New Delhi: In a significant bureaucratic reshuffle, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Shri Sanjay Rastogi, a 1991-batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre, as the new Director General of the National Archives of India (NAI).
Shri Rastogi is currently serving as Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor in the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. His new role places him at the helm of the country’s repository of non-current government records.
Shri Rastogi is a seasoned administrator with a background in engineering from IIT Delhi. His career has been marked by a variety of key postings across different sectors.
Before his tenure at the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, he served in the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers as Financial Advisor & Additional Secretary.
Shri Rastogi has served long time as Development Commissioner (Handlooms) in the Ministry of Textiles. During this tenure, he has chalked out several programs for benefitting Handloom Sectors in general and weavers in particular. He is a pro-poor and humane bureaucrat.
His experience also includes administrative roles in his home cadre of Odisha, where he held positions such as Principal Secretary in the Commerce & Transport Department and District Collector and Magistrate in Jharsuguda and Jajpur. His diverse experience is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the NAI’s management and operations.
As Director General of the National Archives of India, Shri Rastogi will be responsible for preserving and managing the nation’s documentary heritage.
The NAI, established in 1891 as the Imperial Record Department, is the largest archival repository in South Asia. The Director General oversees the implementation of the Public Records Act, 1993, and the Public Record Rules, 1997.
Key responsibilities include: Accessioning public records, acquiring private papers, and ensuring their long-term preservation through conservation and reprography.
Implementing scientific management of records, and making archival holdings accessible to administrators, researchers, and the general public.
Serving as the head of the National Committee of Archivists, which provides guidance on technical and professional problems faced by archives departments across India.
Shri Rastogi’s appointment is seen as a strategic move to ensure the continued modernization and effective management of the NAI, safeguarding India’s historical records for future generations.