World Heritage Day

• World Heritage Day is celebrated annually on April 18.

• The International Day for Monuments and Sites, commonly known as World Heritage Day, was established on April 18 by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) in 1982.

• This year's theme is "Heritage Changes," which emphasises the significance of cultural heritage in addressing climate change and safeguarding vulnerable communities.

Regarding World Heritage Day

• World Heritage Day was first established in 1982 by The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). It falls on April 18.

• Later, during the 22nd General Conference in 1983, UNSECO endorsed the date.

• A day set aside each year to protect and preserve historical landmarks, monuments, and the rich heritage they bring with them.

• Goals: It aims to raise awareness of cultural assets and monuments and encourage people to protect them.

• The International Day for Monuments and Sites was thus created to recognise these special places.

Heritage site in india

• Currently, India is the nation with the sixth-highest number of sites in the world, with 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

• 32 of these are cultural sites, 7 are natural sites, and one, Khangchendzonga National Park, is a mixed-type site.

• The historical and cultural variety of India is reflected in its numerous old temples, forts, palaces, mosques, and archaeological sites.

• National parks, wildlife refuges, and unspoiled landscapes that highlight India's distinctive biodiversity and ecological importance are all considered to be natural heritage sites.

• The Khangchendzonga National Park, a mixed-type site in India, is renowned for both its cultural significance and its biodiversity because it is home to a number of rare and endangered species.

Heritage culture relation

• According to StoryTellers of India's Glory, heritage is the legacy of tangible artefacts and intangible social characteristics that have been passed down from previous generations, are upheld in the present, and are conserved for the benefit of present and future generations.

• India is a museum of many types, groups, customs, traditions, religions, civilizations, beliefs, dialects, castes, and social systems. This country is a reflection of unity in diversity.

• However, despite the outward diversity, Indian culture still embraces diversity while maintaining its unity.

• Respecting Nature: Indian society provided every culture with the chance to develop, which is evident in the variety of its heritage. The goal is not to promote uniformity at the expense of diversity.

Constitutional and legislative provision

• Directive Principles of State Policy: Article 49 requires the State to safeguard any monuments, locations, or items of artistic or historic interest that have been deemed to be of national significance by or pursuant to legislation enacted by Parliament.

• Every Indian citizen has a responsibility to respect and conserve the rich cultural heritage of their country, according to Article 51A of the Indian Constitution.

• The 1958 Act Protecting Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR Act): An act of the Indian Parliament establishes guidelines for the regulation of archaeological excavations, the preservation of sculptures, carvings, and other such artefacts, as well as the preservation of national significance archaeological sites and remnants.

Challanges to heritage management

• Lack of Centralised Heritage Site Database: India lacks a comprehensive national database that breaks down the distribution of heritage sites by states.

• There are reportedly more than 4000 heritage towns and cities in the nation, although the Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has only inventoried roughly 60,000 buildings in about 150 cities.

• outmoded Methods of Excavation and Exploration: Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing are rarely used in exploration because of the predominance of outmoded methods.

• Environmental Degradation and Natural Disasters: Natural disasters and environmental degradation such as pollution, erosion, flooding, and earthquakes can irreparably harm the physical structures and cultural significance of heritage sites in India.

Way forward

• Leveraging technology Utilising cutting-edge technologies, such as data analytics, virtual reality, 3D scanning, and remote sensing, to document, monitor, and conserve historic places.

• Innovative Ways to Boost Engagement Monuments with low visitor numbers and those with no connected cultural or religious sensitivities should be used as locations for cultural programmes with the following twin goals:

• advocating for the related intangible heritage

• More people visiting these sites.

Wheat Blast

• The most significant food crop in the world, wheat, is under threat from a pandemic of blast disease, according to a recent study.

Wheat Blast: What is it?

• In tropical and subtropical areas, wheat productivity is hampered by the fungal disease known as the wheat blast.
• Magnaporthe oryzae pathotype Triticum (MoT) is the culprit. In 1985, it was discovered in Brazil.
• Both wild and domesticated grasses are affected by the fungus, most notably rice and wheat.
• It spreads via spores that can fly great distances in the air, contaminated seeds, and crop leftovers.
• It subsequently expanded to important wheat-producing regions of the nation before reaching Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay in South America.
• Bangladesh reported the first case of this infectious wheat blast in Asia in 2016.

About Wheat

• It is India's primary cereal crop. In India, behind rice, it is the second most significant grain crop.
• India's central and western regions are known for their hard wheat, which has a high protein and gluten content.
• It is a Rabi crop that is planted in October through December and harvested in April through June.
• Temperature: The ideal temperature for good tillering is between 16 and 20°C, or between 23 and 26°C.
• 50 to 100 cm of rain is predicted.
• Wheat farming is best suited to loamy or clayey soil types with good structure and a moderate water retention capacity.
• India's states with the highest wheat production include Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Gujarat.

Read Also: Status of Indian Agriculture

Blastomycosis

• In the US, there were 100 confirmed or suspected cases of blastomycosis, including at least one death.
• It is an infection brought on by the fungus Blastomyces. The environment is where the fungus thrives, particularly in damp soil and in organic materials that is degrading, such wood and leaves.

Transmission:

• Breathing in the minute fungus spores from the air can cause blastomycosis in humans.
• There is no airborne transmission of blastomycosis between humans or between humans and animals. Only very rarely have needlestick wounds, animal bites, or sexual contact resulted in the transmission of blastomycosis between sick people or animals.
• Fever, coughing, night sweats, muscle or joint pain, and so forth are symptoms.
• There is no vaccination to protect against blastomycosis.
• A common treatment for mild to moderate blastomycosis is the antifungal drug itraconazole.

Read Also: Drug Menace