October 12, 2020: In a great honour for India, an international jury on Sunday awarded coveted "Blue Flag" to eight Indian beaches spread across five states and two union territories.

As the news broke, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to laud the great success. He said the achievement showcases the importance India gives to protecting such crucial spots and furthering sustainable development.

The Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar also lauded the achievement and said that it is a proud moment for India. Javadekar noted that beaches of Shivrajpur (Dwarka-Gujarat), Ghoghla (Diu), Kasarkod and Padubidri (Karnataka), Kappad (Kerala), Rushikonda (Andhra Pradesh), Golden Beach (Odisha) and Radhanagar (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) have bagged awards. He added that it an exemplary achievement for India as no Blue Flag bearing nations have ever been awarded for 8 beaches in just a single attempt.

Given by the non-governmental organization (NGO) the Foundation for Environmental Education, the Blue Flag is a well-recognized voluntary eco-label given to a beach, marina, or sustainable boating tourism operator which meets its standards. It is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark.

A beach has to meet 33 criteria including environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria fixed by the FEE to get the tag.

The tag is sought as an indication of high environmental standards. Eight beaches of India were last month recommended for the prestigious award. India was also awarded the 3rd Prize by the jury under “International Best Practices” for pollution control in coastal regions.