For Prelims: Central Vista Redevelopment Project, Suo Motu Cognizance, Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Library Name, Nodal Ministry, Relocation Site, Allocated Space, Current Space (Shastri Bhawan)
For Mains: Heritage preservation, Central Vista redevelopment, judicial oversight, urban governance
Source:
Indian Express
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- Central Secretariat Library founded in 1891 as Imperial Secretariat Library in Kolkata.
- Library currently houses 8.5 lakh books across four floors of Shastri Bhawan.
- Library will relocate to GPOA-2, Netaji Nagar, New Delhi.
- Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of the relocation issue.
- Shastri Bhawan is being demolished under the Central Vista project.
Why in the news?
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has allocated 4,000 sq m of space in Netaji Nagar for the Central Secretariat Library, which must vacate Shastri Bhawan for the Central Vista redevelopment. The Supreme Court is monitoring the relocation after taking suo motu cognizance of media reports.
Summary
- The Central Secretariat Library, founded in 1891 as the Imperial Secretariat Library, will relocate from Shastri Bhawan to GPOA-2, Netaji Nagar, about 7 km away.
- The library currently occupies 5,500 sq m across four floors with 8.5 lakh books; the allocated space of 4,000 sq m is less than the 5,466 sq m sought by the Ministry of Culture.
- The Supreme Court is hearing the matter on November 16, 2026, after taking suo motu cognizance of the library's inadequate relocation plan.
Highlights
Library Relocation
The Central Secretariat Library is being moved from Shastri Bhawan to Netaji Nagar as part of the Central Vista redevelopment.
Supreme Court Monitoring
The SC took suo motu cognizance of the issue and has asked the government for a detailed affidavit on relocation plans.
Central Vista Project
Shastri Bhawan and Krishi Bhawan will be demolished; L&T has the contract for redevelopment with a 24-month completion target.
Background
The Central Secretariat Library, founded in 1891 in Kolkata as the Imperial Secretariat Library, moved to Delhi in 1911 and to Shastri Bhawan in 1969. It houses 8.5 lakh books and is under the Ministry of Culture. Shastri Bhawan is being demolished under the Central Vista redevelopment project, necessitating the library's relocation.
Key Analysis and Impact
The allocated space of 4,000 sq m at Netaji Nagar is significantly less than the current 5,500 sq m and the 5,466 sq m requested by the Ministry of Culture. This reduction may affect the library's ability to house its full collection and serve as a central resource for ministries. The Supreme Court's involvement ensures judicial oversight of the relocation process.
Way Forward
The Supreme Court will hear the matter on November 16, 2026. The government must submit a detailed affidavit with layout plans. The library's relocation is a test case for heritage preservation within large redevelopment projects like Central Vista.
Central Secretariat Library: Current vs Proposed Location
| Feature | Current (Shastri Bhawan) | Proposed (Netaji Nagar) |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 5,500 sq m | 4,000 sq m |
| Floors | 4 | Ground floor |
| Distance from Central Secretariat | Within complex | ~7 km |
| Collection | 8.5 lakh books | To be shifted |
Background GK
Textbook concepts you need to understand this news
- Central Vista Redevelopment Project
- A project to revamp the central administrative area of New Delhi, including the construction of a new Parliament building, Central Secretariat, and redevelopment of the Rajpath-Kartavya Path corridor.
- Suo Motu Cognizance
- The power of a court to take notice of a matter on its own accord, without a petition being filed by any party.
- Central Public Works Department (CPWD)
- The central government's premier construction agency under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, responsible for public buildings and infrastructure.
Facts to remember
Tap a card to see the answer. Try to recall it first.
How exams will ask this
- Data: Central Secretariat Library founded in 1891 as Imperial Secretariat Library in Kolkata.
- Nodal Body: Ministry of Culture (nodal ministry for the library).
- Legal Point: Suo motu cognizance by Supreme Court.
Don't make this mistake!
Confusing the Central Secretariat Library with other libraries like the National Library of India (Kolkata) or the Parliament Library. Also, mixing up the ministries: the library is under the Ministry of Culture, but the relocation is handled by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Write these in mains answers
- Heritage preservation, Central Vista redevelopment, judicial oversight, urban governance
Stuck? Get it in one tap
The Central Secretariat Library is a historic government library that must move out of Shastri Bhawan because the building will be demolished for the Central Vista redevelopment. The government has allocated space for it in Netaji Nagar. The Supreme Court is watching the process to ensure the library gets adequate space.
- Central Secretariat Library founded in 1891 as Imperial Secretariat Library in Kolkata.
- Library currently houses 8.5 lakh books across four floors of Shastri Bhawan.
- Library will relocate to GPOA-2, Netaji Nagar, New Delhi.
- Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of the relocation issue.
- Shastri Bhawan is being demolished under the Central Vista project.
- Polity: Judicial Activism and Suo Motu Cognizance
- Governance: Central Vista Project and Urban Redevelopment
Related concepts: Central Vista Redevelopment Project, Suo Motu Cognizance, Central Public Works Department (CPWD)
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Easy
Which ministry is the nodal ministry for the Central Secretariat Library?
Explanation: The Central Secretariat Library is under the Ministry of Culture,. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is handling the relocation process, but the library itself is administered by the Culture Ministry.
- Q2Hard
Consider the following statements regarding the Central Secretariat Library:
- 1.It was founded in 1891 as the Imperial Secretariat Library in Kolkata.
- 2.It currently houses over 10 lakh books across five floors of Shastri Bhawan.
- 3.The Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of its relocation issue.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: the library was founded in 1891 as the Imperial Secretariat Library in Kolkata. Statement 2 is incorrect: it houses 8.5 lakh books, not over 10 lakh, and occupies four floors, not five. Statement 3 is correct: the Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of the issue.
- Q3Medium
What is the approximate area allocated for the Central Secretariat Library at the Netaji Nagar complex?
Explanation: MoHUA sources said around 4,000 square metres of space had been set aside for the library. 5,500 square metres is the current area it occupies in Shastri Bhawan.
- Q4Medium
What is the primary reason for the relocation of the Central Secretariat Library?
Explanation: The library is being relocated because Shastri Bhawan, where it is housed, is set to be demolished as part of the Central Vista redevelopment plan.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is the Central Secretariat Library and where is it being relocated?
The Central Secretariat Library, founded in 1891, is a government library currently in Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi. It is being relocated to GPOA-2, Netaji Nagar, about 7 km away, due to the Central Vista redevelopment project.
2. Why is the Supreme Court involved in the library relocation?
The Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of a media report about inadequate relocation space and asked the government to file a detailed affidavit. The next hearing is on November 16, 2026.
3. How much space has been allocated for the library at Netaji Nagar?
Around 4,000 square metres of space has been allocated on the ground floor of the GPOA-2 building in Netaji Nagar.
4. Who is responsible for the Central Secretariat Library?
The library is under the Ministry of Culture. The relocation is being handled by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs through the Directorate of Estates.
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- Original10 November 2026 · Read story
