Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched the Gyan Bharatam Portal at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, marking a significant step towards the digitisation and preservation of India’s ancient manuscript heritage.

The launch took place at the inauguration of a three-day international conference on traditional knowledge, themed “Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy through Manuscript Heritage,” being held from September 11 to 13.

The Gyan Bharatam Portal is a dedicated digital platform designed to accelerate manuscript digitisation, ensure systematic preservation, and provide wider public access to India’s vast repository of knowledge.

The event has brought together leading scholars, conservationists, technologists, and policy experts to discuss strategies for conserving, digitising, and globally promoting India’s manuscript tradition.

The conference also includes an exhibition of rare manuscripts and presentations on topics such as digitisation technologies, metadata standards, legal frameworks, cultural diplomacy, and deciphering ancient scripts.

Prime Minister Modi has consistently emphasised the importance of Sanskrit and manuscript heritage. On World Sanskrit Day, celebrated on August 9, he highlighted Sanskrit as a timeless source of knowledge with global relevance and noted the government’s efforts over the last decade to promote Sanskrit through Central Sanskrit Universities, learning centres, scholarships, and the Gyan Bharatam Mission.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also echoed these sentiments, calling Sanskrit “the expression of India’s soul” and urging people to adopt the language in daily life.