GS 1 – Art and culture
The Gyan Bharatam Mission is a national initiative launched by the Government of India to preserve, document, and digitize the country’s vast manuscript heritage. Announced in the Union Budget 2025–26, this mission aims to safeguard over one crore (10 million) manuscripts spanning various fields such as science, medicine, literature, and philosophy.
- Launch Date: June 9, 2025
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Culture
- Budget Allocation: ₹482.85 crore for the period 2024–2031
- Execution Body: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA)
- Coverage: Manuscripts in academic institutions, museums, libraries, temples, and private collections across India
- Digital Repository: Development of a National Digital Repository for Indian Knowledge Systems
Objectives
- Survey and Documentation: Cataloging manuscripts to create a comprehensive national database.
- Conservation: Implementing measures to protect manuscripts from physical degradation.
- Digitization: Converting manuscripts into digital formats for wider accessibility.
- Public Access: Making digitized manuscripts available for research, education, and cultural enrichment.
Significance
- Cultural Preservation: Safeguards India’s rich intellectual and cultural heritage.
- Academic Research: Facilitates interdisciplinary studies in fields like linguistics, astronomy, and traditional medicine.
- Global Access: Enhances India’s position in global cultural diplomacy by making ancient knowledge accessible worldwide.