What happened?
India observed World Heritage Day on April 18, highlighting its commitment to protecting cultural and natural legacies. This year’s theme—“Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts”—stressed the urgency of safeguarding heritage in vulnerable areas. With 43 World Heritage Sites and 62 on UNESCO’s Tentative List, India marked the day through multiple initiatives, including digital documentation, museum development, and international engagement, such as hosting the 46th World Heritage Committee session in Delhi in 2024.
Why it matters to India
As custodian of a vast civilisational legacy, India’s preservation efforts have global resonance. Government programmes like Adopt A Heritage 2.0, the digitisation of antiquities, and infrastructure revamps at pilgrimage sites reflect a policy shift towards heritage-led development and tourism. International collaborations and recognitions, including recent literary inscriptions and museum expansions, underscore India’s soft power strategy—anchoring heritage as both a national priority and a tool of global cultural diplomacy.