National Archives of India

Established on 11 March, 1891 at Calcutta (Kolkata) as the Imperial Record Department, the National Archives of India it is the biggest archival repository in South Asia. It has a vast corpus of records namely public records, private papers, oriental records, cartographic records and microfilms, which constitute an invaluable source of information for scholars-administrators and users of archives.

The Director General of Archives, heading the Department has been given the mandate for the implementation of the Public Records Act, 1993 and the rules made there under, the Public Records Rules, 1997 for the management, administration and preservation of public records in the Ministries, Departments,Public Sector undertakings etc.of the Central Government.

Vision

To help in spreading a feeling of national pride in our documentary cultural heritage and ensuring its preservation for posterity.

Mission

To encourage the scientific management, administration and conservation of records all over the country.
To foster close relations between archivists' and archival institutions, both at the national and international levels.
To encourage greater liberalization of access to archival holdings.
To help in developing greater professionalism and a scientific temper among creators, custodians and users of records for proper care and use of our documentary heritage.

National Archives of India - Services

Access to Records
Printer-friendly version
Access to records in National Archives of India is governed by the provisions of the Public Records Act, 1993 and the Public Records Rules,1997

Research & Reference of National Archives

National Archives of India is the custodian of all `Public` records of Government of India and are available for use of `bonafide`research. Indian researchers are required to submit a letter of introduction from their sponsoring University/Institution and foreign nationals are required to submit a letter of introduction from their diplomatic mission in addition to a letter of introduction from their sponsoring University/Institution

National Archives Library

Over the years, the Library has developed into a rich research oriented Library providing a wide range of services to scholars, trainees, government agencies, and other interested users. It presently has in its custody over 1.9 lakh publications comprising Rare books, Reports, Parliamentary Papers and Debates,Monographs, Gazettes, Gazetteers, Travelogues, Native Newspapers, Journals etc which constitute a most valuable supplementary source of information to the material contained among official records. These publications cover a variety of subjects like modern history and politics, culture, demography, archives, economics, social science, gender studies, tribal studies etc.

Objectives

To collect the significant publications on Modern Indian History.
To preserve the publications for research purpose.
To serve as a supplement to the records housed in the National Archives of India.
To disseminate information to its users.
To serve as a epitome of national identity.

Services

Online Public Access Catalogue
DELNET services
Reprographic Services
CAS/SDI Services
News paper clipping Services
Reference / Referral Services
E-library services
Ask a librarian

National Archives of India - Preservation

The National Archives of India is making earnest efforts to ensure longevity to documents in its custody through preventive, curative and restorative processes. The Department has Conservation Research Laboratory which was setup in 1941. Since its inception, it is engaged in research and development work like developing indigenous technique for restoration, testing of materials required for restoration and storage.

National Archives of India - Reprographic Services

The National Archives of India is committed to ensure longevity of documents in its custody through an elaborate "Security Microfilming Programme" which is being practiced by the National Archives of India for over five decades. Microfilming is being used as a measure for preservation of records under disaster management against deterioration from use or loss due to natural calamity or man made sabotage and natural ageing and fading of inks.

The Reprography Division is equipped with modern machines which not only attends to the needs of scholars apart from its normal functioning but is also engaged in the task of preparing security microfilms of valuable records as a precautionary measure against loss by fire, flood, war and sabotage.

National Archives of India

Director General of Archives,

Janpath, New Delhi 110001

Tel. No. 011-23383436 (Director General of Archives)

011-23384067 (Deputy Director of Archives, Records)

Fax No. 00-91-11-23384127

Email : archives[at]nic[dot]in

Website: //nationalarchives.nic.in