RamRajya News

Gyan Bharatam Mission Digitizes Over 7.5 Lakh Manuscripts

The Gyan Bharatam Mission, launched under the Union Budget 2025-26 by India’s Ministry of Culture, aims to safeguard, preserve, and digitize India’s rich manuscript heritage. Aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, the initiative combines cultural preservation with human capital development, ensuring ancient knowledge continues to inspire future generations. The Standing Finance Committee has sanctioned Rs. 491.66 crore for implementation from 2025 to 2031.
The mission operates across five core verticals: Survey and Cataloguing, Conservation and Capacity Building, Technology and Digitization, Linguistics and Translation, and Research, Publication & Outreach. It has already digitized over 7.5 lakh manuscripts, with 1.29 lakh available on the official portal Gyan Bharatam.

Technical Standards and Digitization Protocols

Gyan Bharatam follows stringent technical standards to preserve manuscript integrity, including:

  • High-quality scanning with minimum 400 DPI, 24-bit color using non-destructive face-up scanners.
  • Image post-processing including de-skewing, cropping, light equalization, and removal of digital noise.
  • Master files stored in TIFF v6.0, access copies in JPEG, searchable PDFs with watermarks.
  • Long-term storage via LTO-9 tapes with cloud-based backup and disaster recovery.
  • AI-integrated digital platform and mobile application for global accessibility.
  • Detailed metadata capture across descriptive, structural, technical, and administrative levels.

Network of Centres

The mission functions through a nationwide network of 45 Cluster Centres and 17 Independent Centres. Each centre contributes to digitization, cataloguing, and dissemination of manuscripts:

  • Cluster Centres include institutions such as Assam University, Nava Nalanda Mahavihar, Central Sanskrit University, Oriental Institute Baroda, and University of Kerala.
  • Independent Centres include Khuda Baksh Oriental Public Library, Adhyatma Parivar Trust, Kurukshetra University, Chinmaya International Foundation, and Hindi Sahitya Sammelan.

State and Technical Collaboration

So far, 20 States and UTs have been onboarded as nodal coordinating authorities. Technical partners have deployed scanners, developed survey apps, and provided continuous storage and security support. A detailed manual on preservation and conservation has been circulated to experts for feedback.

Through these combined efforts, Gyan Bharatam ensures manuscripts are not only preserved but made digitally accessible for scholars, researchers, and the public globally.

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