Eight Indian beaches have received the 'coveted' Blue Flag certification, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar made the announcement in a tweet on Sunday. Javadekar said it was a 'proud and outstanding moment' for India as no other Blue Flag country had ever been awarded the certification for eight beaches in a single attempt. 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.