Harnessing AI + AR: India's Digital Revolution to Preserve Cultural Heritage

The Indian government is actively pushing the use of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) to preserve the nation's rich cultural heritage, digitize museums, and enhance cultural dissemination. In a recent response to Parliament, the Union Culture Minister highlighted how AR and virtual reality (VR) technologies are being adopted across various museums to enrich visitor experiences through immersive, interactive displays.

Several initiatives underscore this technological push, including the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities and the Museum Digitisation initiative. A notable example is the use of the ‘JATAN’ software, which has digitized collections in eight national museums alongside two Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) museums, allowing digital access to precious artefacts.

Augmented reality plays a key role by creating immersive visitor experiences that bring history to life, making cultural heritage more engaging and accessible to a broader audience. For instance, AR enables visitors to interact with virtual reconstructions of historic artefacts and sites, providing context and storytelling that traditional displays may lack.

The government is also committed to archaeological conservation work, notably at Nalanda in Bihar, providing adequate funding and expert teams to preserve this important heritage site. Involving local communities in these efforts creates employment opportunities and fosters a sense of ownership in heritage conservation.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Education is preserving endangered languages through digital documentation, aiming to protect diverse cultural expressions across India.

This blend of AI and AR technologies marks a significant step forward in safeguarding India’s cultural legacy by making it accessible, interactive, and engaging for future generations.