Digital Library Push: Over 3.42 Lakh Records Digitized Under National Mission on Libraries
New Delhi, July 25: The Government of India’s ambitious digital library initiative under the National Mission on Libraries (NML) has made significant progress, with over 3.42 lakh digitized records and 34.91 lakh bibliographic entries now accessible through the Indian Culture Portal (ICP), the Ministry of Culture informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
The NML, which includes four key components — the National Virtual Library of India (NVLI), Model Libraries, Quantitative and Qualitative Survey, and Capacity Building — aims to modernize India’s public library ecosystem and promote inclusive digital access to cultural resources.
Under the Model Libraries initiative, financial support is being extended to one State Central Library and one District Library in each state and union territory to upgrade infrastructure, adopt new technologies, and improve accessibility for specially-abled users.
To enhance human capital, structured training programs are underway under the Capacity Building component, equipping library staff and students with professional skills and exposure to modern library technologies.
Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said these efforts are part of a broader mission to make knowledge and India’s diverse cultural heritage more accessible, especially through open digital platforms.
