The government has no proposal under its consideration to change the name of Taj Mahal, Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Responding to a supplementary query by CPI-M member John Brittas on whether the government had any plans to change the name of Taj Mahal as has been reported in the media, Shekhawat said, "There is no such idea of changing any name under consideration of the ministry." In the last 10 years, nearly double funds have been spent on excavation activities as compared to the 10 years prior to that," he said. Shekhawat, however, said the support of the state government will certainly help in speeding up the excavation activities. Against an expenditure of only Rs 1,310 crore from 2004 to 2014, as much as Rs 3,713 crore has been spent in the last 10 years on conservation activities," Shekhawat told the House.

Source: The Telegraph March 12, 2026 12:01 UTC