Why in news:

• Unesco has recently given formal certification of the World Heritage City to the pink city of Jaipur.
• The certificate in this regard was handed over by UNESCO Director General Andre Azole.
• The award is a recognition by the international community of the efforts made by people of Jaipur to preserve cultural heritage to build a sustainable future.
• Other historical places of importance in Rajasthan like Diwan-e-aam,  Diwan-e-khas,  Shish mahal,  Mansingh Mahal and Amer Fort were also visited by the UNESCO team.
• The Amer Fort was specifically described by Director General Andre Azole as a reminder of the past.
   

Key Points:
 

• Under the UNESCO  guideline, only one place can be  proposed  every year  from a state  to make it a world heritage .
• The Government of India had sent  a proposal to declare the pink city of  Jaipur as a  UNESCO World  Heritage Site .
• The decision to grant the heritage city status was taken earlier at the 43rd session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee with the formal certification been awarded now.
• Presently, there are 38 World Heritage Sites located in India that include 30 cultural sites, 7 natural sites and 1 site belonging to the mixed category.
• India has the sixth largest number of heritage sites in the world.
   

Other World Heritage Sites in Rajasthan
 

1. Chittorgarh Fort

Year of Induction: 2013

Located:Chittorgarh, Rajasthan

2. Kumbhalgarh Fort

Year of Induction: 2013

Located: Kumbhalgarh, Mewar

3. Gagron Fort

Year of Induction: 2013

Located: Gagron, District Jhalawar

4. Amber or Amer Fort

Year of Induction: 2013

Located: Amer, Jaipur

5. Jaisalmer Fort

Year of Induction: 2013

Located: Jaisalmer

6. Ranthambore Fort

Year of Induction: 2013

Located: Ranthambore

7. Keoladeo National Park

Year of Induction: 1985

Located: Bharatpur, Rajasthan

8. Jantar Mantar

Year of Induction: 2010

Located: Jaipur
 

Benefits of the recognition:
 

•  The grant of  heritage  city  status  to Jaipur will boost the local  economy by promoting  domestic  and  international  tourism .  
•  It will also give a boost to employment in the state.
• The handicrafts and handloom industry of the state also stands to gain from the award.
• The local economy will benefit along with improvement in infrastructure.
   

Jaipur city:

• Jaipur was founded in 1727 by the Kacchawa Rajput ruler Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amer, after whom the city is named.
• It was one of the earliest planned cities of modern India, designed by Vidyadhar Bhattacharya.
• During the British Colonial period, the city served as the capital of Jaipur State.
• After independence in 1947, Jaipur was made the capital of the newly formed state of Rajasthan.
• One of the major tourist  attractions in the state is its  architecture .   
• The culture, textile decorations and folk songs here also attract people from all walks of life.

World Heritage  Sites:
 

• World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, scientific or other form of significance
• The sites that are selected contain cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.
• To be selected, a World Heritage Site must be a somehow unique landmark which is geographically and historically identifiable and has special cultural or physical significance.
• The sites are intended for conservation for future generations, which otherwise would be subject to risk from human or animal trespassing, unmonitored, uncontrolled or unrestricted access, or threat from local administrative negligence.
• The objective of the  programme  is  to select  and  preserve the world's sites  which are important to humanity  from the point of view  of world culture.
• Under  certain circumstances, such  sites are also  provided  financial  assistance.