Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Wednesday that two more Indian beaches - Minicoy Thundi Beach and Kadmat Beach - both in Lakshadweep were added to the list of the cleanest beaches in the world and received the prestigious Blue Flag certification. This has taken India's tally of Blue Beaches to 12.

Announcing this proud moment in a twitter message, the Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change expressed happiness and congratulated everyone stating that it is a part of India’s relentless journey towards building a sustainable environment led by PM Modi.

PM Modi too congratulated the people of Lakshadweep for the achievement. He tweeted, “This is great! Congratulations, particularly to the people of Lakshadweep, for this feat. India’s coastline is remarkable and there is also a great amount of passion among our people to further coastal cleanliness."

The Thundi Beach is one of the most pristine and picturesque beaches in the Lakshadweep archipelago where white sand is lined by turquoise blue water of the lagoon. It is a paradise for swimmers and tourists alike.

The Kadmat Beach is popular with cruise tourists who visit the island for water sports. It is a paradise for nature lovers with its pearl white sand, blue lagoon waters, its moderate climate and friendly locals. Both the beaches have designated staff for beach cleanliness and maintenance; and for safety and security of swimmers.

Here's the list of all Indian Blue Flag beaches:

Eden Beach (Puducherry)
Kovalam Beach (Tamil Nadu)
Golden Beach (Odisha)
Shivrajpur Beach (Gujarat)
Kappad Beach (Kerala)
Ghoghla Beach (Diu)
Kasarkod Beach (Karnataka)
Radhanagar Beach (Andaman & Nicobar Islands)
Rushikonda Beach (Andhra Pradesh)
Padubidri Beach (Karnataka)
Thundi Beach (Lakshadweep Islands)
Kadmat Beach (Lakshadweep Islands)