Jnana Bharatham Scheme for Ancient Manuscripts

Vice President's address states that the 'Jnana Bharatham Project' will be implemented at an estimated cost of ₹500 crore to protect and document India's traditional knowledge wealth of palm-leaf manuscripts.

Under the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), the preservation and digitalization of traditional scientific, medical, and literary texts for the modern generation.

📚 School Textbook Link: 11th Standard / 10th Standard · History / Social Science · 11th History: Unit 1 (Historical Evidences & Literature) / 10th Social: Cultural Renaissance · Historical Documents, Manuscript Preservation, Epigraphy & U.V. Swaminatha Iyer's Contribution

🎯 TNPSC Exam Key Notes:

• Jnana Bharatham Mission: ₹500 crore allocated for preserving and digitalizing ancient palm-leaf manuscripts.
• Year National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) was launched: 2003 (Ministry of Tourism & Culture).
• U.V. Swaminatha Iyer ('Tamil Thatha') recovered and published many manuscripts including Seevaga Sinthamani (1887), Pattupattu (1889), Silappathikaram (1892).
• U.V. Swaminatha Iyer Library: Established in Chennai in 1942 (currently operating in Besant Nagar).
• Thanjai Saraswathi Mahal Library: Started during the Thanjavur Nayak period and greatly expanded by King Serfoji II (1798–1832).
• National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Formulated based on the recommendations of the committee headed by Dr. K. Kasturirangan.

📌 KEY FOR TNPSC:

• Keeladi: Sivaganga district (Vaigai river civilization).
• U.V. Swaminatha Iyer's teacher: Mahavidwan Thirisirapuram Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai.