India Hosts 46th Session of World Heritage Committee: A Landmark Event
New Delhi – Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) today, marking India’s debut as host of this prestigious UNESCO event. The session, scheduled from July 21 to 31, gathers over 2,000 delegates from more than 150 countries at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
Attended by UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay, the inaugural event underscored India’s commitment to global cultural conservation efforts. In his address, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the significance of the forum in exchanging strategies for heritage preservation, calling it a moment of pride for India to host the WHC for the first time.
The session’s agenda includes evaluating 27 nominations for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List, encompassing cultural, natural, and mixed sites from various nations. India’s nomination, ‘Moidams’ in Assam, is poised for consideration under the cultural property category for the 2023-24 cycle, supported by positive assessments from ICOMOS.
The event also features parallel meetings such as the World Heritage Young Professionals Forum and the World Heritage Site Managers’ Forum, promoting intercultural dialogue and sustainable management practices.
In addition to formal deliberations, India has curated diverse exhibitions showcasing its rich heritage and modern advancements in technology and infrastructure. The ‘Incredible India’ exhibition at Bharat Mandapam highlights the country’s cultural diversity and tourism potential, offering immersive experiences of iconic sites through AR and VR technologies.
India, a member of the 21-state WHC since 2021, has 42 sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, reflecting its diverse cultural and natural landscapes. Recent additions like Santiniketan in West Bengal and Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas in Karnataka underscore India’s ongoing commitment to preserving its cultural legacy.
The session in New Delhi serves as a platform for global collaboration in safeguarding world heritage, reaffirming India’s role as a custodian of cultural treasures and a leader in heritage conservation efforts.
