Maharashtra Secures Blue Flag Certification for 5 Beaches for the First Time, Taking India’s Total to 18.

In October 2025, Aditi Thakre, Maharashtra’s Women & Child Development (WCD) Minister, announced that five beaches from Maharashtra have received the international Blue Flag certification for the first time, marking a significant milestone in India’s coastal environmental management.

      - The five Maharashtra beaches awarded the Blue Flag certification are Shrivardhan and Nagaon beaches in Raigad district, Parnaka beach in Palghar district, and Guhagar and Ladghar beaches in Ratnagiri district. This inclusion brings India’s total number of Blue Flag-certified beaches to 18.

      - The Blue Flag certification is one of the world’s most prestigious voluntary eco-labels, granted for high environmental and quality standards. It covers three main categories — beaches, marinas, and sustainable tourism operators.

      - The programme was launched in 1985 by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), France, to raise awareness about marine pollution. The first Blue Flag sites were awarded in 1987 across 10 European countries, and the initiative was expanded globally in 2001.

Main Point :-   (i) The certification is awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), headquartered in Denmark. It operates under a strict set of global standards to encourage eco-friendly and sustainable tourism practices.

      (ii) Beaches are assessed on 33 parameters across four main areas — environmental education and information, water quality, environmental management, and safety & services. Compliance with these parameters ensures environmental excellence.

(iii) After national-level audits and jury reviews, eligible sites are recommended to an international jury comprising representatives from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). As of May 2025, there are 5,195 Blue Flag sites across 51 countries worldwide.
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