The national Archives of India, established in Calcutta in 1891, was shifted to New Delhi in 1926. It is the national repository of rare and precious documents of historical interest. It's collection runs over 25 kilometers of shelf space and has been regarded by the scholars as "probably the best historical material in the world". The archival series begin from 1748 but the National Archives has acquired copies of documents relating to the first half of the eighteenth century. It has also acquired copies of documents of interest in private custody in countries like the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands. etc.

The documents in languages like Sanskrit, Persian, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, etc. make the collection a unique one as does over twenty thousand maps amd memories prepared by Indian surveyors. It has also undertaken toacquire private papers of Indian luminaries like Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Pandit Govind Vallabh Pant, Sarojini Naidu. etc. The varied nature of these documents and their subject matter add an immeasurable richness to the material which forms the source of reaearch.

The National Archives undertakes repair and conservation of documents by most modern and sophisticated meythod and is constantly engaged in research to improve its method. It has the distinction of developing 'solvent lamination' process for preserving brittle and fragile documents which has been held by archivists all over the world. Besides maintaining active liasion with Government Department and advising them about maintanance and management of records, it also imparts training in'Archives Keeping' through its Institute of Archival Training.

Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department honours all those who have been and rare associated with preserving our documentary heritage for the posterity by issuing a special postage stamp during the International Archives Week.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India