Khangchendzonga NP Rated ‘Good’ by IUCN, Only Indian Site to Receive Positive Status

Current Context: In the IUCN World Heritage Outlook 2025, released on 5 November 2025 at the World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi.

• Khangchendzonga National Park (Sikkim) was rated ‘Good’, making it the only Indian site to receive a positive status.
• The park, spread over 1,784 sq. km and home to Mount Khangchendzonga, was recognised for its strong conservation record, effective management, and biodiversity resilience.
• Other Indian sites like Kaziranga, Nanda Devi, and Valley of Flowers were rated “Good with Some Concerns”, while the Western Ghats and Sundarbans faced “Significant Concerns”.
• Globally, only 20% of 252 UNESCO natural World Heritage sites achieved a ‘Good’ rating.
• This recognition reinforces India’s conservation leadership, with Khangchendzonga already being the country’s first mixed UNESCO World Heritage Site (2016) for both natural and cultural importance.

Question:

Q.1 Which Indian site was the only one rated ‘Good’ in the IUCN World Heritage Outlook 2025?
a) Kaziranga National Park
b) Sundarbans
c) Khangchendzonga National Park
d) Nanda Devi National Park

Answer: c) Khangchendzonga National Park in Sikkim was the only Indian site to receive a positive ‘Good’ rating in the 2025 Outlook.