The Gyan Bharatam Mission is a central sector scheme introduced in the Union Budget 2025-26, aiming to survey, document, and conserve India’s extensive manuscript heritage.
Objectives:
- Preservation of Manuscripts: Targeting the conservation of over one crore manuscripts housed in academic institutions, museums, libraries, and private collections across India.
- Establishment of a Digital Repository: Creating a national digital repository of the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) to facilitate knowledge sharing and accessibility.
Budget Allocation:
- The mission has led to a significant increase in funding for the National Manuscripts Mission (NMM), with allocations rising from 3.5 crore to 60 crore.
Significance:
- Cultural Preservation: Ensures the safeguarding of India’s rich manuscript heritage, which holds immense historical, scientific, and aesthetic value.
- Global Accessibility: By digitizing manuscripts, the mission aims to make India’s traditional knowledge accessible to researchers, students, and institutions worldwide.
Implementation:
- The mission will be integrated with the existing National Manuscripts Mission (NMM), which operates under the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).
The Gyan Bharatam Mission represents a significant step towards preserving and promoting India’s manuscript heritage, reflecting the government’s commitment to safeguarding the nation’s cultural and intellectual legacy.
