Annual allocation for archaeological excavations increased to ₹10 crore in T.N.

Annual allocation for archaeological excavations rose to ₹10 crore in T.N.

Key points

• The annual financial assistance provided to folk artists for purchasing musical instruments and costumes will be rose from ₹10, 000 to ₹20, 000.
• A Detailed Project Report will be prepared at a cost of ₹2 crore for establishing a Tamil Heritage Museum in Madurai.
• Under the Tamil Heritage Conservation Mission, 76 protected monuments and archaeological sites will be renovated in the first phase over the next five years.
• The annual allocation for infrastructure and modernisation works at excavation museums under the Archaeology Department will be rose from ₹30 lakh to ₹1 crore.
• Monthly financial assistance at present provided to economically disadvantaged artists will be extended to 1, 500 further artists.

Annual allocation for archaeological excavations rose to ₹10 crore in T.N. A modern archaeological laboratory will be established at a cost of ₹2 crore to conduct scientific analyses of artefacts and samples unearthed during archaeological excavations. Updated – August 20, 2026 07: 49 am IST – CHENNAI.

Notably, a digital database will be created using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support residents understand ancient Tamil inscriptions easily. Photo Credit: G. MOORTHY.

Minister for School Education, Tamil Development, Information and Publicity Rajmohan on Wednesday confirmed that the annual allocation to conduct archaeological field surveys, excavations, and underwater explorations will be climbed from ₹7 crore to ₹10 crore.

Speaking in the Assembly, Mr. Rajmohan remarked a modern archaeological laboratory will be established at a cost of ₹2 crore to conduct scientific analyses of artefacts and samples unearthed during archaeological excavations.

Under the Tamil Heritage Conservation Mission, 76 protected monuments and archaeological sites will be renovated in the first phase over the next five years. A digital database will be created using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support residents understand ancient Tamil inscriptions easily, he noted.

Field research will be undertaken over three years at a cost of ₹3 crore to document ancient Tamil maritime trade links and ancient ports. The recurring annual allocation for conservation and maintenance works at protected monuments and archaeological sites will be rose from ₹3 crore to ₹4 crore, he stated.

Meanwhile, the annual allocation for infrastructure and modernisation works at excavation museums under the Archaeology Department will be rose from ₹30 lakh to ₹1 crore. Fifteen historically significant sites will be identified and notified as protected archaeological sites, the Minister remarked.

Notably, an order has been issued by the administration making it mandatory to allocate at least 30 to 45 minutes for performances by folk artists at all administration and private events attended by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay before the commencement of the function. Through this initiative, hundreds of folk artists will benefit, he remarked.

To preserve and promote traditional folk arts such as Karagattam, Kummi, Oyilattam and Kolattam, two art research centres, one each in Coimbatore and Thanjavur, will be established at a cost of ₹2 crore. Monthly financial assistance at present provided to economically disadvantaged artists will be extended to 1, 500 further artists.

Notably, the annual financial assistance provided to folk artists for purchasing musical instruments and costumes will be rose from ₹10, 000 to ₹20, 000. The scheme will additionally be extended to 500 further young artists, he noted.

In practice, a Detailed Project Report will be prepared at a cost of ₹2 crore for establishing a Tamil Heritage Museum in Madurai. To mark the completion of 175 years since the establishment of the Administration Museum in Chennai, a commemorative postage stamp will be issued, he noted. To encourage school and college students and the general public to visit museums, 2026-27 will be declared the 'Visit Museum Year, ' he continued.

For now, annual allocation for archaeological excavations increased to ₹10 crore in T.N remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.