Parliament Question: Promotion of Library Network under NML

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.†3837 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026 PROMOTION OF LIBRARY NETWORK UNDER NML †3837 SMT. MANJU SHARMA: Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state: a) whether the Government has achieved the objectives envisaged under the National Mission on Libraries (NML); b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; c) the details of the libraries actually established under the NML, State/UT-wise; d) the details of the libraries established under the NML in Rajasthan; and e) the details of the steps taken/being taken by the Government to promote the network of libraries in rural areas? ANSWER MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) & (b) Yes, Sir. National Mission on Libraries (NML) Scheme has 4 components. The components wise progress is as follows: - 1. National Virtual Library of India (NVLI) – The Indian Culture Portal, launched in December 2019, was created to democratize access to knowledge about India’s cultural traditions, history, literature, arts, and heritage by bringing digital resources from museums, libraries, archives, and cultural institutions onto a unified platform. Version 2.0, launched on 05.03.2026, introduces a modern architecture with a React-based frontend and Drupal backend, improving speed, scalability, and reliability. It features the AI-powered chatbot Bharti, integrated with the Government of India’s Bhashini platform to provide assistance in 22 Indian languages. The portal offers advanced multilevel search, operates as a Progressive Web App, and includes 3D walkthroughs, virtual tours, 46 curated cultural categories, and interactive learning activities.2. Setting up of NML Model Libraries – Under the component Setting up of NML Model Libraries, financial assistance has so far been sanctioned to 28 State Central Libraries, 41 District Libraries and 5 Ministry of Culture identified Libraries. The details are as per Annexure-A. 3. Quantitative & Qualitative Survey of Libraries – Survey has been completed and the Report has been accepted in this Ministry. 4. Capacity Building Programme - Total 54 training programmes have been organized in which 2465 library professionals across the Country have been trained so far. (c) Library is a State subject as per the Seventh schedule of Constitution of India, and public libraries function under the administrative control of the respective State/Union Territory Authorities. Thus, establishment of library does not come under the purview of NML. However, NML scheme, under Setting up of NML Model Library component, provides financial assistance to 1 State Central Library and 1 District Library in each State /UT, as per the recommendation of the State Authority concerned. The list of the libraries upgraded under NML (State/UT wise) is attached as Annexure-A. (d) The details of financial support provided in Rajasthan under NML Model Library is as follows: - Library Name Sanction Amt. Amt. year Sanctioned Released (in. Lakh) (in. Lakh) Dr. Radhakrishnan 2014-15 183.51 94.81 Rajya Kendriya Pustakalaya, Jaipur Rajakiya Sarvajanik 2016-17 63.46 63.21 Mandal Pustakalaya, Kota (e) Library is a State subject as per the Seventh schedule of Constitution of India, and public libraries function under the administrative control of the respective State/Union Territory Authorities.Annexure-A Annexure referred to in reply to part (b&c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.†3837 for reply on 16th March, 2026 regarding “Promotion of Library Network under NML”. Sl. State Name of the Library Sanction Year Amount Total sanctioned in released lakh 1 A&N Island State Central Library, Port Blair 2023-24 223.00 223.00 2 A&N Island District Library, Car nicobar 2023-24 87.00 87.00 3 Andhra Pradesh SCL, Amravati 2025-26 223.00 0 4 Andhra Pradesh Sri Gowthami Regional Library 2025-26 87.00 0 Rajamahendravaram 5 Arunachal Pradesh State Central Library, Itanagar 2014-15 223 219.71 6 Arunachal Pradesh District Library, Phasighat 2014-15 87.00 84.90 7 Assam District Library, Jorhat (1) 2016-17 40.00 39.99 8 Assam District Library, Guwahati (2) 2016-17 70.00 69.59 9 Bihar District Central Library, Jamui 2018-19 81.41 62.21 10 Bihar District Central Library, Hajipur, 2023-24 87.00 50.00 Vaishali 11 Chandigarh T.S. State Central Library 2023-24 164.5 164.5 12 Chandigarh Divisional Library, South 2023-24 82.72 82.72 13 Chhattisgarh District Library, Raigarh 2014-15 87.00 78.32 14 Daman & Diu Central Library, Daman 2023-24 223.00 223.00 15 Daman & Diu District Library, Diu 2023-24 87.00 87.00 16 Goa Dr. Francisco Luis Gomes District 2014-15 87.00 3.38 Library 17 Goa Krishnadas Shama State Central 2014-15 223.00 21.68 Library 18 Gujarat State Central Library, Gandhinagar 2017-18 104.04 101.00 19 Gujarat Government District Library, 2022-23 87.00 87.00 Bhavnagar, Gujarat 20 Haryana State Central Library, Ambala 2021-22 223.00 223.00 Cantt. 21 Haryana District Library, Narnaul 2021-22 84.00 46.20 22 Himachal Pradesh Government District Library, 2018-19 86.87 74.66 Bilaspur 23 Himachal Pradesh Central State Library, Solan, 2022-23 223.00 223.00 Himachal Pradesh 24 Jammu & Kashmir Gani Memorial U.T Central 2021-22 223.00 223.00 Library, Srinagar 25 Jammu & Kashmir District Library, Samba 2021-22 32.50 32.50 26 Jharkhand State Central Library, Dhanbad 2023-24 223.00 223.00 27 Jharkhand District Library, Palamau 2023-24 87.00 87.00 28 Karnataka State Central Library, Bangalore 2014-15 223.00 200.00 29 Karnataka District Central Library, Shimoga 2014-15 87.00 79.26 30 Kerala State Central Library, 2015-16 116.61 116.61 Thiruvananthapuram Sl. State Name of the Library Sanction Year Amount Total sanctioned released in lakh 31 Kerala State Public Library Research 2021-22 37.5 22.55 Centre 32 Ladakh State Public Library, Kargil 2025-26 220.00 033 Ladakh District Library, Leh 2025-26 80.00 0 34 Lakshadweep State Central Library, Kavaratti 2023-24 168.00 168.00 35 Lakshadweep District Library, Kadmat 2023-24 27.64 27.64 36 Madhya Pradesh Govt. District Library, Khandwa 2016-17 73.20 65.59 37 Madhya Pradesh Govt. Shri Ahilya Central Library, 2017-18 87.00 43.67 Indore 38 Maharashtra District Library, Nandurbar 2016-17 21.90 18.43 39 Maharashtra Govt. Divisional Library, 2017-18 60.55 57.21 Aurangabad 40 Manipur State Central Library, Imphal 2022-23 218.87 218.87 41 Manipur District Library, Senapati 2022-23 85.53 85.53 42 Meghalaya State Central Library, Shillong 2023-24 223.00 223 43 Meghalaya District Library, Tura 2023-24 87.00 87 44 Mizoram State Central Library, Aizwal 2014-15 141.24 137.04 45 Mizoram District Library, Kolasib 2014-15 50.00 50.00 46 Nagaland State Central Library, Kohima 2016-17 177.49 175.48 47 Nagaland District Library, Dimapur 2016-17 73.81 69.75 48 Odisha H.K.M.State Library, Bhubaneswar 2014-15 223.00 133 49 Odisha District Library, Ganajam 2014-15 40.36 0 50 Pondicherry Romain Rolland Library, State 2016-17 166.47 142.37 Central Library 51 Pondicherry Dr. S. R. Ranganathan Government 2016-17 76.04 66.17 Public Library, Karaikal 52 Punjab MM Central State Library, Patiala 2022-23 223.00 0 53 Punjab Gurunanak District Library, 2022-23 87.00 0 Kapurthala 54 Rajasthan Dr. Radhakrishnan Rajya 2014-15 183.51 94.81 KendriyaPustakalaya, Jaipur 55 Rajasthan RajakiyaSarvajanik Mandal 2016-17 63.46 63.21 Pustakalaya, Kota 56 Sikkim Sikkim State Central Library, 2021-22 217.2 217.2 Gangtok 57 Sikkim District Library, Mangan 2021-22 86.58 86.58 58 Tamil Nadu District Library, Tiruchirapalli 2016-17 70.00 68.16 59 Tamil Nadu District Library, Vellore 2016-17 87.00 79.27 60 Telangana District Central Library, 2014-15 52.00 50.00 Mahabubnagar 61 Telangana State Central Library, Hyderabad 2014-15 112.25 103.72 62 Tripura Birchandra State Central Library 2014-15 223.00 222.93 63 Tripura Unakoti District Library 2014-15 87.00 86.92 64 Uttar Pradesh State Central Library, Allahabad 2014-15 206.00 203.75 Sl. State Name of the Library Sanction Year Amount Total sanctioned released in lakh 65 Uttar Pradesh Government District Library, 2014-15 87.00k 85.93 Etawah 66 Uttarakhand Government District Library, 2018-19 86.2 50.00 Suman Pustakalaya, New Tehri 67 Uttarakhand Central State Library, Almora 2025-26 188.77 0 68 West Bengal West Bengal State Central Library 2014-15 222.81 219.8269 West Bengal North Bengal State Library, 2014-15 86.98 79.73 Coochbehar Total 8671.01 6716.56 Status of Assistance towards Ministry of Culture Libraries (Amount in lakhs) Sl. No. Name of Library Total Total Released Sanctioned 1 National Library (NL) 724.2 142.78 2 Central Secretariat Library (CSL) 277.09 126.27 3 Delhi Public Library (DPL) 443.89 274.19 4 Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library (KBOPL) 344.20 30.26 5 Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji’s Sarasvathi Mahal Library 715.2 667.48 (TMSSML) *****