New Delhi, 11 July (H.S.):

The Delhi Government has approved the 'Archives Research Fellowship' and 'Archaeological Research Fellowship' schemes to promote research and ensure the preservation of the national capital's historical and cultural heritage. Through these initiatives, the government aims to preserve Delhi's history in a research-based and authentic manner while ensuring its wider accessibility to researchers and the younger generation, both in India and abroad.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said Delhi is not only the national capital but also a living repository of thousands of years of history, culture, and civilisation. She said the preservation of this invaluable heritage, its scientific study, systematic documentation, and transmission to future generations are among the government's key priorities. With this objective, both fellowship schemes have been approved.

The Chief Minister said that under the Archives Research Fellowship, 15 fellows will be appointed every year for a period of one year. Selected researchers will receive a monthly fellowship ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000, depending on their qualifications and the nature of their work.

She said the scheme aims to promote archival research, strengthen records management, encourage the digitisation of historical documents, and improve access to important archival records for researchers as well as the general public.

According to the Chief Minister, the fellowship will support work in records management, conservation and preservation of archival material, digitisation of records, dissemination of information and data, microfilming, reprography, research and publications, and the study of documents written in classical languages, particularly Urdu and Persian. The fellowship will provide historians, archivists, conservation specialists, linguists, and heritage experts with institutional opportunities to undertake advanced research.

Gupta further announced that under the Archaeological Research Fellowship, 12 fellows will be appointed annually and will receive a monthly fellowship of Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 for one year.

She said the primary objective of the scheme is to study, preserve, and promote Delhi's rich archaeological sites, historical monuments, and cultural heritage. Special emphasis will be placed on encouraging research related to the history, archaeology, architecture, and conservation of the capital's lesser-known historical monuments. The initiative is also expected to provide fresh momentum to the tourism sector while strengthening heritage conservation.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said both fellowship schemes will play a significant role in developing a new generation of trained and skilled professionals in the fields of archives, archaeology, and heritage conservation. She added that the initiatives would provide fresh direction to academic research and strengthen institutional efforts to preserve Delhi's documentary and archaeological heritage.

She further stated that detailed guidelines regarding eligibility, the application process, the selection procedure, and other terms and conditions for both schemes will be issued separately by the respective departments. The fellowship programmes are expected to be implemented soon after the operational guidelines are notified.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar