Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Culture is leveraging technology for the digital preservation and promotion of Indian art, culture, and heritage. This includes digitizing manuscripts and museum collections, creating digital repositories, and promoting art forms through online platforms. Initiatives are also in place to integrate Indian cultural education with online learning for students and the public.
Key Points / Main Content:
Digital Preservation:
* ASI has digitally documented 1,18,359 antiquities and artefacts under NMMA.
* 3.50 lakh Manuscripts have been digitized under 'Gyan Bharatam Mission' in collaboration with 37 public or private institutions.
* JATAN software is used for digitization of museum collections in technical collaboration with CDAC, Pune.
* The Abhilekh Patal (NAI) serves as a digital repository for India's historical documents.
* NCAA is a digital repository for rare and endangered cultural audiovisual recordings.
* Seven ZCCs conduct research and audiovisual documentation for the preservation of visual and performing arts.
Promotion of Art and Culture:
* The Archaeological Museum at Hampi has been upgraded through an app-based virtual museum in partnership with AAI under the National Culture Fund.
* The NVLI serves as a platform for cultural information, accessible through user-friendly multilingual search interfaces.
* The Ministry promotes Indian art and culture through social media platforms.
Integration of Cultural Education:
* The Ministry of Culture implements schemes for integrating Indian cultural education with online learning platforms, including:
* Centenaries and Anniversaries Scheme
* Promotion of Guru Shishya Parampara under Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana
* Development of Museums
* Development of Libraries
* Global Engagement
* National Mission on Manuscripts Gyan Bharatam Mission
* National Mission on Cultural Mapping and Roadmap
Impact Analysis:
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
* Impact: Required to continue digitally documenting antiquities and artefacts under NMMA.
* Action Required: Implement and maintain digital documentation processes.
Public and Private Institutions
* Impact: Involved in the digitization of manuscripts under the 'Gyan Bharatam Mission.'
* Action Required: Collaborate with the Ministry of Culture to digitize and preserve Indian manuscripts.
CDAC, Pune
* Impact: Provides technical collaboration for the JATAN software used in museum collection digitization.
* Action Required: Continue to support and enhance the JATAN software.
National Archives of India (NAI)
* Impact: Responsible for maintaining the Abhilekh Patal as a digital repository for historical documents.
* Action Required: Ensure the accessibility and preservation of India's historical legacy through the digital repository.
Seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs)
* Impact: Conduct research and audiovisual documentation for preserving visual and performing arts.
* Action Required: Continue documenting and promoting regional arts through research and audiovisual means.
Airports Authority of India (AAI)
* Impact: Partnered in the development of the app-based virtual museum at the Archaeological Museum, Hampi.
* Action Required: Support the maintenance and enhancement of the virtual museum.
Students and General Public
* Impact: Beneficiaries of integrated Indian cultural education through online learning platforms.
* Action Required: Engage with online learning platforms and resources to enhance understanding of Indian art and culture.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The Indian government ministry responsible for the preservation and promotion of Indian art and culture.
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): An organization under the Ministry of Culture responsible for archaeological research and the conservation of cultural monuments in India. They have digitally documented antiquities and artifacts.
National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA): A mission under which the Archaeological Survey of India has digitally documented antiquities and artifacts.
Gyan Bharatam Mission: A mission with the core objective of digitization and preservation of Indian manuscripts.
CDAC, Pune: Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, Pune, an organization providing technical collaboration to the Ministry of Culture for digitization of museum collections.
National Archives of India (NAI): The custodian of the records of the Government of India, which maintains the Abhilekh Patal, a digital repository.
National Cultural AudioVisual Archives (NCAA): A digital repository for rare and endangered cultural audiovisual recordings to promote and preserve the Cultural heritage of India.
Hampi, Karnataka: Location of the Archaeological Museum which has been upgraded through a virtual museum project. Hampi is a town in Karnataka, India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3959
TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025
Digital Preservation and Promotion of Indian Art, Culture and Heritage
3959: SHRI E T MOHAMMED BASHEER:
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the steps taken/being taken by the Government to leverage technology
for the digital preservation of ancient Indian manuscripts, artifacts, monuments and
cultural performances including audio-visual documentation and digitization of
archival material;
(b) whether any national-level projects or partnerships initiated with public or private
institutions for this purpose, if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of the initiatives launched to promote Indian art and culture through
digital platforms, including online exhibitions, virtual museums and streaming of
cultural festivals and classical performances; and
(d) whether the Government has any schemes to integrate Indian cultural education with
online learning platforms for students and the general public and if so, the details
along with the progress made thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) & (b): Ministry of Culture and various organizations under it has taken following steps
to leverage technology for the digital preservation of ancient Indian manuscript, artifacts,
monuments and cultural performances including audio-visual documentation and
digitization of archival material:
Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) has digitally documented 1,18,359
antiquities and artefacts under National Mission on Monuments and
Antiquities (NMMA).
Under 'Gyan Bharatam Mission' with the core objective of digitization and
preservation of Indian manuscripts, 3.50 lakh Manuscripts has been
digitized in collaboration with the 37 public or private institutions.
Ministry of Culture in technical collaboration with C-DAC, Pune has been
using software named “JATAN” for digitization of museum collections. The Abhilekh Patal is a digital repository curated by the National Archives
of India (NAI) which serves as a gateway to India's historical legacy,
offering a treasure trove of meticulously preserved documents and records.
The National Cultural Audio-Visual Archives (NCAA) is a trusted digital
repository for rare and endangered cultural audio-visual recordings to
promote and preserve the Cultural heritage of India.
Seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) across India with headquarters in
Patiala, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur, Thanjavur, Nagpur, and Udaipur,
conduct research & audio-visual documentation for the preservation and
promotion of visual and performing arts, encompassing music, dance,
theatre, literature, and fine arts.
(c): The Ministry of Culture has launched following initiatives to promote Indian art and
culture through digital platforms, including online exhibitions, virtual museums and
streaming of cultural festivals and classical performances:
The Archaeological Museum at Hampi, Karnataka, has been
comprehensively upgraded through the development of an app-based
virtual museum in partnership with the Airports Authority of India (AAI)
under the aegis of the National Culture Fund.
The National Virtual Library of India (NVLI) has been envisaged as the
platform for bringing together all cultural information in India and making
such information accessible to the citizens through user friendly
multilingual search interfaces. It hosts data of cultural relevance from
various repositories and institutions across India.
In addition, the Ministry regularly promotes Indian art and culture
including exhibitions, cultural festivals, classical performances and other
achievements through various social media platforms.
(d): Ministry of Culture through its various organizations implement following schemes
for integration of Indian cultural education with online learning platforms for students and
the general public:
i. Centenaries and Anniversaries Scheme
ii. Promotion of Guru Shishya Parampara under Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana
iii. Development of Museums
iv. Development of Libraries
v. Global Engagement
vi. National Mission on Manuscripts (Gyan Bharatam Mission)
vii. National Mission on Cultural Mapping and Roadmap
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