India and UNESCO

Background Information:

India in the field of Culture with UNESCO works around four cultural conventions and two additional protocols/programs that protect cultural heritage and foster cultural diversity.

  1. The 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (ratified by India in 1977);
  2. The 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (ratified by India in 1977);
  3. The 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ratified by India in 2005)
  4. The 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (ratified by India in 2006)

Additionally, India is also a part of the Memory of the World Register Programme 1992, and the Creative Cities Network  2004


Number of items/properties/practices inscribed under different conventions/programmes from India:

S.No. Convention/Programme/Network No. of properties/practices/items
1. 1972 World Heritage Convention 40 (32 cultural, 7 natural, 1 mixed)
2. 2003 Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention 14 (14 elements inscribed on the Representative List of ICH of Humanity)
3. Memory of the World Programme 09
4. Creative Cities Network 6 - Jaipur (Crafts & Folk Art), Varanasi (Music), Chennai (Music), Mumbai (Film), Hyderabad (Gastronomy) and Srinagar (Crafts & Folk Art)

Brief information on the above Conventions and programes: 

1)    1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property
This has always been one of the most important conventions of UNESCO as the illicit trafficking of cultural objects is a major concern across the globe. India’s commitment to the objectives of this convention is strongly reflected in the restitution of the 157 artefacts from the USA under the leadership of our Hon’ble PM.

UNESCO New Delhi’s efforts in organizing the capacity building workshop around the convention which was attended by officials of the Ministry of Culture is highly appreciated. 

2)    1972 World Heritage Convention:

  • With 40 sites inscribed on the WH List, India ranks number 6 in the 194 State Parties signatory to the Convention. 
  • Dholavira: A Harappan City, and Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple were inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List recently.
  • India was elected to the Intergovernmental World Heritage Committee of UNESCO’s 1972 World Heritage Convention on November 2021 for 4 years (2021-2025). India has also served as a member of the Committee in the years 1985-1991, 2001-2007 and 2011-2015. 

3)     2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)

  • With 14 elements inscribed on the Representative List of ICH of Humanity, India ranks  9th among the 180 State Parties signatory to the Convention.
  • Durga Puja in Kolkata was inscribed on the Representative List of ICH of Humanity recently in 2021.
  • Garba of Gujarat was submitted in 2022 for possible inscription on the Representative List of ICH of Humanity.
  • India was elected to the Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural heritage Convention in July 2022 for 4 years (2022-2026). India has also served as a member of the Intergovernmental Committee for two terms: during 2006-2010 and 2014-2018
  • Sangeet Natak Akademi is the nodal agency for all ICH related matters and maintaining the ICH National Inventory as declared by the Ministry of Culture.

4)    Memory of the World Programme 1992
The vision of the Memory of the World Programme is that the world's documentary heritage belongs to all, should be fully preserved and protected for all and, with due recognition of cultural mores and practicalities, should be permanently accessible to all without hindrance. 

  • The IGNCA is the nodal agency for Memory of the world programme. 
  • India has registered 9 documentary heritages on the Memory of the World Register

5)     UNESCO Creative Cities Network
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was created in 2004 to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. The 246 cities which currently make up this network work together towards a common objective: placing creativity and cultural industries at the heart of their development plans at the local level and cooperating actively at the international level.

  • It is a state/city initiated programme, where particular cities send their nominations to UNESCO via approval from Ministry of Culture.
  • India has 6 cities part of the UNESCO Creative City Network (UCCN)