GYAN BHARATAM MISSION

**Executive Summary** The Gyan Bharatam Mission, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Culture, aims to unearth, safeguard, and preserve India's manuscript heritage. The Standing Finance Committee has sanctioned Rs.491.66 crore for this initiative from 2025-2031. The mission involves various components including survey, documentation, conservation, and digitization of manuscripts. **Key Points / Main Content** * **Gyan Bharatam Mission Overview** * Announced during Union Budget 2025-26, it is a Ministry of Culture initiative for manuscript heritage. * The Standing Finance Committee (SFC) has sanctioned Rs.491.66 crore for the period 2025-2031. * Activities include survey, registration, technology infrastructure, documentation, conservation, digitization, publication, and capacity building. * **Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Operations** * ASI utilizes advanced technologies like LiDAR, GPR, and Drone surveys for exploration and excavation. * These technologies were employed prior to excavation at sites such as Rajgir, Rakhigarhi, Bhismaknagar, and Warangal Fort. * Strict legal and administrative measures are enforced to prevent encroachments on Centrally Protected Monuments. * ASI conducts inspections and issues notices, with actions taken under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, and related rules. Eviction proceedings are conducted under the Public Premises Act, 1971. * **Adopt A Heritage 2.0 Program** * Launched in September 2023 for protected national monuments. * Aims to engage private/public sector companies and NGOs/Trusts/Societies for developing amenities to enhance visitor experience. * Partnered entities are restricted to non-conservational aspects like cleaning, providing basic tourist amenities (washrooms, water, benches, signage, etc.), and illumination, under ASI's guidance. * Archaeological conservation and preservation are exclusively handled by ASI experts. * **National Archives of India (NAI) Digitization Initiative** * The Abhilekh-Patal portal is digitizing India's documentary heritage for global accessibility. * As of February 2026, the portal hosts 0.73 crore reference media, 0.38 crore digitized records, and over 18.23 crore pages. * The portal has recorded 1,87,961 unique visitors and 35,167 registered users. **Impact Analysis** * **Ministry of Culture (MoC)** * **Impact:** Responsible for the flagship Gyan Bharatam Mission and its successful implementation. * **Action Required:** Oversee the allocation and utilization of the sanctioned Rs.491.66 crore for manuscript-related activities. * **Standing Finance Committee (SFC)** * **Impact:** Has sanctioned Rs.491.66 crore for the Gyan Bharatam Mission. * **Action Required:** Monitor the financial progress and adherence to the allocated budget for the 2025-2031 period. * **Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)** * **Impact:** Utilizes advanced technologies for archaeological surveys and is responsible for preventing encroachments on protected monuments. Also responsible for the preservation of protected monuments. * **Action Required:** Continue using advanced technologies in exploration and excavation, conduct regular inspections and issue notices to prevent encroachments, and exclusively handle the preservation of protected monuments/sites. * **Private/Public Sector Companies, NGOs/Trusts/Societies** * **Impact:** Engaged through the Adopt A Heritage 2.0 program to provide amenities at protected monuments. * **Action Required:** Engage in non-conservational aspects such as cleaning and providing basic tourist amenities, under ASI's guidance and consultation. * **National Archives of India (NAI)** * **Impact:** Leading a digitization initiative through the Abhilekh-Patal portal. * **Action Required:** Continue to digitize and make archival records globally accessible, expanding the reach and user base of the Abhilekh-Patal portal. * **Parliament and President** * **Impact:** The Appropriation Bill for the budgetary increase for ASI in 2026-27 requires their approval. * **Action Required:** Approve the Appropriation Bill (2026-27) for the ASI's budgetary increase. * **Public** * **Impact:** Will benefit from enhanced visitor experience at monuments and increased access to digitized archival records. * **Action Required:** No direct action required from the public, but they are the beneficiaries of the initiatives.

Key Entities Referenced