Wednesday, January 19, 2011

National Information Policy


Q:  Define National Information Policy. What are the salient features of the National Information Policy (NIP)?

Ans: A National Information Policy is a set of decisions taken by a government, through appropriate laws and regulations, to orient the harmonious development of information transfer activities in order to satisfy the information needs of the country. A National Information Policy needs provision of necessary means or instruments such as financial, personnel, institutional, for concrete implementation. (UNISIST: II main working document)

 Following are the salient features of the National Information Policy:

1.                  To establish, maintain and strengthen the free public libraries. A network of libraries would result with the district library, being the apex library in a district, with public libraries at city, town and village levels. These would and then part of the national network with each state having their own library legislation.
2.                  Every school or college established should have a library and a qualified librarian.
3.                  Removal of communication barriers. Information, being an important resource any barrier in its free flow should be removed for easy access and maximum use.
4.                  Expansion of national, regional, sectoral and local levels of NISSAT. The policy recommends that the national, regional, sectoral and local levels of NISSAT scheme should be further strengthened and expanded.
5.                  Similar systems are organized in social sciences, humanities and in languages.
6.                  Development of information system and data banks in different fields.
7.                  Parent bodies should be committed to provide support and infrastructure for libraries.
8.                  Use of technology. Information revolution is undisputable caused by the unprecedented advances in technology. These advancements have made accessibility to world information and knowledge possible, almost from any party of the world. All these developments in information technology have far reaching implications for national information policy. It recommends the access and use of technology for enhancing the existing services and to exploit and utilize the available resources to its optimum.


Probable Questions:

1.                  What is the need for a National Information Policy (NIP)? Discuss.
2.                  Write down the importance of National Information Policy.          

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