Recent Current Affairs related to UNESCO

The Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, has been inscribed as the 45th UNESCO World Heritage Site of India. The announcement was made during the 48th Session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) held in Busan, South Korea.

The site had been on the UNESCO Tentative List since 1998, marking the end of a 28-year wait for this designation. This is the 4th UNESCO World Heritage Site in Uttar Pradesh. With 45 sites, India now ranks 6th globally in terms of the number of World Heritage properties.

World Youth Skills Day

Day - 15 July

Theme 2026 - "Skills for a Shared Future"

Observed since - 2015

The Jestha Varna Mahavihar, a historic Buddhist monastery located in Lalitpur, Nepal (also known as Jyaba Bahi or Chakrabahil), has been conferred with the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award 2025. The award recognises the outstanding conservation and restoration work undertaken following the damage caused by the 2015 Gorkha earthquake.

It is to be noted that the restoration project was supported by the Government of India (GoI) through its post-earthquake cultural heritage reconstruction grant, with financial assistance of NPR 13.78 crore.

World Music Day

Day – June 21

Theme 2026 – "Music for Peace"

Observed since – 1982

Initiated by – Jack Lang and Maurice Fleuret from France

National Reading Day

Day - June 19

Observed since - 1996

Commemorating - The contributions of PN Panicker, known as the Father of the Library and Literacy Movement in Kerala

World Metrology Day:

Day – May 20

Theme 2026 – “Metrology: Building Trust in Policy Making”

Observed by – UNESCO

Observed since – 2000

International Day of Light:

Day – May 16

Theme 2026 – “Light for a Sustainable Future”

Observed since – 2018

Commemorating – The anniversary of Theodore Maiman’s first successful laser operation in 1960

Five outstanding female scientists have been honoured with the “UNESCO–L’Oréal International Awards for Women in Science 2026”, presented jointly by the UNESCO and the Fondation L’Oréal.

The laureates for 2026 include Professor Liesl Zühlke from South Africa, Professor Felice Jacka from Australia, Professor Sarah A Teichmann from the UK, Professor Raquel Chan from Argentina, and Professor Gordana Novakovic from the United States (US).

World Press Freedom Day:

Day – May 03

Theme 2026 – “Shaping a Future at Peace”

Observed since – 1994

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Jayant Chaudhary has inaugurated the first United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Chair in Asia on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development at the Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU) in Pune, Maharashtra.

The launch took place during the international conference “Women Leading the Future of Work”, organised in collaboration with UNESCO. Dr Swati Mujumdar, the Pro-Chancellor of SSPU, has been named the UNESCO Chairholder. The university has also introduced the “Kushal Saathi” initiative to provide structured mentorship for girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines and career opportunities.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has designated 12 new Global Geoparks, bringing the total number of sites to 241 across 51 countries. The new additions are located in China, France, Greece, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Portugal, Russia, Uruguay, and Tunisia, with the Dahar site being the first-ever for Tunisia. The total area covered by these geoparks exceeds 8.82 lakh sq km.

The label of UNESCO was established in 2015 and uses a “bottom up” approach involving local stakeholders. The status is valid for 4 years, after which the sites must undergo a revalidation process to retain the title.

International Day for Monuments and Sites:

Day – April 18

Theme 2026 – “Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts: Preparedness and Learning from 60 years of ICOMOS Actions”

Observed by – International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)

Also known as – World Heritage Day