Gyan Bharatam Mission: A New Era for India’s Manuscript Heritage

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch the revamped National Manuscripts Mission (NMM) on June 9, 2025, under the new title ‘Gyan Bharatam Mission’, aiming to preserve India’s vast manuscript heritage. With a significant budget increase from ₹3.5 crore to ₹60 crore, this initiative will survey, document, digitize, and conserve over one crore manuscripts lying in academic institutions, libraries, museums, and private collections.

Why in News?

The revival and relaunch of the National Manuscripts Mission has been scheduled for June 9, as announced in the 2025 Union Budget. The increased budgetary allocation and efforts to make the mission autonomous mark a major step forward in safeguarding India’s ancient intellectual treasures.

Key Objectives

• Survey, document, digitize, and conserve India’s manuscript heritage.
• Expand the reach to over one crore manuscripts across the country.
• Establish a clear access policy to encourage sharing of privately held manuscripts.
• Make the National Manuscripts Mission autonomous to ensure greater efficiency.

Key Highlights

• The initiative will operate under the ‘Gyan Bharatam Mission’ banner.
• A massive budget hike from ₹3.5 crore to ₹60 crore was announced in the Union Budget.
• The revamped mission will include a new organization likely launched by PM Modi on June 9.

Background

• National Manuscripts Mission (NMM) was established in 2003, under the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).
• Despite initial promise, the mission had not progressed as expected due to limited access, coordination, and budgetary support.

Current Status

• 52 lakh manuscripts metadata prepared.
• 3 lakh manuscripts digitized, but only 1.3 lakh uploaded.
• Only 70,000 manuscripts are publicly viewable due to lack of access policy.
• 80% of manuscripts in India are held by private collectors.
• Over 9 crore folios conserved in the past 21 years.

Expert Consultation

• Meetings chaired by Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
• Noted experts involved: Udaya Narayana Singh, K. Ramasubramanian, Sudha Gopalakrishnan, and representatives from Google Arts and Culture.

Significance

• Revival aims to preserve India’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
• Enhances digital access, research, and educational outreach.
• Promotes India’s heritage globally by integrating technology with tradition.