National Archives of India Overview
National Archives of India and Golden Jubilee of NCA: The National Archives of India (NAI) serves as the apex archival institution in the country. Established in 1891 at Calcutta as the Imperial Records Department, it was later shifted to New Delhi in 1911. Today, it functions as an attached office of the Ministry of Culture.
The NAI safeguards materials of enduring value, including public records, private papers, oriental records, cartographic documents, and microfilms. These archives are essential for preserving India’s administrative, cultural, and historical memory.
Static GK fact: The NAI is among the largest archival repositories in Asia.
Structure and Regional Presence
The headquarters of NAI is located in New Delhi. In addition, it operates one Regional Office at Bhopal and three Records Centres at Bhubaneswar, Jaipur, and Puducherry.
The institution is headed by the Director General of Archives, who ensures compliance with the Public Records Act, 1993 and the Public Records Rules, 1997. These legal frameworks regulate the preservation and management of records across India.
Static GK Tip: The Public Records Act of 1993 is the main legislation guiding record management in India.
National Committee of Archivists Golden Jubilee
The 50th Golden Jubilee Meeting of the National Committee of Archivists (NCA) was recently co-hosted by the NAI. The NCA, established in 1953, is the all-India professional body of archivists.
It is chaired by the Director General of Archives, NAI, and provides a forum to discuss professional and technical challenges faced by archival departments nationwide.
This golden jubilee meeting marked a milestone in India’s journey of modern archival practice, underlining the role of archives in knowledge preservation, transparency, and accountability.
Importance of Archival Preservation
Archives ensure the continuity of governance, research, and heritage preservation. They provide critical resources for administrators, historians, academicians, and the judiciary.
In an era of digital governance, the NAI is also working toward digitization of records, ensuring wider accessibility while preserving original manuscripts and documents.
Static GK fact: The National Archives of India plays a pivotal role in implementing e-Governance initiatives through digitization of historical records.
Conclusion
The NAI, along with the NCA, continues to strengthen India’s archival system. By balancing traditional preservation and modern digitization, it safeguards India’s administrative and cultural heritage for future generations.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
National Archives of India and Golden Jubilee of NCA:
| Topic | Detail |
| Year of Establishment of NAI | 1891 at Calcutta as Imperial Records Department |
| Current Ministry | Ministry of Culture |
| Present Headquarters | New Delhi |
| Regional Office | Bhopal |
| Records Centres | Bhubaneswar, Jaipur, Puducherry |
| Head of NAI | Director General of Archives |
| Key Legislation | Public Records Act 1993, Public Records Rules 1997 |
| National Committee of Archivists Establishment | 1953 |
| Recent Milestone | 50th Golden Jubilee Meeting of NCA co-hosted by NAI |
| Role of NCA | Professional body for archivists, addressing archival challenges |
