India and France Collaborate to Build Iconic Museum Near Rashtrapati Bhavan

India and France have come to an agreement to create the “Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum,” which Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has referred to as “a project of great national importance. ” This noteworthy museum aims to become the largest in the world, and its story will encompass 5,000 years of history. This grand project will be located on Raisina Hill near the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Covering an area of 1. 17 lakh square meters and featuring 950 rooms in a basement and three levels, the museum will be built within the historic North and South Block buildings that are home to various ministries, including foreign, home, defense, and finance.

Jaishankar underscored the global collaboration driving the project, asserting that “what is being seen today is a very important expression of international cooperation, one that is built on exchanges of best practices, on sharing of experiences. ” He added, “When the South Block and North Block become the kind of museum that is envisaged, I think we will veritably be seeing an inspiration for the remaking of Bharat. ”

Constructed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker from 1911 to 1931, the North and South Block buildings possess historical significance comparable to that of France’s Louvre. Similar to the Louvre, which once belonged to a magnificent palace and housed the French finance ministry, the Indian museum initiative highlights the adaptive reuse of historic structures.

Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat announced that the mapping and blueprinting for the North Block has already been finalized and is currently underway for the South Block. The Yuga Yugeen Bharat Museum is poised to bring India’s vibrant heritage to life, merging it with modern storytelling as envisioned.

The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has showcased the features of the project through an illustrative video on YouTube. The precise timeline for its completion and inauguration has yet to be revealed.