Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Culture addresses financial assistance for libraries under the National Mission on Libraries (NML) scheme. Financial aid is provided for upgrading existing libraries, focusing on infrastructure, technology, services, facilities for the specially-abled, and reading resources. Assistance is extended to one State Central Library and one District Library in each State/UT, based on State recommendations and fund availability.
Key Points / Main Content:
Financial Assistance under NML:
• The Ministry of Culture implements the National Mission on Libraries (NML) Scheme.
• Financial assistance is provided for the Upgradation of existing libraries under the NML Model Library component.
• Focus areas include infrastructure improvement, technology upgradation, service modernization, facilities for specially-abled groups, and reading resources procurement.
• Advocacy and outreach programs are also supported.
• Libraries fall under the State subject as per Article 246 of the Constitution of India.
• Public libraries function under the administrative control of State/UT authorities.
Eligibility and Distribution:
• Assistance is provided to one State Central Library and one District Library per State/UT.
• Selection is based on recommendations from respective State authorities.
• Disbursement is subject to the availability of State funds.
• Annexure I provides details of participating libraries and fund allocation.
Financial Details (Annexure I):
• Lists central and state fund allocation to libraries across states and UTs.
• Includes the name of the library, year of sanction, total amount sanctioned, amount released, and central/state share in lakhs.
Impact Analysis:
State and Union Territory Authorities:
Impact: Responsible for recommending libraries for NML financial assistance.
Action Required: Submit recommendations for State Central Libraries and District Libraries, ensure availability of State funds.
Participating Libraries:
Impact: Benefit from financial assistance for infrastructure, technology, services, and resource upgrades.
Action Required: Utilize funds as per NML guidelines, implement upgrades in specified areas.
Ministry of Culture:
Impact: Responsible for implementing the NML scheme and disbursing financial assistance.
Action Required: Process library recommendations, allocate and release funds, oversee scheme implementation.
Key Entities Referenced
National Mission on Libraries NML: A scheme implemented by the Ministry of Culture to provide financial assistance for the upgradation of existing libraries.
Ministry of Culture: The Indian government ministry responsible for implementing the National Mission on Libraries (NML) scheme.
Constitution of India: The supreme law of India, Article 246 of which places libraries under the State subject in the Seventh Schedule.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question regarding financial assistance for libraries was raised.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: The Minister of Culture and Tourism who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Arunachal Pradesh: A state in India that received financial assistance under the NML scheme for its State Central Library in Itanagar and District Library in Pasighat.
Rajasthan: A state in India that received financial assistance under the NML scheme for Dr. Radhakrishnan Rajya Kendriya Pustakalaya, Jaipur and Rajakiya Sarvajanik Mandal Pustakalaya, Kota.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India that received financial assistance under the NML scheme for State Central Library, Allahabad and Government District Library, Etawah
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†2365
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR LIBRARIES UNDER NML
†2365. DR. RAJEEV BHARADWAJ.
Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:
a) whether the Government has any plan to provide financial assistance to the State,
Central and District Libraries in each State and Union Territory across the country
under the National Mission on Libraries (NML);
b) if so, the details thereof;
c) whether the Libraries across the country are under consideration to be digitized; and
d) if so, the details of thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
(GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) & (b) Yes Sir, the Ministry of Culture implements the National Mission on Libraries
(NML) Scheme, under which financial assistance is provided for the “Up-gradation of
existing libraries under the NML Model Library” component. This component focuses on
four key areas: improvement of infrastructure, up-gradation of technology and
modernization of services, creation of facilities for specially-abled groups, and
procurement of reading resources to meet local needs along with advocacy and outreach
programmes. Assistance is extended to one State Central Library and one District Library
in each State/UT, based on recommendations from the respective State authorities and
subject to availability of State funds. The details of participated libraries is at Annexure-I.
(c) & (d) As per Article 246 of the Constitution of India, libraries fall under the State subject
in the Seventh Schedule, with public libraries functioning under the administrative control of
the respective State or Union Territory authorities.Annexure-I
Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.†2365 for reply on 4th August, 2025
regarding Financial Assistance for Libraries under NML.
Central Fund and State Fund wise details of assistance provided by NML to all States/ UTs
(Amt. In Lakh)
Sl. State Name of the Sanction Amount Total Central Share State Share Central Share % State Share %
Library Year sanctioned released
in lakh
Arunachal State Central 2014-15 223.00 219.71 197.74 21.97 90 10
1
Pradesh Library, Itanagar
Arunachal District Library, 2014-15 87.00 84.90 76.41 8.49 90 10
2
Pradesh Phasighat
Goa Dr. Francisco Luis 2014-15 87.00 3.38 2.53 0.84 75 25
3
Gomes District
Library
Goa Krishnadas Shama 2014-15 223.00 21.68 16.26 5.42 75 25
4
State Central
Library
Mizoram State Central 2014-15 141.24 137.04 123.34 13.70 90 10
5
Library, Aizwal
6 Mizoram District Library, 2014-15 50.00 50.00 45.00 5.00 90 10
Kolasib
Rajasthan Dr. Radhakrishnan 2014-15 183.51 94.81 71.11 23.70 75 25
Rajya Kendriya
7 Pustakalaya, Jaipur
Rajasthan Rajakiya Sarvajanik 2016-17 63.46 63.21 47.41 15.80 75 25
Mandal Pustakalaya,
8 Kota
Telangana District Central 2014-15 52.00 50.00 37.50 12.50 75 25
9
Library,
Mahabubnagar
Telangana State Central 2014-15 112.25 103.72 77.79 25.93 75 25
10
Library, Hyderabad
Uttar Pradesh State Central 2014-15 206.00 203.75 152.81 50.94 75 25
11
Library, Allahabad
Uttar Pradesh Government District 2014-15 87.00 85.93 64.45 21.48 75 25
12
Library, Etawah
West Bengal West Bengal State 2014-15 222.81 219.82 164.86 54.95 75 25
13
Central Library
West Bengal North Bengal State 2014-15 86.98 79.73 59.80 19.93 75 25
14
Library, Coochbehar
Gujarat State Central 2014-15 104.04 101.00 75.75 25.25 75 25
Library, Revised
15 Gandhinagar 2017-18
Gujarat Government District 2022-23 87.00 87.00 65.25 21.75 75 25
Library, Bhavnagar,
16 Gujarat
Assam District Library, 2016-17 40.00 39.99 35.99 4.00 90 10
17
Jorhat (1)
Assam District Library, 2016-17 70.00 69.59 62.63 6.96 90 10
18
Guwahati (2)
Madhya Govt. District 2016-17 73.20 65.59 49.20 16.40 75 25
19
Pradesh Library, Khandwa
Madhya Govt. Shri Ahilya 2017-18 87.00 43.67 32.75 10.92 75 25
20
Pradesh Central Library,
Indore
Maharashtra District Library, 2016-17 21.90 18.43 13.83 4.61 75 25
21
Nandurbar
Maharashtra Govt. Divisional 2017-18 60.55 57.21 42.91 14.30 75 25
22
Library, AurangabadNagaland State Central 2016-17 177.49 175.48 157.93 17.55 90 10
23
Library, Kohima
24 Nagaland District Library, 2016-17 73.81 69.75 62.77 6.97 90 10
Dimapur
Tamil Nadu District Library, 2016-17 70.00 68.16 51.12 17.04 75 25
25
Tiruchirapalli
Tamil Nadu District Library, 2016-17 87.00 79.27 59.45 19.82 75 25
26
Vellore
Karnataka State Central 2014-15 223.00 200.00 150.00 50.00 75 25
27
Library, Bangalore
Karnataka District Central 2014-15 87.00 79.26 59.44 19.81 75 25
28
Library, Shimoga
Tripura Birchandra State 2014-15 223.00 222.93 200.64 22.29 90 10
29
Central Library
30 Tripura Unakoti District 2014-15 87.00 86.92 78.23 8.69 90 10
Library
Kerala State Central 2015-16 116.61 116.61 87.46 29.15 75 25
31
Library,
Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala State Public Library 2021-22 37.50 22.55 16.92 5.64 75 25
32
Research Centre
Pondicherry Romain Rolland 2016-17 166.47 142.37 106.77 35.59 75 25
33
Library, State
Central Library
Pondicherry Dr. S. R. 2016-17 76.04 66.17 49.63 16.54 75 25
Ranganathan
34 Government Public
Library, Karaikal
Bihar District Central 2018-19 81.41 62.21 46.66 15.55 75 25
35
Library, Jamui
Bihar District Central 2023-24 87.00 50.00 37.50 12.50 75 25
36
Library, Hajipur,
Vaishali
Himachal Government District 2018-19 86.87 74.66 56.00 18.67 75 25
37
Pradesh Library, Bilaspur
Himachal Central State 2022-23 223.00 95.00 71.25 23.75 75 25
38
Pradesh Library, Solan,
Himachal Pradesh
Haryana State Central 2021-22 223.00 122.65 91.99 30.66 75 25
39
Library, Ambala
Cantt.
Haryana District Library, 2021-22 84.00 46.20 34.65 11.55 75 25
40
Narnaul
41 Chhattisgarh District Library, 2014-15 87.00 78.32 58.74 19.58 75 25
Raigarh
Odisha H.K.M.State 2014-15 223.00 133.00 99.75 33.25 75 25
42
Library,
Bhubaneswar
Odisha District Library, 2014-15 40.36 0.00 0.00 0.00 75 25
43
Ganajam
Uttarakhand Government District 2018-19 86.20 50.00 37.50 12.50 75 25
Library, Suman
44 Pustakalaya, New
Tehri
Jammu & Gani Memorial U.T 2021-22 223.00 100.00 75.00 25.00 75 25
45
Kashmir Central Library,
Srinagar
Jammu & District Library, 2021-22 32.50 32.50 24.38 8.13 75 25
46
Kashmir Samba
Sikkim Sikkim State Central 2021-22 217.20 217.20 195.48 21.72 90 10
47
Library, Gangtok
48 Sikkim District Library, 2021-22 86.58 86.58 77.92 8.66 90 10
Mangan
Manipur State Central 2022-23 218.87 45.25 40.73 4.53 90 10
49
Library, Imphal Revised
Manipur District Library, 2022-23 85.53 1.00 0.90 .10 90 10
50
Senapati RevisedMeghalaya State Central 2023-24 223.00 100.00 90.00 10.00 90 10
51
Library, Shillong
Meghalaya District Library, 2023-24 87.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 90 10
52
Tura
Lakshadweep State Central 2023-24 168.00 88.00 88.00 .00 100% 0%
53
Library, Kavaratti
54 Lakshadweep District Library, 2023-24 27.64 27.64 27.64 .00 100% 0%
Kadmat
55 Chandigarh T.S. State Central 2023-24 164.50 164.50 164.50 0.00 100% 0%
Library
56 Chandigarh Divisional Library, 2023-24 82.72 82.72 82.72 0.00 100% 0%
South
57 A&N Island State Central 2023-24 223.00 223.00 223.00 0.00 100% 0%
Library, Port Blair
58 A&N Island District Library, Car 2023-24 87.00 87.00 87.00 0.00 100% 0%
nicobar
59 Daman & Central Library, 2023-24 223.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 100% 0%
Diu Daman
60 Daman & District Library, Diu 2023-24 87.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 100% 0%
Diu
61 Jharkhand State Central 2023-24 223.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 75 25
Library, Dhanbad
62 Jharkhand District Library, 2023-24 87.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 75 25
Palamau
63 Punjab MM Central State 2022-23 223.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 75 25
Library, Patiala
64 Punjab Gurunanak District 2022-23 87.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 75 25
Library, Kapurthala
Total 7872.24 5197.06 4306.99 890.08