Digital technology is radically transforming the ways that we create and disseminate information. This new technology has spawned a surfeit of information that is extremely fragile, inherently impermanent, and difficult to assess for long-term value. The technology has enabled and encouraged many creators: It is possible for everyone to be his or her own publisher on the Web, in large part because it is not filtered for content or quality, as traditional modes of publishing have been. Digital formats are no sooner created than others supersede them. As a result, it is increasingly difficult for libraries to identify what is of value, to acquire it, and to ensure its longevity over time.

Government of India is implementing national eGovernance Plan (NeGP), HRD has national Mission on ICT in Education and several other IT applications are like eMedia, eCommerce/eBusiness and research data etc. are growing day by day. Unless significant effort is put urgently into digital preservation and securing long-term access to these digital resources, uncertainties over archiving will impede the growth and take-up of digital services, e-sciences and new working practices. Secondly current investment in digitization and digital content will also only secure short-term rather than lasting benefits.

Therefore, there is need for a national initiative on ‘National Digital Preservation Programme (NDPP)’.