Overview

• Modi unveiled the Gyan Bharatam Mission on July 27 during Mann Ki Baat to digitise over one crore ancient manuscript pages
• Funding for the initiative was ramped up from Rs 3.5 crore to Rs 60 crore in the 2025 budget after its initial announcement in June
• The government plans to establish a National Digital Repository to provide free online access to digitised manuscripts for students and researchers worldwide
• Conservation measures will support the scanning process by protecting fragile texts from damage before archiving
• Modi framed these texts as the “chapters of India’s soul” and linked the mission to broader heritage efforts, including UNESCO’s recognition of 12 Maratha forts