Question : REVIEW PANEL OF NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF INDIA

(a) whether a Review Panel has been set up by the National Archives of India (NAI) to recommend changes in the Public Records Act, 1993;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether papers and records pertaining to Policy Post 1947 are traceable in the NAI;

(d) if so, the details thereof alongwith the manner by which it is preserved;

(e) the present norms for the preservation of the important Government records in the NAI and the extent to which the existing norms need to be improved to make the system more foolproof; and

(f) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR PLANNING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI V.NARAYANASAMY)

(a) Yes, Sir

(b) Review Panel has been set up on 18 February, 2009 to study the Public Records Act 1993 and Public Records Rules 1997 and the matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, especially in relation to the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Right to Information Act 2005 and to suggest the changes in the form of a draft amendment to the Public Records Act 1993 and Public Record Rules 1997.

(b) Yes, some records pertaining to post 1947 period are also available in the National Archives of India.

As stipulated under Section 4(1) (b) of the RTI Act, NAI has published a Handbook of Information of NAI which contains information of all series of records including records of post 1947 period transferred to NAI by various Ministries/Departments vide chapter 6, pp. 30-101 for consultation as under Public Records Act, 1993 Public Records Rules, 1997. This information is also available on the NAI website www.nationlarchives.nic.in

(d) 1. Records are stored and preserved scientifically in NAI by following standard technical methods and laid down procedures as per standard guidelines and techniques based on national and international practices.

2. Standard Preservative and storage materials are being used and their usage is being monitored by examining the materials in NAI Conservation Laboratory.

3. Continuous monitoring of the regulated environment of the stack areas is being done by installing Theromohygrograph in the stack areas of NAI.

4. Microfilming of the records are also in progress and Microfilm copies are kept at NAI Regional Office, Bhopal as a security measure to ensure availability of information in both physical format and through other means of microfilming, digitization etc.

5. For physical security of records, standard fire detecting and fire fighting system have been installed. CCTV has also been installed at vantage points for security and monitoring purposes.

(e) Present norms are as per standard procedure and guidelines. However, National Archives of India would take necessary steps for improvement of the system as and when required.

(f) As replied under para (e)