For years, Ram Setu has been repeatedly described as “national heritage” in political narratives, but an RTI response has revealed a stark contrast between such claims and its official status. According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the structure has no formal recognition as a protected monument, and there is currently no proposal under consideration to grant it such status.
In its reply, the ASI clarified that Ram Setu is “not protected as a monument of national importance” under existing laws, and that no related proposal is pending at its headquarters. The response effectively states that, in official records, the status of Ram Setu remains “nil,” with no documentation, evaluation, or process underway to bring it under protection.
Also known as Adam’s Bridge, Ram Setu is a 48-kilometre chain of limestone shoals stretching between Rameswaram in India and Mannar Island in Sri Lanka. It forms a natural ridge separating the Gulf of Mannar from the Palk Bay and holds deep religious significance for many, who believe it to be the bridge constructed by Lord Ram’s army as described in the Ramayana.
The RTI application had sought detailed information on whether the structure had been declared a Centrally Protected Monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, whether any Gazette notification existed, and if scientific studies or expert committee recommendations had been conducted. The ASI’s response indicated that none of these processes had taken place, and no such records exist within its Monument Section.
This official position stands in contrast to repeated political assertions over the years. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in its 2009 and 2014 Lok Sabha manifestos, described Ram Setu as part of India’s national and cultural heritage, even linking its preservation to strategic and environmental considerations. However, these declarations have not translated into any formal legal recognition.
The issue has also been raised in Parliament. In 2022, a query was made regarding scientific research on the structure, to which Union Minister Jitendra Singh responded that while satellite and space-based studies have identified geological formations such as limestone shoals, it remains difficult to conclusively establish whether the structure is man-made or matches descriptions from ancient texts.
The matter is also under judicial consideration. In 2025, the Supreme Court issued notice to the Union Government on a petition seeking a time-bound decision on granting national monument status to Ram Setu. The case is linked to earlier legal challenges surrounding the Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project, which had been stayed by the court in 2007 in the Ram Setu area.
The RTI findings highlight a clear gap between political rhetoric and administrative action. While Ram Setu continues to hold cultural, religious, and strategic importance in public discourse, it currently lacks any formal recognition or protection within India’s legal and archaeological framework.
