➡ World Heritage Day
▪ The World Heritage Day is observed every year across world on April 18.
▪ Observance of day aims to spread awareness importance of protecting and preserving various sites around world that have achieved world heritage status and having outstanding universal values.
▪ This year theme of the day is “Heritage for Generations”, emphasizing on inter-generational transfer of knowledge.
➡ Background
▪ The World Heritage Day was announced by International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) in 1982.
▪ It was approved by General Assembly of UNESCO in 1983, with an aim of enhancing awareness about importance of cultural heritage, monuments and to conserve them.
▪ ICOMOS was established on principles set in Venice Charter, also known as 1964 International Charter on Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites. There are total 36 (1 mixed, 7 Natural and 28 Cultural) UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India having special cultural or physical significance