Two beaches of Odisha once again received Blue Flag global standard

Odisha’s Sunapur and Puri beaches have once again received the prestigious Blue Flag certification for the year 2025-26. Sunapur beach in Ganjam district received this prestigious award for the third consecutive year, and Puri’s Golden Beach received it for the seventh consecutive year.

• Odisha’s Sunapur and Puri beaches have once again received the prestigious Blue Flag certification for the year 2025-26. This international honour confirms their status among the cleanest and most environmentally sustainable beaches in the world.
• Blue Flag is a globally recognised eco-label awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), based in Denmark. It is awarded to beaches, marinas and sustainable boating tourism operators that meet 33 stringent criteria.
• Sunapur beach in Ganjam district received this prestigious award for the third consecutive year, and Puri’s Golden Beach received it for the seventh consecutive year.

Total Blue Flag certified beaches in India

• There are a total of 18 Blue Flag certified beaches in India, of which 12 are already certified beaches and five new beaches of Maharashtra will receive certification in 2025 and one (Eden Beach, Puducherry) has been given conditional recognition.
• Among the fully recognised beaches, two are from Odisha, as stated by Sunny Khokkar, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Berhampur and nodal officer of Sunapur Beach Management Committee.
• In January 2025, Kappad Beach in Kozhikode, Kerala and Chaal Beach in Kannur were awarded the prestigious Blue Flag certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), Denmark. Recently, five beaches of Maharashtra received international Blue Flag certification.

Blue Flag Programme

• It was launched in 1985 in France and in 2001 in regions outside Europe. It is one of the world’s most recognised voluntary awards for beaches, marinas and sustainable tourism boats.
• It promotes sustainable development in freshwater and marine areas through four main criteria: water quality, environmental management, environmental education and safety.
• Other Indian beaches included in the Blue List are Shivrajpur-Gujarat, Ghoghla-Diu, Kasarkod and Padubidri-Karnataka, Kappad-Kerala, Rushikonda-Andhra Pradesh, Golden-Odisha, Radhanagar-Andaman and Nicobar, Kovalam in Tamil Nadu and Eden Beach in Puducherry, Minicoy Thundi Beach, Lakshadweep, Kadmat Beach, Lakshadweep.