United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)

• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) based in Paris,France which was formed in 1946
• Its declared purpose is to contribute to promoting international collaboration in education, science, and culture in order to increase universal respect for justice, the rule of law and human rights along with fundamental freedom proclaimed in the United Nations Charter.

World Heritage Site

• A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area, selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for having cultural, historical, scientific or other form of significance, which is legally protected by international treaties.

UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention,1972 

• The Convention defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage list
• The Convention sets out the duties of State Parties in identifying potential sites and their role in protecting and preserving them. 
• By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the World Heritage sites situated on its territory, but also to protect its national heritage.
• It explains how the World Heritage Fund is to be used and managed and under what conditions international financial assistance may be provided.

Strategic Objectives were five C’s

• Credibility
• Conservation
• Capacity building
• Comuunication
• Communities

World Heritage Sites in India:

• • There are 38 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India. The sites are broken down into the following categories

• Cultural Sites (30)

• • Agra Fort (1983),Uttar Pradesh
  • Ajanta Caves (1983),Maharashtra
  • Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar (2016)
  • Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989), Madhya Pradesh
  • Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (2004),Gujarat
  • Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004), Maharashtra
  • Churches and Convents of Goa (1986)
  • Elephanta Caves (1987), Maharashtra
  • Ellora Caves (1983), Maharashtra
  • Fatehpur Sikri (1986), Uttar Pradesh
  • Great Living Chola Temples (1987,2004), Tamilnadu
  • Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986),Karnataka
  • Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984), Tamilnadu
  • Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987), Karnataka
  • Hill Forts of Rajasthan (2013)
  • Historic City of Ahmedabad (2017), Gujarat
  • Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi (1993)
  • Jaipur City, Rajasthan (2019)
  • Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986), Madhya Pradesh
  • Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (2002), Bihar
  • Mountain Railways of India Darjeeling,(1999), Nilgiri (2005), Kalka-Shimla(2008) 
  • Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993)
  • Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat (2014)
  • Red Fort Complex (2007), Delhi
  • Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003), Madhya Pradesh
  • Sun Temple, Konârak (1984), Odisha
  • Taj Mahal (1983), Uttar Pradesh 
  • The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement (2016), Chandigarh
  • The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010), Rajasthan
  • Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (2018), Maharashtra

Natural Sites (7)

• Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (2014), Himachal Pradesh
• Kaziranga National Park (1985), Assam
• Keoladeo National Park (1985), Rajasthan
• Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985), Assam
• Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988,2005), Uttarakhand 
• Sundarbans National Park (1987), West Bengal
• Western Ghats (2012), Karnataka,Kerala,Tamilnadu, Maharashtra

Mixed Site (1)

• Khangchendzonga National Park (2016), Sikkim

Why in the news? 

• At present, India has 42 sites listed under Tentative List which is a prerequisite condition for inscription as a World Heritage Site. 
• ‘Dholavira: A Harappan City’ has been submitted for nomination of a World Heritage Site in 2019-2020. 
• Nominations of ‘Santiniketan, India’ and ‘Sacred Ensemble of Hoysalas’ have been submitted to UNESCO for the year 2021-22 cycle.

References:

1. https://www.incredibleindia.org/content/incredibleindia/en/destinations/world-heritage.html 
2. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1703267