Lok Sabha Question No. 3905 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-24
Subject: National Mission for Manuscripts
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Shashank Mani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOKSABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No.3905

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2025

## NATIONAL MISSION FOR MANUSCRIPTS

## 3905. SHRI SHASHANK MANI:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  outlined  the  key  objectives  and  initiatives  of  the National Mission for Manuscripts, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Mission has contributed to the preservation, documentation and dissemination of India's manuscripts and heritage, including in Uttar Pradesh, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of efforts made under the Mission to digitize manuscripts and also make them  accessible  to  the  public  through  online  platforms,  along  with  the  number  of manuscripts digitized so far; and
- (d) whether the Government has any plans for expanding public access to this heritage collections, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM

## (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) The Government is dedicated to expanding digitization and enhancing public access to  uphold  and  celebrate  India's  rich  textual  traditions.  The  Government  has  outlined  key objectives  and  initiatives  under  the  National  Mission  for  Manuscripts  (NMM)  to  preserve, document, and disseminate India's rich manuscript heritage.  The  Mission has been restructured with the nomenclature 'Gyan Bharatam Mission' as a Central Sector Scheme for the  period  2024-31  with  a  total  allocation  of  ₹482.85  crores.  The  key  objectives  of  the Mission include:

- (i) Survey and Documentation: Conducting a nationwide survey and registration of manuscripts to maintain a comprehensive record of India's manuscript wealth.
- (ii) Conservation and Preservation: Scientific conservation and preventive preservation of manuscripts across repositories in India.
- (iii) Digitization: Large-scale digitization of manuscripts to create a National Digital Manuscripts Library for wider accessibility.
- (iv) Publication and Research: Editing, translating, and publishing rare and unpublished manuscripts to promote scholarly research.
- (v) Capacity Building: Organizing training programs in manuscriptology, paleography, and conservation to build expertise.
- (vi) Outreach  and  Awareness: Conducting exhibitions, seminars, and cultural programs to increase public awareness of manuscript heritage.

Collaboration with Institutions: Engaging with academic institutions in India and industry leaders for manuscript research and preservation efforts.

(b)  The  National Mission  for  Manuscripts has played a pivotal role in preserving, documenting, and disseminating India's manuscript heritage, including in Uttar Pradesh.

- (i) The  Sampurnanand  Sanskrit  University,  Varanasi,  has  been  a  key  partner  in manuscript research, documentation, and conservation.
- (ii) Manuscript  Resource  Centres  (MRCs)  and  Manuscript  Conservation  Centres (MCCs) have been set up in reputed institutions in the state.
- (iii) As  of  now,  over  5.2  million  manuscripts  have  been  documented  across  India, including a substantial number from Uttar Pradesh.
- (iv) The Mission has conducted numerous capacity-building programs and workshops in  Uttar  Pradesh  to  train  scholars  and  archivists  in  manuscript  conservation  and transcription. Special projects have been undertaken to preserve and promote rare Sanskrit, Persian, and Arabic manuscripts from various libraries in the state.

(c)  The  Government  through  the  National  Mission  for  Manuscripts  (now  called  as  'Gyan Bharatam  Mission')  is  committed  to  safeguarding  India's  invaluable  manuscript  heritage while  ensuring  its  wider  accessibility  and  academic  integration.  Through  the  National Mission for Manuscripts, significant efforts have been made to digitize manuscripts and make them accessible to the public through online platforms, which includes the following:

- (i) So far, approximately 3.5 lakh manuscripts, covering over 3.5 crore folios, have been digitized.
- (ii) Over 1,35,000 manuscripts have been uploaded on the web portal namami.gov.in, with 76,000 manuscripts available for free public access.
- (iii) The mission aims to digitize folios in the next five years. The focus is on rare and fragile manuscripts to ensure their long-term preservation.

(d ) The Government aims to ensure that India's manuscript heritage is not only preserved but also actively utilized for academic, cultural, and historical research. Through the 'Gyan Bharatam  Mission',  the  Government  has  formulated  an  expansion  plan  to  enhance  public access to India's manuscript heritage. The key measures, inter alia, include:

- (i) Working with academic institutions, private collectors, and research organizations to expand the digitization and dissemination of manuscripts.
- (ii) Collaborations with universities to promote research and study of manuscripts.
- (iii) Organizing  regular  exhibitions,  workshops,  and  manuscript  festivals  to  engage scholars and the public. Creating a pool of new generation of manuscriptologists.

******