The Government has launched the Gyan Bharatam Mission as a major national initiative aimed at identifying, preserving and promoting India’s vast manuscript heritage. The mission, announced in the Union Budget 2025–26, is being implemented by the Ministry of Culture as a flagship programme to safeguard the country’s traditional knowledge systems and historical manuscripts.
Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat informed the Lok Sabha that the Standing Finance Committee has approved an allocation of ₹491.66 crore for the period from 2025 to 2031 to support various components of the mission. The funding will be used for a wide range of activities including survey and registration of manuscripts, development of technology infrastructure, documentation, conservation, digitisation and publication of manuscripts, as well as capacity building and research.
The mission seeks to systematically locate and document manuscripts preserved in institutions, temples, libraries, monasteries and private collections across the country. By creating a comprehensive database and strengthening preservation mechanisms, the initiative aims to protect fragile historical records while enabling wider scholarly access to India’s intellectual and cultural heritage.
In parallel with the manuscript preservation initiative, the Archaeological Survey of India continues to use advanced technologies for archaeological exploration and excavation. These include LiDAR mapping, Ground Penetrating Radar and drone surveys, which help researchers detect sub surface structures and plan excavations more effectively. Such technologies have been used at archaeological sites including Rajgir in Bihar, Rakhigarhi in Haryana, Bhismaknagar in Arunachal Pradesh and Warangal Fort in Telangana before excavation activities were undertaken.
The government has also reiterated its commitment to protecting centrally protected monuments from encroachment. The Archaeological Survey of India conducts regular inspections of monuments across the country and issues notices to halt unauthorized construction or encroachment near protected sites. Enforcement actions are carried out under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958, the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Rules 1959 and the Public Premises Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants Act 1971. Such measures are being implemented in several states including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
To improve visitor amenities at major heritage sites, the government launched the Adopt A Heritage 2.0 programme in September 2023. The initiative allows engagement with private sector companies, non government organisations, trusts and societies to provide visitor facilities at monuments of national importance. These partners are permitted to support non conservation activities such as cleaning monument premises and maintaining amenities including washrooms, drinking water facilities, childcare rooms, benches, pathways, signage, garbage bins, illumination and sound and light shows.
Officials clarified that conservation and restoration work at protected monuments remains exclusively under the responsibility of the Archaeological Survey of India and its experts, ensuring that preservation activities continue under the established regulatory framework.
The National Archives of India has also intensified efforts to digitise and preserve the country’s documentary heritage. Through its online portal Abhilekh Patal, the institution has made a large collection of archival records accessible to researchers and the public. As of February 2026, the portal hosts 0.73 crore reference media, 0.38 crore digitised records and more than 18.23 crore pages of archival material. The platform has recorded 1,87,961 unique visitors and 35,167 registered users.
The initiatives collectively reflect the government’s broader strategy to preserve India’s cultural and intellectual heritage through conservation, digitisation, research and improved public access.
