Description

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Context

The Union Budget 2025-26 announced a special mission for the survey, documentation, and conservation of India’s manuscript heritage. Launched as the ‘Gyan Bharatam Mission’, it intends to cover more than one crore manuscripts.

What are Manuscripts?

Manuscripts refer to handwritten compositions that may be inscribed on materials such as paper, bark, and palm leaves.
To qualify as a manuscript, a document must beat least 75 years old and hold scientific, historical, or aesthetic value.
India possesses an estimated 10 million manuscripts in 80 ancient scripts like Brahmi, Kushan, Gaudi, Lepcha, and Maithili. Of these 75% are in Sanskrit and 25% are in regional languages.

E.g. Bakhshali manuscript (Third or fourth century A.D.), an ancient Indian mathematical text written on birch bark, is considered to be earliest recorded example of use of zero.

About Gyan Bharatam Mission

Aim:To survey, document, and conserve India’s vast manuscript heritage.
Objective:To cover over one crore manuscripts, guaranteeing their long-term preservation and accessibility for future generations. Additionally, it aims to promote India’s rich literary and intellectual traditions on a global platform
Budget Allocation: The financial allocation for the National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM)has seen a significant increase from ₹3.5 crore to ₹60 crore in the Union Budget 2025-26 to accommodate the Gyan Bharatam Mission.
Implementing Ministry:The Ministry of Culture is responsible for implementing and overseeing the execution of this initiative.
Revival of NMM:Through this initiative, the government is making a significant effort to revive the National Manuscripts Mission (NMM), which was launched in 2003 but remained largely inactive.

About National Manuscripts Mission (NMM)

It was launched by the Ministry of Culture in 2003 under the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA).
It aims to preserve and make accessible India's vast manuscript heritage.
IGNCA was established in 1987as an autonomous institution for research, academic pursuit, and dissemination in the arts.

Other initiatives for manuscript conservation in India

Asiatic Society of Bengal

Established on January 15, 1784, by Sir William Jones, this institution is a pioneer in manuscript conservation.

National Library of India Kolkata

As India’s largest library, it houses approximately 3,600 rare and historically significant manuscripts, contributing significantly to manuscript conservation.

National Manuscripts Mission (NMM) (2003)

Launched by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, this initiative aims to identify, document, and conserve India’s vast manuscript heritage.

Sources:

HINDU

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Gyan Bharatam Mission announced in the Union Budget 2025-26:

It aims to survey, document, and preserve India's manuscript heritage.
The mission is implemented under the Ministry of Culture.
It was first launched in 2003 under the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, and 3

Answer: (a)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct

The Gyan Bharatam Mission focuses on the survey, documentation, and conservation of India’s extensive manuscript heritage.

Statement 2 is Correct

The mission is implemented under the Ministry of Culture, which oversees heritage and archival projects in India.

Statement 3 is incorrect

The National Manuscripts Mission (NMM) was launched in 2003 under the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, not the Gyan Bharatam Mission, which is a new initiative announced in 2025.