Consider the following properties included in the World Heritage List released by UNESCO : 1. Shantiniketan 2. Rani-ki-Vav 3. Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas 4. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodhgaya How many of the above properties were included in 2023 ?
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) Only three
- (d) All four
Why the answer is (b)
• At the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee (Riyadh, September 2023) India gained two new inscriptions: Santiniketan, Tagore's university town in West Bengal, and the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas — the temples at Belur, Halebidu and Somanathapura in Karnataka.
• Rani-ki-Vav, the stepwell at Patan in Gujarat, was inscribed earlier, in 2014.
• The Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya was inscribed in 2002.
• So only two of the four were added in 2023, taking India's total to 42 (43 with the Moidams in 2024).
• Hence option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) Only one
- Two sites (Santiniketan and the Hoysala ensembles) were added in 2023, not one.
- (c) Only three
- Rani-ki-Vav (2014) was not a 2023 inscription.
- (d) All four
- Rani-ki-Vav and Mahabodhi were inscribed in 2014 and 2002 respectively.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2024, held on 16 June 2024. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.