In news– World Heritage Day is observed every year on April 18, to preserve the human heritage and recognize the efforts of the organizations working for it.
About World Heritage Day –
- A World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) as of cultural importance.
- The day focuses on solutions to preserve the ancient culture in order to create awareness about monuments, dying cultures, and sites.
- The theme for 2022 is ‘Heritage and Climate’ to promote conservation research and employ sustainable strategies to protect heritage sites.
- It is decided by the International Council on Monuments(ICOMOS) and Sites every year.
- ICOMOS proposed celebrating World Heritage Day on April 18, 1982, during a seminar in Tunisia.
- Then, in November 1983, at the 22nd session of the UNESCO Conference, a resolution was passed declaring April 18 to be World Heritage Day every year.
- The Venice Charter, also known as the 1964 International Charter on the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites, laid the foundation for the ICOMOS organisation.
World Heritage sites in India-
- As of 2022, there are 40 World Heritage Sites located in India.
- Out of these, 32 are cultural, 7 are natural, and one, the Khangchendzonga National Park, is of mixed type.
- Dholavira, a Harappan City and Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana are most recently added to the list.
- India has the sixth largest number of sites in the world.
- All the sites under the Ministry are conserved as per ASI’s Conservation Policy.
Source: India Today
