Lok Sabha Question No. 120 (STARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: National Mission on Libraries
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Vishnu Datt Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO.*120 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025

## NATIONAL MISSION ON LIBRARIES

## *120 SHRI VISHNU DATT SHARMA:

## Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- a) whether  the  Government  is  implementing  the  National  Mission  on  Libraries  to strengthen library services across the country, especially in Madhya Pradesh;
- b) if so, whether the Government has upgraded libraries in the districts of Katni, Panna, and the town of Khajuraho in the Khajuraho Lok Sabha constituency; and
- c) if so, the details thereof along with the measures taken by the Government to improve library infrastructure and services in the country?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) to (c) A statement is laid on the table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*120 FOR 28.07.2025.

(a) & (b) 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. In support of this sector, 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.  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, in addition to six libraries identified by the Ministry 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.

As  per  the  guidelines  of  the  National  Mission  on  Libraries  (NML),  financial  assistance  is admissible  for  the  upgradation  of  one  State  Central  Library  and  one  District  Library  per State/UT.  Accordingly,  the  Government  of  Madhya  Pradesh  submitted  proposals  for  the upgradation of Government District Library, Khandwa, and Government Shri Ahilya Central Library,  Indore.  Both  proposals  were  found  eligible  as  per  NML  norms,  and  financial assistance has been provided for their upgradation.

The details of assistance provided to the sanctioned libraries are given below:

|   Sl. No. | Name of the Lib.                          | Sanctioned year   |   Amount sanctioned (in lakhs) |   Amount Released (in lakhs) |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------|--------------------------------|------------------------------|
|         1 | Govt. District Library, Khandwa           | 2016-17           |                           73.2 |                        65.59 |
|         2 | Govt. Shri Ahilya Central Library, Indore | 2017-18           |                           87   |                        43.67 |

- (c)   Not Applicable