The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972 (AATA) is an Act of the Parliament of India, enacted on September 9, 1972, to regulate the trade and export of India's cultural property. The Act's purpose is to prevent the permanent export and smuggling of India's treasures, thereby preserving the country's cultural wealth. It replaced the Antiquities (Export Control) Act, 1947. The AATA was created in accordance with the UNESCO 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.
The Act defines an "antiquity" as an article or object that is at least 100 years old, or a manuscript or record of scientific, historical, literary, or aesthetic value that is at least 75 years old. A key mechanism is the strict regulation of export: Section 3(1) makes it unlawful for any person, other than the Central Government or an authorized agency, to export any antiquity or art treasure. Furthermore, Section 5 mandates that antiquities can only be sold under a license, and Section 14(3) requires every person in possession of an antiquity to register it with a registering officer and obtain a certificate. The Act also provides for the compulsory acquisition of antiquities and art treasures by the Central Government for preservation in public places under Section 19.
The AATA is administered by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which is attached to the Ministry of Culture. It connects to the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, which deals with immovable cultural property, and the Indian Treasure Trove Act, 1878. The Act was amended by the Antiquities and Art Treasures (Amendment) Act, 1976. While the core provisions on export control and compulsory registration remain, a private member's bill, the Antiquities and Art Treasures (Amendment) Bill, 2019, was introduced to further strengthen the protection of cultural heritage.