CULTURAL PROPERTY AGREEMENT (Syllabus GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: India and the United States of America signed the first ever bilateral 'Cultural Property Agreement' (CPA).

Cultural Property Agreement:

• About:The Government of India and the Government of the United States of America came on one stage to explore the possibility of strengthening bi-lateral ties under Article 9 of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.

oThis agreement has a defined framework for the return of such artefacts to India and will facilitate smooth and early repatriation

• Objective:

oIt’s about justice – returning to India and to Indians, what is rightfully theirs. 

o It’s about connecting India with the world. To know Indian culture is to know human culture,

• Restrictions Under the CPA

oScope of Restriction: Limits the importation of specific archaeological and ethnological materials into the USA.

oTime Span Covered: Includes items ranging from 1.7 million years ago to 1947 CE.

oRepatriation: Facilitates the repatriation of seized materials to India.