Overview The Ministry of Culture's flagship initiative, Gyan Bharatam , achieved a significant milestone on October 25, 2025 , with the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with 17 leading institutions across the country. The ceremony, held at the National Gallery of Modern Art (Jaipur House), New Delhi , marks a crucial step in the collective effort to safeguard, preserve, and revitalize India’s manuscript heritage. Key Developments MoU Signing Ceremony Date: October 25, 2025 Location: National Gallery of Modern Art (Jaipur House), New Delhi Participants: 17 leading institutions from across India Gyan Bharatam Initiative Gyan Bharatam is a visionary initiative aimed at decoding India’s ancient manuscripts and reaffirming their enduring relevance in contemporary times. It reflects India’s cultural commitment to making its manuscript wealth accessible to future generations. The initiative seeks to transform India into a “Prāṇamaya Bhārata” —a nation vibrant with living knowledge. Implementation Framework Cluster Centres: 12 Independent Centres: 5 Core Verticals: Survey & Cataloguing Conservation & Capacity Building Technology & Digitization Linguistics & Translation Research, Publication & Outreach National Digital Repository (NDR) Announced in Union Budget 2025–26 (Para 84) , Gyan Bharatam envisions the creation of a National Digital Repository (NDR) to make India's invaluable manuscript heritage accessible on both national and global platforms. This repository will serve as a central hub for accessing digitized manuscripts, promoting research and awareness. Cultural Performance The event concluded with “Mere Kabir” , a Dastangoi musical performance by Syed Sahil Agha and Nizam Premi of the Dilli Gharana , celebrating India’s profound spiritual and literary traditions. UPSC Relevance GS1: Indian Heritage and Culture This initiative directly aligns with the GS1 syllabus, focusing on the preservation and promotion of Indian heritage and culture. The emphasis on manuscripts and traditional knowledge systems is particularly relevant. GS2: Government Policies and Interventions Gyan Bharatam is a significant government initiative aimed at cultural preservation, making it relevant to GS2 . Understanding the objectives, implementation framework, and potential impact of such policies is crucial for the exam. GS4: Ethics and Human Interface The initiative also touches upon ethical dimensions related to preserving and disseminating knowledge, which can be linked to GS4 . The commitment to making knowledge accessible and promoting cultural awareness aligns with ethical principles. Important Facts Gyan Bharatam aims to revitalize India's manuscript heritage. 17 institutions are involved in the initial MoU signing. The initiative includes 12 Cluster Centres and 5 Independent Centres. The National Digital Repository (NDR) is a key component of the initiative. The initiative was announced in Union Budget 2025–26 .