The Government of India has launched the Gyan Bharatam Mission under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India to survey, document, preserve and digitise manuscripts available across the country.
The initiative aims to make India’s rich manuscript heritage accessible to the public by collecting and conserving manuscripts from educational institutions, museums, libraries and private collections.
₹491.66 Crore Approved for the Mission
To support the project, the Standing Finance Committee has approved ₹491.66 crore for the period 2025 to 2031.
The mission aims to establish a structured and technology-driven framework for preserving India’s vast manuscript heritage.
Nationwide Network of Centres Being Developed
Under the mission, a nationwide network of cluster centres and independent centres is being developed to implement activities across the country.
So far, more than 40 centres have been linked with the initiative, while 28 states and union territories have been designated as nodal coordination authorities for related activities.
Target to Cover One Crore Manuscripts
The Gyan Bharatam Mission has set a target to document and manage around one crore manuscripts at the national level.
The initiative aims to cover manuscripts across regions, languages and scripts, ensuring that India’s diverse manuscript traditions are preserved without discrimination.
Scientific Preservation and Digital Archiving
Under the programme, manuscripts will undergo scientific conservation and restoration to ensure their long-term preservation.
The manuscripts will also be digitised using high standards and stored securely in the National Digital Repository.
To ensure data safety, the project will use LTO-9 tape storage technology, cloud-based backups and disaster recovery systems.
National Archives Digitisation Drive
In addition to this mission, the National Archives of India has launched a large-scale digitisation initiative to create high-resolution digital copies of historical records.
Each digital image is assigned a checksum, ensuring the integrity and authenticity of digital records.
Information Shared in Lok Sabha
The information about the initiative was shared by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in response to a written question in the Lok Sabha.
Officials said the Gyan Bharatam Mission will play a crucial role in preserving India’s cultural heritage while making historic manuscripts accessible to researchers, scholars and the public through digital platforms.
