Heritage Governance — UNESCO WH/Intangible Lists, ASI, GI Tags, PRASAD, HRIDAY

What should you study in Heritage Governance?

• UNESCO World Heritage Sites — 42 sites in India (cultural & natural)
• UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage — Yoga, Kumbh Mela, Durga Puja, Garba
• ASI mandate — protected monuments, excavations, conservation
• GI Tags — Darjeeling tea, Kanchipuram silk; PRASAD (pilgrimage); HRIDAY (heritage cities)

How often is Heritage Governance asked in UPSC Mains?

Asked in 6 of 10 years, including 5 of the last 5. Highlighted years below are the ones it appeared in.

1. 2016: not asked
2. 2017: not asked
3. 2018: not asked
4. 2019: asked
5. 2020: not asked
6. 2021: asked
7. 2022: asked
8. 2023: asked
9. 2024: asked
10. 2025: asked

About the Mains GS Paper I paper

GS Paper I is a 250-mark descriptive Mains paper covering Indian heritage and culture, history and geography of the world, and society. See all 41 Mains GS Paper I topics.

Related topics to study next

• Temple Architecture — Nagara, Dravida, Vesara & Regional Sub-SchoolsHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
• Buddhist, Jain & Indo-Islamic Architecture — Stupas, Caves, Mosques, FortsHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs
• Sculpture & Iconography — Schools (Mathura, Gandhara, Amravati), Symbolsasked 2/10 yrs
• Indian Painting — Ajanta, Mughal, Rajput, Pahari, Company Schoolsasked 2/10 yrs
• Classical Dance, Music & Theatre — Natya Shastra, Gharanas, State MappingHigh-yieldasked 5/10 yrs
• Literature, Languages & Classical Language Status — Sanskrit/Prakrit/Tamilasked 2/10 yrs
• Folk & Tribal Art, Crafts, Fairs & Festivals across Indiaasked 2/10 yrs
• Religio-Cultural Traditions — Bhakti, Sufi, Buddhism/Jainism & Syncretic CultureHigh-yieldasked 4/10 yrs