7 new circles of Archaeological Survey of India has been announced. Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (IC), Shri Prahlad Singh Patel informed that new circles have been created in Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and Gujarat namely Trichy, Raiganj, Rajkot, Jabalpur, Jhansi & Meerut and Hampi Mini Circle has been converted into a full fledged circle.

    • Tamil Nadu which has thousands of temples and glorious memories of the Chola kings, Trichy has been made a new circle along with the circle of Chennai.

    • Karnataka is an important state in terms of holiness. Hampi city in Karnataka is a place of international importance from the point of view of archaeological heritage therefore the Hampi Sub-Circle now has been made a new full fledged circle.

    • In West Bengal, Raiganj has been made a new circle along with Kolkata, this will eliminate geographical inconvenience in a big state like Bengal.

    • In Gujarat, Rajkot has been announced a new circle along with Vadodara.

    • Jabalpur has been announced a new circle along with Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. This will include the monuments from Jabalpur, Rewa, Shahdol and Sagar divisions.

    • Jhansi in Bundelkhand and Meerut in western Uttar Pradesh have been announced as two new circles along with Lucknow and Agra in Uttar Pradesh.

About ASI

    • The Archaeological Survey of India established in 1861, is an attached office of the Ministry of Culture dedicated to the protection, preservation and conservation of the national monuments.

    • It is a multidisciplinary organization including exploration and excavation, chemical conservation, Horticultural operation, Museum, underwater archaeology, Pre-History Branch, Epigraphy, Publication etc.

    • As on today, the ASI administers more than 3667 centrally protected monuments including 22 World Heritage Monuments/Sites, archaeological sites and remains of national importance. 

    • These can include everything from temples, mosques, churches, tombs, and cemeteries to palaces, forts, step-wells, and rock-cut caves. 

    • The Survey also maintains ancient mounds and other similar sites which represent the remains of ancient habitation. 

    • The ASI is headed by a Director General who is assisted by an Additional Director General, two Joint Directors General, and 17 Directors.

    • Earlier ASI was divided into a total of 29 circles, each of the circles are further divided into sub-circles.

    • The ASI maintains a Central Archaeological Library in the Archaeological Survey of India headquarters building in Tilak Marg, Mandi House, New Delhi. Established in 1902, its collection numbers more than 100,000 books and journals. The library is also a repository of rare books, plates, and original drawings.

    • The Survey additionally maintains a library in each of its circles to cater to local academics and researchers.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)