InternationalSaturday, 7 November 2026·The Hindu - International
UNESCO Memory of the World register adds Mahabharata, Arthashastra and Rajatarangini manuscripts
On 5 November 2026, UNESCO’s Asia-Pacific Regional Register added Indian manuscripts of Mahabharata, Arthashastra and Rajatarangini.
Key highlights
Direct fact
On 5 November 2026, manuscripts of the Mahabharata, Kalhana’s 12th-century Rajatarangini and Kautilya’s Arthashastra were inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register at the 11th session in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Key specifics
- The inscription was announced by PIB Culture and IGNCA on 5 November 2026.
- Rajatarangini is a 12th-century historical chronicle by Kalhana.
- Arthashastra is a work on governance and statecraft by Kautilya.
- With these 3 inscriptions, India’s total in the Regional Register rose to 6.
- Earlier in 2024, Ramcharitamanas, Panchatantra and Sahrdayaloka-Locana manuscripts were also inscribed in the same register.
Exam lens
UNESCO memory register, Indian manuscripts, and cultural heritage: remember Jakarta, 11th session, 3 works, 6 total inscriptions, and the names Kalhana and Kautilya for TNPSC culture and international organisation questions.