DigitalHeritage – Culture Ministry Plans Unified AI Search Portal
DigitalHeritage – The Ministry of Culture is preparing to introduce an artificial intelligence-powered search platform designed to bring together content from its primary website and around 30 associated portals under one digital framework. The initiative is intended to simplify public access to cultural records, research materials and event information through a single, streamlined interface.
A Central Hub for Cultural Resources
Officials familiar with the plan said the upcoming system will serve as a comprehensive gateway to the ministry’s extensive digital archives. By consolidating multiple websites into one intelligent search environment, the platform is expected to help users locate relevant information more quickly and efficiently.
The AI-enabled tool is being developed to deliver faster and more precise results for a broad range of users, including citizens, scholars, artists and cultural institutions. Authorities believe this move will significantly strengthen the ministry’s online presence while also improving overall user experience across its digital platforms.
Technology Partner to Build AI-Based Model
To implement the project, the ministry will select a technology partner responsible for designing and deploying a search engine powered by a large language model. According to details outlined in the official Request for Proposal, the system will feature a unified semantic search interface capable of understanding natural language queries rather than relying solely on keyword-based searches.
Other planned capabilities include automated content summaries generated by AI, integration of multimedia materials such as images and videos, and an event discovery function to help users track cultural programs and initiatives. The goal is to ensure that information spread across multiple platforms can be accessed seamlessly without requiring users to navigate each website separately.
Supporting India’s Cultural Mandate
The Ministry of Culture serves as the central government authority tasked with safeguarding and promoting India’s cultural heritage. Its responsibilities extend to both tangible heritage—such as monuments, artifacts and archives—and intangible traditions including music, dance, crafts and oral histories. The ministry aims to ensure that the country’s cultural legacy remains inclusive, accessible and sustainable for future generations.
At present, the ministry oversees two attached offices and more than 30 autonomous bodies. These institutions collectively implement policies and programs that encourage artistic excellence, support community engagement and preserve heritage assets. The proposed AI-driven solution is expected to strengthen coordination across these organizations by semantically indexing and aggregating content from their various websites.
Integration of Key Cultural Portals
Once operational, the platform is expected to provide unified access to several major repositories, including the Indian Culture Portal, Abhilekh Patal, Gyan Bharatam, Amritkaal and Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar. The latter initiative documents cultural details from approximately 650,000 villages across India, creating a vast database of local traditions and heritage sites.
By bringing these diverse sources under one search system, users will be able to retrieve summarised information and explore related multimedia content without switching between platforms. This approach is intended to make research and discovery more intuitive, particularly for academics and institutions working with large volumes of archival material.
Open-Source Models and AI Chatbot Integration
The Request for Proposal specifies that the AI features should be built using advanced open-source language models. At the same time, the system must be compatible with application programming interface-based commercial AI solutions, including those developed by OpenAI. This hybrid approach is expected to offer flexibility while maintaining technological robustness.
In addition to search functionality, the platform is envisioned to include an AI-powered chatbot capable of guiding users through complex queries. The chatbot would enable natural language interaction, helping individuals refine their searches and access information within specific domains of interest more effectively.
If implemented as planned, the new platform could mark a significant step in the digital transformation of cultural governance in India. By leveraging artificial intelligence, the ministry aims to enhance transparency, accessibility and engagement across its extensive network of institutions and heritage initiatives.