Date of Launch: June 9, 2025
New Name: Gyan Bharatam Mission
Context:
The Government of India is relaunching the National Manuscripts Mission (NMM) under a new avatar, Gyan Bharatam Mission, to enhance efforts in manuscript conservation, digitization, and cultural preservation.
Key Features of the Gyan Bharatam Mission
- Objective:
- Survey, document, and conserve over 1 crore Indian manuscripts across:
- Academic institutions
- Libraries
- Museums
- Private collections
- Survey, document, and conserve over 1 crore Indian manuscripts across:
- Scope:
- The mission aims to digitize, preserve, and provide public access to India’s manuscript heritage spanning various regions and languages.
- Institutional Framework:
- NMM, originally set up in 2003 under the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), will be revamped.
- An autonomous body is likely to be constituted for efficient functioning.
- Planning and operational oversight led by the Union Culture Secretary.
Budgetary Allocation
- Previous Allocation: ₹3.5 crore
- Revised Allocation (2025–26): ₹60 crore
Current Status of Manuscript Digitization
- Metadata prepared for: 52 lakh manuscripts
- Digitized titles: Over 3 lakh
- Uploaded content: Only one-third of digitized titles available online
