UNESCO Heritage
**1. Organization of Conference**
1. The UNESCO World Heritage Committee’s 46th session will be organized by India from July 21 to July 31.
2. Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi will serve as the venue for the conference.
**2. Attendees**
1. The event is predicted to attract more than 2,500 delegates.
2. Attendees will comprise State Parties, advisory bodies, senior diplomats, heritage professionals, academics, and researchers from 195 nations.
3. A State Party denotes a country that has ratified the World Heritage Convention.
**3. Organizers**
1. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is responsible for organizing the event.
2. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the conference on July 21.
**4. Agenda and Timetable**
1. UNESCO has already issued a provisional agenda and schedule for the conference.
**5. Heritage Committee**
1. The World Heritage Committee is comprised of representatives from 21 State Parties to the World Heritage Convention, which was established in 1972.
2. The committee’s 45th session was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
**6. Current Members**
1. The current members of the committee were chosen during the 24th General Assembly of UNESCO in November 2023.
2. The committee consists of Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Turkey, Ukraine, Vietnam, and Zambia.
**7. Responsibilities**
1. The committee is tasked with ensuring the enforcement of the World Heritage Convention.
2. It allots financial support from the World Heritage Fund.
3. It has the final decision-making power on whether to include a site on the World Heritage List.
**8. Establishment and Revisions**
1. The committee was established under the convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO’s General Conference at its 17th session on 16 November 1972.
2. The Rules of Procedure were last updated by the World Heritage Committee during its 39th session (Bonn, 2015).
**9. World Heritage Sites in India**
1. India boasts of 42 UNESCO world heritage sites.
2. Santiniketan, which was established by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, became the 41st world heritage site in India in September 2023.
**MCQs**
**Q1. Where was the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held?**
a) New Delhi
b) Riyadh
c) Bonn
d) Accra
**Answer**: b) Riyadh
**Explanation**: The 45th session of the World Heritage Committee was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
**Q2. In which year was the World Heritage Convention established?**
a) 1970
b) 1972
c) 1975
d) 1980
**Answer**: b) 1972
**Explanation**: The World Heritage Convention was established in 1972. The committee was set up under the convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, which was adopted by UNESCO’s General Conference at its 17th session on 16 November 1972.
**Q3. Who is expected to inaugurate the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee?**
a) The President of India
b) The Prime Minister of India
c) The Secretary-General of UNESCO
d) The Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
**Answer**: b) The Prime Minister of India
**Explanation**: According to reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the event on July 21.
