"Heritage & Monuments" in India is a legal and institutional concept centered on the preservation of the nation's cultural wealth. The core legal framework is the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (AMASR Act). This Act, which came into force on August 28, 1958, was enacted to provide a statutory basis for protecting monuments of national importance, replacing the earlier Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904. The Act defines an "ancient monument" as any structure of historical, archaeological, or artistic interest that has existed for not less than one hundred years.
The primary implementing body is the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), established in 1861 by Sir Alexander Cunningham, which functions under the Ministry of Culture. The AMASR Act, 1958, regulates archaeological excavations and protects sculptures and carvings. Key provisions include the declaration of a prohibited area of 100 metres around a centrally protected monument where construction is banned, and a regulated area extending up to 200 metres beyond that, where construction requires permission. The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010 (Act No. 10 of 2010), formalized these zones and constituted the National Monuments Authority (NMA) in 2011 to regulate development in these areas. This framework connects to the Fundamental Duty under Article 51A(f), which mandates every citizen to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture. Recently, a new AMASR (Amendment) Bill has been proposed to allow the Central Government to undertake public works for infrastructure within the previously prohibited 100-metre zone.