A recurring email/message that has graced our inboxes is definitely one declaring that the UNESCO had recognised our national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana', as the world's best anthem.
The message, like many other rumours connected to UNESCO, is fake.
This particular message has been in circulation since 2008, reported India Today. According to the report, the message was circulated as a ploy to ‘increase membership’ in a Yahoo Groups site called MumbaiHangOut.
The channel had then reached out to UNESCO to verify the news, when Sue Williams, Chief, Editorial, Press Relations and Unesco Courier, Bureau of Public Information, UNESCO, wrote back debunking the 'announcement'.
We are aware of several blogs in India reporting this story, but can assure you that UNESCO has made no such announcement concerning the anthem of India or any country.
Several other messages on similar lines include the UNESCO having credited PM Narendra Modi as "the best prime minister in the world", and the new Rs 2,000 note as "the best currency in the world." These messages too have been debunked, as the UNESCO does not give out such awards.
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