority (NMA) permission for development in the regulated area (101–300 m); and ASI's powers to carry out conservation and maintenance at protected monuments.
Relevant Standards
- — AMASR Act 1958 (amended 2010)