UNESCO World Heritage Sites 2023-24: New Additions

Introduction

The UNESCO World Heritage Convention (1972) aims to identify and protect cultural and natural heritage of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). India has consistently nominated sites, with the 2023-24 period seeing several important additions both within India and globally. This note covers recent additions significant for UPSC current affairs.

About the World Heritage List

Categories

• Cultural Heritage: Monuments, groups of buildings, sites (man-made or combined)
• Natural Heritage: Natural features, geological formations, natural habitats
• Mixed Heritage: Elements of both cultural and natural significance

Criteria for OUV

Ten selection criteria (must meet at least one):

• (i) Masterpiece of human creative genius
• (ii) Interchange of human values
• (iii) Cultural tradition (living or extinct)
• (iv) Exemplary type of building/landscape
• (v) Outstanding example of human-environment interaction
• (vi) Directly associated with living traditions or events of universal significance
• (vii-x) Natural criteria (superlative natural phenomena, major stages of earth's history, biological processes, biodiversity)

India's Overall Status (as of 2024)

• Total sites: 43 (35 cultural, 7 natural, 1 mixed)
• Tentative list: 56 sites (including Ganga, Maratha fortifications, etc.)

New Indian Additions: Santiniketan...