The Archaeological Survey of India (Devanagiri: भारतीय पुरातत्व सर्वेक्षण abbreviation: ASI) is a department of the Government of India, attached to the Ministry of Culture.
The ASI is responsible for archaeological studies and the preservation of archaeological heritage of the country in accordance with the various acts of the Indian Parliament. According to its website, the ASI's function is to "explore, excavate, conserve, preserve and protect the monuments and sites of National & International Importance."
ASI has the mandate to regulate the export trade in antiquities and art treasures, to provide for the prevention of smuggling of, and fraudulent dealings in, antiquities, to provide for the compulsory acquisition of antiquities and art treasures for preservation in public places and to provide for certain other matters connected therewith or incidental or ancillary thereto. The survey performs numerous other activities, including: imparting training to the young professionals in the field of Archaeology.
The Archaeological Survey of India runs a premier institute in New Delhi for this purpo