Last Updated on 21/07/2024 by wccexam Desk
The 46th session of the World Heritage Committee opens today.
46th Session of the World Heritage Committee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee in Delhi today (July 21, 2024). This is a major UNESCO event which India will host for the first time from July 21 to 31. The Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement that UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azole will also attend the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee to be held at Bharat Mandapam.
India is hosting this meeting for the first time
PM Modi will address the people present in the session. More than 2,000 delegates from more than 150 countries will attend this meeting. In a post on the social media platform ‘X’, the Prime Minister said that this event of the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee is an ‘important platform’ for exchanging views on ways to preserve heritage. He said, “It is a matter of great pleasure that India is hosting the meeting of the World Heritage Committee in New Delhi. This is the first time our country is hosting this committee.”
The Prime Minister said, “I am looking forward to attending the program tomorrow at 7 pm. This is an important platform to exchange views on ways to preserve our heritage.” The Prime Minister’s Office statement said that the proposal for nomination of new sites in the UNESCO World Heritage List, the status of conservation report of the existing 124 World Heritage properties, international assistance and the use of the World Heritage Fund will be discussed in this 11-day session.
What will happen special in the meeting of the World Heritage Committee?
According to information shared by the Ministry of Culture, the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee will examine the nominations of 27 new sites received from around the world, including 19 cultural sites, four natural sites and two mixed sites. The session will examine India’s application related to Assam’s ‘Moidams’ nominated in the cultural property category for the year 2023-24. Additional Director General of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Janhavij Sharma told reporters on Friday, “The International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) has given a favorable recommendation for the marking of Moidams, which means that it meets all the criteria.”
The Ministry of Tourism has organized exhibitions
Many other programs are also being organized by some other countries along with India. Other programs to be held at Bharat Mandapam include excursions and tourism, apart from the experience of shopping of indigenous craft products. Along with this, plans have also been made to showcase India’s digital expertise. Officials said that the Ministry of Tourism has organized exhibitions. Various exhibitions like handloom and handicrafts will also be held at Bharat Mandapam to showcase the culture and traditions of India.
More than 350 artifacts were brought back to India
A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said, “The Return of Treasures exhibition will showcase some of the artifacts brought back to the country. So far, more than 350 artifacts have been brought back to India.” The statement said, “During the event, an amazing experience of three World Heritage Sites of India will be provided using the latest AR and VR technologies, including Rani Ki Vav located in Patan, Gujarat, Kailash Temple, Ellora Caves, Maharashtra and Hoysala Temple, Halebid, Karnataka.
The Prime Minister’s Office said that an ‘Incredible India’ exhibition will also be held to highlight India’s rich cultural heritage, centuries-old civilisation, geographical diversity and tourist destinations as well as modern developments in the field of information technology and infrastructure. The World Heritage Committee meets once a year and manages all matters related to World Heritage Sites and decides on the sites to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. So far, 1,199 properties from 168 countries have been included in the World Heritage List.