The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the development of the ‘Yuge Yugin Bharat Museum’ (YYBM) within the historic North and South Block complex in Delhi. During a meeting held on Wednesday, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an estimated cost of ₹3,230 crore was sanctioned for this project.
The museum will showcase India’s civilizational heritage, cultural diversity, and historical continuity. It will be developed while preserving the existing architectural character of the historic North and South Block buildings, which will be repurposed into a public cultural institution.
Plans to create the museum with the world’s largest display area
The Yuge Yugin Bharat Museum will be developed over a proposed built-up area of approximately 178,509 square meters. It will feature modern museum technology, immersive experiences, and amenities designed with the needs of visitors in mind. According to the government, the plan is to make it the museum with the largest display area in the world.
The museum will present India’s civilizational journey through galleries themed around various subjects, exhibitions, and cultural traditions. It will also highlight India’s knowledge systems, artistic traditions, and both tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
The project will encompass the construction of galleries, facilities for the storage and preservation of collections, visitor amenities, modern technology, immersive experiences, landscaping, and smart building systems.
First gallery to open in 2027
The project will be executed in phases between the financial years 2026-27 and 2030-31. The first gallery, themed ‘Adornment’ (Alankaran), is expected to open to the public in the North Block in the latter half of 2027. Subsequent galleries will be developed in a modular fashion. Approximately 1.8 million artefacts have been identified for display in the museum, sourced from the National Museum and other museums under the Ministry of Culture, 52 site museums managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), various state museums, and private collections. The content and collections of these items are currently undergoing analysis.
Other proposed galleries will cover themes such as architecture and urban forms, mathematics and astronomy, languages and scripts, faith and spirituality, and India’s global engagement through trade and the exchange of ideas.
Announcement by the Prime Minister in 2023
The establishment of the ‘Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum’ was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 18, 2023. A plan was devised to repurpose the historic North and South Block buildings following the relocation of the government offices previously housed there. The objective is to transform these structures into a new public cultural space while preserving their architectural and historical heritage.
The project proposal was evaluated by the Public Investment Board (PIB) on July 27, 2023. The Ministry of Culture has accepted the Board’s recommendations.
Capacity to accommodate 10 million visitors annually
According to the government, the construction and operation of the museum will generate both direct and indirect employment opportunities. This is expected to provide work for craftspeople, artisans, researchers, museum experts, designers, artists, and other creative professionals. Furthermore, it will boost the livelihoods of those associated with the tourism and hospitality sectors.
The project will encourage domestic manufacturers and technology providers. Initiatives focused on vendor development will be undertaken, offering Indian artisans and manufacturers the opportunity to create world-class museum exhibits and products.
The museum is also expected to generate regular revenue through ticket sales, catering facilities, events, venue rentals, digital experiences, guided tours, and retail outlets. It is being developed in such a way that it can accommodate an annual footfall of 10 million visitors.
This museum will serve as a public cultural and educational institution for citizens across the country, students, researchers, scholars, individuals associated with the cultural sector, as well as domestic and international tourists.
