UNESCO's 20th Intergovernmental Committee session on Intangible Cultural Heritage opens at Red Fort
The 20th Session of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage opened at the Red Fort, New Delhi, on 8 December 2025.
Summary
The 20th Session of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage opened at the Red Fort, New Delhi, on 8 December 2025. The UNESCO session, running until 13 December, was opened in the presence of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany, and brings together nearly a thousand delegates. India's Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Vishal V. Sharma, chairs the session; India has 15 elements on UNESCO's Representative List and is a Committee member for 2022â2026.
Key facts
- Date
- 8â13 December 2025
- Venue
- Red Fort, New Delhi
- Session
- 20th, Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of ICH
- Chairperson
- Vishal V. Sharma, India's Permanent Representative to UNESCO
- UNESCO DG
- Khaled El-Enany
- India's elements on Representative List
- 15
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Where did the 20th Session of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage open on 8 December 2025?
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Correct answer: D â Red Fort, New Delhi
PIB 2200378: the 20th Session began at the Red Fort, New Delhi, on 8 December 2025.
Who chaired the 20th Session of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held in New Delhi in December 2025?
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Correct answer: C â Vishal V. Sharma
PIB 2200489: Vishal V. Sharma, India's Permanent Representative to UNESCO, is the 20.COM Chairperson. Vivek Aggarwal is Culture Secretary, Ernesto Ottone is UNESCO ADG for Culture and Khaled El-Enany is UNESCO Director-General.
According to the Culture Ministry in December 2025, how many Indian elements are on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (before the 20th session)?
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Correct answer: C â 15
PIB 2200489: the Culture Secretary underscored India's 15 elements on the Representative List, including Vedic Chanting, Kutiyattam, Yoga, Kumbh Mela, Durga Puja and Garba.