The objective of the project is to collect and collate metadata and provide full text index from several national and international digital libraries and other relevant sources.

[1] NDLI offers access to educational materials across various disciplines and academic levels, aggregating content from numerous national and international sources, including books, articles, theses, audio-video lectures, and OERs.

[citation needed] The development of a digital library portal was initiated as a Pilot project (NDLI Ph-I) in April 2015, lasting until 30 September 2017.

[citation needed] The official launch of the NDLI platform occurred on 19 June 2018, with the stated aim of democratizing access to knowledge for over 50 million students across India.

[citation needed] On 22 April 2024, the National Digital Library of India (NDLI) launched its 3.0 version, designed to create a more personalized user experience through an enhanced interface.

The range of content includes school, college, and university-level topics, as well as material for 21st-century skills such as digital literacy, language and communication, and scientific temper.

These resources are available in text, video, audiobook, presentations, and simulations in multiple Indian languages, aligning NDLI’s objectives with the vision of the National Education Policy.

[citation needed] Like other digital libraries worldwide, NDLI faces the challenge of disseminating, popularizing, and increasing user awareness of its platform.

However, content from some sources is only accessible to registered users, including works from: The library is managed by the Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur.