
India and France on 26 October signed an agreement in Paris to preserve, digitise and research Indian manuscripts and historical documents. The pact was signed by India’s culture ministry and France’s National Library (Bibliothèque nationale de France), under the Gyan Bharatam Mission. It covers digitisation, access to digital collections, technology exchange, and research. The National Archives of India and the National Library in Kolkata will also play a role.

The 11th edition of the joint special forces exercise Garuda Shakti began on 27 October in Banyuwangi, Indonesia, and will run until 6 November. India’s Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) and Indonesian special forces are taking part, with training in jungle operations, obstacle crossing, marksmanship, mountain training and air assaults.
CVC’s Vigilance Awareness Week 2026 began on 26 October with the theme ‘Integrity brings prosperity’. A workshop on ‘Transformation Through Technology’ is scheduled for 30 October.
The agreement with France targets Indian manuscripts held overseas, many of which remain inaccessible to scholars. The digitisation and research work under the Gyan Bharatam Mission could make these collections available online, though the timeline and cost are not stated. The National Archives of India and the National Library in Kolkata will be involved, meaning work will be split between multiple institutions. Coordination and funding will determine how quickly the manuscripts are catalogued and returned to public access.
Source: prabhatkhabar.com
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