UNESCO’s World Heritage List during its 47th Committee Meeting in Paris, France

Current Context: The 47th World Heritage Committee met at UNESCO HQ in Paris from July 6–16, 2025, chaired by Prof. Nikolay Nenov (Bulgaria).

• It comprised 21 elected members including India, Rwanda, Japan, and Italy.

Aim: To evaluate new heritage sites and review conservation status under the 1972 Convention.

Highlights:

• 26 new sites inscribed: 21 cultural, 4 natural, 1 mixed
• India’s Maratha Military Landscapes added as its 44th World Heritage Site
• First-time entries from Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
• Removal of 3 African sites from the List of World Heritage in Danger
• Strong focus on climate resilience, Indigenous rights, and AI ethics in heritage
• Announcement of the 48th World Heritage Committee (WHC) session to be held in Busan, South Korea.

Question:

Q.1 Which Indian site was added to the World Heritage List during the 47th WHC session?
a) Sarnath Buddhist Complex
b) Maratha Military Landscapes
c) Qutub Minar Complex
d) Sundarbans National Park

Answer: b) India’s "Maratha Military Landscapes" was added as its 44th World Heritage Site in 2025.