Lok Sabha Question No. 16 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-01
Subject: National Mission on Libraries
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Rajesh Naranbhai Chudasama, Shri Rajabhau Parag Prakash Waje

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No.16 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025

## NATIONAL MISSION ON LIBRARIES

## 16. SHRI RAJABHAU PARAG PRAKASH WAJE: SHRI RAJESH NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- a) the details of the specific steps taken/being taken by the Government to expand access to modern library facilities and promote a reading culture in Maharashtra, particularly in the Nashik district;
- b) the details of the number of Central Libraries, District Libraries and rural libraries that have been established or are proposed to be set up in Maharashtra under the National Mission on Libraries including projects specifically planned for Nashik city and rural areas;
- c) the details of the total financial assistance released/to be released by the Government under the National Mission on Libraries and other related schemes for development, upgradation  and  digitalisation  for  State  Central  Library  and  District  Library  in  the country, State/UT-wise especially in Maharashtra during the last five years along with the  funds  provided  or  sanctioned  for  library  infrastructure,  books,  digital  resources and training in Nashik district;
- d) whether the Government has any proposal to expand community libraries in tribal or remote areas of Nashik, if so, the details thereof;
- e) whether the Government has any plan to digitise libraries across the country; and
- f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (c)  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.

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.

The  Government  of  Maharashtra  was  sanctioned  financial  assistance  for  upgradation  of Government District Library, Nandurbar and Government Divisional Library, Aurangabad as per following details

| (Amount in Lakhs)                    | (Amount in Lakhs)   | (Amount in Lakhs)   |
|--------------------------------------|---------------------|---------------------|
| Library Name                         | Amount Sanctioned   | Amount Released     |
| District Library, Nandurbar          | 21.90               | 18.43               |
| Govt. Divisional Library, Aurangabad | 60.55               | 57.21               |

The  details  of  the  total  financial  assistance  released  by  the  Government  under  the  National Mission on Libraries during the last five years is provided at Annexure A.

- (d) No sir.

(e) and (f) Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF), Kolkata an autonomous body under Ministry of Culture has an approved Matching Scheme 'Assistance for Digitization of Copyright Free Manuscripts, Rare Books, Rare Documents, Old Journals, Record of History and  Other  Materials'  for  providing  financial  assistance  for  the  purpose  of  Digitization  of Copyright Free Manuscripts, Rare Books, Rare Documents, Old Journals, Record of History and  Other  Materials  in  the  public  library  across  the  country.  RRRLF  releases  financial assistance after receiving application from the concerned States/UTs.

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 16 for reply on 1 st December, 2025 regarding 'National Mission on Libraries.

| Sl No   | State             | Name of the Library                                       | Amount sanction ed (in lakhs)   | Sanction Year   | Amount released in last 5 years (in lakhs)   | Amount released in last 5 years (in lakhs)   | Amount released in last 5 years (in lakhs)   | Amount released in last 5 years (in lakhs)   | Amount released in last 5 years (in lakhs)   |
|---------|-------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|-----------------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
|         |                   |                                                           |                                 |                 | 2021-22                                      | 2022-23                                      | 2023-24                                      | 2024-25                                      | 2025-26                                      |
| 1       | Arunachal Pradesh | State Central Library, Itanagar                           | 223.00                          | 2014-15         | 53.63                                        | -                                            | -                                            | -                                            | -                                            |
| 2       | Arunachal Pradesh | District Library, Phasighat                               | 87.00                           | 2014-15         | -                                            | 18.58                                        | -                                            | -                                            | -                                            |
| 3       | Mizoram           | State Central Library, Aizwal                             | 141.24                          | 2014-15         | 12.54                                        | -                                            | -                                            | -                                            | -                                            |
| 4       | Karnataka         | State Central Library, Bangalore                          | 223.00                          | 2014-15         | -                                            | -                                            | 40.71                                        | -                                            | -                                            |
| 5       | Telangana         | State Central Library, Hyderabad                          | 112.25                          | 2014-15         | 4.56                                         | 8.13                                         | 9.69                                         | -                                            | -                                            |
| 6       | Tripura           | Birchandra State Central Library                          | 223.00                          | 2014-15         | 91.67                                        | 21.23                                        | 5.89                                         | -                                            | -                                            |
| 7       | Tripura           | Unakoti District Library                                  | 87.00                           | 2014-15         | 28.68                                        | 12.51                                        | 1.34                                         | -                                            | -                                            |
| 8       | Chhattisgarh      | District Library, Raigarh                                 | 87.00                           | 2014-15         | 13.64                                        | -                                            | 14.05                                        | 37.00                                        | -                                            |
| 9       | Goa               | Krishnadas Shama State Central Library                    | 223.00                          | 2014-15         | -                                            | 8.05                                         | -                                            | -                                            | -                                            |
| 10      | Kerala            | State Central Library, Thiruvananthapuram                 | 116.61                          | 2015-16         | -                                            | -                                            | 41.70                                        | -                                            | -                                            |
| 11      | Madhya Pradesh    | Govt. District Library, Khandwa                           | 73.20                           | 2016-17         | -                                            | 9.69                                         | -                                            | -                                            | -                                            |
| 12      | Maharashtra       | District Library, Nandurbar                               | 21.90                           | 2016-17         | 2.68                                         | -                                            | -                                            | -                                            | -                                            |
| 13      | Rajasthan         | RajakiyaSarvajanik Mandal Pustakalaya, Kota               | 63.46                           | 2016-17         | 4.34                                         | -                                            | -                                            | -                                            | -                                            |
| 14      | Pondicherry       | Romain Rolland Library, State Central Library             | 166.47                          | 2016-17         |                                              |                                              |                                              |                                              |                                              |
| 15      | Pondicherry       | Dr. S. R. Ranganathan Government Public Library, Karaikal | 76.04                           | 2016-17         | 12.19                                        | -                                            | -                                            | -                                            | -                                            |
| 16      | Tamil Nadu        | District Library, Vellore                                 | 87.00                           | 2016-17         | 9.97 5.46                                    | 10.05 -                                      | - -                                          | - -                                          | - -                                          |
| 17      | Gujarat           | State Central Library, Gandhinagar                        | 104.04                          | 2017-18         | 91.73                                        | -                                            | -                                            | -                                            | -                                            |
| 18      | Maharashtra       | Govt. Divisional Library, Aurangabad                      | 60.55                           | 2017-18         | 17.35                                        | -                                            | -                                            | -                                            | -                                            |
| 19      | Madhya Pradesh    | Govt. Shri Ahilya Central Library, Indore                 | 87.00                           | 2017-18         | 27.17                                        | -                                            | -                                            | -                                            | -                                            |
| 20      | Bihar             | District Central Library, Jamui                           | 81.41                           | 2018-19         | 34.77                                        | -                                            | 17.71                                        | -                                            | -                                            |
| 21      | Himachal Pradesh  | Government District Library, Bilaspur                     | 86.87                           | 2018-19         |                                              | 59.67                                        | -                                            | -                                            | -                                            |
| 22      | Uttarakhand       | Government District Library, Suman Pustakalaya, New       | 86.20                           | 2018-19         | 15.00                                        |                                              |                                              |                                              |                                              |
| 23      | Haryana           | Tehri State Central Library,                              | 223.00                          | 2021-22         | -                                            | 25.00                                        | 25.00                                        | -                                            | -                                            |
| 24      | Haryana           | Ambala Cantt. District Library, Narnaul                   | 84.00                           | 2021-22         | - -                                          | - -                                          | 122.65 46.20                                 | - -                                          | 100.35 -                                     |

| 25    | Jammu & Kashmir                          | Gani Memorial U.T Central Library, Srinagar                              | 223.00      | 2021-22         |     |       |            |              |               |
|-------|------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|-----------------|-----|-------|------------|--------------|---------------|
|       | Kerala                                   | State Public Library                                                     | 37.50       | 2021-22         | -   | -     | 100.00     | -            | 123.00        |
| 26    |                                          | Research Centre                                                          | 217.20      | 2021-22         | -   | 18.77 | 3.79       | -            | -             |
| 27    | Sikkim                                   | Sikkim State Central Library, Gangtok                                    |             |                 | -   | -     | 65.30      | 151.90       | -             |
| 28    | Sikkim                                   | District Library, Mangan District Library,                               | 86.58 32.50 | 2021-22 2021-22 | -   | -     | 10.78      | 75.80        | -             |
| 29 30 | Jammu & Kashmir Gujarat                  | Samba Government District Bhavnagar,                                     | 87.00       | 2022-23         | -   | -     | -          | 32.50        | -             |
| 31    | Bihar                                    | Library, Gujarat District Central                                        | 87.00       | 2022-23         | -   | -     | 87.00      | -            | -             |
| 32    | Himachal Pradesh                         | Library, Hajipur, Vaishali, Bihar Central State Library, Solan, Himachal | 223.00      | 2022-23         | -   | -     | -          | 50.00        | -             |
| 33    | Manipur                                  | Pradesh State Central Library, Imphal                                    | 218.87      | 2022-23         | -   | -     | -          | 95.00        | 128.00 173.62 |
| 34    | Manipur                                  | District Library, Senapati                                               | 85.53       | 2022-23         | - - | - -   | 45.25 1.00 | - -          | 84.54         |
| 35    | Meghalaya                                | State Central Library, Shillong                                          | 223.00      | 2023-24         |     |       |            |              | 123.00        |
| 36    | Andaman&                                 | State Central Library,                                                   | 223.00      | 2023-24         | -   | -     | -          | 100.00       |               |
| 37    | Nicobar Andaman&                         | Port Blair District Library, Car                                         | 87.00       | 2023-24         | -   | -     | -          | 223.00       | -             |
|       | Nicobar                                  | Nicobar State Central Library,                                           | 168.00      | 2023-24         | -   | -     | -          | 87.00        | -             |
| 38    | Lakshadweep                              | Kavaratti                                                                |             |                 | -   | -     | -          | 88.00        | 80.00         |
|       |                                          | Kadmat                                                                   |             |                 | -   | -     | -          | 27.64        | -             |
| 40    | Meghalaya                                | District Library, Tura                                                   | 87.00       | 2023-24         | -   | -     | -          | -            | 87.00         |
| 41    | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | Central Library, Daman                                                   | 223.00      | 2023-24         | -   | -     | -          | -            | 223.00        |
| 42    | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | District Library, Diu                                                    | 87.00       | 2023-24         | -   | -     | -          | -            | 87.00         |
| 44    | Chandigarh                               | Library, Divisional Library (south)                                      | 82.72       | 2023-24         | - - | - -   | - -        | 164.50 82.72 | - -           |