Lok Sabha Question No. 2704 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Gyan Bharatam Mission
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Smt. Bharti Pardhi, Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar, Dr. D. Purandeswari, Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2704 ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

## GYAN BHARATAM MISSION

2704. Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar:

Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne:

Smt. Bharti Pardhi:

Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde:

Dr. D. Purandeswari:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government has  operationalized the "Gyan Bharatam Mission" to identify the documents and digitize ancient Indian manuscripts to prevent the loss of indigenous knowledge systems and if so, details thereof;
- (b) the details of the recent budgetary increase for the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in 2026-27 and the deployment of advanced technologies like LiDAR and drones for excavation and surveillance;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  is  taking  strict  legal  measures  to  remove  encroachments  from centrally  protected  monuments  to  reclaim  heritage  spaces  for  the  public  across  the  country, particularly in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh;
- (d)  the  details  of  the  mechanism  established  to  involve  private  sector  participation  through "Monument Mitras" without compromising the historical integrity of the sites; and
- (e)  the  manner  in  which  the  said  digital  and  structural  reforms  contributed  to  the  vision  of making India a "Knowledge Superpower" by democratizing access to historical archives?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a)  Yes Sir. Gyan Bharatam, announced during Union Budget 2025-26, is a flagship initiative of the  Ministry  of  Culture  (MoC),  Government  of  India  aimed  at  unearthing,  safeguarding  and preserving India's vast manuscript heritage.

To support the initiative, the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) has sanctioned Rs.491.66 crore for the period 2025-2031 to undertake manuscripts related activities under various components including survey and registration of manuscripts, building robust technology infrastructure and partnership, documentation, conservation, digitization and publication of manuscripts and capacity building & research.

(b)    So  far  as  budgetary  increase  for  the Archaeological  Survey  of  India  (ASI)  in  2026-27  is concerned, Appropriation Bill (2026-27) is yet to be approved by the Parliament and assented to by the President.

During  exploration  and  excavations,  the Archaeological  Survey  of  India  (ASI)  uses  advanced technologies such as LiDAR, GPR and Drone survey. At some archaeological sites like Rajgir (Bihar), Rakhigarhi (Haryana), Bhismaknagar (Arunachal Pradesh) and Warangal Fort (Telangana). LiDAR, GPR and Drone surveys were conducted before excavation.

These advanced technologies are used according to the requirements before excavation.

(c) Strict legal and administrative measures are taken to remove encroachments from Centrally Protected Monuments across the country, including in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. ASI conducts regular inspections and issues notices to stop unauthorized construction or encroachment. Action is taken under the provisions of the  Ancient Monuments  and Archaeological  Sites and  Remains Act,  1958  and  the Ancient  Monuments  and Archaeological Sites  and  Remains  Rules,  1959  along  with  eviction  proceedings  under  the  Public  Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971.

(d)  The  Adopt  A  Heritage  2.0  program,  exclusively  for  protected  monuments  of  national importance,  was  launched  in  September  2023  to  create  a  framework  for  engagement  with private/public sector companies and NGOs/ Trusts/ Societies, etc., to develop/provide a group of amenities  at  protected  monuments  to  enhance  visitors'  experience  and  make  them  visitorfriendly.

The role of stakeholders or partnered entities is limited to only being permitted to be engaged for non-conservational aspects viz., cleaning of monument  premises,  besides  providing  and maintaining  basic  tourist  amenities  like  washrooms,  drinking  water,  childcare  room,  benches, pathways,  garbage  bins,  signage,  SeL  shows,  illumination,  etc.  under  the  guidance  and  due consultation with ASI.

The  work  related  to  archaeological  conservation  and  ASI  experts  exclusively  attend  to  the preservation of protected monuments/sites as per existing framework.

(e)  The  National  Archives  of  India  (NAI)  through  the  online  portal  Abhilekh-Patal,  has undertaken  a  major  digitization  initiative  to  preserve  and  democratize  access  to  the  nation's documentary heritage by making archival records globally accessible. As of February 2026, the portal hosts 0.73 crore reference media, 0.38 crore digitized records and over 18.23 crore pages with 1,87,961 unique visitors and 35,167 registered users.

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