National Digitization Drive Workshop Strengthens India’s Manuscript Preservation

India’s manuscript heritage spanning philosophy, Ayurveda, literature, mathematics, yoga, and diverse knowledge systems reflects the civilizational ethos of “jñānam paramam dhyeyam.” To advance this legacy, the Ministry of Culture convened the National Digitization Drive Workshop under the Gyan Bharatam Mission, with participation from over 200 representatives of States/UTs, Centres, custodians, scholars, experts, and technology partners.

Appreciating the coordinated national effort, the Union Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, said that, with the proactive support from all States, UTs, Ministry officials, Centres and custodians, over 1.2 crore manuscripts have been reported, marking a remarkable national milestone. The Union Minister added that the workshop is a coordinated national effort to safeguard centuries‑old knowledge, our saṅkalpa to respect the past, guide the present, and protect the future. Our Puravajas and Rishi‑munis created manuscripts across all disciplines, and it is our responsibility to categorize, codify, and publish them for future generations.

Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary Culture, stressed the need for a time‑bound, systematic, and coordinated work with all stakeholders to ensure uniformity, quality assurance, and seamless integration across the country.

Samar Nanda, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture welcomed all participants and reaffirmed the mission’s national goals, reminding everyone of the core framework of Gyan Bharatam and the collective responsibility to advance India’s manuscript preservation efforts.

Thereafter, Inderjeet Singh, Director, Gyan Bharatam, Ministry of Culture presented an overview of the Gyan Bharatam Mission, outlining national objectives, digital infrastructure, and coordinated implementation. Further, Prof. Anirban Dash, Project Director, Gyan Bharatam, Ministry of Culture explained the mission’s two-phased functional pattern – technical and scholastic understanding to ensuring high‑quality digitization and rigorous knowledge validation.(UPDATED ON 31ST JULY 2026)