India hosted the 20th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2025 in what city?

The 20th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was indeed hosted by India in New Delhi in December 2025. This significant event took place from December 8 to 13, with the historic Red Fort serving as the esteemed venue. It marked a notable occasion as it was the first time India had the honor of convening this particular session.

This committee is a crucial 24-member UNESCO body established under the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Its primary mission is to promote the objectives of this Convention, which seeks to protect living cultural traditions passed down through generations. Such heritage encompasses a wide array of practices, including oral traditions, performing arts, social rituals, festive events, traditional craftsmanship, and knowledge concerning nature and the universe. The committee plays a vital role in providing guidance on best safeguarding practices, examining nominations for UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage lists, and ensuring the effective implementation of the Convention across member states.

India's hosting of the 20th session in its capital, New Delhi, held particular significance as it coincided with the twentieth anniversary of the nation's ratification of the 2003 UNESCO Convention in 2005. This underscores India's deep and sustained commitment to preserving its rich and diverse living cultural traditions. India's Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Vishal V. Sharma, chaired the session, further highlighting the country's active involvement in global efforts to safeguard intangible cultural heritage. To date, India boasts 15 elements inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.