UPSC Prelims 2024 Q65: Art & Culture – Architecture & World Heritage
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two
- (c) Only three
- (d) All four
Answer: (b) Only two
Explanation
UNESCO World Heritage List - 2023 Indian Inscriptions
| Property | Year Inscribed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shantiniketan | 2023 | Rabindranath Tagore's school/university complex in West Bengal; inscribed September 2023 |
| Rani-ki-Vav | 2014 | Stepwell at Patan, Gujarat; inscribed in 2014 |
| Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas | 2023 | Three Hoysala temples (Belur, Halebid, Somnathapura) in Karnataka; inscribed September 2023 |
| Mahabodhi Temple Complex, Bodhgaya | 2002 | Site of Buddha's enlightenment in Bihar; inscribed in 2002 |
Properties included in 2023: Shantiniketan + Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas = Only TWO
India now has 42 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (40 cultural + 7 natural as of 2023 session).
Answer: (b) Only two.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Two properties were inscribed in 2023 (Shantiniketan and Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas), not just one.
- (b) CORRECT. Only two of the listed properties were inscribed in 2023 - Shantiniketan (Tagore's heritage complex in West Bengal) and Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas (Karnataka temples). Rani-ki-Vav was 2014 and Mahabodhi Temple was 2002.
- (c) Incorrect. Only two properties were inscribed in 2023, not three. Rani-ki-Vav (2014) and Mahabodhi Temple (2002) are not 2023 additions.
- (d) Incorrect. Only two of the four listed properties were inscribed in 2023. Rani-ki-Vav and Mahabodhi Temple were inscribed in 2014 and 2002 respectively.
Key point
2023 UNESCO World Heritage new additions from India: Shantiniketan (West Bengal) + Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas (Karnataka) = 2 properties. Rani-ki-Vav = 2014. Mahabodhi = 2002.
Remember
Two Indian properties were added to UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023: Shantiniketan (West Bengal) and Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas (Karnataka).
Common mistakes
- Thinking Rani-ki-Vav was a 2023 addition - it was inscribed in 2014 from the 38th session of the World Heritage Committee.
- Not knowing about the Hoysala temples - the three temples (Belur, Halebid, Somnathapura) in Karnataka were inscribed together as Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas in September 2023.
- Confusing Shantiniketan (2023) with other Tagore-related sites - Shantiniketan was India's 41st World Heritage Site when inscribed.
Exam tip
For UNESCO 2023 India additions: S + S = 2023: Shantiniketan + Sacred Ensembles of Hoysalas. Remember the double 'S' for 2023. Earlier: Rani-ki-Vav (2014), Mahabodhi (2002).
Sources
- UNESCO World Heritage List - India
- Ministry of Culture, Government of India - World Heritage Nominations