For Prelims: UNESCO Memory of the World (MoW) Programme, Arthashastra, Rajatarangini, Mahabharata, National Cultural Mapping Mission (NCMM), Register type, Works inscribed, Authors
For Mains: Documentary heritage, civilisational legacy, soft power, cultural diplomacy, preservation
Source:
Hindustan
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- Three Indian texts added to UNESCO MoW Asia-Pacific Register: Rajatarangini, Mahabharata, Arthashastra.
- Rajatarangini was written by Kalhana.
- Mahabharata is attributed to Vedavyasa.
- Arthashastra was written by Kautilya (Chanakya).
- The 11th MoW Committee meeting was held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Why in the news?
Three foundational Indian texts — Kalhana's Rajatarangini, Vedavyasa's Mahabharata and Kautilya's Arthashastra — have been inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World (MoW) Asia-Pacific Regional Register. This recognition elevates India's documentary heritage on a global platform and is a high-yield culture and static GK topic for all exams, especially Prelims.
Summary
- UNESCO's Memory of the World (MoW) Committee for Asia and the Pacific added three Indian classics to its regional register at its 11th meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia.
- The three works are: Rajatarangini by Kalhana (12th-century history of Kashmir), Mahabharata by Vedavyasa (ancient Indian epic), and Arthashastra by Kautilya (treatise on statecraft and economics).
- The inscription was facilitated by the National Cultural Mapping Mission (NCMM) and its Mission Director Dr. Mayank Shekhar.
Highlights
Three Texts Inscribed
Rajatarangini (history), Mahabharata (epic), and Arthashastra (statecraft) entered the UNESCO MoW Asia-Pacific Regional Register.
11th MoW Committee Meeting
The decision was taken at the 11th session of the MoW Committee for Asia and the Pacific in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Indian Documentary Heritage
The inscription recognises India's intellectual legacy and was supported by the National Cultural Mapping Mission.
Key Analysis and Impact
The inclusion of these three works highlights India's deep historical and philosophical contributions. Rajatarangini is a foundational text for the history of Kashmir; Mahabharata is a core epic of Indian culture; Arthashastra is a key text on political economy and statecraft. This recognition adds prestige and may aid preservation efforts.
Way Forward
The inscription will bring global attention to these manuscripts and could lead to better digital preservation and academic study. India is likely to propose more manuscripts for future MoW listings, continuing its efforts to document its civilisational heritage.
Background GK
Textbook concepts you need to understand this news
- UNESCO Memory of the World (MoW) Programme
- An international initiative launched by UNESCO in 1992 to safeguard the world's documentary heritage against neglect, deterioration, and loss. It maintains registers at international, regional, and national levels.
- Arthashastra
- An ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy, written by Kautilya (also known as Chanakya), dated to around the 4th century BCE.
- Rajatarangini
- A 12th-century historical chronicle of the kings of Kashmir, written by the Sanskrit poet Kalhana. It is considered one of the earliest examples of historical writing in India.
- Mahabharata
- One of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, attributed to Vedavyasa. It contains the Bhagavad Gita and is a central text of Hindu mythology and philosophy.
- National Cultural Mapping Mission (NCMM)
- An Indian government initiative under the Ministry of Culture aimed at documenting, preserving, and promoting the country's tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
Facts to remember
Tap a card to see the answer. Try to recall it first.
How exams will ask this
- Data: Three texts inscribed in UNESCO MoW Asia-Pacific Regional Register: Rajatarangini, Mahabharata, Arthashastra
- Nodal Body: National Cultural Mapping Mission (NCMM) under Ministry of Culture
Don't make this mistake!
Students may confuse the MoW Asia-Pacific Regional Register with the UNESCO World Heritage List (sites) or the Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Also, the meeting venue (Jakarta) and committee number (11th) are likely MCQ targets.
Write these in mains answers
- Documentary heritage, civilisational legacy, soft power, cultural diplomacy, preservation
Stuck? Get it in one tap
UNESCO has a special list called the Memory of the World register for important historical documents. India got three of its ancient texts added to the Asia-Pacific part of this list: a history book by Kalhana, a big epic by Vedavyasa, and a book on politics and economics by Kautilya. This was decided at a meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia.
- Three Indian texts added to UNESCO MoW Asia-Pacific Register: Rajatarangini, Mahabharata, Arthashastra.
- Rajatarangini was written by Kalhana.
- Mahabharata is attributed to Vedavyasa.
- Arthashastra was written by Kautilya (Chanakya).
- The 11th MoW Committee meeting was held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
- History: Ancient and Medieval Indian Literature
- Art and Culture: UNESCO and World Heritage
Related concepts: UNESCO Memory of the World (MoW) Programme, Arthashastra, Rajatarangini, Mahabharata
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Medium
Which Indian government body facilitated the inscription of Indian texts in the UNESCO Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register?
Explanation: The National Cultural Mapping Mission (NCMM), under the Ministry of Culture, is tasked with documenting and promoting India's cultural heritage. It facilitated the nomination of these three works. The Ministry of External Affairs handles diplomacy, the ASI protects monuments, and IGNCA is a research centre; none of them led this specific effort.
- Q2Hard
Consider the following statements regarding the UNESCO Memory of the World (MoW) Programme:
- 1.The MoW Programme was launched in 1992 to preserve documentary heritage.
- 2.The three Indian texts recently added to the Asia-Pacific Regional Register are the Rigveda, the Mahabharata, and the Arthashastra.
- 3.The 11th meeting of the MoW Committee for Asia and the Pacific was held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: the MoW Programme was launched in 1992. Statement 2 is incorrect: the recently added texts are Rajatarangini, Mahabharata, and Arthashastra. Statement 3 is correct: the 11th meeting was held in Jakarta, Indonesia. Therefore only statements 1 and 3 are correct.
- Q3Easy
At which venue was the 11th meeting of the UNESCO Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific held?
Explanation: The 11th meeting of the UNESCO MoW Committee for Asia and the Pacific was held in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. New Delhi, Bangkok, and Beijing are other major Asian capitals but were not the venue for this specific meeting.
- Q4Medium
What is the primary objective of inscribing documentary heritage in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register?
Explanation: The MoW Programme aims to safeguard the world's documentary heritage, facilitate access, and raise awareness of its significance. Tourism promotion is not its mandate; it does not grant copyright protection; and translation is not a stated objective of the register itself.
Frequently asked questions
1. Which three Indian texts were added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register?
The three texts are Rajatarangini by Kalhana, Mahabharata by Vedavyasa, and Arthashastra by Kautilya.
2. Where was the 11th meeting of the UNESCO Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific held?
It was held in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia.
3. What is the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme?
It is an international initiative launched by UNESCO in 1992 to preserve and promote the world's documentary heritage.
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- Original5 November 2026 · Read story
