For Prelims: UNESCO Memory of the World Programme, Mahabharata, Rajatarangini, Arthashastra, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), UNESCO Register, Session, India's Total Entries
For Mains: Soft power, Cultural diplomacy, Documentary heritage, IGNCA, Kalhana's historiography, Kautilya's statecraft
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- Three Indian manuscripts — Mahabharata, Rajatarangini, Arthashastra — inscribed in UNESCO Asia-Pacific register.
- Rajatarangini is a 12th-century historical chronicle by Kalhana.
- Arthashastra is a treatise on statecraft by Kautilya (Chanakya).
- The decision was taken at the 11th session in Jakarta, Indonesia.
- The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) prepared the nomination dossiers.
Why in the news?
Three ancient Indian manuscripts — Mahabharata, Rajatarangini (12th century by Kalhana), and Arthashastra (by Kautilya) — have been inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register. This global recognition of India's civilisational heritage brings India's total entries in this regional register to six. The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) prepared the nomination dossiers.
Summary
- UNESCO's Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register inscribed three Indian manuscripts: Mahabharata, Rajatarangini (by Kalhana, 12th century), and Arthashastra (by Kautilya).
- The decision was taken at the 11th session of the regional register held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
- This recognition brings India's total entries in this regional register to six.
- The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) played a key role in preparing the nomination documents.
- Rajatarangini is a historical chronicle of Kashmir's kings; Arthashastra is a treatise on statecraft, economics and military strategy.
Highlights
Three Manuscripts Inscribed
Mahabharata, Rajatarangini (by Kalhana, 12th century), and Arthashastra (by Kautilya) have been added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register.
IGNCA's Role
The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts prepared the nomination dossiers for the three works.
India's Cultural Recognition
India's total entries in the regional register have increased to six, marking global acknowledgment of its rich civilisational heritage.
Background
UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme was established in 1992 to preserve and promote documentary heritage of global significance. The Asia-Pacific Regional Register is one of several regional registers under this programme. India has been actively nominating its documentary heritage; prior to this, it had three entries in this regional register.
Key Analysis and Impact
The inclusion of Mahabharata, Rajatarangini and Arthashastra is significant for several reasons. Mahabharata is the world's longest epic, central to Indian philosophy and dharma. Rajatarangini by Kalhana is a pioneering historical chronicle (12th century) that uses evidence and critical method, making it a landmark in Indian historiography. Arthashastra by Kautilya (Chanakya) is a foundational text on statecraft, economics and military strategy, still studied globally. This recognition elevates India's soft power and cultural diplomacy, showcasing its intellectual heritage on a global platform.
Way Forward
The recognition can lead to better conservation and digitisation of the original manuscripts. India may nominate more documentary heritage items for future UNESCO registers, strengthening its cultural diplomacy. Students should note this as an example of India's soft power and the role of institutions like IGNCA in heritage preservation.
Background GK
Textbook concepts you need to understand this news
- UNESCO Memory of the World Programme
- An international programme launched in 1992 to preserve and promote documentary heritage of world significance. It maintains a World Register and regional registers.
- Mahabharata
- The longest epic poem in the world, composed in Sanskrit, attributed to sage Vyasa. It narrates the Kurukshetra War and contains the Bhagavad Gita.
- Rajatarangini
- A 12th-century historical chronicle of the kings of Kashmir, written by Kalhana. It is considered one of the earliest works of Indian historiography.
- Arthashastra
- An ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy, traditionally attributed to Kautilya (Chanakya); its date of composition is debated, with scholars placing it broadly between the 4th century BCE and the 3rd century CE.
- Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA)
- An autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, focused on the study and preservation of Indian arts and cultural heritage.
Facts to remember
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How exams will ask this
- Data: Three manuscripts (Mahabharata, Rajatarangini, Arthashastra) inscribed in UNESCO Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register
- Data: 11th session in Jakarta, Indonesia
- Data: India's total entries in this register now six
- Nodal Body: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) — prepared the nomination
Don't make this mistake!
Examiners may ask which UNESCO register these were added to — the 'World Register' vs 'Asia-Pacific Regional Register'. They may also confuse the author of Rajatarangini (Kalhana) with other historians, or ask the century of its composition (12th century, not 10th or 14th).
Write these in mains answers
- Soft power, Cultural diplomacy, Documentary heritage, IGNCA, Kalhana's historiography, Kautilya's statecraft
Stuck? Get it in one tap
UNESCO has officially recognised three very old Indian books as part of world heritage. These are the Mahabharata (a huge epic), Rajatarangini (a history of Kashmir written 900 years ago), and Arthashastra (a guide on how to run a kingdom, written by Chanakya). This gives the works global recognition, and India now has six such recognised works in this list.
- Three Indian manuscripts — Mahabharata, Rajatarangini, Arthashastra — inscribed in UNESCO Asia-Pacific register.
- Rajatarangini is a 12th-century historical chronicle by Kalhana.
- Arthashastra is a treatise on statecraft by Kautilya (Chanakya).
- The decision was taken at the 11th session in Jakarta, Indonesia.
- The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) prepared the nomination dossiers.
- Art and Culture: UNESCO and Indian heritage
- History: Ancient Indian texts and historiography
Related concepts: UNESCO Memory of the World Programme, Mahabharata, Rajatarangini, Arthashastra
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Easy
Which institution prepared the nomination dossiers for the three Indian manuscripts inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register?
Explanation: The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) played a key role in preparing the nomination documents for the three works. The Archaeological Survey of India focuses on physical heritage, the National Museum on artefacts, and Sahitya Akademi on literature, but IGNCA specifically handled this UNESCO nomination.
- Q2Hard
Consider the following statements regarding the UNESCO Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register:
- 1.Three Indian manuscripts — Mahabharata, Rajatarangini and Arthashastra — were recently inscribed in this register.
- 2.Rajatarangini is a 12th-century historical chronicle written by the historian Kalhana.
- 3.This was the 10th session of the regional register, held in New Delhi.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: the three manuscripts were inscribed. Statement 2 is correct: Rajatarangini was written by Kalhana in the 12th century. Statement 3 is incorrect: the 11th session was held in Jakarta, Indonesia, not the 10th session in New Delhi.
- Q3Medium
How many Indian entries are now in the UNESCO Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register after the recent inscription?
Explanation: With this addition, India's total entries in the regional register have become six. Three (the previous count) plus three new ones gives six. Option A (three) was the earlier count; options B and C are incorrect totals.
- Q4Medium
What is the primary significance of the UNESCO inscription of these three Indian manuscripts?
Explanation: The UNESCO inscription is a symbolic recognition of the global importance of these works, enhancing India's cultural soft power. It does not provide financial grants or copyright protection, nor does it mandate curriculum inclusion. The recognition helps in preservation awareness but is primarily a mark of heritage value.
Frequently asked questions
1. Which three Indian manuscripts were recently added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register?
Mahabharata, Rajatarangini (by Kalhana, 12th century), and Arthashastra (by Kautilya) were inscribed in the register.
2. Where and when was the decision to inscribe these manuscripts taken?
The decision was taken at the 11th session of the Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register, held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
3. Which Indian institution prepared the nomination dossiers for these manuscripts?
The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) prepared the nomination documents for the three works.
4. How many Indian entries are now in the UNESCO Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register?
After this addition, India has a total of six entries in this regional register.
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Original6 November 2026 · Read story
Merged6 November 2026 · Read story
