Prime Minister Launches Gyan Bharatam Portal to Preserve India’s Manuscript Heritage

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In September 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Gyan Bharatam portal during the International Conference on Gyan Bharatam held in New Delhi. The initiative aims to digitise and preserve India’s vast manuscript collection, ensuring that the nation’s intellectual and cultural legacy is accessible globally while protected from misuse or intellectual piracy.

India boasts nearly one crore manuscripts in about 80 languages, spanning diverse fields such as philosophy, science, medicine, astronomy, art, and architecture. The portal seeks to consolidate these treasures into a digital repository accessible to scholars, researchers, and the public worldwide.

Mission And Objectives Of Gyan Bharatam

The Gyan Bharatam mission, first announced during the 2025 Budget session, focuses on:

• Cataloguing and digitisation of manuscripts across India and abroad.

• Creating a centralised digital platform for public and academic access.

• Collaborating with international institutions to promote preservation, research, and cultural exchange.

• Highlighting India’s intellectual and cultural contributions to the world.

India’s Rich Manuscript Legacy

India is home to the world’s largest collection of manuscripts, including:

• Gilgit texts documenting Kashmir’s history.

• Kautilya’s Arthashastra on statecraft and economics.

• Buddhist scriptures from Sarnath.

• Ayurvedic classics like Charaka and Sushruta Samhitas.

• Bakhshali manuscript, which shows the early use of zero, foundational to modern mathematics and computer science.

These works reflect India’s centuries-old tradition of knowledge preservation, innovation, and dissemination.

Knowledge Traditions And Intellectual Legacy

India’s knowledge system is built on four key principles: preservation, innovation, addition, and adaptation. Examples include:

• Oral traditions like the Vedas.

• Scientific innovations in Ayurveda and metallurgy.

• Continuous additions to literature, such as new versions of the Ramayana.

• Shastrarth (intellectual debates) that refined ideas over centuries.

The Gyan Bharatam mission encourages participation from citizens, educational institutions, and research centres to conserve and propagate this legacy.

Institutional Support And Global Collaboration

Leading institutions such as the Asiatic Society of Kolkata, Saraswati Mahal Library, and Dharohar Udaipur are key stakeholders. Over 10 lakh manuscripts have already been digitised.

International partnerships include:

• Thailand and Vietnam, where scholars are trained in ancient languages like Pali, Lanna, and Cham.

• Digitisation and repatriation of manuscripts from Mongolia.

• Preservation of Indian manuscripts at Japan’s Horyu-ji Monastery, demonstrating India’s historical cultural outreach.

Technology And Youth Engagement

The initiative uses AI and advanced technologies for digitisation and knowledge management. Digitised manuscripts are expected to contribute to global cultural and creative industries, valued at $2.5 trillion.

The mission actively engages youth, who make up 70% of participants, promoting exploration, research, and dissemination of knowledge. Universities are encouraged to collaborate in the digitisation and interpretation of manuscripts.

Promoting Cultural Diplomacy

Gyan Bharatam strengthens India’s image as a trusted custodian of global heritage. Recent repatriation of ancient idols demonstrates growing international confidence in India’s cultural stewardship. The Ministry of Culture oversees the initiative, with the conference highlighting:

• Manuscript preservation techniques

• Legal and intellectual property frameworks

• Manuscript decipherment and research

• Cultural diplomacy and global collaboration

The Gyan Bharatam portal thus represents a landmark step in preserving India’s intellectual heritage, making it accessible worldwide, and positioning India as a global leader in cultural preservation and innovation.

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