Oriental Research Institute designated as cluster centre

Mysore/Mysuru: The Karnataka survey of ancient manuscripts under the Union Government’s Jnana Bharatam Mission has been released. As of Apr. 27, 2026, surveys conducted across 17 districts have documented 2,13,255 manuscripts, including 30,996 in Mysuru district.

The mission, launched by Union Ministry of Culture, aims to preserve centuries-old handwritten texts & records across the country using modern technology for documentation, conservation, digitisation, translation and publication.

Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy released the survey at a programme held at Zilla Panchayat auditorium. He said this initiative would help safeguard India’s rich cultural heritage and make it accessible to public through a national platform for benefit of future generations.

Uploaded to app

Under the scheme, details of manuscripts collected from across the country will be uploaded to a dedicated mobile application developed by the Centre, creating a national database with global access. In Karnataka, the Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage has been designated as the nodal agency to implement the mission.

A State-level Standing Committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary and district-level committees headed by DCs are being formed to oversee implementation. The Chief Secretary has also directed officials to step up awareness campaigns to ensure wider participation in the survey.

Officials said the mission is aimed not only at preserving manuscripts but also at making them accessible for research, education and cultural enrichment.

Task of district-level committees

District-level committees will coordinate survey work, identify manuscripts in libraries, temples, mutts, educational institutions and private collections and facilitate access for documentation and cataloguing.

They will also work to secure cooperation from custodians, spread awareness about the mission and submit periodic progress reports to the State Nodal Department, with logistical support from Jnana Bharatam.

The Oriental Research Institute (ORI), Mysore University, has been designated as a cluster centre, with former Director Dr. K. Viramapriya serving as the coordinator.

The survey is being carried out using technology-driven methods to ensure data accuracy and avoid duplication. It involves mapping collections and custodians, field visits, physical verification, condition assessment and geo-tagging.

Data is standardised through metadata recording and uploaded digitally via the Jnana Bharatam application. In areas with limited digital access, manual surveys using printed questionnaires are also being conducted. Verification will be done through central checks and random audits.

The survey is scheduled to continue till May 2026.

Officials said the initiative will help create a comprehensive State-wise manuscript database, identify rare and endangered texts, develop a GIS-based national manuscript map and strengthen community participation in preservation efforts.

Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage Deputy Director Dr. C.N. Manjula, Assistant Director Sunil Kumar, Tourism Department Assistant Director Prabhuswamy and former ORI Director Dr. K. Viramapriya were among those present.