US Returns 262 Antiquities to India, Signs Agreement to Curb Illicit Trade

The US government has returned 262 antiquities to India and signed an agreement to curb illicit trade of culturally valuable property from India to the US. The Cultural Property Agreement (CPA) was signed on the sidelines of the World Heritage Committee in New Delhi. Minister of culture and tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat stated that repatriation of trafficked antiquities is a practical investment in cultural diplomacy and sustainable development. The CPA restricts the import of certain archaeological and ethnological material into the US. The agreement emerged from last year’s G20 Summit working group for culture, under India’s presidency. India reached out to the US government in 2022, and in 2023, the US replied with suggestions to enter into an agreement. This agreement marks a significant step in preserving and protecting India’s cultural heritage.