World Heritage Day ● Every year on April 18, 'International D | UTKARSH in ENGLISH

World Heritage Day
● Every year on April 18, 'International Day for Monuments and Sites' or 'World Heritage Day' is organized to create awareness for the protection of cultural-historical sites and heritage.
● The day aims to create awareness about the cultural-historical heritage among various communities.
● International Day for Monuments and Sites/World Heritage Day is being celebrated by various Circles/Museums/Branch Offices of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on 18th April, 2023.
● The theme of World Heritage Day for the year 2023 is 'HERITAGE CHANGES'.
● The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) established 'World Heritage Day' in the year 1982 and in the year 1983 it was approved by the 'United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization' (UNESCO).
● World Heritage Site refers to a place which has been listed by UNESCO because of its special cultural or physical importance.
● The list of World Heritage sites is prepared by the 'World Heritage Programme', administered by the 'World Heritage Committee' of UNESCO.
● This list is embodied in an international treaty called the 'Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage' adopted in the year 1972 by UNESCO.
● As of April 2023, a total of 1,157 World Heritage sites (900 cultural, 218 natural and 39 mixed properties) exist in 167 countries; The countries with the most sites are Italy (58), China (56), Germany (51), France (49), Spain (49), India (40), Mexico (35), the United Kingdom (33) and Russia (30).