With an aim to preserve India’s centuries-old intellectual and cultural heritage, Kaithal district administration has intensified the National Manuscript Survey under the Gyan Bharatam Mission, with Deputy Commissioner Aparajita directing officials to complete the exercise by June 10.
The Union Ministry of Culture had launched the Gyan Bharatam National Manuscript Survey on March 16, 2026, under the Gyan Bharatam initiative, to identify and document manuscripts located across the country.
While chairing a review meeting with officials of various departments at the Mini Secretariat conference hall on Monday, the DC said the mission aims to identify, preserve and digitise ancient manuscripts and archival records so that India’s rich knowledge tradition can be passed on to future generations. The meeting was held after Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi reviewed the progress of the manuscript survey with Deputy Commissioners across the state and issued necessary guidelines.
Aparajita said a district-level committee has already been constituted for the mission, with ADC Sushil Kumar appointed as the nodal officer. Under the campaign, officials will identify manuscripts and archival documents that are more than 75 years old from religious places, educational institutions, libraries, as well as from private collections in rural and urban areas.
“These priceless manuscripts are not just old documents, but are carriers of India’s civilisational wisdom, cultural traditions and historical memory. The objective is to digitally preserve them while ensuring they remain safely with their owners,” the DC said.
Officials informed the DC that 387 manuscripts from Kaithal district have already been uploaded on the Gyan Bharatam Mission portal. The data collected during the survey will be documented, digitally recorded and uploaded online to help conserve the historical legacy for future generations.
She also clarified that any person possessing manuscripts or archival documents would continue to retain ownership of them. “The government is only preparing a record and helping in preservation. People should come forward voluntarily and share information about such valuable heritage,” she added.
She further instructed all SDMs to act as nodal officers in their respective subdivisions and ensure physical verification, mapping and data collection of manuscripts.
“To make the campaign more effective, we will also launch a door-to-door awareness drive and an archival donation campaign to encourage citizens to identify and report old manuscripts and records lying unnoticed in homes and institutions,” she added.
Citizens can upload information through the ‘Gyan Bharatam’ app or provide details through village secretaries if they are unable to use the digital platform themselves, she appealed.
