New chapter for Delhi’s aspirants: ‘Aarambh libraries’ offer safety and space

Aarambh libraries in Delhi are providing safer and more affordable study spaces for civil service aspirants, replacing unused community centers with well-equipped facilities.

Set up by the Delhi government, these libraries offer students a stable desk, secure surroundings, and fees starting at ₹1,000 per month.

The initiative was launched after a tragedy last year, when three aspirants died in a flooded basement library in Rajinder Nagar.

The incident exposed the unsafe and overcrowded conditions of many private study halls and underscored the need for accessible, well-managed spaces for long study hours.

Three Aarambh libraries are currently operational in Old Rajinder Nagar, Adchini, and Dwarka, with the latest inaugurated in July by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. “While grief cannot be removed, a promise has been kept,” Saxena posted on X after the opening.

Each library serves 60 students per shift, with three eight-hour shifts a day, accommodating up to 180 students daily. Facilities include bright lighting, CCTV cameras, separate washrooms, and desks with power points.

The centers also encourage peer learning, as students exchange notes, share current affairs updates, and practice interview answers together.

Many aspirants have highlighted the importance of such peaceful and secure spaces for focused preparation.

Despite this progress, many students in parts of Delhi outside the main education hubs still study in basement libraries with poor ventilation and no fire safety measures.

The government plans to extend Aarambh libraries to Mukherjee Nagar and Karol Bagh, both prominent centers for competitive exam preparation.

If implemented, the expansion could help create a safer and better-regulated environment for thousands of aspirants.