MEDIA, COMMUNICATION AND THE ARTS

Art Conservator

Cleans, repairs and preserves old paintings, manuscripts, sculptures and monuments.

Science in Class 11–12 helps; Chemistry most After a master's Government job

Facts checked 29/10/2026

Is this for me?

People in this work enjoy

Close, patient work with real historical objects
Mixing science (chemistry, microscopes) with art and history
Knowing your work helps an object survive for another hundred years

It may not suit you if you dislike

Very few seats: about 15–25 MA places a year at IIH, and few permanent jobs
Jobs are scattered and often contract-based, and ASI postings can be anywhere in India
Slow, detailed work with chemicals, dust and old materials, and a lot of documentation

Class 11–12 subjects: Take Science in Class 11–12, ideally with Chemistry. The latest admission notices for the main MA course (Indian Institute of Heritage, formerly National Museum Institute) ask for Class 12 Science. Many applicants then study B.Sc. in Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Biology, Biotechnology or Microbiology. Others study Fine Arts, Architecture or Engineering. Drawing skill and steady hands are a bonus. Wording has changed from year to year, so read the current notice.
First degree: A bachelor's degree with at least 50% (science, fine arts, architecture or engineering), then a 2-year MA in Art Conservation. The Indian Institute of Heritage (IIH), under the Ministry of Culture, runs it.
Entrance exams: IIH's own written test and interview for the MA. For Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) science posts, a UPSC recruitment test and interview (reported).
Licence or registration: None needed to start working.

Subjects that keep this door openClass 11–12: Physics + Chemistry + Mathematics or Biology.Science in Class 11–12 helps; Chemistry most.Way back: You can add the missing subject later as an extra subject (for example through NIOS) and still apply, but check the exam's and college's rules. A longer road, but open.Check your subjects against every career

What the work is like

Examining damaged objects, testing materials in a lab, cleaning and repairing paintings, manuscripts, textiles, metal and stone, writing condition reports, and planning how to store and display objects safely.

A day in the work
You start by checking an object that came in last week, say a torn 150-year-old painting. Under a microscope you note the flaking paint and write it in the condition report. Then you test a tiny spot with a mild cleaning method and photograph the result. After lunch you might meet a curator about humidity in the gallery, or fill out the treatment record. Much of the work is slow, careful and quiet, and a lot of it is writing things down.

The path, step by step

Step 1 · Class 9–10Enjoy Science, especially Chemistry, and art or history? Keep both going. Conservation needs a scientific mind and a careful, patient hand.
Step 2 · Class 11–12Choose the Science stream (PCM or PCB), with Chemistry. The IIH notice for 2024–25 asks for 10+2 in Science. Keep drawing or painting if you like it.
Step 3 · 3–4 years after Class 12Do a bachelor's degree with at least 50%. IIH accepts Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Biology, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Fine Arts, Architecture, and Engineering and Technology. Chemistry is the most useful base for government science posts.
Step 4 · After graduationApply to IIH's MA (Art Conservation). Selection is by a written test (general knowledge of art and heritage, basic science, observation and manual skill, writing) and an interview. Applications usually open around May–June, and the 2025 tests were held in July (reported). The 2024–25 intake was 15 seats (official). A 2026–27 notice is reported to list 25. (reported — check with the official body)
Step 5 · 2 yearsMA in Art Conservation. You learn material science, art history and hands-on treatment of objects. Ask the department how internships and lab work are arranged.
Step 6 · Job searchJobs are scattered, not one exam. ASI recruits scientific staff through UPSC. In 2024 (Advertisement 10/2024) it advertised 4 posts of Deputy Superintending Archaeological Chemist at Pay Level 10. The essential qualification was a Chemistry degree plus experience (reported). Museums, INTACH labs, libraries, archives and private studios hire on their own. (reported — check with the official body)
Step 7 · Selection and probation (ASI science posts)UPSC shortlists through a recruitment test, then an interview. The 2024 test was on 20 October 2024 (reported). Selected candidates serve a probation period, reported as one year in an earlier advertisement, with ASI training. (reported — check with the official body)

Ways in

Science routeB.Sc. in Chemistry, Physics, Geology or a life science, then MA Art Conservation. This is the best base if you want a government science post, such as ASI's Archaeological Chemist.
Art or architecture routeBFA or B.Arch, then MA Art Conservation. This suits people who like painting, drawing and building structures. Check that you meet the Class 12 Science condition in the latest notice.
Heritage-studies routeINTACH Heritage Academy runs a one-year full-time PG Diploma in Heritage Studies and short courses. It is broader than hands-on object conservation. Check the current prospectus for entry rules.

Your real chances

In 2024–25, IIH offered 15 seats in MA Conservation (official prospectus). The 2026–27 intake is reported as 25. On the government side, UPSC's 2024 advertisement had only 4 posts of Deputy Superintending Archaeological Chemist. Applicant numbers are not published, but seats are very few.

Source: IIH M.A. Admission Prospectus 2024-25 (Ministry of Culture) ↗

Time and money

Stage	Time	Government college or body	Private college	Help available
Class 11–12 (Science stream, with Chemistry)	2 years	Your school's fees	Your school's fees	—
Bachelor's degree (B.Sc., BFA or B.Arch; 50%+)	3–4 years	Check the college's fee page	Check the college's fee page	—
IIH MA entrance: written test and interview	1 day exam	Check the notice	—	Application fee reported ₹500 (General/OBC), ₹250 (SC/ST/EWS/PwD), 2026–27
MA in Art Conservation at IIH	2 years	Check IIH's fee page	—	Hostel and scholarship details not confirmed; check IIH's admissions page
ASI science post: UPSC recruitment test and interview	Check the notice	Check the notice for exam fee	—	—
ASI probation with ASI training	1 year (reported)	Paid job: Pay Level 10 of 7th CPC, plus allowances (reported)	—	Training is paid, as part of the job

Total timeAbout 5–6 years after Class 12 to first government science post, including MA and UPSC process

Total costDepends mostly on the college you choose — compare fee pages.

Good to knowIIH's fee table was not found, so check its fee page and notice; ASI probation is paid work, not a cost.

Fees from: Indian Institute of Heritage — admissions page · IIH M.A. Admission Prospectus 2024-25 · NMI M.A. admission notice 2023-24 (eligibility and seats; no fee figures). Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.

What people earn

Official pay

For ASI's Deputy Superintending Archaeological Chemist (Group A): Pay Level 10 of the 7th CPC, plus allowances (reported, from UPSC Advertisement 10/2024; the pay level was not read on UPSC's own page). Museum, INTACH and private jobs have their own pay.

Source: UPSC — Adv. 10/2024 listing (pay level reported from secondary coverage) ↗

Early-career pay is modest, especially in museums and NGOs. It rises with experience, specialised skills (paper, textiles, wall paintings, lab analysis) and a secure government post. Private clients in big cities can pay more, but the work is irregular.

Myth and fact

Myth: ~~You need to be a great painter to become an art conservator.~~

Fact: Drawing helps, but IIH lists Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Biology and Engineering degrees as eligible, and its entrance test checks basic science, observation and manual skill. Many conservators come from science, not art.

For girls and students with disabilities

IIH says seats are reserved as per Government of India rules (2024–25 prospectus). UPSC gives age relaxation to SC/OBC candidates: for the 2024 Chemist post, the upper age limit was 35 for General, 38 for OBC and 40 for SC (reported). We found no specific official rule about disability for this MA, so ask IIH directly.

Try it now

Class 7–9Visit a local museum or heritage site and pick one old object. Sketch it and write 5 lines on what might damage it (light, damp, insects, handling). Don't touch or clean valuable things at home.
Class 10–12Take Science with Chemistry. Do a safe class experiment on how paper yellows or how pH changes things. Ask your school teacher to supervise. Join a school art or heritage club, or a MY Bharat volunteer drive (age 15+) for local heritage.Open link ↗
College or afterContact your nearest INTACH chapter or a government museum about volunteering or documentation work. Read the IIH MA Conservation entrance syllabus and practise the topics.Open link ↗

Good to know

There is no single 'Art Conservator' government exam or licence. You build a profile of an MA, lab and practical experience, then apply to ASI, museums, archives or INTACH.
IIH's website said admissions were closed when we checked on 29 Oct 2026. Look at iih.ac.in each spring for the next notice.
In-service staff of government bodies and NGOs with 5 years of regular service can also apply to IIH's MA (2024–25 notice). Government employees need leave or a no-objection certificate.
INTACH Conservation Institute, Lucknow, works on paintings, wall paintings, manuscripts, textiles and sculptures. It is one of the places where this work happens.

Sources: Indian Institute of Heritage — M.A. Admission Prospectus 2024-25 (Ministry of Culture) · Indian Institute of Heritage — Admission Notice 2024-25, M.A. courses · Indian Institute of Heritage (iih.ac.in) — admissions page · National Museum Institute — FAQ on M.A. Conservation eligibility · UPSC — Interview details page listing Adv. 10/2024, 04 posts of Deputy Superintending Archaeological Chemist · UPSC — Deputy Superintending Archaeological Chemist, ASI (Advertisement 4/2017 result notice) · INTACH Conservation Institute, Lucknow — About · INTACH Heritage Academy