India Recovers 610 Stolen Antiquities From Six Countries In Five Years, Majority From US: Culture Minister To Parliament

In the last five years, India has successfully retrieved 610 stolen antiquities from six countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat informed Parliament on Monday (21 July).

In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Shekhawat stated that the retrieved artefacts were returned from the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Italy, and Thailand between 2020 and 2024, reported PTI.

The United States accounted for the majority of these, with 559 antiquities handed back during the period — 157 in 2021, 105 in 2023, and 297 in 2024. Smaller recoveries included five artefacts from the UK and three from Australia in 2020, and one each from Canada and the UK in 2021.

“A total of 655 antiquities have been retrieved from foreign countries since 1976,” the minister added, indicating that the pace of recoveries has significantly accelerated in recent years.

Shekhawat also addressed a separate query regarding whether the government had conducted any survey or study into the theft of Indian artefacts over the past five years.

He responded that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) maintains up-to-date records of thefts relating to protected monuments, sites, and museums under its jurisdiction.

The surge in repatriations underscores India’s growing diplomatic efforts to reclaim its cultural heritage and prevent illicit trafficking of antiquities.

Officials have noted that enhanced global cooperation and improved documentation are helping identify and repatriate stolen artefacts more effectively.

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