New Delhi, Jun 18 (PTI) Under the Gyan Bharatam Mission, artificial intelligence is being used to digitise and decode India’s manuscript heritage, with “over 44 lakh manuscripts documented,” according to a data sheet shared by the government on Thursday.
Titled, “‘Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi’ — 12 Years of Preserving India’s Heritage”, it also says that more than eight lakh digitised manuscripts in different formats are being reformatted as per Gyan Bharatam standard operating procedures.
“Out of these 1.29 lakh manuscripts are accessible to the public on the National Digital Repository (NDR),” it said.
Additionally, a national manuscript survey was launched in March for identifying, documenting and creating a comprehensive national database of manuscripts.
Gyan Bharatam, announced during the Union Budget 2025-26, is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Culture, aimed at unearthing, safeguarding and preserving India’s vast manuscript heritage.
The initiative further integrates modern technologies to safeguard these fragile manuscripts and ensure they are globally accessible.
“To support the initiative, the Standing Finance Committee has sanctioned Rs 491.66 crore for the period 2025-2031,” Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat had said in a written response to a query in the Lok Sabha in February.
The data sheet has been issued to mark 12 years of the Narendra Modi government.
“Under the Gyan Bharatam Mission, AI is being used to digitise and decode India’s manuscript heritage, with over 44 lakh manuscripts documented,” it said.
The fact sheet also shared some data related to the newly built Ram temple in Ayodhya. Consecrated in January 2024, it is supported by large-scale urban development. The city is evolving into a major spiritual destination with improved connectivity and infrastructure, it says.
“Tourism in Ayodhya is estimated to generate Rs 18,000 crore annually by 2028, with current tourism revenue of Rs 8,000–Rs 12,500 crore annually. Visitor numbers surged from 57.5 million in 2023 to over 160 million in 2024, with more than 230 million devotees in the first half of 2025,” according to the fact sheet.
“The state is also investing over Rs 5,000 crore in development, with Ayodhya contributing nearly 25 per cent of Uttar Pradesh’s projected Rs 70,000 crore tourism economy by 2028,” it added.
The fact sheet also mentions the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
The NMMA is implemented under the ASI. It plays a crucial role in supporting conservation by building a reliable national database of India’s built heritage and antiquities.
It aims to document and create an inventory of all monuments and antiquities in the country, information that directly informs planning, prioritisation and monitoring of conservation work.
“As of March 2026, NMMA has documented 1.84 lakh monuments, including built heritage and sites. It also documented 17.20 lakh antiquities across India,” the fact sheet said.
The government established the NMMA in 2007 to prepare two national registers on the documentation and digitisation of unprotected monuments (‘Built Heritage and Sites’) and antiquities across the length and breadth of the country.
The ASI, the premier organisation responsible for archaeological research and conservation of India’s cultural heritage, carries out its functions through a network of around 38 Circles, which serve as regional administrative units.
“As on April 2026, India has 3,686 centrally protected monuments under ASI. For the year 2024-25, around Rs 374 crore was allocated by the government for conservation and maintenance of protected monuments,” it added.
Also, the repatriation of cultural artefacts has been “significantly strengthened” in recent years to “restore India’s stolen heritage”. As on May 2026, a total of 653 antiquities had been retrieved since 2014, it said.
“In the last five years itself, 613 cultural artefacts have been brought back to India, reflecting a major acceleration in recovery efforts.
“Further, 11 objects with verified origins have been handed over to concerned organisations and institutions. Nine objects have been given on loan to the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) for display. One object has been given to the National Museum, while 14 objects have been allotted to the Indian Institute of Heritage,” it added. PTI KND MNK MNK
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