The Union Cabinet has approved the development of the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum (YYBM) at New Delhi’s historic North and South Block Complex, with an estimated project cost of ₹3,230 crore. Once complete, the museum is expected to have the world’s largest display area and become a major national destination for art, heritage, education and cultural tourism.
What has been approved
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the project on November 11, 2026. The Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum will be developed through the adaptive reuse of the North and South Block complex, preserving the heritage character of the buildings while converting them into a major public cultural institution. The project has an estimated total cost of ₹3,230 crore, appraised by the Public Investment Board. It will be implemented in phases between FY 2026–27 and FY 2030–31.
India’s largest museum
Spread across approximately 1,78,509 square metres of built-up area, the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum is envisaged as a landmark civilisational museum. It will present India’s cultural continuity, diversity and heritage through an integrated narrative of tangible and intangible heritage.
The museum is benchmarked against leading international institutions and is expected to have the largest museum display area in the world. Its programming will combine curated galleries, exhibitions, immersive technologies and visitor-centred interpretation.
A new life for North and South Block
The North and South Block buildings, once home to key government offices, will be given a new public-facing role. Rather than demolishing or replacing the historic structures, the project will adaptively reuse them while retaining their architectural and heritage significance.
This approach positions the museum as both a conservation project and a cultural infrastructure project: historic buildings in the heart of Lutyens’ Delhi will become a national platform for art, history, knowledge systems and public engagement.
What visitors will see
The museum will present India’s civilisational journey through thematic galleries and exhibitions. Around 1.8 million objects have been identified for potential display from the National Museum, Ministry of Culture museums, 52 ASI site museums, state museums and private collections.
Planned gallery themes include:
- Adornment, expected to open in North Block in late 2027 as the museum’s first public gallery.
- Architecture and Cityscapes
- Mathematics and Astronomy
- Languages and Scripts
- Faith and Spirituality
- Bharat Connects: Trade and Ideas
The museum will also include collection storage and conservation facilities, visitor amenities, landscaping, intelligent building systems and technology-led immersive experiences.
Cultural tourism and jobs
The government expects the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum to become a major cultural destination for domestic and international visitors. It is being designed to handle up to one crore visitors annually, with revenue expected from tickets, guided tours, retail, food and beverage, events, venue rentals and digital experiences.
The project is also expected to generate direct and indirect employment across construction, museum operations, hospitality and tourism. It will create opportunities for artisans, craftspeople, researchers, museologists, designers, performers, conservation professionals and technology providers.
Make in India and sustainability
The project will support domestic manufacturing through vendor-development initiatives for world-class museum materials and products. It is also intended to create opportunities for Indian artisans, manufacturers, conservation specialists and cultural-technology companies.
The museum’s planning is aligned with international best practices in heritage conservation, exhibition design, sustainable cultural management and inclusive visitor infrastructure.
Why it matters for India’s cultural sector
The Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum could become one of the most significant cultural infrastructure projects in India. By combining heritage adaptive reuse, large-scale exhibition infrastructure, research, education and public engagement, it aims to position New Delhi as a global museum destination.
For artists, curators, designers, conservators, cultural producers and heritage professionals, the project signals a major expansion of India’s museum ecosystem—and a potentially transformative platform for presenting Indian art, craft, knowledge and civilisational history to the world.
Contributor
