New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has approved the development of the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum (YYBM) at the historic North and South Block Complex in New Delhi, with an estimated project cost of ₹3,230 crore. The approval was granted by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on 11 November 2026.
Envisaged as a landmark civilizational museum, the project aims to showcase India’s rich cultural heritage, historical continuity and diversity through an integrated presentation of tangible and intangible cultural traditions. The museum will be developed through the adaptive reuse of the historic North and South Block buildings, retaining their architectural character and heritage significance while transforming them into a major public cultural institution.
Spread across a proposed built-up area of approximately 1,78,509 square metres, the museum will incorporate contemporary museum practices, immersive technologies and visitor-centric interpretation. According to the Ministry of Culture, it is envisioned to have the world’s largest museum display area.
The museum will feature thematic galleries covering India’s civilizational journey, knowledge systems, artistic practices, cultural traditions and heritage. Proposed gallery themes include Architecture and Cityscapes, Mathematics and Astronomy, Languages and Scripts, Faith and Spirituality, and Bharat Connects – Trade and Ideas.
Around 1.8 million objects have been identified from the National Museum, other Ministry of Culture museums, 52 Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) site museums, state museums and private collections for potential display. The first inaugural gallery, themed Adornment, is expected to open to the public in North Block in the latter part of 2027.
The project will be implemented in phases from FY 2026–27 to FY 2030–31. Its scope includes exhibition galleries, collection storage and conservation facilities, visitor amenities, landscaping, intelligent building systems and associated infrastructure.
Designed to accommodate an estimated annual visitor flow of one crore people, the museum is expected to strengthen cultural tourism, education, research and international cultural engagement. It is also anticipated to generate employment opportunities for artisans, craftspeople, researchers, museologists, designers and other creative professionals.
The Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum was first announced by the Prime Minister on 18 May 2023. Its development represents a significant adaptive reuse initiative, giving two of India’s most prominent historic government buildings a new public and cultural purpose.
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