PUBLIC LIBRARIES

The Ministry of Culture, through the National Mission on Libraries (NML) Scheme’s ‘Setting up of NML Model Libraries’ component, has sanctioned financial assistance to one State Central Library and one District Library in each State/UT, plus six libraries identified by the Ministry (Annexure‑A). The release provides year‑wise budget allocations, funds released and actual expenditures from FY 2016‑17 to FY 2025‑26, showing variations in allocations and spending. The Ministry notes that libraries are a state subject under the Seventh Schedule and function under the administrative control of respective State/UT authorities. This information was supplied by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.