Nagaland University spearheads AI-driven plan to safeguard India's cultural heritage

The University of Nagaland, a premier institution in the northeastern state, has been appointed to head a country‑wide initiative that leverages artificial intelligence for cultural heritage preservation. The project aims to create a digital repository of artifacts, oral histories, and traditional practices across India, using machine‑learning algorithms to catalogue, analyze and restore vulnerable items.

According to officials, the AI framework will enable rapid identification of at‑risk heritage sites and provide conservationists with predictive tools to prioritize interventions. The university will collaborate with museums, research centres and tribal communities to gather data, ensuring that local knowledge is integrated into the digital archive.

The blueprint, endorsed by the Ministry of Culture, marks the first coordinated effort to combine cutting‑edge technology with heritage management at a national scale. Stakeholders expect the system to become a model for other states seeking to protect their own cultural assets.

The initiative also includes capacity‑building programmes for students and researchers, positioning Nagaland University as a hub for interdisciplinary studies that blend technology, anthropology and history.

If successful, the AI‑driven repository could serve as a reference for scholars worldwide and help safeguard India’s intangible and tangible heritage for future generations.