Art & Culture Current Affairs - 2019
Latest Art & Culture Current Affairs 2019 for UPSC Exams, Bank Exams, Civil Services, SSC and other Competitive Exams. Latest developments in Art & Culture Current 2018-19 all important national updates.
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The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has declared 6 monuments as Monuments of national importance in 2018.
Monuments of national importance declared in 2018
The six monuments declared as Monuments as Monuments of national importance in 2018 are:
- Old High Court Building in Nagpur, Maharashtra
- Haveli of Agha Khan in Agra
- Haveli of Hathi Khana in Agra
- Neemrana Baori in Rajasthan’s Alwar district
- Group of Temples at Ranipur Jharail in Odisha’s Bolangir district
- Vishnu Temple in Kotali, Pithoragarh district, Uttarkhand.
Criterion for the declaration of Monument of National Importance
The Archaeological Survey of India declares a site as Monument of National importance based on the following criterion:
- The remains of an ancient monument
- The site of an ancient monument
- The land on which there are fences or protective covering structures for preserving the monument
- Land by means of which people can freely access the monument
What is an Ancient Monument?
The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 defines Ancient Monument as any structure, erection or monument, or any tumulus or place of interment, or any cave, rock-sculpture, inscription or monolith which is of historical, archaeological or artistic interest and which has been in existence for not less than 100 years.
Tags: ASI • Group of Temples at Ranipur Jharail in Odisha's Bolangir district • Haveli of Agha Khan in Agra • Haveli of Hathi Khana in Agra • Monuments of national importance • Neemrana Baori in Rajasthan's Alwar district • Old High Court Building in Nagpur • Vishnu Temple in Kotali Pithoragarh district
The Ministry of Railways has initiated several steps to promote heritage conservation. The conservation measures undertaken by railways include a revival of Steam Locomotives, up-keeping Hill Railways, a special delegation of powers to Divisions for promoting Hill and Steam tourism, strengthening Railway museums, conservation of built heritage, digitization of Railway Heritage and bringing it online for universal access etc.
Measures undertaken for Heritage conservation
The measures undertaken for heritage conservation are:
- Zonal Railways/Production Units are organising drives from time to time for identification and preservation of Railway heritage assets like buildings, bridges, rolling stocks, documents, photographs, artefacts, equipment, clocks, benches etc, which currently lying unnoticed or overlooked at different locations.
- A specific provision was made by the Ministry of Railways in the budget outlay for 2018-19 for the revival of steam locomotives including restoration and procurement of spares.
- A weekly regular timetabled train on steam traction has been made operational between Garhi Harsaru and Farukhnagar.
- Maintenance of five hill railways of India [Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR), Kalka Shimla Railway (KSR), Matheran Light Railway(MLR) and Kangra Valley Railway (KVR)] are undertaken as per codal provision of Indian Railways and UNESCO Guidelines.
- Special powers have been delegated to Divisional Railway Managers of five hill railways for promoting tourism in these five hill railways.
Ministry of Railways had also organised a day-long event of heritage officers of Zonal Railways and Production Units to give complete attention to the century-old rich heritage of Indian Railways and to train them in heritage conservation approaches.