Cultural Mapping and Rural Heritage

• August 21, 2025

Source: Press Information Bureau

Till date, details of 4.84 lakh villages out of 6.5 lakh villages across India have been identified and uploaded on the MGMD portal. The State/UT-wise details are placed at Annexure-I.

The MGMD programme, through its comprehensive portal documents intangible cultural heritage components include:

• Linguistic diversity – local dialects, scripts, and language usage patterns.
• Oral traditions – folk tales, epics, proverbs, and community knowledge systems.
• Folklore and performing arts – music, dance, theatre forms, and ritual practices.
• Local festivals and fairs – religious, seasonal, and community-specific celebrations.

Preservation and Documentation of Endangered Folk Languages and Oral Traditions

• August 21, 2025

Source: Press Information Bureau

To protect, promote and preserve various forms of folk art & culture throughout the country, the Government of India has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) with headquarters at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur. These ZCCs organize various cultural activities and programmes on regular basis in their member States.

These ZCCs also undertake documentation of vanishing art forms, folklores, oral traditions and practices in the form of audio, video and written materials. Documentation and digitization are ongoing processes.

Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme run by ZCCs is one such initiative where traditional masters train young disciples to ensure continuity of cultural knowledge which helps artistes, researchers and community bearers of traditions.

42 oral traditions have been documented viz. Rajasthan (17), West Bengal (9), Odisha (3), Punjab (2), Maharashtra (2), Gujarat (2), Bihar (1), Jharkhand (1), Manipur (1), Uttar Pradesh (1), Haryana (1), Goa (1) and UT of Jammu & Kashmir (1).

Development of Cultural Industries

• August 18, 2025

Source: Press Information Bureau

The Government has taken various initiatives to develop cultural institutions and industries, provide technical and vocational training for cultural professionals, and create employment opportunities in the cultural and creative sector for sustained, inclusive, and equitable economic growth. They are Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture; The Institute of Archaeology under the Archaeological Survey of India; The National School of Drama, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture; The National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property (NRLC); The School of Archival Studies (SAS) and The Indian Heritage Institute. Read the press release for the complete overview of these institutions.

Digital Preservation and Promotion of Indian Art, Culture and Heritage

• August 18, 2025

Source: Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Culture and various organizations under it has taken following steps to leverage technology for the digital preservation of ancient Indian manuscript, artifacts, monuments and cultural performances including audio-visual documentation and digitization of archival material:

Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) has digitally documented 1,18,359 antiquities and artefacts under National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA).
Under 'Gyan Bharatam Mission' with the core objective of digitization and preservation of Indian manuscripts, 3.50 lakh Manuscripts has been digitized in collaboration with the 37 public or private institutions.
Ministry of Culture in technical collaboration with C-DAC, Pune has been using software named “JATAN” for digitization of museum collections.
The Abhilekh Patal is a digital repository curated by the National Archives of India (NAI) which serves as a gateway to India's historical legacy, offering a treasure trove of meticulously preserved documents and records.
The National Cultural Audio-Visual Archives (NCAA) is a trusted digital repository for rare and endangered cultural audio-visual recordings to promote and preserve the Cultural heritage of India.
Seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) across India with headquarters in Patiala, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur, Thanjavur, Nagpur, and Udaipur, conduct research & audio-visual documentation for the preservation and promotion of visual and performing arts, encompassing music, dance, theatre, literature, and fine arts.

IGNCA signed MoU with BSIP to mark India’s Unified Platform for Science and Culture

• August 13, 2025

Source: Press Information Bureau

The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi, an autonomous trust under the Ministry of Culture, along with the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), Lucknow, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at IGNCA, New Delhi. The MoU represents the first initiative in India to integrate science and culture on a unified platform, with the aim of showcasing the nation’s scientific and cultural achievements to both domestic and international audiences. On this occasion, an orientation programme was organised for the students of eleven PG Diploma courses conducted by IGNCA, spanning areas from Cultural Informatics to Indian Literature, with the objective of embedding traditional knowledge within contemporary education. These courses, designed to develop skilled professionals, provide practical training and hands-on experience, fostering a meaningful exchange between learners, experts, and living traditions.

International Manuscript Heritage Conference

• August 11, 2025

Source: Press Information Bureau

The Government proposes to host the first-ever international Manuscript Heritage Conference titled ‘Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy Through Manuscript Heritage’ in September 2025. This event is planned to commemorate the 132nd Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's historic address at the Parliament of the World's Religions held in Chicago on September 11, 1893.

The conference aims to bring together scholars, historians, manuscript experts, and cultural practitioners from across the world to explore, preserve, and promote India’s vast and diverse Manuscript Heritage. Key themes and focus areas of the conference include:

Decipherment of Ancient Scripts: Indus, Gilgit and Sankha
Survey, Documentation, Metadata Standards and Digital Archiving
Manuscriptology and Paleography, Codicology
Digitization Tools, Platforms, and Protocols (HTR, AI, IIIF)
Conservation and Restoration of Manuscripts
Decoding Manuscripts: Pathways to the Indian Knowledge System
Manuscripts as Tools of Cultural Diplomacy
Legal and Ethical Frameworks for Manuscript Preservation and Access

First ever spring census begins

• July 16, 2025

Source: The Sangai Express

A spring census, under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, has been launched at Ukhrul district. The initiative is part of a first ever Nationwide spring census that aims to create a comprehensive database of springs and document their location for springshed management projects.

Notably, Ukhrul and Kamjong districts were se lected for the survey in the first phase.

The State Water Resources Department has engaged The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi as the implementing agency for the census.

The primary objective of the census is to identify potential springs across the State to ensure their sustainable management and safe utilization, particularly to address water scarcity during the lean season, especially in the hilly regions of Manipur, said the Water Resources Department.

Restoring balance: Traditional Medicine at the World Health Summit Regional Meeting 2025

• April 30, 2025

Source: World Health Organization

The next World Health Organization (WHO) Traditional Medicine Global Summit, 2–4 December 2025, was unveiled during a keynote plenary session at the World Health Summit Regional Meeting 2025 in New Delhi, India, on 25 April. The session, organized by the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, brought together government ministers, private sector directors, scientists and United Nations leaders to explore how combining ancient wisdom and modern science can expand access to safe, effective and people-centred Traditional Medicine (TM) and strengthen global health equity.

National Ayush Mission Conclave 2025: States and UTs Collaborate to Strengthen Traditional Healthcare Delivery Across India

• April 29, 2025

Source: Press Information Bureau

The Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, is set to organize the National Ayush Mission (NAM) Conclave 2025 on 1-2 May 2025 at Kaivalyadham, Lonavala, Maharashtra. This transformative 2-day event will serve as a national forum for shaping the future of Ayush-based healthcare in India. Bringing together Ayush experts, policymakers, health professionals, researchers, and innovators, the conclave aims to strengthen integration of traditional Indian medicine systems into mainstream healthcare—making wellness more accessible, affordable, and evidence-driven for the common citizen.

Ambassadors' Meet Organized by MDoNER Garners Huge Support from Foreign Diplomats to Explore Endless Possibilities in NER

• April 16, 2025

Source: Press Information Bureau

In a significant step toward enhancing international cooperation and fostering global investment in India’s vibrant North East, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER)  organized Ambassadors’ Meet  in New Delhi on April 15, 2025.  Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and senior diplomatic representatives from over 80 countries participated . The event was aimed at showcasing the immense potential of the North Eastern Region (NER) and strengthening bilateral ties for sustainable development.