**Executive Summary**
The Gyan Bharatam Mission, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Culture announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, aims to preserve, digitize, and disseminate India's manuscript heritage. The initiative, with a sanctioned budget of Rs.491.66 crore for the period 2025-2031, focuses on survey and cataloguing, conservation, technology and digitization, linguistics and translation, and research and outreach. The document specifies technical and quality standards, metadata protocols, and measures taken to ensure the initiative's success.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Initiative Overview:**
* Gyan Bharatam is a national initiative aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047.
* It aims to safeguard India’s manuscript heritage.
* Budget: Rs.491.66 crore sanctioned for 2025-2031.
* Five key verticals: Survey and Cataloguing, Conservation, Technology and Digitization, Linguistics and Translation, Research, Publication, and Outreach.
* **Infrastructure and Implementation:**
* Mandate to establish a nationwide network of Cluster Centers (CCs) and Independent Centers (ICs).
* 45 Centers onboarded to carry out activities in the initiative's five verticals.
* 20 States/UTs onboarded as Nodal Coordinating Authorities.
* **Digitization and Cataloguing:**
* Over 7.5 Lakh manuscripts digitized.
* 1.29 Lakh manuscripts available on the Gyan Bharatam Portal: https://gyanbharatam.com.
* **Technical Standards:**
* Strict imaging norms for high-quality digital outputs.
* Minimum 400 DPI, 24-bit color scanning (600 DPI if needed).
* Mandatory image post-processing (de-skewing, cropping, etc.).
* Master files in TIFF v 6.0 (LZW compressed); access copies in JPEG; searchable copies in PDF/A with indelible watermark.
* Long-term storage via LTO-9 tapes with cloud-based backup and disaster recovery.
* AI-integrated digital platform and mobile application being built.
* Metadata capture levels include Descriptive, Structural, Technical, and Administrative metadata.
* Metadata to be supplied in CSV and XML formats.
* **Preservation and Access:**
* A manual on preservation and conservation framed and shared with experts.
* A survey app developed and shared for feedback.
* Technical partners onboarded for metadata creation and integration with the National Digital Repository (NDR).
* Deployment of scanners and equipment to designated digitization centers.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Culture (MoC)**
* **Impact:** The MoC is responsible for the overall success and management of the Gyan Bharatam Mission.
* **Action Required:** To oversee the implementation of the Mission, ensure adherence to standards, and track progress against the set goals.
**Cluster Centers (CCs) and Independent Centers (ICs)**
* **Impact:** These institutions are central to the execution of the initiative’s goals regarding manuscript preservation, digitization, and dissemination.
* **Action Required:** Adhere to government standards and protocols for digitization and cataloguing, effectively execute the activities outlined under the Mission, and provide feedback.
**State/UT Governments**
* **Impact:** Accountable for the effective implementation of the Gyan Bharatam Mission within their respective regions.
* **Action Required:** Act as Nodal Coordinating Authorities for the Gyan Bharatam Mission, ensuring that the project’s objectives are met within their jurisdiction.
**Conservation Experts**
* **Impact:** Involved in the evaluation and feedback of the preservation and conservation measures outlined in the manual.
* **Action Required:** Provide feedback on the detailed manual on preservation and conservation, ensuring that best practices are incorporated.
**Technical Partners**
* **Impact:** Responsible for providing technical infrastructure, including scanners, digital platforms, and data storage solutions.
* **Action Required:** Provide and deploy scanners and equipment, build and maintain the AI-integrated digital platform, and ensure the security and accessibility of the data.
Key Entities Referenced
Gyan Bharatam: A national initiative for the preservation, digitization, and dissemination of manuscript heritage, announced during Union Budget 2025-26.
Ministry of Culture (MoC): The government ministry responsible for implementing the Gyan Bharatam initiative.
Viksit Bharat 2047: The national vision that the Gyan Bharatam initiative is aligned with.
National Digital Repository (NDR): The digital repository where manuscripts digitized under the Gyan Bharatam Mission are uploaded.
Kerala: A state where special attention is given to Cluster Centres and Independent Centres within the Gyan Bharatam mission.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 455
ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026
GYAN BHARATAM MISSION
455. Dr. Shashi Tharoor :
Shri Amar Sharadrao Kale :
Will the Minister of Culture be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the "Gyan Bharatam" national initiative launched by the Government with the
objective of preservation, digitization and dissemination of manuscript heritage of the country;
(b) the list of all institutions that have signed or are scheduled to sign Memorandums of
Understanding (MoU) under the Gyan Bharatam Mission, along with their categorisation as
Cluster Centres or Independent Centres and the number of partner institutions assigned to each
Cluster Center in the country, State/UT-wise especially in Kerala;
(c) the details of manuscripts that have been identified, catalogued, conserved, digitised and
uploaded to the National Digital Repository (NDR) as of date under the Mission, State/UT and
language-wise;
(d) the details of the Government prescribed quality standards, technical benchmarks and/or
metadata protocols for digitisation and cataloguing under the Gyan Bharatam Mission;and
(e) the details of the measure taken/being taken for the cataloguing, preservation and ensuring
public access to manuscripts under the said mission?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) Gyan Bharatam, announced during Union Budget 2025-26, is a flagship initiative of the
Ministry of Culture (MoC), Government of India aimed at unearthing, safeguarding and
preserving India’s vast manuscript heritage. Aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat
2047, the initiative seeks to harmonize cultural preservation with human capital development,
ensuring that India’s ancient wisdom continues to inspire generations to come. To support the
initiative, the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) has sanctioned Rs.491.66 crore for the period
2025-2031. This initiative focuses on five verticals namely (i) Survey and Cataloguing (ii)Conservation and Capacity Building (iii) Technology and Digitization (iv) Linguistics and
Translation (v) Research, Publication, and Outreach.
(b) Gyan Bharatam has been mandated to establish a nation-wide network of Cluster Centers
(CCs) and Independent Centers (ICs) across the country. A list of CCs and ICs onboarded so far
is annexed.
(c) More than 7.5 Lakh manuscripts have been digitized under Gyan Bharatam, Out of which,
1.29 Lakh manuscripts are available on Gyan Bharatam Portal i.e. https://gyanbharatam.com.
(d) The Key technical and quality standards and metadata protocols for digitization and
cataloguing of manuscripts are:
1. Strict imaging norms to ensure preservation and high-quality digital outputs.
2. Minimum 400 DPI, 24-bit colour scanning (600 DPI where required) using non-destructive
face-up overhead scanners with cold light.
3. Mandatory image post-processing includes de-skewing, cropping, light equalization, and the
removal of digital “noise” like worm-marks or stain-marks while maintaining color integrity
and 100% manual quality verification.
4. Master files in TIFF v 6.0 (LZW compressed); access copies in JPEG; searchable copies in
PDF/A with indelible watermark.
5. Long-term storage through LTO-9 tapes with cloud-based backup and disaster recovery.
6. Building a fully functional, AI-integrated digital platform and mobile application.
7. Metadata Capture levels: Descriptive metadata (content), Structural metadata (navigation),
Technical metadata, Administrative metadata-incorporating manuscript content details,
details on original source, institutional details, locative region, language, script, conservation
status, date of creation, version of digital object, file format used, compression technology
used, object relationship, etc.
8. Metadata supplied in CSV and XML formats with each digitization batch.
(e) Following measures have been taken in this regard:
(i) 45 Centers have been onboarded so far to carry out the activities outlined under Gyan
Bhatamam initiative on aforesaid five verticals.
(ii) 20 States / UTs have also been onboarded so far to act as the Nodal Coordinating Authority
for Gyan Bharatam implementation within the State / UT concerned.
(iii) A detailed manual on preservation and conservation has also been framed and shared with
esteemed conservation experts for feedback.
(iv) Survey app has been developed and shared with stakeholders for feedback.(v) Technical partners have been on boarded for:
Basic level metadata creation and its integration on National Digital Repository (NDR)
and to facilitate integration of manuscripts and its metadata for global accessibility via
NDR.
Deployment of scanners & equipments to be deployed across designated centres for
digitization of manuscripts.
Building a fully functional, AI-integrated digital platform and mobile application.
Providing continuous hot, cold, cloud-based storage hosting, backup and security support.
Data storage using LTO-9 tape for long term archival and disaster recovery management.Annexure
Cluster Centres (28)
S. State Organization Name
No
1 Assam Dept. of Sanskrit, Assam University, Silchar
2 Nava Nalanda Mahavihar, Nalanda
Bihar
3 Patna Musuem, Patna
4 University Library Jamia Hamdard
Delhi
5 Central Sanskrit University
6 Shruta Ratnakara, Ahmedabad
Gujarat
7 Oriental Institute, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda,
Vadodara
8 Himachal Pradesh Himachal State Museum, Shimla
9 Dept. of Persian, University of Kashmir, Srinagar
10 J & K Shasvat Art Gallery Jammu
11 Karnataka Samskriti Foundation, Mysuru
12 Oriental Research Institute, Mysuru
13 Kerala Oriental Research Institute & Manuscript Library, University of
Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram
14 Ladakh Central Institute of Buddhist Studies, Leh
15 Manipur Manipur State Archives
16 Madhya Pradesh Department of Sanskrit, Dr. Hari Singh Gour University, Sagar
17 Kavi Kulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University, Nagpur
Maharashtra
18 Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Pune
19 SARASVATI Bhadrak
Odisha
20 Department of Sanskrit, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar
21 Rajasthan Sanskrit Academy, Jaipur
22 Rajasthan Vishwa Gurudeep Ashram Shodha Sansthan, Jaipur
23 Sikkim Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok
24 Telangana Telangana State Archives & Research Institute, Hyderabad
25 Uttar Pradesh Vrindavan Research Institute, Vrindavan26 Shri Laxmidhar Acharya Chakradhar Joshi Vidyamandir Shodh
Uttarakhand Sansthan (SLACJVMSS), Nakshatra Vedhshala, Devprayag
27 University of Patanjali
28 West Bengal The Asiatic Society, Kolkata
Independent Centres (17)
1 Andhra Pradesh Sanatan Jeevan Trust, Tirupati
2 Khuda Baksh Oriental Public Library, Patna
3 Bihar Bodh Gaya Math, Gaya
4 Gujarat Adhyatma Parivar Trust, Surat
5 Haryana Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra
6 Karnataka Tara Prakashan Vedic Library & Research Centre, Bangaluru
7 Sevadhi Museum & Ideological Research Institute, Kottayam
8 Kerala Chinmaya International Foundation, Ernakulam
9 Anandashram Samsthan, Pune
10 Maharashtra Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal Sadashiv Peth, Pune
11 Anekant Gyan Mandir Bina
12 Madhya Pradesh Scindia Oriental Research Institute, Ujjain
13 Abhay Jain Granthalaya, Bikaner
14 Rajasthan Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute, Jodhpur
15 Padmashri Narayan Das Pandulipi Shodh Sansthan, Jaipur
16 Nagari Pracharini Sabha, Varanasi
17 Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Prayagraj
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