Seven Indian natural heritage sites added to UNESCO's Tentative List; India's count rises to 69
The Ministry of Culture announced on 18 September 2025 that seven natural heritage sites from India were added to UNESCO's Tentative List of World Heritage Sites, taking India's count from 62 to 69.
Summary
Seven natural heritage sites from India were included in UNESCO's Tentative List of World Heritage Sites, the Ministry of Culture announced on 18 September 2025. India's count on the Tentative List rose from 62 to 69 properties: 49 cultural, 17 natural and 3 mixed. The new sites are the Deccan Traps at Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar (Maharashtra), the St. Mary's Island Cluster (Karnataka), the Meghalayan Age Caves (Meghalaya), the Naga Hill Ophiolite (Nagaland), Erra Matti Dibbalu (Andhra Pradesh), Tirumala Hills (Andhra Pradesh) and Varkala Cliffs (Kerala). Under UNESCO's protocol, inclusion in the Tentative List is a prerequisite for nomination to the World Heritage List.
Key facts
- Sites added
- 7 natural heritage sites
- India's Tentative List
- 62 → 69 (49 cultural, 17 natural, 3 mixed)
- Maharashtra
- Deccan Traps at Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar
- Karnataka
- St. Mary's Island Cluster (columnar basalt, ~85 million years)
- Meghalaya / Nagaland
- Meghalayan Age Caves (Mawmluh Cave); Naga Hill Ophiolite
- Andhra Pradesh / Kerala
- Erra Matti Dibbalu, Tirumala Hills; Varkala Cliffs
Practice MCQs 5 questions
After seven natural sites were added in September 2025, how many Indian properties are on UNESCO's Tentative List of World Heritage Sites?
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Correct answer: A — 69
The inclusion of seven natural sites raised India's count on the Tentative List from 62 to 69 properties.
Which cave serves as the global reference point for the Meghalayan Age of the Holocene Epoch, as cited in the UNESCO Tentative List addition of September 2025?
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Correct answer: C — Mawmluh Cave
The Meghalayan Age Caves, particularly Mawmluh Cave, serve as the global reference point for the Meghalayan Age in the Holocene Epoch.
The Eparchaean Unconformity and the Silathoranam natural arch are features of which site added to UNESCO's Tentative List in September 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Tirumala Hills
Tirumala Hills in Andhra Pradesh feature the Eparchaean Unconformity and the Silathoranam (natural arch), representing over 1.5 billion years of Earth's history.
Consider the following pairs of sites added to UNESCO's Tentative List in September 2025 and their states: 1. Naga Hill Ophiolite — Nagaland 2. Erra Matti Dibbalu — Kerala Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 only
Only pair 1 is correct. Naga Hill Ophiolite is in Nagaland, but Erra Matti Dibbalu (Red Sand Hills) is near Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh; the Kerala site is Varkala Cliffs.
Consider the following statements about UNESCO's Tentative List as described in the Ministry of Culture release of 18 September 2025: 1. Inclusion in the Tentative List is a prerequisite for a site to be nominated to the World Heritage List. 2. After the September 2025 additions, cultural properties make up the largest share of India's Tentative List. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. Under UNESCO's protocol, Tentative List inclusion is a prerequisite for nomination, and India's 69 properties comprise 49 cultural, 17 natural and 3 mixed sites.