In the past five years, from 2020 to 2024, the central government reported yesterday (July 21) in the Lok Sabha that a total of 610 antiquities have been recovered from six countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. In response to a question regarding whether the central government has conducted any surveys or assessments related to the ancient art and antiquities stolen from India, as well as the actions taken to recover antiquities in the last five years, the Minister of Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, provided a written reply in the Lok Sabha. In that response, it is stated that the Indian Archaeological Survey maintains data regarding cases of stolen artifacts related to protected monuments, sites, and museums. In 2020, three art pieces were recovered from Australia, and five art pieces were retrieved from England. In 2021, 157 antiquities were recovered from the United States, along with one antiquity each from Canada and England. In 2023, 105 antiquities were retrieved from the United States, and in 2024, 297 antiquities were recovered from the United States.During the period from 2020 to 2024, the total number of artifacts recovered from the United States amounts to 559, while the number of artifacts retrieved from Australia stands at 34. Between the years 2020 and 2024, a total of 610 artifacts were recovered from six countries, namely the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Italy, and Thailand. Since 1976, a total of 655 artifacts have been recovered from foreign countries,” stated Shekavath in his report.
