Nitin Singhania Summary: Unesco’s List Of Tangible World Heritage Sites In India | History for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Criteria for Selection

The nominated sites must be of "outstanding universal value" and should meet at least one of the ten mentioned criteria:

Criteria for Cultural Sites

• Represents a masterpiece of human creative genius.
• Exhibits an important interchange of human values over a span of time, or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design.
• Bears a unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilisation which is living or which has disappeared.
• Is an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural, or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates a significant stage in human history.
  
• Is an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use or sea-use which is representative of a culture or human-interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change.
• Is directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.

Criteria for Natural Sites

• Contains superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance.
• Is an outstanding example representing major stages of the Earth's history, including the record of life, significant ongoing geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features.
• Is an outstanding example representing significant ongoing ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems, and communities of plants and animals.
• Contains the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.
  
  Question for Nitin Singhania Summary: Unesco’s List Of Tangible World Heritage Sites In India

  Try yourself:

  Which of the following is a criterion for selecting a cultural site?

  • A.

    Contains superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance.
  • B.

    Represents a masterpiece of human creative genius.
  • C.

    Is an outstanding example representing significant ongoing ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems.
  • D.

    Contains the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity.

  Explanation

  - The criterion for selecting a cultural site is that it represents a masterpiece of human creative genius.
  - This means that the site showcases exceptional creativity and innovation in areas such as architecture, technology, monumental arts, town-planning, or landscape design.
  - The site should be a testament to the creative capabilities of humanity and demonstrate significant advancements or developments in these fields.
  - By meeting this criterion, the cultural site is recognized for its outstanding universal value and its contribution to human civilization.

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Legal Status of Designated Sites

• Designation as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO serves as initial proof of cultural sensitivity.
• Such sites are entitled to legal safeguarding under the Geneva Convention, its Articles, protocols, and customs.
• This protection extends to treaties like the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and International Law.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites In India

Cultural Sites 

Natural Sites

 Benefits of the World Heritage Site Status 

• Brings international attention to the need for site preservation and conservation.
• Attracts tourism, leading to economic benefits; UNESCO may offer funds for restoration, preservation, and training.
• Promotes close ties with the United Nations, offering prestige and support.
• Provides access to global project management resources.
• Facilitates partnerships among government, private sector, and NGOs to achieve conservation objectives.
• Site protection under the Geneva Convention during wartime.