PROMOTION OF LIBRARY NETWORK UNDER NML

Ministry of Culture PROMOTION OF LIBRARY NETWORK UNDER NML

Posted On: 16 MAR 2026 12:53PM by PIB Delhi 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.

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.

The details of financial support provided in Rajasthan under NML Model Library is as follows: - Library Name Sanction year Amt. Sanctioned (in. Amt. Released (in.

Lakh) Lakh)Dr. Radhakrishnan Rajya 2014-15 183.51 94.81 Kendriya Pustakalaya, Jaipur Rajakiya Sarvajanik Mandal 2016-17 63.46 63.21 Pustakalaya, Kota 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 Amount Total Year sanctioned released in lakh 1 A&N Island State Central Library, 2023-24 223.00 223.00 Port Blair 2 A&N Island District Library, Car 2023-24 87.00 87.00 nicobar 3 Andhra Pradesh SCL, Amravati 2025-26 223.00 0 4 Andhra Pradesh Sri Gowthami 2025-26 87.00 0 Regional Library Rajamahendravaram 5 Arunachal Pradesh State Central Library, 2014-15 223 219.71 Itanagar 6 Arunachal Pradesh District Library, 2014-15 87.00 84.90 Phasighat 7 Assam District Library, Jorhat 2016-17 40.00 39.99

(1) 8 Assam District Library, 2016-17 70.00 69.59 Guwahati (2) 9 Bihar District Central 2018-19 81.41 62.21 Library, Jamui10 Bihar District Central 2023-24 87.00 50.00 Library, Hajipur, Vaishali 11 Chandigarh T.S. State Central 2023-24 164.5 164.5 Library 12 Chandigarh Divisional Library, 2023-24 82.72 82.72 South 13 Chhattisgarh District Library, 2014-15 87.00 78.32 Raigarh 14 Daman & Diu Central Library, 2023-24 223.00 223.00 Daman 15 Daman & Diu District Library, Diu 2023-24 87.00 87.00 16 Goa Dr. Francisco Luis 2014-15 87.00 3.38 Gomes District Library 17 Goa Krishnadas Shama 2014-15 223.00 21.68 State Central Library 18 Gujarat State Central Library, 2017-18 104.04 101.00 Gandhinagar 19 Gujarat Government District 2022-23 87.00 87.00 Library, Bhavnagar, Gujarat 20 Haryana State Central Library, 2021-22 223.00 223.00 Ambala Cantt.

21 Haryana District Library, 2021-22 84.00 46.20 Narnaul 22 Himachal Pradesh Government District 2018-19 86.87 74.66 Library, Bilaspur 23 Himachal Pradesh Central State Library, 2022-23 223.00 223.00 Solan, Himachal Pradesh24 Jammu & Kashmir Gani Memorial U.T 2021-22 223.00 223.00 Central Library, Srinagar 25 Jammu & Kashmir District Library, 2021-22 32.50 32.50 Samba 26 Jharkhand State Central Library, 2023-24 223.00 223.00 Dhanbad 27 Jharkhand District Library, 2023-24 87.00 87.00 Palamau 28 Karnataka State Central Library, 2014-15 223.00 200.00 Bangalore 29 Karnataka District Central 2014-15 87.00 79.26 Library, Shimoga 30 Kerala State Central Library, 2015-16 116.61 116.61 Thiruvananthapuram Sl. State Name of the Library Sanction Amount Total Year sanctioned released in lakh 31 Kerala State Public Library 2021-22 37.5 22.55 Research Centre 32 Ladakh State Public Library, 2025-26 220.00 0 Kargil 33 Ladakh District Library, Leh 2025-26 80.00 0 34 Lakshadweep State Central Library, 2023-24 168.00 168.00 Kavaratti 35 Lakshadweep District Library, 2023-24 27.64 27.64 Kadmat 36 Madhya Pradesh Govt. District Library, 2016-17 73.20 65.59 Khandwa 37 Madhya Pradesh Govt. Shri Ahilya 2017-18 87.00 43.67 Central Library, Indore38 Maharashtra District Library, 2016-17 21.90 18.43 Nandurbar 39 Maharashtra Govt. Divisional 2017-18 60.55 57.21 Library, Aurangabad 40 Manipur State Central Library, 2022-23 218.87 218.87 Imphal 41 Manipur District Library, 2022-23 85.53 85.53 Senapati 42 Meghalaya State Central Library, 2023-24 223.00 223 Shillong 43 Meghalaya District Library, Tura 2023-24 87.00 87 44 Mizoram State Central Library, 2014-15 141.24 137.04 Aizwal 45 Mizoram District Library, 2014-15 50.00 50.00 Kolasib 46 Nagaland State Central Library, 2016-17 177.49 175.48 Kohima 47 Nagaland District Library, 2016-17 73.81 69.75 Dimapur 48 Odisha H.K.M.State Library, 2014-15 223.00 133 Bhubaneswar 49 Odisha District Library, 2014-15 40.36 0 Ganajam 50 Pondicherry Romain Rolland 2016-17 166.47 142.37 Library, State Central Library 51 Pondicherry Dr. S. R. Ranganathan 2016-17 76.04 66.17 Government Public Library, Karaikal 52 Punjab MM Central State 2022-23 223.00 0 Library, Patiala53 Punjab Gurunanak District 2022-23 87.00 0 Library, Kapurthala 54 Rajasthan Dr. Radhakrishnan 2014-15 183.51 94.81 Rajya KendriyaPustakalaya, Jaipur 55 Rajasthan RajakiyaSarvajanik 2016-17 63.46 63.21 Mandal Pustakalaya, Kota 56 Sikkim Sikkim State Central 2021-22 217.2 217.2 Library, Gangtok 57 Sikkim District Library, 2021-22 86.58 86.58 Mangan 58 Tamil Nadu District Library, 2016-17 70.00 68.16 Tiruchirapalli Tamil Nadu District Library, 2016-17 87.00 79.27 59 Vellore 60 Telangana District Central 2014-15 52.00 50.00 Library, Mahabubnagar 61 Telangana State Central Library, 2014-15 112.25 103.72 Hyderabad 62 Tripura Birchandra State 2014-15 223.00 222.93 Central Library 63 Tripura Unakoti District 2014-15 87.00 86.92 Library 64 Uttar Pradesh State Central Library, 2014-15 206.00 203.75 Allahabad Sl. State Name of the Library Sanction Amount Total Year sanctioned released in lakh65 Uttar Pradesh Government District 2014-15 87.00k 85.93 Library, Etawah 66 Uttarakhand Government District 2018-19 86.2 50.00 Library, Suman Pustakalaya, New Tehri 67 Uttarakhand Central State Library, 2025-26 188.77 0 Almora 68 West Bengal West Bengal State 2014-15 222.81 219.82 Central Library 69 West Bengal North Bengal State 2014-15 86.98 79.73 Library, 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 715.2 667.48 Library (TMSSML) This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha today ***** M Annadurai (Release ID: 2240544) Visitor Counter : 185Read this release in: Urdu , ही , Telugu