Special traffic arrangements for Tin Hau Festival

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Police will implement special traffic arrangements in various districts to facilitate the celebration of Tin Hau Festival.

Yuen Long
———- Southbound carriageway of Po Yip Street between Hong Yip Street and Yuen Long On Lok Road;
– Yuen Long On Lok Road between Po Yip Street and Wang Chau Road;
– Wang Chau Road;
– Tung Lok Street between Yuen Long On Ning Road and Fook Tak Street;
– Tai Kiu Road;
– Sau Fu Street;
– Kik Yeung Road;
– Yuen Long On Ning Road between Wang Chau Road and Ma Miu Road;
– Ma Miu Road; and
– Wang Tat Road between Shui Pin Wai Interchange and Fung Chi Road, except for franchise buses.- Yau San Street between Kin Lok Street and Hop Yick Road;
– Westbound Kin Lok Street;
– Kin Yip Street;
– Hop Yick Road;
– Kin Tak Street; and
– Tai Tong Road between Shung Ching San Tsuen and Hop Yick Road.- Kau Yuk Road between Tai Tong Road and Fung Nin Road;
– Ma Tin Road between Kau Yuk Road and Ma Tong Road;
– Yuen Long Tai Yuk Road between Kau Yuk Road and Ma Tin Road;
– Yuen Long On Hing Street;
– On Leung Lane;
– On Hong Road;
– On Chun Lane;
– Ma Tong Road and Ma Tin Road between Sai Yu Street and Yuen Long Tak Yuk Road; and
– Tai Shu Ha Road East between Ma Tong Road and Tai Shu Ha Tin Hau Temple.- Kin Yip Street between the entrance/exit of the car park of Fung Ting Court and its junction with Kin Lok Street will be re-routed one way northbound from 8am on April 20 until completion of the procession.- Car park of Town Park Road North outside Yuen Long Stadium;
– Ma Tin Road;
– Wang Fat Path;
– Kin Tak Street;
– Yan Lok Square;
– Hung Min Court;
– On Leung Lane;
– On Hong Road; and
– On Chun Lane.——— San Tak Street;
– Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Road between Castle Peak Road –San Hui and Pui To Road;
– Choi Yee Bridge Road;
– Tsing Yin Street;
– San Tsing Street;
– Ho Pong Street (except buses and green minibuses entering Tuen Mun Station Public Transport Interchange);
– Ming Ngai Street;
– Luk Yuen Street;
– Yan Ching Street;
– Tak Ching Circuit; and
– Westbound Pui To Road between Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Road and Tin Hau Road.- Hung Cheung Road from its southern junction with San Ping Circuit to its junction with Tin Hau Road;
– San On Street from its southern junction with Hung Cheung Road to a point about 30 metres north of the same junction;
– Southbound Hung Cheung Road between its northern and southern junctions with San Ping Circuit;
– San Hop Lane; and
– Hing Wong Street from its junction with Hung Cheung Road to a point about 30 metres north of the same junction.- Northbound Ho Pong Street.- Traffic along southbound Castle Peak Road – San Hui heading for westbound Pui To Road can be diverted via southbound Castle Peak Road – Castle Peak Bay, westbound Tuen Hing Road, southbound Tuen Mun Road, westbound Wong Chu Road and northbound Tsing Wun Road;
– Traffic along southbound Tuen Mun Road heading for Yip Wong Road can be diverted via Tsing Tin Interchange, westbound Tsing Tin Road, southbound Ming Kum Road and southbound Tsing Wun Road;
– Traffic along northbound Tuen Mun Road heading for Yip Wong Road can be diverted via westbound Wong Chu Road, southbound Lung Mun Road, eastbound Lung Mun Road, northbound Lung Chak Road and eastbound Lung Chak Road;
– Traffic along southbound Tuen Mun Road heading for westbound Pui To Road can be diverted via Tsing Tin Interchange, westbound Tsing Tin Road and southbound Tsun Wen Road;
– Traffic along northbound Tuen Mun Road heading for westbound Pui To Road can be diverted via westbound Wong Chu Road and northbound Tsing Wun Road;
– Traffic along southbound Tuen Mun Road heading for San Ping Circuit can be diverted via Tsing Tin Interchange, westbound Tsing Tin Road, southbound Tsun Wen Road, westbound Pui To Road and southbound Hung Cheung Road;
– Traffic along northbound Tuen Mun Road heading for San Ping Circuit can be diverted via westbound Wong Chu Road, northbound Tsing Wun Road, northbound Ming Kum Road, eastbound Shek Pai Tau Road, southbound Tsun Wen Road, westbound Pui To Road and southbound Hung Cheung Road;
– Traffic along westbound Pui To Road can be diverted via southbound Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Road, eastbound Tuen Hing Road, southbound Tuen Mun Road, westbound Wong Chu Road and northbound Tsing Wun Road; and
– Traffic along northbound Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Road can be diverted via eastbound Pui To Road, northbound Tuen Mun Road, Tsing Tin Interchange, westbound Tsing Tin Road and southbound Tsun Wen Road.- Car park on San Wo Lane;
– Northbound Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Road opposite to San Hui Playground;
– Tsing Yin Street;
– Car park on Tsing Yin Street;
– San Tsing Street;
– Ho Pong Street;
– Car park on Ho Pong Street;
– Luk Yuen Street;
– Yan Ching Street; and
– Tak Ching Circuit.———— Eastbound Cha Kwo Ling Road between Wing Fook Street and Wai Yip Street will be closed; and
– Vehicles heading for eastbound Cha Kwo Ling Road will be diverted via the unnamed slip road leading from Cha Kwo Ling Road to Wai Yip Street, westbound Wai Yip Street, Kwun Tong Ferry Concourse Access Road, eastbound Wai Yip Street and eastbound Cha Kwo Ling Road.——— Seven metered parking spaces (meter no. 28671B, 28672A, 28672B, 28673A, 28673B, 28674A and 28674B) on Tai Au Mun Road outside Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club will be suspended; and
– Four metered parking spaces (meter no. 28249A, 28249B, 28250A and 28250B), four motorcycle parking spaces and a coach parking space on Tai Au Mun Road near Po Toi O Chuen Road will be suspended.- Nin Chun Street will be re-routed one way northbound;
– Man Nin Street from its western junction with Yi Chun Street to its junction with Nin Chun Street will be converted into two-way traffic; and
– Traffic along Man Nin Street heading for Po Tung Road will be diverted via northbound Nin Chun Street and westbound Man Nin Street.- Metered parking spaces on Yi Chun Street (meter no. 28091B, 28093A, 28093B, 28094A, 28094B, 28095A, 28095B, 28096A, 28096B, 28117A, 28117B and 28118B);
– Metered parking spaces on Po Tung Road (meter no. 28025A, 28025B and 28027A); and
– All motorcycle parking spaces opposite to Mona Fong Government Clinic on Man Nin Street, thirteen temporary motorcycle parking spaces will be provided at Man Nin Street near the promenade.

No Entry Fee at ASI Monuments on World Heritage Day, 18th April 2025

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 17 APR 2025 4:44PM by PIB Delhi

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is happy to announce that on the occasion of ‘International Day for Monuments and Sites’, celebrated globally on 18th April, no fee shall be charged on visiting ASI monuments across India.

  

This initiative aims to encourage visitors to explore India’s rich cultural heritage. With 3,698 monuments and sites under its protection, ASI is offering this opportunity to reconnect with the country’s historical legacy and architectural marvels.

This year’s theme for ‘International Day for Monuments and Sites; is ‘Heritage under threat from disaster and conflicts.’ where awareness is being spread on safeguarding the heritage sites from natural or manmade disasters, threats or conflicts.

  

By waiving off entry fee, ASI hope to promote greater public engagement around the importance of conservation and management of our built heritage and how can citizens play active role in keeping our heritage preserved.

After all, as per the Fundamental Duties laid down in our Constitution, it is our collective responsibility to protect these invaluable heritage sites and do our bit to protect them.

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Sunil Kumar Tiwari

pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

(Release ID: 2122442) Visitor Counter : 27

College of Nursing, AH(R&R) celebrates World Health Day-2025

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 17 APR 2025 4:41PM by PIB Delhi

College of Nursing, AH(R&R) celebrated World Health Day-2025 on April 17, 2025. The theme of the event was ‘Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures’ which emphasises on Maternal and Child Health.

As the Chief Guest, First Lady AH(R&R) Mrs Navneet Nath graced the event and inaugurated the work stations. Several therapeutic diets, including diabetic, cardiac, renal, and antenatal & postnatal diets, as well as complementary feeding for children aged six months to one year, were on display in the workshop.

In honour of World Health Day 2025, the students demonstrated the significance of the various aspects of health. The event encouraged awareness, education, and good habits among students and the community, highlighting the significance of healthy beginnings for hopeful futures.

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SR/PS

(Release ID: 2122438) Visitor Counter : 50

Bose Institute scientists receive Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics as part of ALICE collaboration at CERN

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 17 APR 2025 4:38PM by PIB Delhi

The Experimental High Energy Physics (HEP) group of Bose Institute (BI), currently consisting of Faculty members- Prof. Supriya Das, Dr. Sidharth Kumar Prasad and Dr. Saikat Biswas, Post Doctoral Fellow- Dr. Sanchari Thakur and Senior Research Fellow- Mr. Mintu Haldar, has been awarded the Breakthrough Prize 2025 in Fundamental Physics as a part of ALICE at CERN.

The $3 million Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for 2025 is awarded to thousands of researchers from more than 70 countries representing four experimental collaborations at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) – ATLAS, CMS, ALICE and LHCb.

Fig 1: 2025 Breakthrough Prize Ceremony

Bose Institute, Kolkata is the only Autonomous Institute under Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, working in A Large Ion Collider Experiment (ALICE) at CERN along with many other collaborators in India. ALICE studies the Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP), a state of extremely hot and dense matter that existed in the first microseconds after the Big Bang.

The institute joined ALICE Collaboration under the leadership of Prof. Sibaji Raha, former Director of Bose Institute as Principal Investigator.

Prof. Kaustuv Sanyal, Director, Bose Institute conveyed his warm congratulations to the team members of Experimental High Energy Physics group and said, “This is a great achievement not only for the Bose Institute team but also for the entire community of Indian high energy physicists working in mega science projects such as ALICE at CERN. Such awards will encourage young minds to join this kind of complex and large experimental programs for exploration of new physics.”

The HEP Group of Bose Institute has made significant contributions in several areas of the ALICE experimental program such as detector hardware development, simulation, physics analysis, data-taking and operations of the experiment.

Fig 2: Bose Institute Faculties at CERN

An indigenously built proportional counter based highly granular Photon Multiplicity Detector (PMD) was deployed in the ALICE experiment for detection of inclusive photons at forward rapidity. The PMD was commissioned in ALICE in the year 2008 and participated in the data taking program till 2018. Bose Institute played a leading role in the operations of PMD at CERN since 2014 till its decommissioning. Post data collection, the efforts of data clean up, calibration and quality assurance of the entire PMD data set to optimize it for physics analysis was also led by the faculty from Bose Institute in collaboration with students from various Indian institutes/universities participating in ALICE.

A new type of Time Projection Chamber (TPC) is being used after the upgrade of the ALICE so as to cater to the high luminosity environment expected at the LHC facility. This device relies on the intrinsic ion back flow (IBF) suppression of Micro-Pattern Gas Detectors (MPGD) based technology in particular the Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM).

The new read-out chambers in TPC consist of stacks of 4 GEM foils combining different hole pitches. In addition to the low ion back flow, other advantages of GEM technology are good energy resolution and long-term stability in operation. Researchers from Bose Institute were involved in ALICE-TPC upgradation project.

Faculties and trainees from Bose Institute have made significant contributions to the Physics program of the ALICE by leading about six publications in addition to contributing to several other ALICE papers. Bose Institute members have contributed to several areas of Physics studies.

Fig 3: Faculty members and students of Bose Institute working in ALICE experiments

Congratulating all the collaborators, the ALICE Spokesperson Prof. Marco Van Leeuwen wrote “I would like to congratulate the entire collaboration and the LHC community for this well-deserved recognition of the scientific advancements achieved through our collective efforts. All authors of publications based on Run 2 data up to 15 July 2024 will be listed as laureates.”

Prof. Sanjay Kumar Ghosh, Dr. Rathijit Biswas, Dr. Abhi Modak, Dr. Debjani Banerjee, Dr. Prottoy Das and Dr. Md. Asif Bhatt were also part of this group.

The Break Through prize money is allocated to ATLAS ($1 million); CMS ($1 million), ALICE ($500,000) and LHCb ($500,000), in recognition of 13,508 co-authors of publications based on LHC Run-2 data released between 2015 and July 15, 2024. [ATLAS – 5,345 researchers; CMS – 4,550; ALICE – 1,869; LHCb – 1,744].

The prize money will be used to fund a Breakthrough prize studentship to allow selected PhD students to spend up to two years at CERN while working on their PhD research.

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NKR/PSM

(Release ID: 2122435) Visitor Counter : 55

Indian telescope sheds light on the elusive ‘middleweight’ black holes

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 17 APR 2025 4:36PM by PIB Delhi

Tracing an intermedia black hole (IMBH) located in a faint galaxy about 4.3 million light-years away using India’s largest optical telescope, astronomers have found that gas clouds orbit the black hole at a distance of 125 light-minutes (around 2.25 billion kilometre) with a velocity dispersion of 545 km per second.

The discovery refines our understanding about how black holes, specially those that weight between 100 and 100,000 Suns, grow and interact with their surroundings.

For decades, astronomers have searched for a missing link in the cosmic black hole family: the elusive Intermediate-Mass Black Holes (IMBHs). Bridging the gap between smaller stellar black holes (having a few dozen times the Sun’s mass) and massive supermassive black holes (having millions to billions of solar masses), IMBHs have remained elusive.

IMBHs, are thought to be the seeds that grow into supermassive black holes. However, their faint nature and location in small galaxies make them extremely difficult to observe. Unlike their larger counterparts, they don’t generate bright emissions unless they’re actively pulling in matter, making advanced observational techniques essential.

Using the 3.6m Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT) a team led by scientists from Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have successfully detected and measured the properties of an IMBH in a faint galaxy called NGC 4395.

The team of astrophysicists, led by Shivangi Pandey studied NGC 4395—a low-luminosity active galaxy hosting one of the faintest actively feeding black holes ever observed.

They used the largest optical telescope in India, the 3.6m DOT, and its indigenously developed spectrograph and camera ADFOSC, along with the smaller 1.3m Devasthal Fast Optical Telescope (DFOT) located at the Devasthal Observatory of ARIES.

Since the size of the region surrounding the black hole is very difficult to resolve even with a sophisticated telescope, the team monitored the object continuously for two nights using both the telescopes and applied a special technique called spectrophotometric reverberation mapping.

This technique measures the delay between light emitted by the black hole’s accretion disk and the surrounding gas clouds (broad-line region). This delay, or time lag, revealed the region’s size and helped calculate the black hole’s mass.

Figure 1: Illustration of Reverberation mapping technique. The central region of an active galaxy sends out light in all directions. Some light reaches us directly, while some bounces off nearby gas clouds before reaching us, creating a slight delay. This delay helps us map the region around the centre. Credits: https://jhoormann.github.io/blog/blog-1/

Apart from racing the gas clouds, they also found that theIMBH weighs about 22,000 times the Sun’s mass, making it one of the most precisely measured intermediate-mass black holes. The black hole consumes matter at just 6% of its maximum theoretical rate.

Figure 2: A V-band image of NGC 4395 taken on March 10, 2022, using the 1.3m DFOT, shows the active galactic nucleus (AGN) marked with a red circle, with three comparison stars highlighted in white. The field of view measures 18′ × 18′ arcmin.

The study published in the Astrophysical Journal validates the size-luminosity relationship for black holes in low-luminosity active galaxies, provides a more accurate black hole mass estimate than previous studies and offers a more precise benchmark for future research.

Dr Suvendu Rakshit, a scientist at ARIES involved in this study, notes: “The hunt for more IMBHs is far from over. Larger telescopes and advanced instruments will be key to uncovering these cosmic middleweights.”

As technology advances, future observations with larger telescopes and higher-resolution instruments will deepen our understanding of IMBHs and their role in shaping the universe.

Figure 3: The size of the Hα BLR, compared to the monochromatic continuum luminosity at 5100 Å, aligns with the relationship across previous studies. The current lag of 125 minutes contrasts with earlier estimates, underscoring the precision of this study.

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NKR/PSM

(Release ID: 2122433) Visitor Counter : 63

Appeal for information on missing man in Mong Kok (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Appeal for information on missing man in Mong Kok   
     He is about 1.7 metres tall, 50 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a pointed face with yellow complexion and short white hair. He was last seen wearing a grey long-sleeved shirt, black trousers, blue shoes and carrying a dark-coloured crossbody bag.Issued at HKT 18:57

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Conference on Simplification of Procedures and Best Practices for E-commerce concludes (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Conference on Simplification of Procedures and Best Practices for E-commerce concludes       
     This marks the first time for Hong Kong Customs to organise a large-scale A/P regional conference focusing on e-commerce, bringing together more than 200 representatives from the WCO, A/P Customs administrations, ASEAN members, and international and local industries. This Conference was also supported by the Economic and Technical Co-operation Work Programme under the ASEAN-Hong Kong, China Free Trade Agreement. 
      
     The event commenced with a ceremony officiated by the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan; the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat; and the Head of Trade Facilitation Division of ASEAN Secretariat, Mr Cuong Ba Tran.

     Speaking at the commencement ceremony, Dr Chan highlighted that e-commerce is rapidly expanding across the globe, and Hong Kong is at the forefront to connect with global markets, in particular with ASEAN and other close partners in the A/P region. Noting that it is imperative for policymakers to closely collaborate with stakeholders to create a conducive environment for the healthy growth of e-commerce, he said that the Government is committed to developing Hong Kong into a cross-boundary e-commerce logistics and distribution centre, focusing on enhancing the efficiency of cross-boundary goods distribution and improving infrastructure connectivity, thereby strengthening Hong Kong’s competitiveness to position Hong Kong as a leading hub for e-commerce.Issued at HKT 18:52

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MOSPI continues its endeavor to reduce timelines in release of its statistical products; Index of Industrial Production will now be released on 28th of every month reducing its release timeline from 42 days to 28 days.

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 17 APR 2025 4:30PM by PIB Delhi

The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is making continuous efforts to bring significant improvement in dissemination of its statistical products in sync with international best practices and timelines. MOSPI releases consumer price indices within 12 days after the end of the reference month, which is among the best globally. Similarly, survey reports of NSS are now released within 90 days of completion of fieldwork. The Calendar of release of National Accounts Statistics has been rationalized by obviating the need for the 3rd Revised Estimates of GDP. On the same lines, MOSPI now plans to release the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) within 28 days instead of 42 days.

“From April 2025 onwards, All India Index of Industrial Production (IIP) will be released on 28th of every month at 4:00 PM within 28 days from the reference month. For a particular month IIP will be released as Quick Estimates followed by a Final Estimate.”

 The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is a crucial short-term indicator of industrial growth in the country. The compilation and release of IIP in India commenced with base year 1937, which was successively revised to 1946, 1951, 1956, 1960, 1970, 1980-81, 1993-94, 2004-05 and 2011-12. MoSPI presently releases the monthly all India Index of Industrial Production (IIP) on the 12th of every month (previous working day if 12th is a holiday) within 42 days from the reference month.

Currently, the Quick Estimates of a month undergo revision in subsequent releases as per the revision policy of IIP. Along with the Quick Estimates of IIP for the specific month, the indices of the previous month undergo the first revision and those for the third previous month undergo the second or final revision in the light of the updated data received from the source agencies.

The United Nations’ International Recommendations for Index of Industrial production (IRIIP)-2010 provide that the monthly IIP be released within forty-five days after the end of the reference month. Similarly, the Special Data Dissemination Standards (SDDS) of the IMF requires that the index for any reference month should be released within six weeks from the end of that month. In accordance with these international standards in data dissemination, MOSPI has been releasing IIP indices within 42 days after the end of the reference month.

In recent times, considering the advancement in data collection and processing technologies, there is a growing demand from stakeholders for reducing the timeline of release of IIP. Recognizing this need, MoSPI constituted a committee, in June, 2024, to examine the feasibility of reducing the timeline of release of IIP, its revision schedule, while maintaining the response rates and without compromising the quality. The committee included representatives from all the data source agencies, including the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the Indian Bureau of Mines, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals and others. The Committee reviewed the entire system of data collection and processing of IIP data to arrive at its recommendations.

After due consultations with the source agencies and in keeping with stakeholders’ aspirations, it has been decided to reduce the timeline of release of IIP from 42 days to 28 days from reference month and also to do-away with second revision of IIP. Accordingly, MoSPI will henceforth release the monthly “All India Index of Industrial Production (IIP)on 28th of every month at 4:00 PM (next working day if 28th is a holiday). The Quick estimate for a specific month will undergo revision only once, in the next month as the final estimate, as per the revised revision policy. Thus, MOSPI will now release only two estimates (Quick estimate and Final estimate) of a particular month instead of the earlier practice of releasing three estimates (Quick estimates followed by a 1st Revised estimate and a 2nd Revised (final) estimate).

In view of the above, it is informed that MoSPI will release the next IIP estimates on 28 April 2025, at 4:00 PM on the website of Press Information Bureau and Ministry’s official website (https://www.mospi.gov.in). This release will include – Quick estimates for March 2025, and the Final estimates for December 2024, January 2025 and February 2025.

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Samrat

(Release ID: 2122427) Visitor Counter : 45

India’s Journey of Heritage Preservation

Source: Government of India

India’s Journey of Heritage Preservation

World Heritage Day 2025

Posted On: 17 APR 2025 4:23PM by PIB Delhi

“Heritage is not only history. Rather a shared consciousness of humanity. Whenever we look at historical sites, it lifts our mind from the current geo-political factors.”

~ Prime Minster Narendra Modi

  • World Heritage Day is celebrated every year on 18th April to honor and protect cultural and natural heritage.
  • This year theme is “Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts: Preparedness and Learning from 60 years of ICOMOS Actions.”
  • The World Heritage Convention is an international agreement created by UNESCO in 1972.
  • World Heritage Convention was adopted by countries around the world to protect important cultural and natural sites.
  • As of October 2024, there are 1,223 World Heritage Sites across 196 countries (952 cultural, 231 natural, 40 mixed).
  • India has 43 World Heritage Sites, with Agra Fort, Taj Mahal, Ajanta, and Ellora Caves among the first listed in 1983.

Introduction

Our heritage is not just built of stones, scripts or ruins. It lives in every whisper of a temple wall, every carving on ancient forts and every folk song passed down through generations. It tells stories of who we were, what we stood for and how we endured. World Heritage Day is a heartfelt reminder that these timeless treasures are not only to be admired, but protected. This year’s theme: “Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts: Preparedness and Learning from 60 years of ICOMOS Actions” reminds us that preserving our past is key to protecting our future.

The Story Behind World Heritage Day

World Heritage Day is celebrated every year on 18th April. It is also called the International Day for Monuments and Sites. The day is meant to honor and protect human heritage. It also appreciates the people and groups who work to preserve it. The day was started in 1982 by ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites). Later, in 1983, UNESCO officially adopted it. Every year, ICOMOS gives a special theme for the day. Based on this theme, people and groups hold events and activities around the world to celebrate and protect heritage.

Understanding the World Heritage Convention

UNESCO, which stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, works to protect and preserve important cultural and natural heritage around the world. To help with this, UNESCO’s member countries adopted the World Heritage Convention in 1972. This agreement explains what countries need to do to find and take care of special sites that can be added to the World Heritage List. India became part of this Convention in November 1977. Today, the World Heritage List includes 1,223 sites that are considered valuable to all of humanity. These include 952 cultural sites, 231 natural sites, and 40 sites that have both cultural and natural importance. As of October 2024, 196 countries have joined the World Heritage Convention.

World Heritage Sites: Protecting Future

World Heritage Sites are special places on Earth that have great value for all of humanity. These can be cultural, natural, or a mix of both. They are protected under an international agreement led by UNESCO. UNESCO gives the World Heritage title to places that are culturally, historically or scientifically important.

Over the years, India has steadily expanded its presence on the World Heritage List. In July 2024, a proud addition was made with the inscription of “Moidams: The Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty” from Assam as a cultural property. With this, India now has 43 sites on the World Heritage List and 62 more on UNESCO’s Tentative List. The country’s journey began in 1983 with the listing of Agra Fort, followed by the Taj Mahal, Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves. These sites are preserved not only as symbols of history but also as learning spaces for generations to come.

Government’s Initiatives to Promote India’s Rich Cultural Heritage

India has taken several meaningful steps to protect, restore, and promote its vast cultural and natural heritage. These initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to safeguarding the country’s timeless traditions and historical treasures.

  • Retrieval of Antiquities: Archaeological Survey of India is committed to the protection of cultural property. Government has retrieved 655 antiquities from foreign countries from the year 1976 to 2024, of which 642 antiquities have been retrieved since 2014.

 

  • Adopt a Heritage’ Scheme: The “Adopt A Heritage” programme was launched in 2017 and revamped as “Adopt A Heritage 2.0” in 2023. It allows private and public groups to help develop facilities at protected monuments using their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. So far, 21 MoUs have been signed between the Archaeological Survey of India and various partner organisations across different states under this programme.

  • 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee: Archaeological Survey of India, Ministry of Culture, successfully hosted the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Delhi from 21st to 31st July 2024. The meeting was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, and attended by nearly 2900 international and national delegates from more than 140 countries. Delegates gathered to discuss and collaborate on preserving cultural, natural and mixed heritage marking a significant step in India’s global role in heritage protection.

 

  • Building Monuments of National Importance: India has 3,697 ancient monuments and archaeological sites declared of national importance. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is responsible for their conservation and maintenance. It also ensures basic amenities at these sites, such as pathways, signages, benches, facilities for differently-abled visitors, sound and light shows, and souvenir shops.

 

  • Revival and Redevelopment of Heritage Sites: India has revived key heritage sites through conservation and development projects. The Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi, Mahakaal Lok in Ujjain, and Ma Kamakhya Corridor in Guwahati enhance pilgrim experiences and boost tourism. The Chardham Road Project improves connectivity to sacred sites. Additionally, projects in Somnath and the Kartarpur Corridor promote cultural heritage and easier access for devotees.

 

  • Must See Portal: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has created a portal to showcase “Must-See Monuments and Archaeological Sites of India.” It highlights nearly a hundred prominent sites, including World Heritage properties and UNESCO Tentative List sites. The portal provides essential information such as history, access details, facilities and panoramic views. It aims to promote these sites for global visitors. Visit: asimustsee.nic.in

 

  • Digitization of Cultural Heritage in India: The National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA), set up in 2007, works to digitize and document India’s heritage and antiquities. So far, over 12.3 lakh antiquities and 11,406 heritage sites have been recorded. For 2024–25, ₹20 lakh was allocated to the mission. The Indian Heritage in Digital Space (IHDS) initiative further aims to use digital technology to preserve and present India’s cultural legacy through immersive tools and research support.

 

  • Status of Classical Languages: On October 3, 2024, the Government granted classical language status to Assamese, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, and Bengali, raising the total to 11 classical Indian languages. This move reflects India’s strong commitment to preserving its diverse and ancient linguistic heritage.

 

  • India’s first Archaeological Experiential Museum: Union Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Archaeological Experiential Museum in Vadnagar on 16th January 2025. Built at a cost of ₹298 crore, the museum covers 12,500 square meters. It showcases Vadnagar’s 2,500-year-old history with over 5,000 artifacts, including ceramics, coins, tools and skeletal remains. It features nine galleries and a 4,000-square-meter excavation site offering an immersive experience of ongoing archaeological discoveries.

 

  • Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site Museum: On 29th July 2024, a state-of-the-art museum spanning 100,000 square feet was inaugurated at Humayun’s Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in New Delhi. The museum showcases the site’s rich history, architecture, and conservation journey, offering visitors an immersive cultural experience.

 

  • India’s Literary Milestone on the MOWCAP Register: In a historic achievement, three of India’s literary treasures: Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, and Sahrdayāloka-Locana, were inscribed into the 2024 Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP) Regional Register. This recognition, announced on 8th May 2024 in Mongolia, underscores the global significance of India’s rich literary and cultural heritage.

Conclusion

World Heritage Day reminds us that protecting our heritage is a shared responsibility. From ancient monuments to timeless literature, India continues to preserve its cultural and natural legacy through strong national efforts and global collaboration. These efforts ensure that our rich heritage inspires, educates, and unites generations to come.

References

Click here to see PDF.

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Santosh Kumar/ Sarla Meena/ Kamna Lakaria

(Release ID: 2122423) Visitor Counter : 74

DH gives full support to blood donation activity and calls on public to donate blood to save lives during upcoming long holidays (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

DH gives full support to blood donation activity and calls on public to donate blood to save lives during upcoming long holidays
“With an ageing population in Hong Kong and increasing demand for medical services, the demand for blood is also rising. Blood collection efforts are often affected by unforeseen factors, such as inclement weather, influenza season and the public’s travel habits during long holidays, which may lead to a drop in the public’s willingness to donate blood and in the number of blood donations. In view of this, the DH has decided to support the BTS before the Easter holidays, hoping that the public will take advantage of the holidays to participate in blood donation activities and demonstrate selfless love, thus providing local hospitals with a stable and safe blood supply for clinical transfusion and treatment purposes,” Dr Lam said.
 
During the visit of the BTS mobile blood donation team to the DH headquarters today, a total of 24 DH staff members participated in the blood donation drive and donated 24 units of blood.
 
“Whole blood collected can be processed into components to help three to four patients. At the same time, blood donation is good for both physical and mental health. Apart from aiding metabolism, overseas studies have shown that people who donate blood regularly tend to feel happier and healthier. As the saying goes, it is a blessing to donate. Don’t hesitate to donate blood and save more lives together,” Dr Lam added.
 
The BTS has set up a number of blood donor centres throughout Hong Kong, and mobile blood donation teams and mobile blood donation vehicles visit different districts regularly to facilitate blood donation by the public. During the Easter holidays, most blood donor centres will be open as usual. To minimise waiting time, members of the public are advised to call the blood donor centres or make an appointment for blood donation through the mobile application “HK Blood”. For more information about the addresses and opening hours of the blood donor centres, the public may visit the BTS’s websiteIssued at HKT 18:45

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