New Delhi, November 29, 2025 – In a transformative step to preserve India’s historical legacy and enhance research accessibility, the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library (PMML) has embarked on a comprehensive digitisation project of its rare archival collection. The initiative, announced by the Culture Ministry on Saturday, is aimed at safeguarding fragile documents while providing “restricted remote access for genuine research scholars.”

The PMML, located at the historic Teen Murti Bhavan in central Delhi, houses one of the world’s largest archival collections related to Indian prime ministers, encompassing over 25 million documents from more than 1,300 individuals and organisations. Its holdings include personal papers, correspondence, speeches, diaries, newspaper clippings, photographs, and other materials that chronicle the political and personal lives of India’s leaders since Independence.

In its statement, the Ministry of Culture described the digitisation project as a “landmark initiative” that promises not only the long-term preservation of historically invaluable and fragile materials but also wider access to researchers and scholars across the country and the world.

Digitisation for Preservation and Access

The initiative addresses two pressing challenges faced by archival institutions globally: the vulnerability of delicate original documents to physical deterioration, and the difficulty researchers often face in accessing these records due to geographical or logistical constraints. By converting these materials into high-quality digital formats, the PMML ensures that rare and often irreplaceable documents are preserved for posterity.

A substantial portion of frequently accessed material has already been digitised, uploaded to a dedicated IT platform, and made available for scholars. The platform allows registered users to submit online requests for specific archival materials. Once approved, the requested documents can be securely accessed on the scholar’s desktop, with strict view-only permissions to protect the integrity of the digital copies.

Ashwani Lohani, Director of PMML, highlighted the importance of the project, noting that it reflects the institution’s “unwavering commitment to promoting high-quality research” and “strengthening the study of modern and contemporary India by enhancing ease of access to archival material.”

Enhancing Research and Scholarship

The digitisation project is expected to benefit a wide range of users, from academic researchers and historians to journalists and policy analysts studying India’s political history. Scholars will now be able to examine correspondence between prime ministers and key figures, analyze policy decisions, and study historical events in a manner that was previously possible only through on-site visits.

The system also ensures that while access is widened, the confidentiality and security of sensitive documents are strictly maintained. The PMML has implemented multiple layers of digital protection, including watermarking and view-only permissions, to ensure that the materials are not copied or misused.

A Milestone in Leveraging Technology for Heritage Preservation

The launch of PMML’s digital archives represents a significant milestone in the use of technology to safeguard and disseminate historical knowledge. By making these resources remotely accessible, the museum not only preserves India’s heritage but also democratizes access to information, bridging the gap between researchers in different parts of the country and around the world.

The PMML’s initiative is particularly significant in the context of modern scholarship, where digital access to archival material has become a standard expectation. By providing a secure, reliable, and comprehensive digital repository, the institution ensures that India’s modern political history can be studied rigorously, systematically, and with the ease that contemporary researchers require.

Looking Ahead

The Culture Ministry confirmed that digitisation will continue as a long-term project, gradually encompassing the full breadth of the PMML collection. Officials stressed that the goal is to maintain both the authenticity of the records and the security of the archival system while expanding accessibility to scholars globally.

“This is not just about technology; it is about preserving memory, enhancing scholarship, and enabling a deeper understanding of India’s journey as a modern democracy,” the Ministry said in its statement.

As the PMML moves toward full digitisation, scholars and researchers studying the lives and legacies of India’s prime ministers, as well as the broader socio-political evolution of post-independence India, will find a powerful new resource at their fingertips. The initiative sets a benchmark for other national archival institutions, demonstrating how technology can be harnessed to preserve history while simultaneously widening access to knowledge.