Archival Policy

What is Archived

The following records are archived and retained as part of the permanent Assessment record:

• All published official messages
• Messages that were withdrawn after publication, with a withdrawal notice
• Messages that were declined, stored internally for audit purposes only (not public)
• Superseded versions of messages that were revised post-publication
• Associated verification records and audit logs

When Records are Archived

A record transitions to archived status in the following circumstances:

• The contributor formally requests withdrawal after the consultation period closes
• The Assessment Secretariat determines, in consultation with governance oversight, that a record must be removed from public view
• A superseding version is published, rendering the previous version historical
• The Assessment programme concludes and records are migrated to the final archive

Public Access After Archiving

Archived messages are removed from the public-facing Official Messages Register. However, the original text and metadata are retained in the Assessment's institutional archive. Where a record is withdrawn, a notice is displayed at the original location explaining the withdrawal without disclosing the content.

Requesting Withdrawal

Contributors may request withdrawal of a published message by contacting the Assessment Secretariat in writing. Withdrawal requests received during the Public Consultation period (1 September – 31 October 2026) will be reviewed within 10 working days. Withdrawal does not guarantee removal of references to the contribution in the Final Report if it has already been cited.

Retention Period

All records associated with the State of Kashmir Crafts 2026 Assessment, including official messages and associated verification materials, are retained for a minimum of ten years from the date of the Final Report publication, in accordance with the HCRF institutional records management policy.