The total number of cultural artefacts returned from the US to India since 2016 stands at 578
The US has facilitated the return of 297 antiquities that had been stolen or trafficked from India to mark the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These will shortly be repatriated to India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Saturday (September 21, 2024).

The antiquities belong to a time period spanning almost 4000 years, from 2000 BCE – 1900 CE and have origins in different parts of India. A select few pieces of these antiquities were showcased to Prime Minister Modi and US President Joe Biden in a symbolic handing over on the sidelines of the bilateral meeting between the two leaders in Wilmington, Delaware. 

“Deepening cultural connect and strengthening the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural properties. 

I am extremely grateful to President Biden and the US Government for ensuring the return of 297 invaluable antiquities to India. @POTUS @JoeBiden,” Prime Minister Modi posted on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. 

The US State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and the Archaeological Survey of India under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India had signed a Cultural Property Agreement in July 2024 to fulfill the commitments made by President Biden and Prime Minister Modi to enhance cooperation to protect cultural heritage. This was reflected in the Joint Statement issued after their meeting in June 2023.

According to the MEA, a majority of the antiquities are terracotta artefacts from Eastern India, while others are made in stone, metal, wood and ivory and belong to different parts of the country. Some of the notable antiquities handed over are:
* Apsara in sandstone from Central India belonging to 10-11th century CE;
* Jain Tirthankar in bronze from Central India belonging to 15-16th century CE;
* Terracotta vase from Eastern India belonging to 3-4th century CE;
* Stone Sculpture from South India belonging to 1st century BCE-1st century CE;
* Lord Ganesh in Bronze from South India belonging to 17-18th century CE;
* Standing Lord Buddha in sandstone from North India belonging 15-16th century CE;
* Lord Vishnu in Bronze from Eastern India belonging to 17-18th century CE;
* Anthropomorphic figure in copper from North India belonging to 2000-1800 BCE;
* Lord Krishna in bronze from South India belonging to 17-18th century CE;

* Lord Karthikeya in granite from South India belonging to 13-14th century CE.

In recent times, restitution of cultural property has become an important aspect of India-US cultural understanding and exchange, the MEA pointed out. 

Since 2016, the US Government has facilitated the return of a large number of trafficked or stolen antiquities. Ten antiquities were returned during PM’s visit to the US in June 2016; 157 antiquities during his visit in September 2021 and a further 105 antiquities during his visit in June last year. The total number of cultural artefacts returned from the US to India since 2016 stands at 578. This is the maximum number of cultural artefacts returned by any country to India.