The Ministry of Culture has launched Version Two of the Indian Culture Portal, introducing a major technological upgrade aimed at expanding digital access to India’s vast cultural heritage and improving user engagement through advanced technologies and multilingual features.
The upgraded platform was launched on 5 March 2026 by Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary in the Ministry of Culture. The Indian Culture Portal serves as a national digital repository that brings together knowledge resources on India’s traditions, arts, literature, history and heritage from museums, libraries, archives and cultural institutions across the country.
Originally launched in December 2019, the portal was designed to democratise access to cultural knowledge by providing a single unified digital platform for curated cultural resources. With rising user traffic and evolving technological demands, the platform has now undergone a comprehensive transformation to enhance performance, scalability and accessibility.
Version Two of the portal introduces a modern technology architecture combining a React based frontend with a Drupal backend. This transition from the earlier monolithic system significantly improves loading speeds, system responsiveness and platform stability. The upgraded architecture enables the platform to support millions of users simultaneously while maintaining reliable performance even during high traffic usage.
One of the most prominent features of the upgraded portal is the integration of artificial intelligence powered tools that enhance the discovery and navigation of cultural content. An AI enabled chatbot named Bharti has been introduced to assist users in interacting with the platform.
Bharti helps visitors navigate the portal, answer queries, summarise cultural content and guide users to relevant digital resources available on the platform. The chatbot is integrated with the Government of India’s Bhashini language platform, allowing it to respond in twenty two Indian languages. This multilingual capability significantly broadens accessibility and enables users from diverse linguistic backgrounds to explore India’s cultural knowledge resources.
The portal also includes an advanced multilevel global search system that offers full text search functionality supported by intelligent metadata filters and faceted navigation tools. These capabilities enable users to discover cultural material more efficiently and refine searches based on themes, topics or historical categories.
Another key innovation in Version Two is the transformation of the platform into a Progressive Web App. This technology allows users to access the portal across multiple devices including desktops, tablets and smartphones with an application like experience without requiring installation from app stores.
The Progressive Web App architecture ensures seamless performance across different devices and network environments while allowing users to install the portal on their devices for quicker access.
The upgraded platform also offers immersive digital experiences that bring India’s heritage sites and monuments closer to users through technology. Visitors can explore 3D walkthroughs and 360 degree virtual tours of historic monuments and architectural landmarks, allowing audiences to experience cultural sites digitally from anywhere in the world.
The portal now features forty six curated cultural categories covering diverse aspects of India’s civilisation and heritage. These categories include new sections such as Iconic Battles of India, Folktales of India, Healing Through the Ages, Legendary Figures of India and Classical Dances of India.
These thematic collections aim to provide engaging narratives and accessible learning resources for students, researchers, educators and citizens interested in India’s cultural legacy.
To further encourage interactive learning, the portal also includes educational games, quizzes, puzzles and crosswords that allow users to explore cultural themes in an engaging format suitable for learners of different age groups.
Officials noted that the upgraded platform is designed as a scalable and future ready digital ecosystem capable of integrating emerging technologies and expanding content partnerships with cultural institutions across the country.
The platform will serve as an important resource for scholars, cultural organisations, policymakers and the general public by offering faster access to curated cultural materials, improved search functionality and multilingual digital engagement.
The launch of Version Two of the Indian Culture Portal reflects the Ministry of Culture’s continued commitment to digitising and preserving India’s cultural heritage while ensuring that knowledge resources remain accessible to audiences both within the country and globally.
