From Cultural Preservation to Cultural Participation: How India is Institutionalising AI for Languages, Heritage and Livelihoods
India, a civilisation rooted in linguistic diversity and cultural richness, is now institutionalising Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a public tool to preserve, promote and democratise its heritage. Through national platforms such as BHASHINI, Anuvadini, Gyan Bharatam and Adi Vaani, the Government of India is building AI-driven digital public infrastructure that transforms cultural preservation into active cultural participation.
This shift reflects a larger vision — using AI as technology for humanity, aligned with the goal of “Welfare for All and Happiness for All.”
India’s Linguistic and Cultural Landscape
India’s cultural identity is shaped by manuscripts, monuments, crafts, performing arts, folklore, oral traditions and indigenous knowledge systems. These are transmitted across multiple languages, scripts and spoken forms.
According to Census 2011, India’s linguistic diversity includes:
22 Scheduled Languages
99 Non-Scheduled LanguagesThousands of mother tongues and tribal languages
Multiple language families including Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Tibeto-Burman and Austroasiatic
Preserving this diversity requires not only documentation but also accessibility in formats familiar to people. AI is emerging as a key enabler in this transformation.
Building Language as Digital Public Infrastructure
To expand access to knowledge, culture and public services, India has adopted an infrastructure-based approach. Instead of isolated projects, language technologies are being built as national digital public goods.
1. National Language Translation Mission (NLTM) – BHASHINI
Launched in 2022, BHASHINI addresses linguistic inclusion in the digital ecosystem.
Barriers It Tackles
Language barriers (local accents and dialects not understood by systems)
Digital barriers (complex interfaces)Literacy barriers (dependence on typing and reading)
Services Offered
Translation across Indian languages
Speech-to-textText-to-speech
Transliteration
Document understanding
Scale and Impact
Voice support in 22 languages
Text services in 36 languages350+ AI models and datasets
Over 4 billion language inferences completed
BHASHINI is collaborative, involving research institutions, startups, industry, language experts and state governments. It transforms linguistic diversity into digital access.
Key Real-World Applications
Kashi Tamil Sangamam 2.0
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindi speech was translated in real time into Tamil using BHASHINI, enabling direct linguistic access during a cultural event.
Maha Kumbh 2025
BHASHINI powered the “Kumbh Sah’AI’yak” chatbot, offering multilingual and voice-enabled assistance in 11 languages. It also supported a digital Lost & Found system with real-time translation.
Through such applications, BHASHINI turns cultural gatherings into digitally inclusive experiences.
2. Technology Development for Indian Languages (TDIL)
TDIL laid the foundation for Indian language computing.
Focus Areas
Machine translation
Optical Character Recognition (OCR)Speech-to-text and text-to-speech
Handwriting recognition
Transliteration tools
TDIL created shared linguistic datasets and standards, enabling consistent digital representation of Indian languages. It paved the way for scalable platforms like BHASHINI.
3. Anuvadini (AICTE)
Developed by AICTE, Anuvadini supports large-scale translation of academic and technical content.
Key Features
AI-enabled textbook translation
Document and speech translationIntegration with repositories like e-KUMBH
Impact
Expands higher education access in regional languages
Supports skilling and capacity buildingStrengthens Indian languages as mediums of knowledge
Anuvadini ensures that education and technical knowledge are not restricted by language barriers.
AI for Cultural Heritage and Knowledge Systems
4. Gyan Bharatam Mission
A national mission for digitisation and dissemination of manuscripts and traditional knowledge.
AI Applications
Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR)
OCR for ancient scriptsMetadata extraction and intelligent cataloguing
Achievements
44 lakh manuscripts documented in the Kriti Sampada repository
₹482.85 crore allocation (2024–31)The mission transitions manuscripts from physical archives to searchable digital ecosystems.
5. Gyan-Setu (AI Innovation Challenge)
Under Gyan Bharatam, Gyan-Setu sourced AI solutions for:
Manuscript preservation
Script deciphermentDigitisation and archiving
Knowledge dissemination
Award-winning prototypes are now strengthening collaboration between cultural institutions and AI innovators.
6. Adi Vaani – AI for Tribal Languages
Adi Vaani focuses on tribal and endangered languages.
Capabilities
Real-time translation between Hindi, English and tribal languages
Speech-to-text transcriptionLanguage learning modules
Digitisation of oral traditions and folklore
Languages in Beta Phase
Santali, Bhili, Mundari, Gondi (with expansion underway)
Adi Vaani brings tribal languages into digital, educational and governance systems, ensuring inclusion of historically marginalised communities.
From Access to Opportunity: AI for Cultural Livelihoods
AI is not only preserving culture but also enabling economic empowerment.
India’s artisans, craftspeople and cultural practitioners form a large informal creative economy. AI-driven tools are integrating them into digital value chains.
AI-Enabled Pathways for Artisans
1. Market Access
Multilingual product catalogues
AI-based translation for wider reachReduced dependence on intermediaries
2. Voice-First Engagement
Voice-enabled platforms
Access to training and services in local languages3. Skilling and Productivity
On-demand digital training
AI-based demand forecastingInventory and pricing support
4. Trust and Authenticity
Digital tagging of GI products
Provenance documentationTransparent representation of heritage goods
By embedding language and cultural understanding into AI systems, artisans become active technology participants rather than passive beneficiaries.
Advancing Inclusive AI for Culture and Society
Policy thinking, including NITI Aayog’s focus on AI for Inclusive Societal Development, highlights the following priorities:
Verifiable digital credentials for skills and work
Expansion of language-based AI toolsOffline AI systems for low-connectivity areas
Local innovation hubs at state and district levels
Multi-stakeholder collaboration among government, academia, industry and civil society
Conclusion: AI as a Public Good for Cultural Participation
India’s approach moves beyond digitisation toward democratisation. AI is being positioned as a public good, reflecting India’s cultural and linguistic diversity.
By integrating AI into manuscripts, academic knowledge, tribal languages, public events and artisan livelihoods, India is transforming:
Cultural Preservation → Cultural Participation
Language Diversity → Digital Inclusion
Heritage Archives → Living Knowledge Systems
Traditional Skills → Sustainable Livelihoods
This human-centred AI framework ensures that technology listens, understands and responds to lived realities. In doing so, India is building a digitally empowered, culturally inclusive future where heritage is not only preserved but actively experienced and economically sustained.