• Cabinet approves Rs.3,230 crore for the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum.
• Historic North and South Block buildings to be adaptively reused.
• First gallery on the theme of Adornment expected to open in late 2027.
• Museum aims to accommodate one crore visitors annually.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 12th Nov: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the development of the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum at the historic North and South Block Complex in New Delhi, with an estimated project cost of Rs.3,230 crore.

Envisaged as a landmark cultural institution, the museum will showcase the continuity, diversity and richness of Bharat’s civilizational heritage through an integrated presentation of tangible and intangible cultural traditions.

The project will transform the iconic North and South Block buildings through adaptive reuse, preserving their architectural character and heritage value while giving them a new public cultural purpose.

Spread across a proposed built-up area of approximately 1,78,509 square metres, the museum is expected to have the world’s largest display area. It will feature curated galleries, exhibitions, immersive technologies, conservation facilities, collection storage, visitor amenities and modern infrastructure.

The project will be implemented in phases from financial year 2026-27 to 2030-31. The first gallery, based on the theme of Adornment, is expected to open to the public in the North Block in the latter part of 2027.

Around 1.8 million objects have been identified from the National Museum, other Ministry of Culture museums, 52 Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) site museums, state museums and private collections for display at the institution.

Other proposed gallery themes include Architecture and Cityscapes, Mathematics and Astronomy, Languages and Scripts, Faith and Spirituality, and Bharat Connects – Trade and Ideas.

The museum’s establishment was announced by the Prime Minister on May 18, 2023. Following the relocation of government offices from the historic buildings, the project aims to convert the former administrative complex into a major public institution dedicated to cultural heritage, education and research.

The museum is expected to strengthen cultural tourism, attract domestic and international visitors and create opportunities for artisans, craftspeople, researchers, museologists, designers, performers and technology providers. It will also promote domestic manufacturing of museum materials and products through vendor development initiatives.

Designed to accommodate an estimated one crore visitors annually, the institution is expected to generate revenue through ticket sales, guided tours, retail outlets, food and beverage facilities, events, venue rentals and digital experiences.

The project is also expected to support academic research, knowledge exchange and public engagement with India’s diverse cultural traditions and knowledge systems. While located in the national capital, the museum is envisaged as a national institution serving visitors from all States and Union Territories, as well as international tourists.