SAFEGUARDING INDIA'S INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

The Ministry of Culture hosted the 20th Session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (20.COM) at the Red Fort, New Delhi, from 8‑13 December 2025, marking the first time India hosted the Committee. Approximately 1,200 delegates from about 130 countries participated. A key outcome was the inscription of Deepavali on UNESCO’s Representative List, making it the 16th Indian element on the list. The government decided to nominate Chhath Mahaparva as a multinational element, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi, the nodal agency, maintains a National Inventory of 54 elements, while UNESCO permits only one nomination in a two‑year cycle. The information was provided by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in the Rajya Sabha.