Ministry of Culture and Google Arts & Culture sign agreement for digitisation of Indian heritage

The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Google Arts & Culture to bring the country's cultural heritage to the people through cutting-edge digital tools. According to PIB, this agreement was made during a virtual ceremony, attended by Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Shri Vivek Agrawal, and Vice President and Founder of Google Arts & Culture, Shri Amit Sood.

This partnership will reflect the vastness of India's civilisation. It includes monuments and archaeological sites protected by the Archaeological Survey of India along with their collections. Additionally, contents of national museums, manuscript heritage being documented under 'Gyan Bharatam', and handicrafts, performing arts, and living traditions maintained by various ministerial institutions across the country will also be digitised.

The core of this project is the 'Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum' being prepared in the North and South Blocks of New Delhi, which will be a museum of India's history across various eras. Its digitisation will create a permanent record of these buildings and the precious artefacts housed within them, providing the public with an early glimpse of this ambitious cultural endeavour.

The Ministry of Culture's effort aims to expand the scope of digital initiatives and increase accessibility, so that India's heritage can be known on any device and in Indian languages. Through this approach, conservation, public access, and the development of India's creative economy will be advanced simultaneously, involving partners from various sectors and institutions of all sizes.

Speaking on this partnership, Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Shri Vivek Agrawal, stated, "India's cultural heritage is a living heritage. It belongs to every citizen and resonates with the entire world. Our partnership with Google Arts & Culture utilises technology for the documentation, preservation, and sharing of heritage, ranging from ancient manuscripts and monuments to national museums and the upcoming Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum. By making this treasure available in Indian languages and to a global audience, we hope to bring more people closer to the story of Indian civilisation and secure it for future generations."

Shri Amit Sood, Vice President and Founder of Google Arts & Culture, said, "For the last 15 years, Google Arts & Culture has been inspired by India's millennia-old storytelling, artistic mastery, and vast heritage. Our partnership with the Ministry of Culture demonstrates a shared commitment to preserving India's immortal treasures with the help of cutting-edge technology. Whether it is supporting the vision of the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum or preserving historical manuscripts, we are proud to use our technology to connect ancient heritage with modern accessibility, so that this collection is available for free to every curious mind and educates, inspires, and delights them."

Google Arts & Culture has had a long-standing relationship with the institutions of the Ministry of Culture. This includes the Archaeological Survey of India, National Museum, and National Gallery of Modern Art, whose collections Google has already helped to reach more people. Through this MoU, the Ministry has reaffirmed its commitment to preserving India's civilisational heritage, promoting the creative economy through long-term partnership, and sharing culture with a vast domestic and international network.