Form district-level committee for faster digitisation of manuscripts, CS tells DMs

Patna: All district magistrates (DMs) across the state have been directed to constitute a district-level committee and conduct regular reviews of manuscript survey, preservation and digitisation work under the Gyan Bharatam Mission.The directive was issued at a review meeting of the art and culture department held on Thursday under the chairmanship of chief secretary (CS) Pratyaya Amrit. The meeting assessed the progress of manuscript preservation and digitisation and stressed the need for faster district-level coordination to expand surveys and documentation.Announced in the Union Budget 2025–26, the Gyan Bharatam Mission aims to revive India’s knowledge traditions through a comprehensive survey, scientific preservation and digitisation of manuscripts.

Handwritten texts over 75 years old on paper, birch bark, palm leaf, cloth, metal and similar materials are being identified from government and private institutions, monasteries, temples and libraries using traditional and scientific methods.According to officials, Bihar ranks fourth nationally with 4,71,802 manuscripts, with Madhubani leading districts at 3,70,926 manuscripts, followed by Patna, Darbhanga and Nalanda.

The art and culture department is the nodal agency, with a high-level committee chaired by the chief secretary overseeing the mission. Nav Nalanda Mahavihara, Khudabakhsh Library and Bodh Gaya Monastery have been identified as key coordination centres.The mission also includes the creation of a national digital repository through AI-based technologies and cloud systems. This repository is expected to support editing, translation and publication of rare texts and make them available in multilingual formats.The chief secretary further asked DMs to strengthen collaboration with universities, museums and private collectors and emphasised taking the mission to “every section of society” to make it the “talk of cities and villages.”