Cabinet Clears Rs 3,230 Crore Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum at Raisina Hill

The Union Cabinet has sanctioned the establishment of the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum through the adaptive reuse of the historic North and South Block architectural complex in New Delhi. Chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs cleared the cultural project at an estimated financial outlay of Rs 3,230 crore. Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw briefed media representatives following the meeting, stating that the project will chronicle India's comprehensive civilisational journey. The institution will encompass a planned built-up floor area of roughly 1,78,509 square metres, creating what official announcements describe as the world's largest museum exhibition space.

Implementation Timeline and Thematic Galleries

The monumental cultural development will proceed in structured stages across financial years extending from FY 2026-27 through FY 2030-31. According to official project schedules, an inaugural exhibition hall centred on the theme of Adornment is projected to open to visitors in North Block in late 2027. Around 18 lakh objects have been identified for potential display, drawn from the National Museum, 52 Archaeological Survey of India site museums, state museums and private collections. The complex will house dedicated thematic halls examining Architecture and Cityscapes, Mathematics and Astronomy, Languages and Scripts, alongside Faith and Spirituality. An additional gallery is titled Bharat Connects – Trade and Ideas. Project plans incorporate dedicated ticketing plazas, seating areas, and guard rooms in both the North and South Blocks, according to ThePrint. The Ministry of Culture stated that the museum will provide an integrated institutional platform to showcase civilisational evolution while strengthening India's global cultural presence and soft power, according to ThePrint.

Heritage Conservation and Modern Infrastructure

The project seeks to preserve the architectural and heritage character of the North and South Blocks while giving them a new institutional role, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs said. The North and South Blocks were built between 1912 and 1931 as part of the new capital of Delhi, and the government offices housed in them have been relocated. The project covers gallery development, collection storage and conservation facilities, visitor amenities, immersive technologies, landscaping and intelligent building systems. The Public Investment Board appraised the proposal on July 27, 2026, and the Ministry of Culture concurred with its recommendations. France Museums Développement entered into an agreement with the Ministry of Culture in December 2024 under which India and France will collaborate on a feasibility study covering museum case studies, interpretive planning and building programming, according to ePratibha.

Operational Capacity and Revenue Generation

Official operational specifications indicate that the cultural institution is engineered to accommodate an annual throughput of up to one crore visitors. The central government expects the complex to generate ongoing operating revenues through admission ticketing, hospitality facilities, retail craft emporiums, guided tours, and event venue rentals. The museum initiative was originally unveiled by Prime Minister Modi on May 18, 2023. Government statements highlighted that the initiative will generate extensive employment for conservation specialists, traditional artisans, academic researchers, and regional hospitality enterprises. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the museum during the International Museum Expo in New Delhi, according to The Statesman.