UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
UNESCO's list of living traditions (festivals, dances, crafts, chants); India's entries began in 2008.
What the paper can ask
- The 2003 Convention was adopted 17 October 2003 in Paris and came into force 20 April 2006.
- Two lists exist: the Representative List and the Urgent Safeguarding List; an Intergovernmental Committee decides each year, usually in December.
- Yoga (2016) and the Kumbh Mela are among India's entries; Nawrouz is a multinational entry shared with several countries.
- The 20th Committee session (December 2025) was held at the Red Fort, New Delhi, the first hosted by India.
Latest
India has 16 elements on the Representative List counting the multinational Nawrouz (2024); the newest is Deepavali, inscribed on 10 December 2025 at the New Delhi session; before it came Garba of Gujarat (2023) and Durga Puja in Kolkata (2021).
Why exams ask
The newest Indian entry, the year of each inscription and the state of each element are asked every year.
The full story
Intangible cultural heritage means living traditions passed down through generations: oral traditions, performing arts, rituals and festivals, knowledge of nature, and craftsmanship. UNESCO's 2003 Convention created the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, decided each year by an Intergovernmental Committee. India's entries began in 2008 and include dances, festivals, chants, a craft tradition and yoga.
In the news
Test yourself
1.Kutiyattam, inscribed by UNESCO in 2008, is a form of:
Correct. Kutiyattam is Sanskrit theatre of Kerala, inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List in 2008.
Not quite. Kutiyattam is Sanskrit theatre of Kerala, inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List in 2008. It goes into your error book.
2.Ramman, a religious festival and ritual theatre inscribed by UNESCO in 2009, is from the Garhwal Himalayas of which state?
Correct. Ramman is a ritual theatre of Garhwal, in Uttarakhand, inscribed in 2009.
Not quite. Ramman is a ritual theatre of Garhwal, in Uttarakhand, inscribed in 2009. It goes into your error book.
3.Kalbelia folk songs and dances, inscribed by UNESCO in 2010, are from which state?
Correct. Kalbelia songs and dances of the snake-charming Kalbelia community of Rajasthan were inscribed in 2010.
Not quite. Kalbelia songs and dances of the snake-charming Kalbelia community of Rajasthan were inscribed in 2010. It goes into your error book.