Gyan Bharatam Mission
Why in the News?
The Gyan Bharatam Mission, under the Union Culture Ministry, will on 25 October sign Memorandums of Understanding with around 20 institutes across the country for conservation, upkeep, and digitisation of manuscripts.
UPSC Relevance
Schemes and initiatives especially digital are often asked in Prelims.
PYQ
2022 Prelims
With reference to Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, consider the following statements:
1.Private and public hospitals must adopt it.
2.As it aims to achieve universal health coverage, every citizen of India should be part of it ultimately.
3.It has seamless portability across the country.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Gyan Bharatam Mission (GBM)
| Particular | Details |
| Mission Name | Gyan Bharatam Mission (GBM) |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Culture, Government of India |
| Announced | Union Budget 2025-26 for (2024–2031) |
| Total Outlay | ₹482.85 Crores . The first instalment (70%) shall be disbursed upon the annual budget, the second (30%) instalment shall be released only upon submission of progress reports, |
| Type | Central Sector scheme |
| Core Vision | To preserve, digitize, and disseminate India’s vast manuscript heritage and revive its civilizational knowledge traditions for future generations.The Mission is a revival and expansion of the earlier National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM, 2003). |
| Key Target | Digitize and catalog over 1 crore manuscripts across the country. |
Key Components (Pillars):
- Preservation & Conservation: Safeguarding fragile texts using scientific and traditional methods.
- Digitisation & Repository: Creating a National Digital Repository (NDR) using advanced technology like AI, Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR), and cloud metadata for global accessibility. The Mission has been allocated Rs. 482.85 crore (2024–31), with over 44.07 lakh manuscripts already documented in the Kriti Sampada digital repository.
- Capacity-Building: Training a new generation of scholars, conservators, and transcribers.
- Research & Publication: Reviving rare and unpublished manuscripts through critical editions and translations.
- Outreach & Public Engagement: Making manuscripts a living resource through educational modules, AR/VR experiences, and public exhibitions.
- Technological Integration: The mission focuses on the use of cutting-edge digital tools, AI innovations, and a dedicated platform called the Gyan Bharatam Portal for public access.
‘Gyan Bharatam’ International Conference
The Gyan Bharatam Mission was formally launched at the first-ever ‘Gyan Bharatam’ International Conference on “Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy through Manuscript Heritage.”
- Dates: September 11–13, 2025 (The date of the conference’s start, September 11, also marked the anniversary of Swami Vivekananda‘s 1893 Chicago Address).
- Venue: Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
- Theme: “Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy through Manuscript Heritage.”
- Significance: The conference was the launch platform for the Gyan Bharatam Mission and the associated Gyan Bharatam Portal, which was launched by the Prime Minister.
- The Gyan Bharatam Conference is the first international platform that has invited stakeholders from across the country to discuss, deliberate, and chart the way forward for preserving and digitising India’s manuscript heritage.
- Participation: It brought together over 1,100 participants, including scholars, experts, institutions, and cultural practitioners from India and abroad.
- Key Speakers: The event featured addresses by the Prime Minister of India, the Minister of Culture, and other eminent dignitaries.
- Outcome :
- The “Delhi Declaration – Gyan Bharatam Sankalp Patra” was adopted, pledging preservation, globalisation, community outreach, educational integration, and recognition of custodians, with every pledge’s first letter spelling “Gyan Bharatam”.
- The conference featured deliberations across several working groups focusing on areas like script decipherment (including the Harappan script), legal frameworks, conservation, and digitization standards.
- The “Gyan Setu” AI Challenge was also announced to encourage innovation in digital tools for manuscripts.
- The event was hailed as a “Jan Andolan” (people’s movement) and a model for participatory heritage revival.
The mission is seen as a forward-looking step towards the vision of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047, positioning India as a Vishwa Guru (World Teacher) by combining its past wisdom with future innovation.