Gyan Bharatam National Manuscript Survey, Need, Objective

The Ministry of Culture launched the Gyan Bharatam National Manuscript Survey on 16 March 2026, under the Gyan Bharatam initiative, to identify and document manuscripts located across the country.

Gyan Bharatam National Manuscript Survey Need

India possesses one of the world’s richest manuscript traditions across subjects like philosophy, science, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, literature, arts, and governance. A large part of this knowledge heritage, however, remains undocumented and dispersed across private homes, temples, monasteries, libraries, and institutions. In this context, the Gyan Bharatam National Manuscript Survey has been launched to identify, document, and preserve manuscripts across the country.

Gyan Bharatam National Manuscript Survey Objective

Gyan Bharatam National Manuscript Survey seeks to identify and locate manuscripts across the country and create a comprehensive, geo-tagged national inventory. 

It aims to facilitate systematic documentation, promote scientific preservation, and support digitisation for long-term access. At a broader level, it intends to make India’s traditional knowledge systems more accessible for research and future generations.

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Gyan Bharatam National Manuscript Survey Process 

Gyan Bharatam National Manuscript Survey will be conducted through a four-stage framework: 

• First Stage: Identification of manuscripts and their locations through submissions on the digital platform, leading to the creation of a national manuscript presence map. 
• Second Stage: Physical verification by experts and state authorities. 
• Third Stage: Detailed cataloguing and metadata creation, such as identification of language, script, and subject. 
• Fourth Stage: Conservation support and high-quality digitisation of manuscripts to enable long-term preservation and research.

A key feature of the Gyan Bharatam National Manuscript Survey is its focus on people’s participation. It allows citizens to share information through the mobile app and website. Manuscript holders such as families, scholars, temples, and institutions, as well as others aware of local collections, can contribute. The process is voluntary, non-intrusive, and does not affect ownership or require transfer of manuscripts.

The initiative forms a key pillar of the Gyan Bharatam initiative, a national mission aimed at preserving, digitising and disseminating India’s vast manuscript legacy by integrating traditional knowledge systems with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.