Current Affairs-Topics

UNESCO Adds 24 New World Heritage Sites

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee held its 46th session in New Delhi, marking India's first hosting. During the meeting UNESCO listed 24 new World Heritage Sites.

UNESCO World Heritage Committee Session in New Delhi

  • 46th Session held from July 21-31, 2024
  • First time India hosted the UNESCO World Heritage Committee
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the session
  • Modi announced $1 million aid for conservation projects in developing countries
  • Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, addressed the closing ceremony

New Additions and Updates to the World Heritage List

  • 24 new sites added to the UNESCO World Heritage List
  • Breakdown: 19 cultural, 4 natural, and 1 mixed site
  • Total UNESCO Heritage Sites now 1,223 (952 cultural, 231 natural, 40 mixed)
  • Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal, removed from the Danger List
  • Saint Hilarion Monastery/Tell Umm Amer, Palestine, added to the Danger List
  • Italy leads with 60 sites, followed by China with 59
  • India now has 43 sites, with the latest addition being the Moidams of Assam

List of 24 New UNESCO Heritage Sites:

S. no

Heritage Site

Country

1

Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty

India

2

Vjetrenica Cave, Ravno

Bosnia and Herzegovina

3

Lencois Maranhenses National Park

Brazil

4

Royal Court of Tiebele

Burkina Faso

5

Badain Jaran Desert – Towers of Sand and Lakes

China

6

Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf

China

7

Beijing Central Axis

China

8

Melka Kunture and Balchit Archaeological and Palaeontological Sites

Ethiopia

9

Te Henua Enata – The Marquesas Islands

France

10

Schwerin Residence Ensemble

Germany

11

Moravian Church Settlements

Germany, USA, UK

12

Sado Island Gold Mines

Japan

13

Umm Al-Jimāl Rural Settlement

Jordan

14

The Historic Town and Archaeological Site of Gedi

Kenya

15

The Archaeological Heritage of Niah National Park's Caves Complex

Malaysia

16

Via Appia- Regina Viarum

Roman Road (Italy)

17

Monumental Ensemble of Targu Jiu

Romania

18

Frontiers of the Roman Empire – Dacia

Romania

19

Cultural Landscape of Kenozero Lake

Russia

20

The Cultural Landscape of Al-Faw Archaeological Area

Saudi Arabia

21

The Flow Country

Scotland, UK

22

The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour: Pleistocene Occupation Sites

South Africa

23

Human Rights, Liberation and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites

South Africa

24

Phu Phrabat: Sīma Stone Tradition of the Dvaravati Period

Thailand

Significance and Impact

  • Showcases global cultural and natural diversity
  • Promotes conservation efforts and international cooperation
  • Highlights the importance of preserving heritage for future generations
  • Boosts tourism and cultural exchange among nations
  • Reinforces UNESCO's role in promoting peace through cultural understanding

About UNESCO

  • UNESCO (United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation)
  • On November 16, 1945, UNESCO was established in London.
  • Headquarter: Paris, France
  • UNESCO is an official United Nations agency.
  • Its goals include bringing cultural heritage and the equal dignity of all cultures to the forefront of education and establishing global peace.
  • Currently, there are 43 UNECO World Heritage Sites in India.
  • As of July 2024, there are 1,123 World Heritage Sites located across 168 countries. These sites include 952 cultural, 231 natural, and 40 mixed properties

More Related Articles

8th Pay Commission Update

The 8th Pay Commission, approved by the Union Cabinet in January 2025, is a significant milestone for central government employees and pensioners. Scheduled to roll out from January 1, 2026, this revi

Extreme Poverty Free State

In a historic development for India’s social development journey, Kerala becomes the first extreme poverty-free state. The announcement will be officially made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan

Article 371 for Ladakh Explained

In a significant political development, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has proposed granting Article 371 for Ladakh-like provisions during recent discussions with the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the K

NHAI 3D Laser Survey

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has taken a significant step towards modernising national highway maintenance with the deployment of 3D laser-based Network Survey Vehicles (NSVs) acros

Swachhata Campaign India 2025

The Swachhata Campaign India 2025 is making headlines as the Special Campaign 5.0 enters its implementation phase from October 2 to 31, 2025, across Indian government offices. This initiative has been

Chandrayaan-2 CME Observation

India’s Chandrayaan-2 CME observation has achieved a remarkable milestone by making the first-ever observation of the sun’s coronal mass ejection (CME) effects on the Moon. This br

India Forest Area Ranking 2025

India has made significant progress in forest conservation and ecological restoration, achieving remarkable results in the latest Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025 released by the Foo

FSSAI ORS Ban 2025

The FSSAI ORS ban has recently been implemented to prohibit the use of the term ‘ORS’ (Oral Rehydration Solution) on food labels and advertisements, as it was found to be misleading to

ISRO Chandrayaan-2’s CHACE-2 Observations

In a remarkable scientific achievement, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has confirmed that its Chandrayaan-2 lunar orbiter, equipped with the CHACE-2 instrument, has made the first-e

Digital Uttarakhand AI Adoption

The Digital Uttarakhand AI adoption initiative took a major leap forward with the successful hosting of the Uttarakhand AI Impact Summit 2025 on 17 October 2025 at Hotel Ramada, Dehradun. Organise

Toppers

anil kumar
Akshay kuamr
geeta kumari
shubham