Gyan Bharatam: Reviving India’s Knowledge Legacy
Gyan Bharatam , announced in the Union Budget 2025–26 , is a flagship national programme aimed at preserving, digitising, and revitalising India’s vast manuscript heritage. Implemented by the Ministry of Culture , the initiative aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 by linking cultural conservation with knowledge creation, research, and human capital development.
Funding Support and Strategic Vision
To operationalise the programme, the Standing Finance Committee has approved an allocation of ₹491.66 crore for the period 2025–2031 .
Gyan Bharatam seeks to identify, safeguard, and preserve ancient manuscripts while ensuring that traditional knowledge systems remain relevant for contemporary scholarship and future generations. The initiative reflects India’s commitment to structured and institutional protection of its intellectual and cultural heritage.
Five Core Verticals of Gyan Bharatam
The initiative is structured around five integrated verticals :
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Survey and cataloguing of manuscripts
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Conservation and capacity building
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Technology and digitisation
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Linguistics and translation
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Research, publication, and outreach
A nationwide implementation network is being created through Cluster Centres and Independent Centres . So far, 45 centres and 20 States and Union Territories have been onboarded as nodal authorities to ensure coordinated execution.
Digitisation, Technology, and Quality Standards
Under Gyan Bharatam, more than 7.5 lakh manuscripts have already been digitised, with 1.29 lakh manuscripts made accessible through a dedicated digital portal.
The programme follows rigorous technical standards, including:
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High-resolution non-destructive scanning
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Advanced image processing techniques
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Robust metadata protocols
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Long-term archival storage using LTO-9 magnetic tapes with cloud-based backup
An AI-integrated digital platform and a mobile application are also under development to improve accessibility, discovery, and research use.
Important Facts for Exams
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Gyan Bharatam was announced in Union Budget 2025–26
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Implemented by the Ministry of Culture
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₹491.66 crore allocated for 2025–2031
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Operates across five core verticals , including digitisation and conservation
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Over 7.5 lakh manuscripts digitised so far
Month: Current Affairs - February 03, 2026
Category: Culture | Art & Heritage