This paper examines how archaeological heritage can be repositioned as a strategic driver of sustainable development within the framework of Viksit Bharat 2047, India's national vision of becoming a developed nation by the centenary of its independence. It argues that the prevailing conservation paradigm, which treats monuments and archaeological sites primarily as isolated objects of protection, is inadequate for an era defined by climate change, rapid urbanization, and the imperative of inclusive growth. Drawing on the concept of cultural-ecological conservation, the paper contends that heritage must be understood as embedded within living landscapes whose economic, social, and environmental functions are inseparable. The study synthesizes scholarly literature on heritage and sustainability (DeSilvey, 2017; Bandarin and Van Oers, 2012), international policy frameworks including UNESCO's integration of the Sustainable Development Goals into the World Heritage Convention (UNESCO, 2015), and evidence on climate threats to archaeological sites (Nastou et al., 2024; Samuels, 2022). It applies these frameworks to the Indian context, where pilgrims, tourists, agrarian communities, and municipal authorities interact daily with a vast archaeological estate. The paper proposes a policy architecture anchored in institutional coordination, community stewardship, climate-resilient conservation, and the productive integration of heritage into the green and cultural economies. It concludes that cultural heritage is not an obstacle to development but a precondition for a genuinely sustainable and culturally grounded vision of a developed India.