**Summary:**
The Ministry of Culture's National Mission on Libraries (NML) comprises four key components designed to enhance library services and accessibility across India. The first component, the National Virtual Library of India (NVLI) project, aims to establish an open-access, user-friendly federated search interface, providing easy access to knowledge, information, and India's diverse culture. As of July 2025, the Indian Culture Portal (ICP), launched under the NVLI on December 10, 2019, hosts approximately 3.42 lakh digitized records with metadata, alongside over 34.91 lakh bibliographic records. The second component focuses on setting up NML Model Libraries by providing financial assistance to one State Central Library and one District Library selected by each State/UT government, as well as six libraries under the Ministry of Culture. This assistance supports infrastructure upgrades, technology modernization, facilities for users with disabilities, and outreach programs. The third component involves quantitative and qualitative surveys to gather descriptive statistics on libraries nationwide, assess existing infrastructure and services in public libraries, and evaluate citizen satisfaction. The fourth component emphasizes capacity building, offering training to library personnel and library science students to enhance their professional skills and familiarize them with the latest technologies. Structured training programs are being conducted to equip library professionals with advanced technical skills and facilitate the adoption of modern technologies. This information was provided by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. For further information, contact Sunil Kumar Tiwari at pibcultureatgmaildotcom, Release ID: 2147795.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture: The Indian government ministry responsible for culture, overseeing initiatives like the National Mission on Libraries.
National Mission on Libraries: A program with multiple components aimed at improving and modernizing libraries across India.
National Virtual Library of India Project: A component of the National Mission on Libraries focused on providing open access to knowledge and information about Indian culture.
NML Model Library: A component of the National Mission on Libraries that provides financial assistance to State Central Libraries and District Libraries for modernization.
State Central Library: A central library within a state that receives financial assistance for modernization under the NML Model Library component.
District Library: A library at the district level within a state that receives financial assistance for modernization under the NML Model Library component.
Indian Culture Portal: A portal launched under the National Virtual Library of India component, hosting digitized records and bibliographic information.
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: Union Minister for Culture and Tourism who provided information about the National Mission on Libraries.
Ministry of Culture
Infrastructure For Digital Library
Posted On: 24 JUL 2025 4:58PM by PIB Delhi
The National Mission on Libraries (NML) has 4 components with following objectives: -
i. National Virtual Library of India Project (ICP) with an objective to give an open access user-friendly
federated search mechanism (Interface) to users for easy access to knowledge and information as well as
to the diverse culture of India.
ii. Setting up of NML Model Library with the objective to provide financial assistance for Up-gradation of
Infrastructure, Modernization of Technology, Creation of Facilities for Sspecially abled users and
advocacy and Outreach programs, to one State Central Library & one District Library selected by the
State Government of each State / UT and 6 libraries under the Ministry of Culture.
iii. Quantitative and Qualitative Survey with the objective to obtain descriptive statistics of libraries in
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the Country, to study the existing infrastructure and services of the public libraries and the level of
satisfaction and perception of the citizens.
iv. Capacity Building for providing training to the Library Personnel, students of library science in order
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to sensitize the library service providers with professional skills as well as to apprise them with the latest
technology.
The following steps have been taken for digitization effort in libraries under NML: -
i. The Indian Culture Portal (ICP), launched 10.12.2019 under NVLI component, currently hosts
approximately 3.42 lakh digitzed records with metadata, along with over 34.91 lakh bibliographic
records.
ii. Under the Model Libraries component, financial assistance is being provided to one State Central
Library and one District Library for modernisation, technological upgradation and infrastructure
development.
iii. Under the Capacity Building component, structure training programmes are being conducted to
equipped library professionals with advanced technical skills and to facilitate the adoption of modern
technologies.
This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a
written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
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Sunil Kumar Tiwari
pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com
(Release ID: 2147795)