New Delhi, March 17: The National Mission on Libraries (NML) is progressing across multiple components aimed at strengthening library infrastructure, digital access to knowledge, and capacity building of library professionals across India, the government informed in the Lok Sabha.
In a written reply, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, said the mission operates through four key components, including the National Virtual Library of India, model libraries, library surveys, and capacity-building programmes.
Digital Knowledge Access through NVLI
Under the National Virtual Library of India (NVLI) component, the Indian Culture Portal was launched in December 2019 to provide unified digital access to resources related to India’s cultural traditions, history, literature, arts and heritage.
The Version 2.0 of the portal, launched on March 5, 2026, introduces a modern architecture with a React-based frontend and Drupal backend, improving performance and scalability.
The upgraded portal features an AI-powered chatbot “Bharti”, integrated with the Government of India’s Bhashini language platform, enabling assistance in 22 Indian languages. It also offers advanced multi-level search, operates as a Progressive Web App, and includes 3D walkthroughs, virtual tours, 46 curated cultural categories, and interactive learning activities.
Model Libraries Across States
Under the Setting up of NML Model Libraries component, financial assistance has been sanctioned for 28 State Central Libraries, 41 District Libraries, and five libraries under the Ministry of Culture to upgrade facilities and services.
Libraries upgraded under the scheme are spread across states and union territories including Port Blair, Itanagar, Ambala, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram and Bhubaneswar, among others.
For instance, in Rajasthan, financial assistance has been provided to Dr. Radhakrishnan Rajya Kendriya Pustakalaya, Jaipur with ₹183.51 lakh sanctioned (₹94.81 lakh released) and Rajakiya Sarvajanik Mandal Pustakalaya, Kota with ₹63.46 lakh sanctioned (₹63.21 lakh released).
Survey and Capacity Building
The Quantitative and Qualitative Survey of Libraries component has been completed and the report has been accepted by the Ministry.
Under the Capacity Building Programme, 54 training programmes have been organised so far, training 2,465 library professionals from across the country.
State Responsibility for Libraries
The government clarified that libraries fall under the State List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, and therefore public libraries are managed by respective State and Union Territory authorities.
However, the NML scheme provides financial assistance for upgrading one State Central Library and one District Library in each State or Union Territory, based on recommendations from the concerned state authorities.
According to the government, a total of ₹8,671.01 lakh has been sanctioned under the mission, of which ₹6,716.56 lakh has been released so far for library development across the country.
The initiative aims to modernise India’s library ecosystem, expand digital knowledge access, and strengthen the country’s reading and research infrastructure.
