The Ministry of Culture is taking different initiatives in digital archiving and collection management to preserve our cultural assets through digitization with JATAN software, developed by C-DAC, Pune, for digitization of museum collections and archival resources. A national digital repository has been created through the Museums of India portal, where digitized collections of eight National Level Museums, two ASI Site Museums and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Museum, Pune are available. Digitized Articles till date can be viewed by accessing the following link: https://museumsofindia.gov.in/repository

The Gyan Bharatam Mission, launched under the Ministry of Culture, aims to safeguard India’s vast manuscript heritage and revive its civilizational knowledge traditions for future generations. More than 3.5 lakh digitized manuscripts are available on Gyan Bharatam portal at present for public access, which can be viewed by accessing the following link: https://gyanbharatam.com/

Digitization of archival records are undertaken by the National Archives of India under the Ministry of Culture to preserve valuable documentary heritage and facilitate wider access to archival records. The archival records are regularly uploaded on NAI’s dedicated portal, ‘Abhilekh Patal’ for researchers, scholars and the general public. Statistics are available on the portal at https://www.abhilekh-patal.in/

Birla Industrial & Technological Museum (BITM), Kolkata, a constituent unit of NCSM developed a National Science & Technology Digital Archive containing papers, letters & manuscripts of eminent Indian scientists which was opened on 05.12.2024.

URL: https://nstad.in/home-login/

The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) has been undertaking extensive initiatives for the digital preservation, documentation and dissemination of India’s cultural heritage through its various knowledge repositories and digital platforms. IGNCA has developed and maintained comprehensive digital archives covering manuscripts, photographs, rare books, audio-visual recordings, cultural documentation, art objects and archival collections.

The details of digitized data for National Level Museums under the Ministry of Culture is attached at Annexure – I

National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) under the Ministry of Culture is at the forefront of research and development (R&D) in museum display technologies, continuously innovating to enhance visitor engagement. By integrating cutting-edge technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), computer vision and sensor-based interaction. NCSM’s R&D efforts focus on developing intuitive and immersive exhibits that blend seamlessly into the visitor experience. These include advancements in motion tracking, eye-tracking, smart content adaptation and touch less interaction. The goal is to make learning more dynamic, personalized and accessible to all audiences.

Indian Museum, Kolkata aligning with the vision of Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi and in accordance with its mandate of promoting and preserving cultural heritage, it has undertaken collaborative initiatives with the academic institutions to strengthen heritage conservation and digital innovation. Indian Museum has joined hands with IIT, Kharagpur for the use of AI based restoration of archaeological artefacts for digital preservation of its collections.

Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture, regularly organizes training programmes for teachers, teacher educators and students with the objective of preserving and promoting Indian culture through education. As part of these programmes, educational visits to museums, heritage monuments and nature parks are organized in collaboration with museums and other cultural institutions to facilitate experiential learning and heritage awareness. Institutions include National Museum, National Gallery of Modern Art, National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy, National Science Centre, Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti, Swachhata Kendra, Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb and Red Fort in Delhi. Similar collaborations are undertaken through CCRT Regional Centres for visits to the Salar Jung Museum (Hyderabad), Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal (Udaipur), Assam State Museum (Guwahati) and Rani Damayanti Archaeological Museum (Damoh).

Digital documentation of antiquities and built heritage sites of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been undertaken through the National Mission оn Monuments Antiquities (NMMA). Further, 723 antiquities of the ASI Museum, Goa and 8,450 antiquities of the ASI Museum, Nagarjunakonda have been digitally documented and uploaded on the JATAN software developed by C-DAC, Pune in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture.

MoC has undertaken the following steps to enhance technology-enabled visitor experience and digital access including:

Digitization of manuscripts, photographs and archival collections.
Online access to selected publications and archival resources.
Digital documentation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
Use of multimedia and interactive technologies during exhibitions, conferences and outreach programmes.

These initiatives have substantially improved accessibility to cultural resources for researchers, students and the public.

National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) under the Ministry of Culture being the apex body of science museums/centres with 26 units in different parts of the country as listed at Annexure-II, houses exhibit which are basically hands on and participatory in nature and are developed in house. NCSM prepares a well thought Annual Action Plan as per periodic requirement every year for upgradation, renovation and modernization of museums and centres under its control to enhance the visitor experience including Palampur Science Centre, Palampur in the state of Himachal Pradesh.

Further, under the Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS), (details of the scheme can be found in (https://www.indianculture.gov.in/) NCSM has undertaken modernization/upgradation of six (6) Science Centres in various parts of the country namely: –

Ranchi Science Centre, Jharkhand; Sukanta Academy of Arts, Science & Culture, Tripura; Nagaland Science Centre, Dimapur; Shillong Science Centre, Meghalaya; Mizoram Science Centre, Aizawl and Manipur Science Centre, Manipur.

Indian Museum in collaboration with Google Art & Culture has prepared a virtual exhibition for promotion of heritage through digital interventions. As a part of its modernisation, AI-based interactives and AR-based visitor engagement tools have been introduced to provide immersive gallery experience to the visitors.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has launched mobile-based applications for the Archaeological Museums at Hampi (Karnataka) and Nalanda (Bihar). The applications provide virtual tours of the museums and facilitate digital access to the artefacts displayed therein.

IGNCA has undertaken documentation, research, publication and digital preservation of various aspects of Mithila art, traditions and manuscripts through its regular academic and archival activities.

This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.