Why the session matters
The ICH Committee implements the 2003 UNESCO Convention for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage and guides global efforts to preserve living traditions: oral expressions, performing arts, rituals, crafts and knowledge systems. This session provides a platform for member states to review nominations, allocate assistance, share best practices and strengthen policies that protect heritage transmitted across generations.
India’s role and timing
The timing of the New Delhi meeting aligns with the twentieth anniversary of India’s ratification of the 2003 Convention in 2005. India has served on the Intergovernmental Committee for three terms and has cultivated an active national safeguarding architecture including the Sangeet Natak Akademi and a central Scheme for Safeguarding Intangible Heritage. So far, 15 Indian elements have been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List, reflecting a wide spectrum from Kutiyattam and Chhau to Yoga and the Kumbh Mela.
Key agendas on the table
At the 20th session, delegates will evaluate inscription dossiers, consider requests for international assistance, and discuss operational directives for the Convention. India will present its national safeguarding model combining community participation, institutional support, documentation and inventories as a best-practice example for other nations.
The committee will also delve into capacity building, collaborative nominations, and strategies to engage youth and indigenous communities in safeguarding efforts. Enhancing the relationship between heritage protection and sustainable development will be a recurring theme.
Local and global implications
Hosting the committee raises global visibility for India’s living heritage and supports cultural diplomacy. The session aims to mobilise international resources, encourage joint safeguarding projects and attract research and tourism interest in lesser-known traditions and crafts. For practitioners and communities, such exposure can translate into training, market linkages and livelihood support.
India’s safeguarding machinery
The Ministry of Culture and Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) are the nodal agencies for India’s ICH work. The national Scheme for Safeguarding the Intangible Heritage funds documentation, nominations, capacity building and educational initiatives. The SNA organises workshops to train practitioners in documentation and nomination dossier preparation, helping communities craft sustainable safeguarding plans.
Recent moves and nominations
This year, India nominated Chhath Mahaparva and Diwali for inscription moves that spotlight large-scale social practices with deep community roots. India’s existing UNESCO listings cover performing arts, spiritual traditions, craftsmanship and social practices that illuminate the country’s cultural diversity and continuity.
Safeguarding as development
ICH is a living asset: it sustains identities, supports livelihoods and fosters education. By linking heritage protection to skills training, tourism and local entrepreneurship, governments can turn culture into a resource for inclusive growth. The New Delhi session will emphasise community-led strategies that place practitioners at the heart of safeguarding measures.
What to expect from the New Delhi session
Expect formal agenda items inscriptions, assistance requests and policy discussions alongside cultural diplomacy events that showcase India’s traditions. The committee will review nominations from around the world and set priorities for technical aid and capacity building. India will use the session to advocate for balanced, community-centred approaches and stronger mechanisms for global cooperation.
