Gyan Bharatam: India's Initiative to Preserve Manuscript Heritage

Understanding Gyan Bharatam

India has initiated Gyan Bharatam, a significant national programme led by the Ministry of Culture aimed at conserving and digitizing the country’s invaluable manuscript heritage. This initiative was announced in the Union Budget of 2025, showcasing India's commitment to preserving its vast civilizational knowledge and enhancing global access for scholars, researchers, and the general public.

What is Gyan Bharatam?

Gyan Bharatam serves as the Government of India’s flagship cultural conservation initiative. Its mission encompasses surveying, documenting, conserving, digitizing, and distributing India's manuscript heritage. This treasure trove includes ancient writings that span various fields such as science, philosophy, literature, medicine, and astronomy. For the period of 2025–2031, the Government has allocated approximately Rs. 491.66 crore to support this ambitious project.

Core Objectives of Gyan Bharatam

• Large-scale Manuscript Coverage: The programme aims to encompass over one crore manuscripts preserved across India, found in museums, academic institutions, private collections, libraries, and community spaces.
• National digital repository: A technology-driven National Digital Repository will be established using AI and advanced digital tools to facilitate accessibility, conservation, and global outreach.
• Institutional Collaborations: To effectively implement this initiative, the Ministry of Culture has signed MoUs with 31 institutions, which include 19 Cluster Centres and 12 Independent Centres. These centres will focus on five key areas: Survey & Cataloguing, Conservation & Capacity Building, Technology & Digitization, Linguistics & Translation, and Research, Publication & Outreach.

As of now, approximately 3.5 lakh manuscripts have already been digitized, marking an early success for the initiative.

The Delhi Declaration: A National Commitment

The Delhi Declaration (Gyan Bharatam Sankalp Patra) highlights India’s collective commitment to protect, digitize, and revitalize manuscript knowledge. It underscores the importance of:

• Recognizing manuscripts as the living memory of Indian civilization
• Implementing modern preservation methods
• Ensuring large-scale digital access
• Enhancing research and fostering global collaboration

This declaration transforms the conservation of manuscripts into a people’s movement, linking scholars, communities, institutions, and private collectors across India.

Pan-India Scope and Institutional Inclusion

Gyan Bharatam is designed to have a nationwide impact and is not limited to specific regions. For instance, MoUs have been signed with institutions like Dr. Harisingh Gour University in Madhya Pradesh, demonstrating the programme's extensive reach.

Cultural Promotion Alongside Preservation

The government is also emphasizing ongoing cultural promotion efforts as part of this initiative, highlighting the dual aim of preserving heritage while promoting cultural awareness.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is the primary goal of Gyan Bharatam?
Answer: The primary goal of Gyan Bharatam is to conserve and digitize India's manuscript heritage, making it accessible to scholars and the public while promoting cultural awareness.

Q2. How much funding has been allocated for Gyan Bharatam?
Answer: The Government of India has allocated Rs. 491.66 crore for the Gyan Bharatam initiative from 2025 to 2031.

Q3. Which institutions are involved in Gyan Bharatam?
Answer: Gyan Bharatam involves collaborations with 31 institutions, including various Cluster and Independent Centres across India, focusing on manuscript preservation.

Q4. What is the significance of the Delhi Declaration?
Answer: The Delhi Declaration reinforces India’s commitment to manuscript preservation, emphasizing global accessibility and modern conservation methods.

Q5. How many manuscripts have been digitized so far?
Answer: Approximately 3.5 lakh manuscripts have been digitized, showcasing the early successes of the Gyan Bharatam initiative.

UPSC Practice MCQs

Question 1: What is the main focus of the Gyan Bharatam initiative?
A) Cultural festivals promotion
B) Manuscript conservation and digitization
C) Modern education reforms
D) Digital marketing strategies
Correct Answer: B

Question 2: How much funding has been allocated to Gyan Bharatam for the period 2025–2031?
A) Rs. 250 crore
B) Rs. 491.66 crore
C) Rs. 600 crore
D) Rs. 300 crore
Correct Answer: B

Question 3: Which technology will be used in the National Digital Repository under Gyan Bharatam?
A) Blockchain
B) AI and advanced digital tools
C) Virtual reality
D) Cloud computing
Correct Answer: B

Question 4: How many institutions have signed MoUs for Gyan Bharatam?
A) 10
B) 20
C) 31
D) 25
Correct Answer: C