'Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum’: India’s 5,000-year journey under one roof

• First gallery of the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum to open by year-end in Delhi’s North Block

• Envisioned as the world’s largest museum with 80,000–100,000 artefacts

• Spread over 155,000 sqm across repurposed North and South Blocks

• Nearly 30 thematic galleries tracing 5,000 years of Indian civilisation

• Expected to attract about 10 million visitors annually

  
  

The first public-facing gallery of the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum, envisioned as the world’s largest museum, is expected to welcome visitors by the end of this year in Delhi’s North Block. Once the ambitious project is fully realised over the next three years—spanning both the North and South Blocks—the museum is projected to house an expansive collection of roughly 80,000 to 100,000 artefacts representing India’s vast cultural legacy.

Planned within the historic complex that once functioned as the epicentre of the Union government, the museum will extend across nearly 1.55 lakh square metres. This space previously accommodated key ministries, including finance, home affairs, personnel, external affairs, as well as the Prime Minister’s Office. Over the implementation period, nearly 30 galleries organised around distinct themes will be rolled out, with exhibition areas alone covering more than 80,000 square metres.

According to Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal, the museum’s curatorial approach is rooted in inclusivity and depth. Collections will be drawn from institutions managed by the Centre, states, and the Archaeological Survey of India, based on a detailed mapping of close to 20 lakh objects nationwide. From this vast pool, a carefully selected range of artefacts—spanning different materials, regions, and time periods—will be showcased.

Aggarwal noted that work is already underway on the inaugural gallery, which is designed to offer visitors a preview of the museum’s overarching vision. The Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum aims to narrate the long and complex story of Indian civilisation, tracing its cultural evolution from the Indus Valley period through to contemporary India.

A defining feature of the project is its reliance on “adaptive reuse,” with the British-era North and South Blocks being repurposed rather than replaced. This approach seeks to preserve the architectural character of the heritage structures while giving them a new cultural function.

Once fully operational, the museum is expected to attract nearly 10 million visitors annually. Officials say planning is focused on ensuring smooth visitor movement and universal accessibility, particularly for people with disabilities, without compromising the historic integrity of the buildings or the surrounding precinct.

To manage footfall and maintain security along Kartavya Path—India’s ceremonial power corridor—the government is exploring the possibility of an underground tunnel connecting the North and South Blocks. This passage is envisaged not merely as a transit route, but as an immersive cultural zone that enhances the visitor experience. However, officials emphasise that these ideas remain at a conceptual stage and will require further design development and approvals.

Meanwhile, the administrative transition is progressing. The home and finance ministries have already moved out of the North Block to Kartavya Bhawan-3, with only a few offices linked to the CBI yet to relocate. Similar reallocations are underway for departments currently housed in the South Block, as new spaces at the Kartavya Bhawan complex are being assigned.

In parallel, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has begun restoring the North Block by removing decades of internal modifications, with the goal of returning the structure to its original architectural layout. Together, these efforts mark a significant shift—turning former corridors of power into a landmark dedicated to India’s cultural memory.