National Archives of India

Result-Framework Document (RFD)

Section-1: Vision, Mission, Objectives and Functions

Vision-

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

Mission-

· To encourage the Scientific Management, Administration and Conservation of records all over the country.

· To foster close relations between archivist and archival institutions both at he 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.

Objectives- The National Archives of India is a Nodal Agency of the Central Government of India empowered to coordinate , regulate and supervise the operations connected with the Administration, Management, Preservation, Selection, Disposal and Retirement of Public Records under the provisions of Public Records Act, 1993 and Public Record Rules, 1997 as an Attached Office of the Ministry Culture. It was set up in March 1891 at Calcutta (Kolkata) as the Imperial Record Department and subsequently transferred to Delhi in 1911 when it became the Capital of British India. It was shifted to its present building in 1926.After Independence it was christened as National Archives of India.

Functions:

§ Appraisal and Transfer of Public Records from Ministries/Deptts./Offices

· Acquisition/ Accession and Arrangement of Records/ Private Papers/ Microfilming / Books

· Conservation and Repair of Records and Library materials

· Preparation of Reference Media of Records

· Research & Reference & Access to Scholars

· Training in all the discipline of Archives and Record Management

· Out-Reach Programmes- Organizing Exhibitions, Seminars, Lecture-Series, Work-shops etc.

· Financial Assistance for Preservation of Manuscripts/ Rare Books

Functions:

· Supervision, management and control of the Archives.

· Acceptance for deposit of public records of permanent, nature after such period as may be prescribed;

· Custody, use and withdrawal of public records;

· Arrangement, preservation and exhibition of public records;

· Preparation of inventories, indices, catalogues and other reference media of public records;

· Analyzing, developing, promoting and coordinating the standards, procedures and the techniques for improvement of the records management system

· Ensuring the maintenance, arrangement and security of public records in the Archives and in the offices of the records creating agency;

· Promoting utilization of available space and maintenance of equipments for preserving public records;

· Tendering advice to records creating agencies on the compilation, classification and disposal of records and application of standards, procedures and techniques of records management;

· Survey and inspection of public records;

· Organizing training programmes in various disciplines of Archives administration and records management;

· Accepting records from any private source;

· Regulating access to public records;

· Receiving records from diluent bodies and making arrangement for securing public records in the event of national emergency;

· Receiving reports on records management and disposal practices from the records officer;

· Providing authenticated copies of, or extracts from, public records;

· Destroying or disposal of public records;

· Obtaining on lease or purchasing or accepting as gift any document of historical or national importance.