Ministry of Culture Digitization Initiative Progress Report
The Ministry of Culture is implementing a comprehensive digitization initiative using JATAN software developed in technical collaboration with C-DAC, Pune. The program focuses on digitizing museum collections and archival resources across India, with significant progress achieved as of July 2026.
Museum Digitization Status
A national digital repository has been established through the Museums of India portal, hosting digitized collections from eight National Level Museums, two ASI Site Museums, and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Museum, Pune. As of 15th July 2026, 375,707 artefacts out of 488,983 total artefacts have been digitized and made available online, representing 76.83% completion. The detailed breakdown by museum shows: National Museum (119,255 of 206,169 artefacts, 57.84%), Indian Museum (91,013 of 108,000, 84.27%), Victoria Memorial Hall (28,592 of 29,220, 97.85%), Salar Jung Museum (48,349 of 48,367, 99.96%), Allahabad Museum (63,781 of 70,121, 90.96%), NGMA New Delhi (13,578 of 15,929, 85.24%), NGMA Mumbai (1,461 of 1,461, 100%), NGMA Bengaluru (526 of 534, 98.50%), ASI Goa Museum (702 of 729, 96.30%), and ASI Nagarjunakonda Museum (8,450 of 8,453, 99.96%).
Financial Support and Additional Initiatives
Under the Museum Grant Scheme, the Ministry has provided financial assistance of ₹25 lakh during the last three financial years specifically for digitization of museum collections. The Gyan Bharatam Mission, another initiative under the Ministry, has made over 3.5 lakh digitized manuscripts available on its portal for public access.
National Archives Digitization Project
The National Archives of India is undertaking a massive digitization project targeting 30 crore pages with preservation of 4.5 crore pages. As of 21st July 2026, 17,67,40,596 pages (approximately 17.67 crore) have been digitized. These digitized archival records are being uploaded to the dedicated 'Abhilekh Patal' portal to facilitate worldwide access to India's archival heritage for researchers, scholars, and the general public.
Public Accessibility
Public accessibility has been significantly enhanced through multiple digital platforms including the Museums of India portal (https://museumsofindia.gov.in/repository), Gyan Bharatam portal (https://gyanbharatam.com/), and Abhilekh Patal portal (https://www.abhilekh-patal.in/). These platforms provide searchable databases and strengthened digital repositories for global access to India's cultural heritage.
This information was formally presented by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on July 23, 2026.