ASMITA Initiative: Transforming Education with Indian Languages

The Ministry of Education and the University Grants Commission (UGC) launched ASMITA, a project to produce 22,000 books in Indian languages over the next five years. Thirteen nodal universities will lead this initiative, ensuring a robust translation and academic writing ecosystem in higher education.

The Ministry of Education and the University Grants Commission (UGC) announced a major initiative on Tuesday to drive the development of 22,000 books in Indian languages over the next five years.

Named ASMITA (Augmenting Study Materials in Indian Languages through Translation and Academic Writing), the project aims to bolster Indian languages in higher education. Secretary of Higher Education Sanjay Murthy, alongside UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar, highlighted the collaborative efforts with Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti, a key committee under the ministry, to achieve this ambitious goal.

Under the initiative, 13 nodal universities have been tasked with spearheading the project, collaborating with member universities from various regions. An SOP has been established to streamline the book-writing process, from author identification to e-publication. Additionally, a 'Bahubhasha Shabdakosh' was launched to serve as a comprehensive reference for Indian language words and their meanings, supporting various modern domains.