Survey and Locate : The Mission launches massive surveys around the country and abroad to locate manuscripts in the care of a variety of custodians.

Catalogue and Compile : Through extensive cataloging we are creating a national electronic database of manuscripts.

Conserve and Preserve : By networking with the leading conservation agencies in the country, we are conserving damaged or threatened manuscripts and setting standards for manuscript conservation.

Promote Access : Through ready availability of our database in a soon-to-be-established National Manuscripts Library and eventually on the internet on our website, the Mission is improving access to the treasure of manuscripts.

Promote Scholarship : By documenting and preserving manuscripts, and with our research and publications as well as training programmes we seek to promote their use to increase knowledge and improve learning.

Public Outreach : The Mission carries out a number of public outreach programmes that seek to enlist the cooperation and assistance of all members of the public starting from school children to retired persons through series of talks, seminars, our newsletter and other programmes to ensure the future of manuscripts in India.