Ministry of Culture Signs MoU with Google Arts & Culture to Digitise India’s Cultural Heritage

The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Google Arts & Culture on 5 November 2026 to digitally preserve, document and showcase India’s rich cultural heritage.

The agreement aims to make India’s historical monuments, archaeological sites, ancient manuscripts, museum collections, traditional crafts and performing arts more accessible to people across India and the world through advanced digital technologies.

The MoU was signed during a virtual ceremony in the presence of Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, and Amit Sood, Vice President and Founder of Google Arts & Culture.

Key Highlights of the MoU

Objectives of the Partnership

The collaboration seeks to combine modern technology with India’s vast cultural resources to improve preservation, documentation and public accessibility.

The major objectives include:

• Digitising monuments and archaeological sites protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

• Preserving ancient manuscripts documented under the Gyan Bharatam initiative.

• Making national museum collections digitally accessible.

• Promoting traditional crafts, performing arts and living cultural traditions.

• Providing digital cultural content in Indian languages.

• Enabling people to explore India’s heritage on different devices.

• Strengthening India’s creative economy and cultural awareness globally.

Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum: Major Focus of the Agreement

One of the most significant components of the partnership is the digitisation of the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum, which is being developed in the North and South Blocks of New Delhi.

The museum is envisioned as a major cultural institution presenting India’s history and civilisation across different periods.

Under the partnership, digital documentation will create a lasting record of the historic buildings and the artefacts that will be displayed inside them.

This initiative will also provide the public with early digital access to the museum’s collections and exhibitions.

Importance of the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum

The museum aims to showcase India’s civilisational journey, preserve valuable historical artefacts, support cultural education and promote greater understanding of India’s history among domestic and international audiences.

Digitisation of Ancient Manuscripts Under Gyan Bharatam

The partnership will also support the documentation and digital preservation of India’s manuscript heritage under the Gyan Bharatam initiative.

India possesses a vast collection of ancient manuscripts containing knowledge related to literature, philosophy, medicine, mathematics, science, history and other subjects.

Digitisation will help protect fragile manuscripts from deterioration while making their contents more accessible to students, researchers and the public.

It will also support the preservation of India’s traditional knowledge systems for future generations.

Role of the Archaeological Survey of India

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) plays an important role in protecting and conserving monuments and archaeological sites of national importance.

The partnership will help digitally document and showcase ASI-protected monuments, archaeological collections and historical sites.

Digital records can support heritage conservation, educational research and wider public awareness of India’s historical monuments.

Role of Google Arts & Culture

Google Arts & Culture is a digital platform that collaborates with museums, heritage institutions and cultural organisations to make art and cultural collections accessible online.

The platform has previously worked with Indian institutions, including the Archaeological Survey of India, the National Museum and the National Gallery of Modern Art.

Through the new MoU, Google Arts & Culture will support the Ministry’s efforts to preserve and present India’s cultural heritage using advanced digital tools.

A major focus will be improving access to these collections in Indian languages and making them discoverable to audiences worldwide.

Significance of the MoU for India

The agreement represents an important step towards technology-driven cultural preservation.

Digital preservation: Historical artefacts, manuscripts and monuments can be documented for future generations.

Global accessibility: People worldwide will have greater opportunities to explore India’s cultural heritage online.

Promotion of Indian languages: Digital cultural content will become accessible to a wider audience through Indian-language support.

Educational benefits: Students, teachers and researchers will gain better access to historical and cultural collections.

Creative economy: Increased visibility of traditional crafts, performing arts and cultural practices can support India’s creative industries.

Statements from Key Representatives

Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, emphasised that India’s cultural heritage is a living inheritance belonging to every citizen. He highlighted the importance of using technology to document and share monuments, manuscripts, museum collections and the upcoming Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum.

Amit Sood, Vice President and Founder of Google Arts & Culture, highlighted the platform’s 15-year association with India’s cultural heritage. He stated that the partnership would help bridge ancient heritage and modern accessibility through advanced technologies.

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