New Delhi: The Government of India has significantly enhanced digital cultural governance by deploying multiple technology-driven platforms to document, preserve and monitor the nation’s rich cultural heritage, the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has digitised artefacts housed in its site museums in accordance with the standards of the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA). These digital records are accessible through the NMMA portal, enabling better documentation and monitoring of protected heritage assets.
Such initiatives aim to preserve artefacts digitally while supporting research, conservation planning and public awareness of India’s archaeological wealth.
Preserving Manuscripts Through Gyan Bharatam
The Gyan Bharatam Mission has emerged as a cornerstone for manuscript preservation in India. Through its dedicated web portal, manuscripts are being digitised in collaboration with more than 40 institutions and state entities.
The programme seeks to safeguard India’s vast manuscript heritage, many of which are fragile and at risk of deterioration, by converting them into accessible digital formats.
Museum and Archival Digitisation
The Ministry of Culture has partnered with C-DAC, Pune, to implement the “JATAN” software for digitising museum collections. This initiative supports uniform cataloguing and easier access to museum objects across India.
Meanwhile, the National Archives of India operates Abhilekh Patal, a digital repository that provides online access to historical documents, manuscripts and archival records, strengthening transparency and academic research.
Centralised Cultural Repositories
Institutions such as the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) manage platforms like the National Cultural Audiovisual Archive and the Kalāsampadā repository. These platforms offer centralised access to ethnographic material, audiovisual records and digitised manuscripts.
The National Virtual Library of India (NVLI) further aggregates digital cultural assets through the Indian Culture Portal, bringing together content from multiple cultural institutions under one interface.
Monitoring Through Cultural Schemes Dashboard
To improve governance and accountability, the Ministry has operationalised the Cultural Schemes Dashboard. This digital interface enables real-time monitoring of cultural schemes, facilitating data-driven policy decisions at both national and regional levels.
Regional and State-Level Cultural Engagement
Seven Zonal Cultural Centres across the country continue to document and promote visual and performing arts. In Maharashtra, ASI manages 286 Centrally Protected Monuments, while cultural centres regularly organise festivals, craft fairs and artist workshops.
Additionally, IGNCA and institutions under the Gyan Bharatam Mission have signed memoranda of understanding with universities and research bodies in Maharashtra to strengthen regional heritage documentation.