The exhibition will be inaugurated by Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
The National Archives of India (NAI), Ministry of Culture, is organizing an exhibition titled “Good Governance and Archives 2025” on 10 October 2025 (Friday) at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, in observance of Good Governance Month. The exhibition will be inaugurated by Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, on 10 October at 10:00 am.
Cleanliness and good governance are integral components of a prosperous society, shaping public conduct, social interaction, and the effective implementation of welfare programs. One of the major national initiatives in this regard has been the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, which has not only improved sanitation and public health, but also contributed to the preservation of the nation’s archival heritage. Between 2021 and 2025, various government ministries, departments, and public sector undertakings carried out a comprehensive records management drive, in which over 75,500 historically valuable documents were identified and transferred to the National Archives of India.
This exhibition will showcase a selection of these records, highlighting the importance of transparency, accountability, and record-keeping as pillars of good governance. The exhibition highlights the crucial role of documentation in India’s administrative development and effective governance.
A special section of the exhibition will pay tribute to eminent leaders such as Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whose government emphasized inclusive growth and infrastructure development, and Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, whose contributions to science, technology, and youth empowerment will continue to inspire generations. Through these narratives, the exhibition highlights the dynamic relationship between governance and archival preservation in shaping the nation’s development story.
The exhibition will showcase valuable records from various ministries, reflecting the progress of India’s governance and development:
President’s Secretariat: Highlights include records and key formal documents relating to the promotion of General S. H. F. J. Manekshaw to the rank of Field Marshal.
Election Commission of India: Introduction of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and electoral reforms will be showcased.
Ministry of Home Affairs: Documents related to Vijay Diwas celebrations and advancement of Panchayati Raj.
Ministry of Power: Records of major infrastructure projects like Tehri Dam and Sardar Sarovar Dam will be presented.
Other ministries and departments participating in the exhibition – including the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Railways and National Archives of India – will present key documents reflecting legislative reforms in the railway sector, trade agreements, water resources management, legal developments, international diplomacy and technological innovation.
These exhibitions narrate India’s remarkable journey of governance, nation-building and public service through archival evidence.
Established on 11 March 1891 as the Imperial Record Department in Kolkata, the National Archives of India was later shifted to New Delhi in 1937, and its iconic building designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens was completed in 1926. It serves as the nodal agency for the implementation of the Public Records Act, 1993 and the Public Records Rules, 1997.
Currently, the National Archives Authority (NAI) holds over 340 million public records, including official files, volumes, maps, treaties, rare manuscripts, private documents, cartographic records, gazettes, census reports, assembly and parliamentary debates, and banned literature. The collection also includes a rich repository of oriental records in Sanskrit, Persian, Oriya and other languages, preserving India’s administrative and cultural heritage for generations to come.
The exhibition “Good Governance and Archives 2025” is a tribute to India’s enduring commitment to clean governance, institutional transparency and archival preservation – the pillars that strengthen democracy and contribute to a more accountable and progressive society.
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