UNESCO World Heritage, Intangible Heritage and GI Products

What to remember

• UNESCO World Heritage Sites are of three kinds: cultural, natural and mixed. India has sites of all kinds, but only one mixed site: Khangchendzonga National Park (Sikkim).
• Intangible Cultural Heritage protects living traditions: dance, theatre, chanting, festivals and crafts. It is not about buildings.
• A Geographical Indication (GI) tag protects a product linked to a place (for example Darjeeling tea). It comes from the GI Act, 1999, and the Registry is at Chennai.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India

UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) works under the World Heritage Convention of 1972. A site is chosen for "Outstanding Universal Value". India joined the convention in 1977. The first Indian sites listed were Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) looks after most cultural sites.

Remember a few links: Hampi was the Vijayanagara capital. Ellora has rock-cut Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves. Mahabalipuram is Pallava work. Konark is in Odisha. The Capitol Complex was designed by Le Corbusier. The Red Fort is the site of the Prime Minister's Independence Day address. Dholavira is a Harappan city in Gujarat. The Ramappa temple at Palampet in Telangana was inscribed as a Kakatiya work.

The Western Ghats site is a natural one, shared by several states including Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. The Tentative List holds sites that India has nominated for the future. Sites can be placed on the List in Danger if they face threats.

Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)

The 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage created the "Representative List". India has many elements on this list.

Geographical Indications (GI)

• The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 came into force in 2003. It follows India's duty under the TRIPS Agreement of the WTO.
• The GI Registry is in Chennai. A GI is valid for 10 years and can be renewed.
• Darjeeling tea was the first product to get a GI tag in India.
• A GI protects a product's name and quality linked to the place or people. It differs from a patent, which protects an invention, and from a trademark, which protects a brand.

Andhra Pradesh GI products (examples):

Other well-known national GI products: Kanchipuram silk, Banarasi sarees, Mysore silk, Pashmina, Assam tea, Basmati rice, Alphonso mango, Nagpur orange, Kolhapuri chappals, Madhubani painting, Channapatna toys and Bikaneri bhujia.

How a site gets on the list

A country first makes a Tentative List of its sites. A site is then nominated and studied by expert bodies. The World Heritage Committee decides. Cultural sites must meet at least one of six criteria; natural sites meet one of four. The Archaeological Survey of India protects many cultural sites by law, using the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act. Natural sites are managed by the forest departments and the wildlife laws. The Government of India nominates sites through the Ministry of Culture.

The idea of buffer zones also matters. A buffer zone is an area around a site where building is controlled to protect the setting of the monument. India's heritage cities, such as Jaipur and Ahmedabad, are living cities. They are listed for their town planning and old city streets, not only for single buildings.

More sites worth recalling

• Sanchi: Buddhist stupas from the Mauryan and Sunga-Satavahana period, in Madhya Pradesh.
• Bhimbetka: a rock-shelter site with rock paintings, in Madhya Pradesh.
• Elephanta Caves: rock-cut Shiva temples on an island near Mumbai.
• Great Living Chola Temples: Brihadisvara at Thanjavur, the temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram and the Airavatesvara at Darasuram.
• Hampi (Group of Monuments): Vijayanagara capital by the Tungabhadra river, in Karnataka.
• Pattadakal: Chalukya temples in both North and South styles, in Karnataka.
• Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers: a Himalayan natural site in Uttarakhand.
• Sundarbans: mangrove forest, home of the Royal Bengal tiger, in West Bengal.
• Keoladeo: a bird sanctuary in Rajasthan.
• Manas and Kaziranga: natural sites in Assam; Kaziranga is known for the one-horned rhinoceros.

More on intangible heritage

Intangible heritage is passed on from one generation to the next. It includes oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festive events, knowledge about nature, and craft skills. The key idea is that the community itself keeps the tradition alive. UNESCO's list does not give money but it gives international recognition. India has the Sangeet Natak Akademi as the nodal body for many such files, and the ministry of culture has an intangible heritage scheme.

GI products: how they differ

A GI product usually has a quality, a name and a method that come from the place. A GI tag can be given to farm products (Basmati rice), handicrafts (Kondapalli toys), manufactured goods and food items (Tirupati laddu). Only registered "authorised users" in that place can use the GI name. A GI is a collective right, not owned by a single person; this is why a producers' association usually applies. A GI product sold under a false name can be taken to court for infringement. GI is recognised in other countries through the TRIPS agreement of the WTO, so Indian products such as Darjeeling tea and Basmati can be protected abroad.

Exam traps

• Cultural vs natural vs mixed: Kaziranga is natural; Khangchendzonga is the only mixed one in India.
• Intangible vs tangible: Ramlila, Kutiyattam and Chhau are intangible; Hampi and Konark are tangible (monuments).
• First sites: Ajanta, Ellora, Agra Fort and Taj Mahal were the first Indian sites. Not Hampi or Khajuraho.
• First GI: Darjeeling tea; not Basmati or Pashmina.
• GI vs patent vs trademark: GI ties a product to a place; a patent is for an invention.
• Ellora vs Ajanta: Ellora has three religions' caves; Ajanta is Buddhist, famous for painting.
• Ramappa temple is Kakatiya and in Telangana; Lepakshi is not a UNESCO site.
• GI Registry is in Chennai, not Delhi or Mumbai.

One-liners

• 1. UNESCO's World Heritage Convention dates from 1972.
• 2. Ajanta, Ellora, Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal were India's first World Heritage Sites.
• 3. Khangchendzonga is India's only mixed World Heritage Site.
• 4. Kaziranga, Manas, Keoladeo and the Sundarbans are natural sites.
• 5. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is a World Heritage railway station in Mumbai.
• 6. Kutiyattam is Kerala's Sanskrit theatre listed as intangible heritage.
• 7. Ramlila and Vedic chanting are on the Representative List.
• 8. Darjeeling tea was India's first GI product.
• 9. The GI Act was passed in 1999.
• 10. The GI Registry is in Chennai.
• 11. Kondapalli toys and Tirupati laddu hold GI tags.
• 12. A GI lasts 10 years and can be renewed.

Practice questions

1. Which is the only mixed (cultural and natural) World Heritage Site in India?

   1. Nanda Devi National Park
   2. Khangchendzonga National Park
   3. Kaziranga National Park
   4. Sundarbans National Park
   Answer

   B. Khangchendzonga National Park

   Khangchendzonga in Sikkim is India's mixed site.

2. Which of these was among India's first World Heritage Sites?

   1. Sanchi
   2. Hampi
   3. Khajuraho
   4. Taj Mahal
   Answer

   D. Taj Mahal

   Ajanta, Ellora, Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal were the first four.

3. The Sun Temple of Konark is in which state?

   1. Tamil Nadu
   2. Odisha
   3. Karnataka
   4. Gujarat
   Answer

   B. Odisha

   Konark is in Odisha.

4. Hampi, a World Heritage Site, was the capital of the

   1. Mauryan Empire
   2. Mughal Empire
   3. Chola Empire
   4. Vijayanagara Empire
   Answer

   D. Vijayanagara Empire

   Hampi was the Vijayanagara capital.

5. The Khajuraho temples were built by the

   1. Hoysalas
   2. Cholas
   3. Chandelas
   4. Pallavas
   Answer

   C. Chandelas

   Khajuraho is a Chandela work in Madhya Pradesh.

6. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, a World Heritage Site, is a

   1. fort in Rajasthan
   2. port in Gujarat
   3. palace in Mysuru
   4. railway station in Mumbai
   Answer

   D. railway station in Mumbai

   It is a Victorian Gothic railway terminus.

7. The Capitol Complex at Chandigarh was designed by

   1. Herbert Baker
   2. Le Corbusier
   3. Edwin Lutyens
   4. Laurie Baker
   Answer

   B. Le Corbusier

   Le Corbusier designed Chandigarh's Capitol Complex.

8. Dholavira, a World Heritage Site, is a

   1. Harappan city in Gujarat
   2. Chola temple in Tamil Nadu
   3. Buddhist stupa in Bihar
   4. Mughal tomb in Delhi
   Answer

   A. Harappan city in Gujarat

   Dholavira is a Harappan site.

9. Kaziranga National Park is famous for the

   1. hangul deer
   2. snow leopard
   3. Asiatic lion
   4. one-horned rhinoceros
   Answer

   D. one-horned rhinoceros

   Kaziranga in Assam holds a large rhino population.

10. The Sundarbans, a natural World Heritage Site, is known for

    1. coral reefs
    2. hot desert dunes
    3. mangrove forests and the Royal Bengal tiger
    4. alpine meadows
    Answer

    C. mangrove forests and the Royal Bengal tiger

    The Sundarbans is a mangrove delta.

11. The Great Living Chola Temples include the

    1. Kandariya Mahadeva temple
    2. Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur
    3. Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram
    4. Lingaraja temple
    Answer

    B. Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur

    The Thanjavur Brihadisvara temple is part of the group.

12. The Ramappa (Rudreswara) temple, a World Heritage Site, is in which state?

    1. Odisha
    2. Kerala
    3. Karnataka
    4. Telangana
    Answer

    D. Telangana

    Ramappa is at Palampet in Telangana.

13. The UNESCO World Heritage Convention was adopted in

    1. 1992
    2. 1972
    3. 1960
    4. 1945
    Answer

    B. 1972

    The Convention dates from 1972.

14. Ramlila, listed by UNESCO as intangible heritage, is a traditional performance of the

    1. Ramayana
    2. Mahabharata
    3. Panchatantra
    4. Jataka tales
    Answer

    A. Ramayana

    Ramlila stages the story of Rama.

15. Kutiyattam is a form of

    1. folk song of Rajasthan
    2. puppet play of Andhra
    3. Sanskrit theatre of Kerala
    4. mask dance of Odisha
    Answer

    C. Sanskrit theatre of Kerala

    Kutiyattam is a Sanskrit theatre tradition.

16. Chhau, listed as intangible heritage, is a

    1. temple chant of Ladakh
    2. mask dance of eastern India
    3. brass craft of Punjab
    4. ritual theatre of Kerala
    Answer

    B. mask dance of eastern India

    Chhau is a mask dance form.

17. Kalbelia songs and dances belong to

    1. Tripura
    2. Assam
    3. Rajasthan
    4. Goa
    Answer

    C. Rajasthan

    Kalbelia is from Rajasthan.

18. The Thatheras of Jandiala Guru are known for

    1. stone carving
    2. toy making
    3. silk weaving
    4. brass and copper utensil making
    Answer

    D. brass and copper utensil making

    This Punjab craft is on the intangible list.

19. The Geographical Indications of Goods Act was passed in

    1. 1999
    2. 1991
    3. 1995
    4. 2005
    Answer

    A. 1999

    The GI Act is of 1999.

20. The Geographical Indications Registry is located in

    1. Mumbai
    2. Hyderabad
    3. Delhi
    4. Chennai
    Answer

    D. Chennai

    The GI Registry is in Chennai.

21. The first product to receive a GI tag in India was

    1. Basmati rice
    2. Pashmina shawl
    3. Darjeeling tea
    4. Kanchipuram silk
    Answer

    C. Darjeeling tea

    Darjeeling tea was the first.

22. A registered GI is valid for

    1. 5 years only
    2. 20 years
    3. a lifetime
    4. 10 years, renewable
    Answer

    D. 10 years, renewable

    GI registration is for 10 years and can be renewed.

23. Bobbili Veena, an Andhra GI product, is a

    1. fabric
    2. musical instrument
    3. fruit
    4. sweet
    Answer

    B. musical instrument

    The Veena is a string instrument.

24. Banganapalle, a GI product of Andhra Pradesh, is a type of

    1. mango
    2. chilli
    3. rice
    4. coffee
    Answer

    A. mango

    Banganapalle mango has a GI tag.

25. Guntur Sannam, a GI product, is a type of

    1. mango
    2. chilli
    3. tobacco
    4. turmeric
    Answer

    B. chilli

    Guntur Sannam is a chilli variety.

26. Araku, which has a GI tag, is known for

    1. pepper
    2. tea
    3. coffee
    4. cotton
    Answer

    C. coffee

    Araku coffee is a GI product.

27. India protects GIs because of obligations under the

    1. TRIPS Agreement of the WTO
    2. Ramsar Convention
    3. Kyoto Protocol
    4. SAARC Charter
    Answer

    A. TRIPS Agreement of the WTO

    GI protection follows the TRIPS framework.

28. A Geographical Indication differs from a patent because a patent protects

    1. a place name
    2. a new invention
    3. a traditional craft
    4. a regional dish
    Answer

    B. a new invention

    A patent covers inventions; a GI links a product to a place.

29. Which of the following is intangible heritage?

    1. Kumbh Mela
    2. Qutb Minar
    3. Konark Sun Temple
    4. Humayun's Tomb
    Answer

    A. Kumbh Mela

    Festivals and practices are intangible; monuments are tangible.

30. A site that faces serious threats can be placed on the

    1. Ramsar List
    2. Red Data Book
    3. Tentative List
    4. List of World Heritage in Danger
    Answer

    D. List of World Heritage in Danger

    UNESCO keeps a danger list.

31. Etikoppaka toys of Andhra Pradesh are made of

    1. brass sheets
    2. clay and straw
    3. lacquered wood
    4. paper pulp
    Answer

    C. lacquered wood

    Etikoppaka toys are lacquer-turned wooden toys.

32. Consider the statements: 1. Khangchendzonga is India's only mixed World Heritage Site. 2. Kaziranga is a cultural site. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    Kaziranga is a natural site.

33. Consider the statements: 1. Ellora has Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves. 2. The Ajanta caves are Buddhist. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are standard facts.

34. Consider the statements: 1. A GI protects a new invention. 2. Darjeeling tea was India's first GI product. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    A GI links a product to a place; it does not protect inventions.

35. Consider the statements: 1. Kutiyattam is a tangible heritage. 2. Ramlila is on UNESCO's Representative List. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    Kutiyattam is intangible heritage.

36. Consider the statements: 1. Hampi was a Vijayanagara capital. 2. Konark Sun Temple is in Tamil Nadu. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    Konark is in Odisha.

37. Consider the statements: 1. A GI is valid for 10 years and can be renewed. 2. The GI Registry is in Chennai. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

38. Consider the statements: 1. Guntur Sannam is a handicraft. 2. Bobbili Veena is a fruit. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    D. Neither 1 nor 2

    Sannam is a chilli and the Veena is an instrument.

39. Consider the statements: 1. Chhau is intangible cultural heritage. 2. Vedic chanting is intangible cultural heritage. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are on the Representative List.

40. Consider the statements: 1. Dholavira is a Harappan site. 2. Sanchi is a Jain site. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    Sanchi is Buddhist.

41. Match the sites with the facts. (a) Konark (b) Hampi (c) Elephanta (d) Capitol Complex 1 Le Corbusier 2 Vijayanagara 3 Odisha Sun Temple 4 Island caves near Mumbai

    1. a-2, b-3, c-4, d-1
    2. a-3, b-1, c-4, d-2
    3. a-3, b-2, c-1, d-4
    4. a-3, b-2, c-4, d-1
    Answer

    D. a-3, b-2, c-4, d-1

    Konark-Odisha; Hampi-Vijayanagara; Elephanta-island near Mumbai; Capitol Complex-Le Corbusier.

42. Match the heritage elements with their regions. (a) Kutiyattam (b) Ramman (c) Kalbelia (d) Thatheras 1 Rajasthan folk song-dance 2 Kerala Sanskrit theatre 3 Garhwal ritual theatre 4 Punjab metal craft

    1. a-2, b-3, c-4, d-1
    2. a-2, b-3, c-1, d-4
    3. a-2, b-1, c-3, d-4
    4. a-1, b-3, c-2, d-4
    Answer

    B. a-2, b-3, c-1, d-4

    Kutiyattam-Kerala; Ramman-Garhwal; Kalbelia-Rajasthan; Thatheras-Punjab.

43. Match the GI products with their type. (a) Kondapalli (b) Araku (c) Banganapalle (d) Bobbili 1 mango 2 coffee 3 toys 4 Veena

    1. a-2, b-3, c-1, d-4
    2. a-3, b-1, c-2, d-4
    3. a-3, b-2, c-4, d-1
    4. a-3, b-2, c-1, d-4
    Answer

    D. a-3, b-2, c-1, d-4

    Kondapalli-toys; Araku-coffee; Banganapalle-mango; Bobbili-Veena.

44. Consider the statements: 1. Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya is a World Heritage Site. 2. It is in Odisha. Which is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    It is in Bihar.

45. Which World Heritage Site in Rajasthan is a famous bird sanctuary?

    1. Kaziranga National Park
    2. Keoladeo National Park
    3. Manas National Park
    4. Great Himalayan National Park
    Answer

    B. Keoladeo National Park

    Keoladeo is a natural World Heritage Site in Rajasthan.