1. UNESCO World Heritage Developments
- 46th World Heritage Committee Session
- Hosted in Delhi (21-31 July 2024)
- Attended by 2900+ delegates from 140+ countries
- Project PARI (Public Art of India) launched during session
- 200+ artists and 300+ students participated
- Created wall paintings, murals, and sculptures in Delhi
- New World Heritage Site
- Moidams (Ahom Dynasty Burial System) inscribed as India’s 43rd World Heritage Site
- Location: Assam
- Significance: Contains necropolis of medieval Ahom royal family
- Current Status: India has 43 World Heritage properties and 56 on Tentative List
2. Cultural Heritage Protection
A. India-US Cooperation
- Signed first “Cultural Property Agreement” (26th July 2024)
- Purpose: Prevent illicit trafficking of antiquities
- Repatriation Statistics:
- Total 358 antiquities retrieved to date
- 345 retrieved between 2014-2024
- 297 additional antiquities being transferred from USA
B. Major Museum Initiatives
- Yuga Yugeen Bharat Rashtriya Sangrahalaya
- World’s largest museum being developed
- Location: North and South Block Secretariat Buildings, Raisina Hill
- Area: 155,000 sq meters
- Collaboration: France Museums Development
- Archaeological Experiential Museum
- Location: Vadnagar, Gujarat
- Cost: Rs. 212.10 Crores
- Area: 13,500 sq meters
- Features: Nine galleries showcasing different time periods
- Historical Significance: Site shows human settlement from 800 BC
3. Classical Languages Recognition
- New additions in 2024:
- Assamese
- Marathi
- Pali
- Prakrit
- Bengali
- Total Classical Languages: 11 (including previously recognized Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Oriya)
4. Buddhist Initiatives
A. Holy Relics Exposition
- First-ever joint exposition of Buddha and disciples’ relics in Thailand
- Duration: 26 days
- Impact: Over 4 million devotees paid obeisance
- Led by: Governor of Bihar and Union Minister of Social Justice
B. First Asian Buddhist Summit
- Theme: “Role of Buddha Dhamma in strengthening Asia”
- Participation: 32 countries, 160+ international participants
- Total Participants: Around 700
5. Literary and Cultural Recognition
- UNESCO’s Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register entries:
- Ramcharitmanas
- Panchatantra
- Sahṛdayāloka-Locana
6. Major Cultural Events and Celebrations
A. Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign
- Duration: August 9-15, 2024
- Participation: 5+ crore people uploaded selfies
- Activities: Tiranga Run, Rally, Yatra
B. Commemorative Events
- 100th Birth Anniversary of singer Mukesh
- Karpoori Thakur Birth Centenary (Year-long)
- Parakram Diwas (Netaji’s 127th Birth Anniversary)
- Meera Mahotsav (525th birth anniversary)
- 2550th Nirvan Mahotsav of Bhagwan Mahaveer
7. Research and Academic Initiatives
- MoU between Anthropological Survey of India and UCL Institute of Archaeology
- Focus: Bio-archaeological research
- Additional MoU with Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences
- Purpose: Reconstruction of South Asian Population History
