Three Indian Texts Inscribed in UNESCO’s Regional Register

On November 5, 2026, India announced that the manuscript heritage of the Rajatarangini, Mahabharata, and Arthashastra has been inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register.

Key Facts

Venue of the Decision: The three Indian entries received approval during the 11th General Meeting of the Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP) held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
India’s Milestone: With these three new inscriptions, the total number of Indian entries on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register has risen to six.
Rajatarangini: Composed in Sanskrit by Kalhana in the 12th century, the Rajatarangini provides a chronological historical account of the rulers, dynasties, and events of Kashmir.
Mahabharata: Traditionally attributed to Sage Ved Vyasa, the Mahabharata offers an extensive discourse on dharma, justice, duty, governance, human relationships, and ethical values.
Arthashastra: Attributed to Kautilya (Chanakya), the Arthashastra is a systematic treatise on ancient Indian statecraft, administration, economic policy, diplomacy, and military strategy.
Role of IGNCA: The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) played a pivotal role in preparing the nomination dossiers for the three entries. Member Secretary Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi shared the details of this achievement.
Earlier Indian Entries: In 2024, the Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, and Sahṛdayāloka-Locana were inscribed into the same regional register.