The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, is participating in the India AI Impact Summit 2026, being held from 16 to 20 February, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, and presenting a comprehensive vision of how technology can strengthen the preservation, accessibility, and dissemination of India’s civilisational knowledge systems. The Summit, inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, brings together policymakers, innovators, researchers, and cultural institutions to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence across various sectors. During their visit on day one of the Summit, the Hon'ble Minister of Culture & Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Shri Vivek Aggarwal visited the Gyan Bharatam stall, interacted with visitors and emphasised the Ministry’s efforts to harness modern technology to make India’s manuscript legacy more accessible and future-ready.
Gyan Bharatam: Tradition Meets Technology
A major highlight of the ministry's participation is the Gyan Bharatam, showcased through dedicated stalls at the venue. Gyan Bharatam has 2 stalls at Bharat Pavilion in Hall 14 & MeitY Pavilion, Hall 2, Bharat Mandapam. Conceived as a national initiative to preserve, digitise and disseminate India’s vast manuscript heritage, the mission reflects a forward-looking approach that integrates tradition with technology for future generations.
Visitors to the Gyan Bharatam stall can experience how the ministry has used Artificial Intelligence (AI) to translate the knowledge of ancient manuscripts into a digital and readable format in multiple languages and can also have a conversation with the manuscripts. Immersive zones demonstrating the use of AI-enabled tools such as optical character recognition (OCR), translation, transliteration and conversational interfaces are helping unlock knowledge embedded in ancient manuscripts and making it accessible to wider audiences. The initiative represents a significant step towards bringing cultural knowledge into the public domain through digital innovation.
Policy Dialogue and Knowledge Leadership
The Summit also serves as an important platform for dialogue on the intersection of culture and innovation. Secretary, Ministry of Culture Shri Vivek Aggarwal moderated a thematic session on ‘Gyan Bharatam: Where Tradition Meets Technology' on 17 February at the venue. Explaining the context of the session, Shri Vivek Aggarwal explained that the idea is to primarily conserve the rare manuscripts and then convert them into digital data, which can be accessed by researchers in any preferred language. This kind of data will help researchers to study ancient Indian civilisational knowledge, apply it to the relevant subject and build upon it. The enriching session brought together experts from diverse domains to deliberate on practical applications of technology in cultural policy and knowledge systems.
The Secretary, Culture Ministry, also delivered a keynote address on 18 February on the theme, ‘The Creative Canvas of AI: India’s Creator Revolution'. In this, he reflected upon the vision of India’s creator economy driven by AI.
Cultural Expressions by Sangeet Natak Akademi
Adding a vibrant cultural dimension to the Summit, Sangeet Natak Akademi, an autonomous body under the Culture Ministry, presented a dance performance, ‘Nṛtta Melakam', and cultural programmes at the amphitheatre. Nṛtta Melakam was a choreographic ensemble that brought together Indian dance traditions, celebrating rhythm, philosophical thought and artistic unity.
The choreographic ensemble presented themes such as “Om Asato Mā Sadgamaya", the vision of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam", a dynamic portrayal of the Daśāvatāram, and the Upanishadic affirmation “Pūrṇam adaḥ pūrṇam idam", reflecting unity and completeness. Conceptualised and choreographed by Chairman, Sangeet Natak Akademi and Bharatnatyam exponent Dr Sandhya Purecha with music composed by Madhav Prasad, the production offered a harmonious blend of artistic diversity and cultural philosophy, creating an uplifting cultural experience.
AI assisting in ushering in an era of knowledge-based cultural governance
AI-driven technologies are helping unlock the intellectual and cultural value embedded in manuscripts, archives and traditional art forms, allowing the Ministry of Culture to expand research, public engagement and educational outreach in unprecedented ways. The use of AI has shown potential to strengthen institutional capacity for cultural preservation and supports evidence-based cultural governance, and therefore makes it more relevant for contemporary and future generations. This will, in the process, create modern ecosystems for safeguarding intangible and tangible heritage while promoting inclusive access to India’s civilisational knowledge. By combining technological innovation with cultural stewardship, the Ministry of Culture reinforces India’s position as a knowledge leader that shares its heritage with the world while promoting dialogue, collaboration and cultural exchange.
Through its engagement at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, the Ministry of Culture reaffirms its commitment to harnessing the potential of emerging technologies for the preservation, revitalisation and global dissemination of India’s cultural heritage.
