The National Cultural Audiovisual Archives aims to ensure long-term access to the oral traditions, performing arts, ritual and cultural practices and traditional knowledge systems of India in audiovisual form. It presents unpublished, non-commercial audio-video recordings from governmental and non-governmental institutions across the country in an attempt to provide open access to the cultural heritage of India as enshrined in these recordings.

Primarily intended for artists, researchers, students and scholars, the National Cultural Audiovisual Archives is an invaluable resource for documentary filmmakers, film & television professionals, authors, GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives & Museums) professionals, culture enthusiasts and connoisseurs as well.