Centre plans to move libraries from State to Concurrent list

 The centre has plans to introduce a bill in the parliament that would move libraries from the state list to the concurrent list. This would give the central government an equal say in the functioning of the libraries. This was brought to public attention in the festival of libraries 2023 that was held in New Delhi. A draft version of the legislation was discussed in the event. This shift would require the state government to take resolutions that are concurrent to the bill passed by the central government, provided it gets passed. 

Karnataka has 6890 libraries that are officially registered. 

“We do not have information about this Bill. However, the state libraries must be under state jurisdiction. For example, the City Central Library is entitled to get around ₹6 crore annually from the BBMP. If the Union government takes libraries under its control, then the question is how will the libraries get that fund because the central library will come under the Ministry of Culture. We will have detailed information about its implications only when the Bill is introduced” Karnataka State Library Association President Dr M Krishnamurthy told in an interaction with the South First. Department of Public Libraries in Karnataka, Administrative officer Manu M denied getting notified of any such bill that is being presented with regard to this issue.