Version 2.0 of the Indian Culture Portal (ICP) has been launched by the Ministry of Culture as a technological upgrade to the national digital platform that provides unified access to India’s cultural heritage. The portal was created to democratise knowledge about traditions, history, literature, arts and heritage and now offers a faster and more accessible user experience in response to rising user traffic.

Version 2.0 uses a modern architecture with a React based frontend and a Drupal backend, replacing the earlier monolithic system to improve speed, scalability and reliability. The reworked system supports millions of users and simplifies integration of future digital services. It also functions as a Progressive Web App, allowing an app like experience across desktops, tablets and smartphones without store downloads.

The upgraded ICP includes Artificial Intelligence enabled tools to enhance engagement and discovery. An AI powered chatbot named Bharti assists users in navigation, answering queries, summarising material and directing users to resources, with integration to the Government of India’s Bhashini platform enabling responses in 22 Indian languages. The portal provides an advanced multilevel global search with full text search, intelligent metadata filters and faceted navigation.

Immersive experiences include three dimensional walkthroughs and 360 degree virtual tours of heritage monuments, allowing digital exploration of architectural and historical landmarks. The platform presents 46 curated cultural categories and new original sections such as Iconic Battles of India, Folktales of India, Healing Through the Ages and Classical Dances of India to provide engaging narratives for students, researchers and general audiences. Interactive games, quizzes, puzzles and crosswords encourage learning through engagement.

The ICP is positioned as a scalable, future ready platform capable of integrating emerging technologies, expanding content partnerships and supporting wider outreach for India’s cultural knowledge resources. The upgrade is expected to benefit citizens, researchers, cultural institutions and policymakers by providing faster access to curated content, improved search capabilities and multilingual digital engagement. The Ministry of Culture has reiterated its commitment to digitise, preserve and democratise access to India’s cultural heritage.