NEW DELHI: The Legislative Department of the Ministry of Law and Justice has begun the systematic transfer and appraisal of official files and records older than 25 years to the National Archives of India (NAI), under the government’s Special Campaign 5.0. The exercise, held in accordance with the Public Records Act, 1993, and the Public Records Rules, 1997, aims to preserve legislative documents of historical and administrative value for research and future reference.
A team from the NAI conducted an appraisal on October 29, 2025, at Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi, covering both pre- and post-independence records dating from 1912 to 2000. These include original assented copies of Central Acts, Regulations, Ordinances, Presidential Acts, Constitution Orders, and Constitutional Amendment Acts—documents once signed by the Viceroy, the Governor-General, and later, the President of India.
During the appraisal, 289 files and records were identified and finalized for immediate transfer to the National Archives. An additional 3,000-plus records are slated for transfer following detailed appraisal procedures.
The initiative, which underscores the government’s emphasis on transparency and scientific record management, was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Rajiv Mani, Secretary, Legislative Department, with coordination from Shri R.K. Pattanayak, Additional Secretary and Nodal Officer of Special Campaign 5.0, along with senior officials, including Dr. Manoj Kumar, Dr. K.V. Kumar, and Smt. Rakhi Biswas, Shri Prashant Bhardwaj, and Shri Sushil Kumar. 
Dr. Mani expressed appreciation for the team’s contribution, calling the exercise a “commendable achievement in preserving India’s legislative legacy for generations to come.”
