SYLLABUS

GS-1: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

Context: India is hosting the 20th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) from December 8 to 13, 2025, at the historic Red Fort in New Delhi. 

More on the News

• The event marks as the first time India is convening the session and coincides with the twentieth anniversary of India’s ratification of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. 

• The Ministry of Culture and its autonomous body, the Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) are the nodal agencies to host the Session.

• The session focuses on protecting living cultural traditions recognised by communities as part of their identity, including practices, knowledge, expressions, objects, and spaces passed down through generations.

• This year, India has nominated Chhath Mahaparva and Diwali for UNESCO’s ICH List.

About Intangible Cultural Heritage

• It was adopted on October 17, 2003, during UNESCO’s 32nd General Conference in Paris, France.

• The Convention responded to global concerns over cultural traditions, performing arts, rituals, craftsmanship, and knowledge systems being threatened by globalisation, social change, and limited resources.

• It emphasises the role of communities, indigenous groups, and individual practitioners in safeguarding heritage, while promoting global cooperation and awareness among younger generations.

• China has the highest number of elements on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity with 44 entries, followed by Türkiye with 31 and France with 30.

• To date, 15 Indian elements have been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

India – UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (Representative List, 2008–2024)

Sources:
DD INDIA
PIB