UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register

Current context: The Bhagavad Gita and Bharat Muni’s Natyashastra have been added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register on April 17, 2025, marking a major recognition of India’s rich cultural heritage.

• This brings the total number of Indian inscriptions in the list to

Key Points

• UNESCO Memory of the World Register: A prestigious list of documentary heritage collections, showcasing significant cultural and historical documents globally.
• New Additions: 74 new collections, including the Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra, are added, making the total number of inscriptions 570.
• Global Recognition: The inclusion is a recognition of India’s timeless wisdom and culture, especially the Bhagavad Gita, a philosophical and spiritual guide, and Natyashastra, a foundational treatise on performance art
• Significance: The Gita has been translated into around 80 languages, while the Natyashastra remains one of the most comprehensive texts on theatre and performing arts.