‘Blue Flag’ certification

The Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised voluntary eco-labels awarded to beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators.

In order to qualify for the Blue Flag, a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained.

‘Blue Flag’ certification

There are nearly 33 criteria that must be met to qualify for a Blue Flag certification, such as the water meets certain quality standards, having waste disposal facilities, being

disabled-friendly, have first aid equipment etc.

The Blue Flag Programme for beaches and marinas is run by the international, non-governmental, non-profit organisation FEE (the Foundation for Environmental Education).

‘Blue Flag’ certification

This Certification is accorded by an international agency “Foundation for Environment Education, Denmark” based on 33 stringent criteria in four major heads i.e.

Environmental Education and Information

Bathing Water Quality

Environment Management

Conservation and Safety and Services in the beaches.

‘Blue Flag’ certification

Spain tops the list with 566 such beaches; Greece and France follow with 515 and 395, respectively.

To help Indian beaches meet these criteria, the Ministry has allowed structures such container toilet blocks, change rooms, shower panels, mini greywater

treatment plants in an enclosed structure, mini solid waste recycling plants and off-grid solar photovoltaic panels, provided they are a minimum 10 metres from

the high tide line.

Ghoghala Beach (Diu)

Shivrajpur beach (Gujarat)

Bhogave (Maharashtra)

Padubidri and Kasarkod (Karnataka)

Kappad beach (Kerala)

Kovalam beach (Kerala)

Eden beach (Puducherry)

Rushikonda beach (Andhra Pradesh)

Miramar beach (Goa)

Golden beach (Odisha)

Radhanagar beach (Andaman & Nicobar Islands)

Bangaram beach (Lakshadweep)

The Chandrabhaga beach on the Konark coast of Odisha is the first in India to get the Blue Flag certification.

High Tide Line: means the line on the land up to which the highest

water line reaches during the tide.

Low Tide Line: Similarly, it means the line on the land up to which the lowest water line reaches during

the tide.

World’s most famous beaches

Eighty Mile Beach – Australia

Cox Bazar Beach – Bangladesh

The South Beach – Miami

Bond-I Beach – Sydney

Santa Monica Beach, California

World’s most famous beaches

Maya Bay – Thailand

Whitehaven Beach – Australia

Waikiki – Honolulu Hawaii

Navagio Beach - Greece

Gulf & Bay

Bay- A bay is a water body surrounded by land from three sides and has a wider opening than the total length.

Gulf- A gulf is the waterbody surrounded by land from three sides and has a larger length and narrower opening.

Gulf & Bay

The Persian Gulf

Hudson Bay

Gulf of Mexico

Gulf of Alaska

Gulf of Guinea

Gulf of Cadiz

Gulf of Suez & Gulf of Aqaba

Bohai & Korea Bay

Gulf of Tonkin

Gulf of Thailand

Gulf of Aden

Gulf of Carpentaria

Gwadar Bay

Gulf of Mannar

Gulf of Mannar lies between southeastern India and western Sri Lanka.

The port of Tuticorin is on the Indian coast.

The gulf is noted for its pearl banks and seacow (Dugong)

Gulf of Khambhat between South Gujarat and the Kathiawar

Peninsula.

The gulf receives many rivers, including the Sabarmati, Mahi,

Narmada and Tapti.

Gulf of Khambhat between South Gujarat and the Kathiawar

Peninsula.

The gulf receives many rivers, including the Sabarmati, Mahi,

Narmada and Tapti.

Most famous beaches of Gujarat

Tithal Beach – Valsad

Dwarka Beach

Ahmedpur Mandvi, Junagadh

Chorwad Beach, Junagadh

Okha-Madhi Beach, Dwarka

Dandi Beach – Navsari

Sivrajpur Beach – Jamnagar

Dumas Beach – Surat

Ubharat Beach - Surat

Ghogla Beach (Diu)

Most famous beaches of Maharashtra

Ganapatipule Beach

Juhu Beach

Madh Island Beach

Marine Drive

Kunkeshwar Beach

Tarkarli Beach

Karde Beach

Shrivardhan Beach

Harihareshwar Beach

Dahanu Beach

Gorai Beach

Most famous beaches of Goa

Miramar Beach

Palolem Beach

Anjuna Beach

Vagator Beach

Calangute Beach

Baga Beach

Candolim Beach

Colva Beach

Benaulim Beach

Sinquerim Beach

Dona-Paula Beach

Most famous beaches of Karnataka

Om Beach, GokarnaPanambur Beach

Kudle Beach, GokarnaMurudeshwar Beach

Karwar Beach

Maravanthe Beach Kaup Beach Malpe Beach Ullal Beach

Most famous beaches of Kerala

Kovalam Beach Varkala Beach Bekal Beach

Thottada Beach Kappad Beach

Most famous beaches of Tamil Nadu

Marina Beach – Longest in IndiaDhanushkodi Beach

Elliot’s Beach

Covelong Beach Kanyakumari Beach

Mahabalipuram Beach Poompuhar Beach

Most famous beaches of Andhra Pradesh

Yarada Beach

Rishikonda Beach

Bheemunipatnam Beach

Machlipatnam Beach

Dolphin’s nose beach

Gangavaram Beach

Lawson’s Bay Beach

Ramakrishna Beach

Bhavani Island Beach

Most famous beaches of Odisha

Konark Beach

Chandrabhaga Beach

Puri Beach

Gahirmatha Beach

Rushikulya Beach

Aryapalli Beach

Gopalpur Beach

Swargadwar Beach

Astaranga Beach

Bhitarkanika Beach

Ramchandi Beach

Most famous beaches of West Bengal

Digha BeachFrazerganj Beach Shankarpur Beach

Bakkhali Beach Sagardwip Beach

Diamond harbour Beach Mandarmani Beach

Tajpur BeachGangasagar Beach

Most famous beaches of Andaman & Nicobar

Radhanagar Beach

Laxmanpur Beach

Elephant Beach

Wandoor Beach

Corbyn’s cove

Diglipur Beach

Kalapathar Beach

Bharatpur Beach