Foundation for Environmental Education, Denmark, operates Blue Flag which is an iconic voluntary award for beaches, marinas and sustainable boating tourism operators. This award is given to those that meet the criterias of a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety and accessibility. 

8 beaches of India (in a row) got the eco-label of Blue Flag. These beaches are Ghoghla (Diu), Kappad (Kerala), Golden Beach (Odisha), Radhanagar (Andaman & Nicobar Islands), Kasarkod and Padubidri(Karnataka), Rushikonda ( Andhra Pradesh) and Shivrajpur (Dwarka-Gujarat). 

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar broke this news that India has not only got international recognition for coastal development and cleanliness but has also become the first to be awarded for 8 beaches in a row.

The international jury for this award comprises of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), United Nations environment Programme (UNEP), etc. The Blue Flag recognition is also a recognition of sustainable development efforts and conservation efforts of India. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change also revealed that India has also bagged the third place for its pollution control in coastal regions under the 'International Best Practices' by the 'International Jury'. 

(media reports)