Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday welcomed the proposed Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum, describing it as a landmark initiative that will transform Delhi’s historic North and South Block buildings into a showcase of India’s civilisational heritage.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, “Imagine New Delhi becoming home to the world’s largest museum display area. Think scale. Think culture.”
He said the museum would bring thousands of years of India’s heritage to life through immersive experiences and world-class galleries. The buildings that once served as centres of governance would become spaces where millions of visitors could discover and celebrate the country’s rich civilisational legacy, he added.
The remarks came after the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by PM Modi, approved the development of the museum at the North and South Block complex in New Delhi at an estimated cost of Rs 3,230 crore.
Envisioned as a landmark civilisational museum, the project aims to showcase the continuity, diversity and richness of India’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage through an integrated narrative.
The museum will be developed by adaptively reusing the iconic North and South Block buildings, preserving their architectural and heritage significance while giving them a new public and cultural purpose.
Spread across a proposed built-up area of approximately 1.78 lakh square metres, the museum will feature contemporary exhibition practices, immersive technologies and visitor-centric displays. Once completed, it is expected to have the world’s largest museum display area.
According to an official press release, the museum will house thematic galleries covering subjects such as Architecture and Cityscapes, Mathematics and Astronomy, Languages and Scripts, Faith and Spirituality, and Bharat Connects: Trade and Ideas.
Nearly 1.8 million artefacts and objects from the National Museum, museums under the Ministry of Culture, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) site museums, state museums and private collections have been identified for potential display.
The project will be implemented in phases from FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. The first gallery, titled “Adornment”, is expected to open in North Block in the second half of 2027.
The government expects the museum to emerge as a major cultural destination, strengthening India’s soft power, promoting tourism and encouraging research and education.
Designed to accommodate up to one crore visitors annually, the museum is also expected to generate employment opportunities for artisans, researchers, conservation experts, designers, performers and tourism professionals.
First announced by PM Modi in May 2023, the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum is intended to present India’s civilisational journey to domestic and international audiences while transforming two of the country’s most prominent government buildings into a global cultural landmark.
(IANS Inputs)
