CSL to be Relocated Amid Central Vista Revamp Plan

India's 135-year-old Central Secretariat Library (CSL), home to over 8.5 lakh books, will have to find a new home as the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and Central Public Works Department (CPWD) struggle to allocate space for the historic library in the revamped Central Vista plan.

Located across four levels, the Central State Library sprawls across 5,500 square meters, boasting an impressive collection of over 850,000 volumes, encompassing rare books, official records, and gazetteers. Regularly frequented by government officials and students seeking competitive exam preparation, the CSL remains a hub of intellectual activity.

Founded in 1891, the CSL has been a part of Central Secretariat since 1911. At that time, King George V announced the decision to shift the capital of British India from Calcutta to Delhi. The library has been housed in various buildings.

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This includes the Old Secretariat Building, North Block, and Shastri Bhawan, where it has remained since 1969.

According to Govind Mohan, former Culture Secretary, the CSL is "one of the largest tangible treasures of knowledge for Indian and foreign documents". The library has been a depository of Government of India publications since 1984 and has been a vital resource for government employees and students alike.

The Ministry of Culture, which administers the CSL, rejected the space allotted by the MoHUA, citing that it was far from sufficient. The Ministry of Culture and MoHUA did not respond to emails seeking comment.

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On January 16, 2026, the MoHUA informed the Culture Ministry that the competent authority had approved allotment of library space in two rooms on the ground floor of Kartavya Bhawan-02. However, a Culture Ministry official wrote back to the MoHUA saying the space was "inadequate to accommodate the full collection and facilities" of the CSL.

Sources say that as Shastri Bhawan is pulled down as part of the Central Vista revamp plan. The MoHUA and CPWD are yet to find space for the CSL. The fate of the historic library remains uncertain, leaving many to wonder what the future holds for this cherished institution.