New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has raised concerns over the Centre’s response in the Lok Sabha regarding the Gyan Bharatam initiative, stating that several critical aspects of the programme remain unclear despite official claims of progress.
In a post on X, Tharoor pointed out that while the government highlighted the digitisation of over 7.5 lakh manuscripts, including 1.29 lakh made accessible through an online portal, it failed to provide clarity on how users can access these materials or the availability of language interfaces.
He also flagged the absence of detailed data, noting that the response lacked state-wise and language-wise breakdowns of manuscripts that have been identified, catalogued, preserved and digitised. According to him, only aggregate figures were presented, limiting the scope for meaningful analysis and oversight.
The MP further highlighted gaps in institutional mapping, stating that the annexure listing cluster and independent centres does not specify the number of partner organisations associated with each unit. He also pointed out the lack of region-specific data, including details related to manuscript coverage in states like Kerala.
On the financial front, Tharoor said that although ₹491.66 crore has been approved for the initiative for the period 2025–2031, the response does not include year-wise allocations, expenditure details or utilisation status, raising concerns about accountability.
He also questioned the absence of clarity on monitoring mechanisms for technical standards, despite their mention in the official reply.
Calling the gaps a concern for transparency, Tharoor said the lack of detailed information could weaken parliamentary scrutiny and limit public engagement with a project aimed at preserving India’s manuscript heritage.
The Gyan Bharatam initiative, announced in the Union Budget 2025–26, aims to document, conserve and digitise manuscripts across the country. A nationwide survey to support the project has already been launched, covering districts across India to expand the repository.