DIGITISATION OF MUSEUMS AND ARCHIVES

Key Highlights:

• The Ministry of Culture is implementing a digitisation initiative for museum collections and archival resources using JATAN software.
• JATAN software was developed in technical collaboration with C-DAC, Pune.
• The Museums of India portal serves as a national digital repository, featuring collections from 8 National, 2 ASI Site, and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Museums.
• As of July 15, 2026, 3,75,707 out of 4,88,983 museum artefacts (76.83%) have been digitised and made available online.
• The Gyan Bharatam Mission aims to safeguard India’s manuscript heritage, with over 3.5 lakh digitised manuscripts accessible on its portal.
• The National Archives of India is digitising 30 crore pages, having completed 17.67 crore images by July 21, 2026, accessible via the Abhilekh Patal portal.
• Financial assistance of ₹25 lakh has been sanctioned under the Museum Grant Scheme for digitisation purposes over the last three financial years.

Detailed Insights:

• The digitisation initiative aims to preserve India's rich cultural and documentary heritage for future generations.
• JATAN software provides the technical backbone for creating a comprehensive digital inventory of museum holdings.
• The Museums of India portal enhances public access to diverse cultural artefacts, promoting research and appreciation.
• The Museum Grant Scheme provides essential financial support, enabling smaller institutions to undertake digitisation projects.
• Gyan Bharatam Mission specifically addresses the preservation and revival of India's vast traditional knowledge embedded in manuscripts.
• The National Archives of India plays a crucial role in safeguarding valuable historical documents and making them globally accessible.
• Digital platforms like Abhilekh Patal significantly improve public accessibility for researchers, scholars, and the general public worldwide.

Key Concepts Involved:

• JATAN software: A technical solution developed with C-DAC, Pune, for digitising museum collections and archival resources.
• Museums of India portal: A national digital repository showcasing digitised collections from various Indian museums.
• Gyan Bharatam Mission: An initiative by the Ministry of Culture to safeguard India's manuscript heritage and knowledge traditions.
• Abhilekh Patal portal: The dedicated online platform of the National Archives of India for accessing digitised archival records.