Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking his 74th birthday, has kicked off a series of welfare initiatives and infrastructure projects while also continuing the tradition of auctioning gifts and mementos received during his public service. The sixth edition of the e-auction commenced today and will run until October 2.
This annual event began in 2019 and features over 600 items, including sports memorabilia, traditional crafts, and religious artifacts. These items are being exhibited at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in Delhi. According to Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, base prices range from Rs 600 to Rs 8.26 lakh.
Notable items in this year’s auction include shoes and caps signed by Paralympic medalists, the Ayodhya Ram Temple replicas, and various traditional arts such as Pichwai and Madhubani paintings. High-value items also include badminton rackets and discus used by Indian Paralympians, with the total base price of the auctioned items set at around Rs 1.5 crore.
The proceeds from the auction will be donated to the government’s flagship ‘Namami Gange’ programme, aimed at conserving and rejuvenating the Ganga River. Culture Minister Shekhawat highlighted that the prime minister has been auctioning his gifts since his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, using the funds for noble causes.
Since the first auction in 2019, over 7,000 mementos have been auctioned, raising Rs 22.5 crore through the sale of 4,682 items in the first three editions alone. Significant items auctioned in previous years include a javelin used by Neeraj Chopra in the 2020 Olympics, which fetched Rs 1.5 crore, and a sword used by Olympic fencer Bhavani Devi, sold for Rs 1.25 crore.
This year’s auction follows a rich legacy of cultural and artistic heritage, with the PM sharing on social media that these items represent India’s diverse traditions.
