Amit Shah Inaugurates Jayaprakash Narayan Public Library on Mandir Marg
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday, July 11, 2026, inaugurated the Jayaprakash Narayan Public Library on Mandir Marg in the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) area, emphasizing that the presence of young readers in libraries is a vital indicator of the country's future.
Speaking at the inaugural function, Shah stated that knowledge and wisdom form the foundation of nation-building, and libraries play a central role in nurturing both. He remarked that a country's future is better assessed by how crowded its libraries are with young people rather than by its economic indicators alone.
The newly inaugurated facility on Mandir Marg has been developed by the NDMC as a modern public reading and study centre. It features a seating capacity of 200 people at a time, a multipurpose hall on the ground floor, and library halls on the first and second floors. The building is also equipped with lift facilities to ensure easy access for all visitors.
According to the NDMC, the library houses more than 30,000 physical books and includes an e-library section that provides members access to over five lakh e-books and a digital catalogue. During his address, Shah noted that the library offers access to around 32,000 books and one crore e-books, expressing hope that the Delhi government would integrate and link libraries across the city with local schools.
Shah urged the library administration to actively connect with schools across 10 nearby Assembly constituencies to cultivate reading habits among local youth. He encouraged librarians to bring young people to the facility, stating that developing a habit of reading helps young individuals learn to distinguish between right and wrong.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who also attended the event, described the public library as a major gift for the people of Delhi. She noted that the facility would serve as a crucial resource and provide a quiet study environment for students preparing for competitive examinations, including the UPSC.
