• As many as 588 antiquities have been repatriated to India from the US so far, out of which 297 were received in 2024, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said this in a reply in Rajya Sabha on March 20.

• Cultural Property Agreement (CPA) has been signed with the US to prevent smuggling of Indian antiquities. 

India-US Cultural Property Agreement

• Cultural property agreements prevent the illegal trade of cultural property and simplify the process by which looted and stolen antiquities may be returned to their country of origin. 

• In 2022, the government of India and the government of the US came on one stage to explore the possibility of strengthening bilateral ties under Article 9 of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.

• In pursuance of these deliberations, India’s Ministry of External Affairs sent a diplomatic note to the USA counterpart which was positively received.

• The US responded through a diplomatic note on March 16, 2023 to suggest procedures for entering into an agreement. 

• These steps included the determinations regarding the safeguard of cultural property and international cooperation in the field of the preservation and safeguarding of archaeological and ethnological materials. 

• The historical, cultural, legal situation and possibilities of cooperation was documented and various meetings and discussions were held on approbation by both the parties. During the process an NGO ‘Antiquity Coalition’ has also played a vital role.

• In July 2024, both sides signed the 'Cultural Property Agreement' to prevent and curb the illicit trafficking of antiquities from India to the US.

• The cultural property agreement restricts the importation into the US of certain archaeological material ranging in date from 1.7 million years ago through 1770 CE and certain ethnological material, which may include categories of civic, religious, and royal architectural material, religious material and ceremonial items, and manuscripts ranging in date from second century BCE to 1947 CE. 

• The list of such items restricted for import in the US will be promulgated by the government of the US. As per the agreement, the US shall offer to return to India any object or material on the designated list forfeited to the government of the US.

• The agreement shall be helpful in quick seizure of Indian antiquities at US Customs and their repatriation back to India.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)