India to host 46th UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee meeting

India will serve as the host nation for the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee, taking place in New Delhi from July 21st to 31st, the Ministry of Culture announced.

The World Heritage Committee, a body under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), identifies and lists cultural and natural sites of outstanding universal value on the World Heritage List.

The Committee consists of 21 member countries elected by UNESCO’s General Assembly, which last met in November 2023. There are 195 countries that have ratified the World Heritage Convention, which guides the Committee’s work.

India has 42 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra. These sites consist of 34 cultural, seven natural, and one mixed property of cultural and natural significance.

The Ministry of Culture launched Project Public Art of India (PARI) on July 6th to celebrate the event. This initiative aims to “bring forth public art in India that draws inspiration from millennia of artistic heritage.”

The project will see over 150 visual artists from across the country collaborate on creating wall paintings, murals, sculptures and installations, according to the Ministry.

Attribution: WAM agency