Any direct or indirect action on a damaged or undamaged manuscript or collection of manuscripts, for increasing their life is conservation. This can be Preventive or Remedial.

Preventive conservation seeks to reduce the future risk of deterioration. It includes measures such as controlling the temperature and humidity of the storage area of manuscripts and regular inspection of the condition of the manuscript/collection.

Remedial conservation is any direct action on the manuscript(s) to prevent active deterioration. For instance, fumigation of manuscript(s) infested with insects.

Manuscripts are sometimes subjected to restoration. This is different from conservation as the former aims at make the manuscript(s) look as close as possible to their original form. This is mainly to enhance their visual appeal. This may involve steps like repainting illustrations and removing pencil marks from a folio.
 

Conservation of Manuscripts
With the awareness that the rich treasure of manuscripts is facing threat of survival, the National Mission for Manuscripts has taken up the task of conservation of manuscripts available with institutions and private collections. The Conservation activity of National Mission for Manuscripts has set new benchmark in the field of conservation. One of the important areas of concern for the Mission is to protect manuscripts from further decay, damage and destruction. The NMM mainly focused on providing basic training and information on preservation, conservation of manuscripts and awareness programm. 
To provide training in the field of conservation of manuscripts the Mission organizes Skill development Conservation (Remedial /Preventive workshops and Awareness programmat two levels:
i)    Preventive Conservation workshop
ii)    RemedialConservation workshop
 

Rare support materials To conserve the following kindly Manuscripts
•    Textile
•    Sanchipat
•    Ivory
•    Karitas
•    Metals
•    Parchment