India to Host 46th World Heritage Committee Meeting, Showcasing Cultural and Natural Splendor

New Delhi: The Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, announced today that India will host the 46th World Heritage Committee Meeting from July 21 to 31, 2024, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. This marks the first time India will host the prestigious event, underscoring the nation’s commitment to celebrating and preserving global heritage.

The meeting will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the ceremony also featuring Madam Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, alongside other senior officials from the UNESCO World Heritage Secretariat. The event will be attended by Culture Ministers, Ambassadors, and experts from around the world.

Shekhawat highlighted the significance of the event, stating, “The 46th World Heritage Committee Meeting will showcase India’s diverse and unique cultural and natural heritage to the world, elevating our cultural glory to new heights.” He praised the Culture Ministry for organizing this major event within a remarkable timeframe of 40 days, emphasizing that it represents the first major initiative under Prime Minister Modi’s third term.

The meeting’s logo, inspired by the World Heritage Site of Hampi, features the iconic stone chariot from the Vijaya Vitthala Temple. The tagline, “सह नौ यशः” (“May our Glory Grow”), reflects the ancient Sanskrit scripture ‘Taitiriya Upanishad,’ symbolizing India’s aspirations to enhance the World Heritage Convention’s scope.

Vishal V. Sharma, Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee and India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNESCO, and Yaduvir Singh Rawat, Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), joined Shekhawat at the press briefing. Sharma provided insights into the meeting’s agenda, which includes:

• Identifying and inscribing new cultural and natural properties of Outstanding Universal Value on the World Heritage List.
• Monitoring the conservation status of existing World Heritage properties.
• Deciding on the inclusion or removal of properties from the World Heritage in Danger list.
• Examining requests for International Assistance from the World Heritage Fund.

Parallel events include:

• World Heritage Young Professionals Forum: Running from July 14 to 23, this forum will engage 50 young professionals from 31 countries in discussions on heritage conservation and intercultural exchange.
• World Heritage Site Managers’ Forum: Held from July 18 to 25, the forum will focus on sustainable management practices under the theme “Heritage and Communities: Inclusive and Effective Approaches.”

Additional activities include side events and exhibitions organized by various Indian ministries and state governments. These will feature traditional crafts, digital transformation initiatives like UPI-One World, and exhibitions curated by the Ministry of Ayush on Ayurveda. Yoga and meditation sessions will be offered to delegates, and curated local tours to heritage sites will be arranged.